DHR Communications

We have recently started work on two exciting new projects: the establishment of a blog for ESB International (ESBI) and the development of an awareness-raising campaign about human rights to coincide with Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

ESBI is an international energy company and one of Europe’s leading engineering and consultancy organisations.  Over the coming months, we’re working with ESBI and Connector.ie to develop the company’s first ever blog.  The blog will feature weekly entries from senior managers at ESBI, with a strong focus on energy innovation.  Topics covered will encompass ocean energy, carbon issues, energy management, ESBI’s work internationally, engineering as a career, and lots more.  The blog is expected to go live in spring 2011 – we’ll be posting further info here over the coming weeks.

We’re also working with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) at the moment, on a campaign – ‘Your Rights.  Right Now’ – aimed at raising awareness about Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review process. In October 2011, Ireland will be examined for the first time by other United Nations (UN) countries on our human rights record, in a process called the Universal Periodic Review or UPR.  The UPR can be used to highlight gaps in human rights protection within Ireland.

The ICCL is working with almost 20 other NGOs on the ‘Your Rights. Right Now’ campaign.  The aim is to inform the general public and civil society organisations about the UPR process, and to encourage people to learn about their human rights and possibly to get involved in the UPR.  A key part of the campaign is getting people thinking about their human rights – and making human rights relevant to everyone in Ireland.

You can follow ‘Your Rights.  Right Now’ on Facebook and Twitter, and the campaign will be officially launched next week, when details of public information events throughout Ireland will also be announced.

‘Generation Next’ is a new competition, currently being developed by the South-East Regional Authority (SERA) as part of its involvement in the YES (Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies) Project, which is part funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVC programme. 

The YES Project involves eight different EU member states, including Ireland.  Its aim is to improve policies at national, regional and / or local level regarding the integration of entrepreneurship education into mainstream education systems.  In Ireland, SERA is working with the nationwide network of County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) on the Project’s implementation.

About the Competition
‘Generation Next’ will be one element of SERA’s work on the YES Project.  The competition will be open to all third-level students in Ireland (including students at institutes of further education; PLC students; ITs; universities; etc.).  It will invite students to submit proposals for educational tools – targeted at primary-school pupils – that would:

• Embed elements of entrepreneurial behaviour – such as creativity, curiosity, initiative, innovation and autonomy – in primary-school pupils.
• Raise awareness amongst primary-school pupils of the role of enterprise and entrepreneurs in society.

It is planned to launch the competition in February 2011 and to run a PR / marketing campaign during the months of February and March. The closing date for entries to the competition will be in mid-April, and the winning entries will be announced in early May.    We are currently putting together the guidelines, judging panel, campaign ambassador and a number of associated materials, including advertising in colleges, a media campaign, and a roadshow around the country visiting colleges to enlist applicants.

Potential Sponsorship
We are currently seeking a sponsorship partner on the project.  The following is a list of potential benefits / opportunities for such a partner:

• Branding on all materials associated with the competition, including posters, web campaigns, press materials, photocalls, social media platforms. A nationwide promotional campaign – which will include posters on college campuses throughout Ireland – will form one element of the marketing strategy for this competition, and would offer a good opportunity for the partner to target third-level students.
• Reference to the partner’s support in all PR outputs pertaining to the competition (an extensive media strategy is planned to complement the marketing campaign.  This will include dissemination of press releases to national and local media outlets on an ongoing basis; pitches to target media; photocalls; and media events).  
• Exposure at the Awards ceremony in May, at which a representative of the partner could present the grand prize.
• The partner would be invited to nominate a judge to sit on a high-level judging panel, with representatives of SERA, the education sector and high-profile Irish entrepreneurs.   
• If desired, the partner could send a representative to the regional roadshow in colleges in February / March, at which the competition will be promoted among students.

In exchange for the above, the partner would be asked to provide the prize fund for the competition. Ideally, this would include:

• A piece of hardware such as a laptop or other platform, up to a maximum of 12.  (There will be three winning entries for the competition, with a maximum of four members on each winning team).
• An extra prize to be determined for the overall winner.

Any sponsorship partners interested in becoming involved in ‘Generation Next’ can contact us by email: generationnext@dhr.ie or telephone: 01 488 5808 to discuss our proposal.

The ‘Generation Next’ competition is promoted and administered by DHR Communications, on behalf of SERA.  For further information please contact: Generation Next, c/o DHR Communications, 4 St. Catherine’s Lane West, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8.  Tel: 01-4885808, Email:  generationnext@dhr.ie.

As part of our ongoing internship programme, DHR Communications is currently recruiting a PR intern for a three-month work placement to provide assistance in the following areas: media relations, event management and administrative support.  This position would suit somebody with a keen interest in public affairs, politics and Ireland’s not-for-profit and statutory sectors.  Duties will include:

• Maintaining media databases.
• Monitoring media and identifying opportunities for our clients.
• Issuing press releases and undertaking media-follow-up calls.
• Developing basic press releases, press notices and photocall notices.
• Booking and liaising with venues; organising room set-up, sign-in areas, name-places and backdrops.
• General assistance in executing events.
• Undertaking administrative roles associated with client work (including developing and maintaining mailing lists; issuing invitations and other mail on behalf of clients).
• Keeping records of events, including client meetings.
• Assisting with developing websites and other online communications tools for our clients.

The following conditions apply to this internship:

• DHR Communications will provide an allowance to cover travel and subsistence expenses.
• The hours of work will be 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
• Participants in our internship programme can avail of mentoring and training from other members of the DHR Communications team, and are assigned a designated supervisor / mentor for the duration of their engagement.
• Interested applicants should be available to commence their work placement with DHR Communications at the beginning of February 2011.

If you are interested in working as an intern with DHR Communications, please email a CV and a cover letter, outlining your previous experience and suitability for the position, to media@dhr.ie by close of business on Friday, 21st January.  For further information, contact DHR Communications on 01-4885808.

Happy New Year to all visitors to our website.

We were delighted to start 2011 on a positive note by winning a tender to work with the South-East Regional Authority (SERA) on a competition for third-level students, aimed at fostering entrepreneurship within the Irish education system.

The competition is being organised as part of the YES (Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies) Project, which is part-funded by the EU’s INTERREG IVC.   The YES Project involves partners from eight regions within different EU States, with Ireland represented by SERA.  The overall aim of the project is to increase the number of entrepreneurs in Europe and accelerate European competitiveness.  The competition for third-level students will be one element of Ireland’s involvement in the YES Project, and we will be posting further details on the competition here over the coming months.

In other news, January and February look set to be very busy for DHR Communications.  As well as our work with SERA, we will be working with CARDI on the launch of research on end-of-life care standards; we’re assisting the Dignity Project in the organisation of a major conference on sex trafficking in Ireland, which will take place next month; and we will be delivering training in media and political communications skills to a number of different groups.  We will also be continuing our work on The Digital Hub‘s DARE2BDRINKAWARE.ie competition and the WebActivate Programme, and we are project managing the week-long programme of events planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ballymun Youth Action Project in March.  So busy times ahead!