Events, News

Delegates taking part in one of the Black Country Business Festival events found themselves under pressure in an Escape Room at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

The theatre teamed up with Star Public Relations to stage the event, where attendees were plunged into a scenario, which saw them dealing with a crisis at a fictional company.

The session, held on Friday, involved guests working through a communications challenge set by the MNA’s public relations agency.

Partnering with the Star PR experts, they were put on the spot to think of responses to media enquiries as a damaging story broke. 

As a unique memento of the day, they received a framed front page of their story, produced in real time at the MNA head office and including a photo of the delegates taken upon arrival.

PR consultant Cathy Dobbs, from Star PR, said: “We came up with the idea for Grand Star Hinges – a bogus manufacturing company based in Wolverhampton, that was suddenly dealing with a crisis.

“Attendees were able to experience what pressure they would be under if a crisis did strike at their company, and they had to work quickly to draft statements for the press, employees and for their customers.”

Grand Theatre development manager Charlotte Davies added: “Delegates went away with tips and advice on crisis communications and we have had some fantastic feedback. 

“They enjoyed the chance to participate and get involved – it is something we will definitely look at staging again.”

One of those who took on the challenge was Helen Nuttall, business development manager at Penny Post Credit Union, and she said it was an exciting and interactive session. 

Helen said: “I thought it was a fantastic experience that was also thought provoking. By making it interactive I ended up working, and talking with people that I wouldn’t normally approach at a networking event. To have a souvenir front page from the Express & Star is wonderful – it will be going on my desk at work.”

Also, at the event was Paul Hull, director of KMB Shipping, who said: “It was an invaluable experience and a great insight into crisis communications. There has been nothing else like the Escape Room, and we will be implementing some of the advice into the workplace.”

Sam Bright, digital communications co-ordinator at Midlands Air Ambulance, said the event was very useful. “It was great how interactive the event was and it really made me think about what to say in the statements. One thing I will take away from it is that during a crisis you just need to have a small team of people, to ensure that the sign-off of statements happens quickly.”

The event was staged by the Star PR team as part of the Black Country Business Festival, the annual celebration organised in partnership with the Express & Star.