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Festival helps businesses to share their news as focus switches to media’s role

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28th May 2019

- News

The role of the media was in focus on day seven of the Black Country Business Festival.
 
The Express & Star, which last week was heavily involved in Local Newspaper Week, has a commitment to supporting business across the area.
 
The newspaper yesterday hosted Content is Key, a special event aimed at helping businesses to share their news.
 
It included presentations from Business Editor John Corser, MNA Digital digital sales campaign manager Natalie Coughlan and Star PR agency director Sundeep Sehijpal.
 
The event offered insights into how businesses of all sizes can get improved coverage in print and digitally. 
 
In total, 15 businesses were represented at the event, held at the Express & Star in Wolverhampton.
 
The delegates attending included representatives of the Black Country Consortium, KMB Shipping, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Wrekin Housing Trust and Thornes Solicitors. 
 
The event was organised by the marketing team, including group marketing services manager Lee Young and marketing executive Gerda Jonaviciute.
 
Opening the morning on behalf of MNA Digital, Natalie’s presentation covered advice on how to optimise digital content to meet business objectives.
 
Covering PR opportunities, Sundeep then explained to delegates how to identify a newsworthy story, how to illustrate it with photos and how to distribute the content.
 
John then drew upon his 40 years of experience by outlining the kinds of stories which get coverage in the MNA business editorial pages, as well as the best ways of making him aware of news.
 
The delegates fielded a range of questions to the speakers to get their advice.
 
As well as offering networking opportunities in the boardroom throughout the morning, the MNA event ended with a tour of the newsroom, led by John Corser.
 
The guests also had the chance to see the digital operation in action, which was well received by Wrekin Housing Trust Ed Thomas.

Ed tweeted: “Great hearing about video, podcasting and social media all with interaction from sports fans and the public from @njudah_star.
 
“Thanks @JohnCorser_Star for the tour of the newsroom and the @ExpressandStar digital team for putting up with us disrupting them for 10mins.”
 
Wolverhampton Racecourse also hosted the business festival race day yesterday afternoon. 
 
The scope of Dudley’s multi-million investment opportunities was profiled at an event held at Dudley College. It was aimed at business leaders, developers and investors.
 
Alan Lunt, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: “As an authority we are forging a future for Dudley borough and creating a place where businesses thrive and people want to work, live and visit.”
 
Today sees the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Expo which is taking place at GTG West Midlands in Wednesfield. 
 
Tomorrow there are 15 more events taking place across the Black Country with the racecourse again at the heart of activity as it hosts the Black Country Environment Challenge with the EnTRESS (Environmental Technologies and Resource Efficiency Support Scheme) project at the University of Wolverhampton from 1pm to 4.30pm.
 
Small and medium-sized businesses will be exhibiting their innovative green solutions to environmental challenges the racecourse has identified.
 
Walsall Football Club is the venue for the Sovereign Expo.
The festival continues until Friday. 
 
Places are still available at some of the remaining free events at www.blackcountrybusinessfestival.com
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Events, News

Business guests learn to communicate in a crisis thanks to Star PR

By on

21st May 2019

- 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.

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Events, News

Search goes on for bonniest babies as little stars pose for the camera

By on

17th May 2019

- Events, News

The search continues for Shropshire’s most beautiful babies and cutest toddlers.
 
The Shropshire Star launched its Baby and Toddler of the Year competition last week and parents flocked to Shrewsbury to see if their baby had what it takes.
 
Kelly Baker brought along her 10-month-old twins, Olivia and Arianna, as well as her two-year-old son Connor to be photographed at the Darwin Shopping Centre.
 
She said: “I’ve never entered before and I’d come into town to do some shopping with my mum and thought why not.
 
“I know I am biased but they are very cute and Olivia has a really cheeky smile so I think we’ve got a good chance.”
 
Entry is free and open to parents and guardians within the Shropshire Star circulation area with a child aged five or under.
 
A photographer will be on the bottom floor of the shopping centre, opposite QVC, every day until Saturday, May 18, apart from May 12. Sessions will run from 9.30am until 4.30pm. 
 
They will also be at Telford Shopping Centre from Monday, May 20 to Wednesday, May 29, between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Sessions on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27 will be at a slightly different time of 10.30am until 4pm. Parents can bring their children to be photographed and will then be invited back to choose their best picture.
 
The children will be split into four age categories – 0-9 months, 10-18 months, 19-35 months and 3-5 years.
 
There will be a £500 prize for the winner in each category and a further £250 for the overall winner with the most votes. 
 
The photographs will be featured in the Shropshire Star on Thursday, June 27 and on our website. 
 
Once you’ve picked your favourite, cut out the special vote tokens which will be printed each day in the Shropshire Star until Saturday, July 27 and complete a Voting Tokens Return Form. 
 
The deadline for returning tokens is Friday, August 2 and the 
winners will be announced later that month. For further information about entering, go to baby.shropshirestar.com
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News

New E&S book to chart a remarkable season

By on

9th May 2019

- News

Wolves have enjoyed another stellar season to savour with a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League.
 
And to mark a hugely successful campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team the MNA sports team are compiling a 152-page book.
 
Back Where We Belong: Story of the Season 18/19 by Tim Spiers tells the story of an unforgettable year.
 
The book went on pre-sale on Tuesday, with more than 160 copies ordered in the first 24 hours or so.
 
Nuno’s team announced themselves in the top flight in some style, recording wonderful victories over Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal.
 
There have also been thrilling last-minute victories over West Ham and Newcastle as well as a rollercoaster victory over Leicester.
 
And of course, Wolves made it all the way to the FA Cup semi-finals, triumphing over Man United with a glorious 2-1 win in the quarter-finals after earlier beating Liverpool in the third round.
 
It was Wolves’ best run in the competition since 1998, while their confirmed league position of seventh is the club’s highest since they finished sixth in 1980.
 
The Express & Star have been there every step of the way and, on the back of last year’s hugely popular sell-out book On Our Way Back – Story of the Season 17/18, we’ve decided to produce another memento compiling another outstanding Wolves campaign.
 
At least two pages are dedicated to every single match, with match reports, analysis, player ratings, fan verdicts, tweets, stats and quotes from Nuno and the players.
 
Extra special matches, such as the two wonderful 2-1 victories over Man United, the comeback win over Chelsea and the fabulous 3-1 win over Spurs at Wembley are given four pages each with extra analysis and pictures.
 
The book will also contain a number of features, a pre-season guide, a look at the club’s end of season awards and an exclusive interview with Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi, charting an exhilarating year on and off the field for the club.
 
Author Tim Spiers said: “It’s been yet another season to remember for Wolves as they continue their remarkable rise under Nuno and Fosun.
 
“We were honoured to sell out of thousands of copies for last year’s book and also received some great feedback.
 
“With the team yet again doing the business with a season that arguably even tops last year in terms of a notable achievement, it’s only right that we bring out another book as a keepsake of the season.”
 
Back Where We Belong: Story of the Season 18/19 can be pre-ordered now for £9.99 plus P&P (postage and packing).
 
Visit www.expressandstar.com/wolvesbook to order online via PayPal.
 
You can also order by phone by calling 0800 146540. Orders will be sent by second class recorded delivery on June 10 and will take three to five working days for UK deliveries.
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News

Super sub Sarah goes the distance to raise money for charity

By on

7th May 2019

- News

An MNA sub-editor has proven she is quick off the mark by running a half marathon for a charity cause close to her heart.
 
Sarah Cowen-Strong, who is based in the editorial department at Queen Street, completed the Stratford-on-Avon Half Marathon on Sunday to raise money the Epilepsy Society.
 
The cause is one Sarah is keen to help as her daughter Eliza was diagnosed with epilepsy 10 years ago.
 
An experienced marathon runner, Sarah completed the distance in a time considerably faster than her last effort.
 
She explains: “After doing 10 marathons, I thought it was time to calm down a bit and just do halves.
 
“As I seem to get slower every year I wasn’t expecting to beat my last half by 10 minutes. But at two hours 33 minutes, I am still not going to be picked for the Olympics any time soon!
 
“I love the atmosphere of a race and forcing myself out of the bed in the morning to run. 
 
“Also, I live in very hilly Worcestershire so most organised races are not usually going to be as bad. 
 
“It helps that I’m running for a cause so close to my heart. Eliza had her first seizure about 10 years ago while in a drama rehearsal at school and although, cross fingers, she’s coping on medication, life hasn’t been quite the same since. 
 
“Every little bit of support we can give to the charity is a glimmer of hope to millions.”
 
Sarah hopes generous colleagues will join those who have already donated.
 
She said: “Donations can still be made. The JustGiving page stays open for a while. A massive thank-you to my wonderful colleagues who have helped me top the target.”
 
 
The Epilepsy Society conducts “world class medical research projects”, diagnosing and treating thousands of people with epilepsy every year. 
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Events

From the archive: MNA readers on cruise to the Med

By on

7th May 2019

- Events

Express & Star and Shropshire Star readers pose for a photograph before departing from Wolverhampton for a sponsored cruise to the Mediterranean in 1976.
 
They travelled by coach to Southampton, where they joined the Oriana, the 42,000 ton P&O liner. 
 
During the cruise, they had the opportunity of visiting Monte Carlo, Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi, Pompand Santiago de Competela. 
 
To see hundreds of pictures from the Photographic Collection visit photo-archive.expressandstar.co.uk
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News

Lottery boss praises Express & Star photo archive

By on

7th May 2019

- News

The chief executive of Camelot praised the Express & Star Photo Archive project on a visit to Wolverhampton.
 
Nigel Railton and members of his senior management team were in the city to visit the newspaper and present a plaque to Nirlip Hayre of Mander News in the Mander Centre, which has average National Lottery sales of £17,000 a week.
 
The newsagents has raised more than £400,000 for National Lottery good causes since 2016.
 
The visit to the Express & Star came as Camelot celebrates its 25th anniversary of running the National Lottery this year.
 
Mr Railton, who sat in on the Express & Star’s morning conference, said that more than £2.6 billion had gone to 38,000 projects in the West Midlands over the years.
 
“A press organisation like this really understands the local area and the difference the National Lottery has made to the local community,” he explained.
 
“The National Lottery has been an amazing success story thanks to all the people who have played the game over the years.
 
“It was brilliant to see the Express & Star photographic archive which has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”
 
Mr Railton, who worked in Birmingham for British Rail for three years before training as an accountant and joining Camelot, added: “It is hugely important to understand how the National Lottery operates regionally and we have been doing visits like this for the last two years all over the UK. It really gives us an understanding of what the National Lottery means to people and different areas.”
 
There are more than 4,400 retailers in the West Midlands who sell National Lottery tickets and Mr Railton said on each visit they went to a retailer to thank them for the difference they made.
 
The team from Camelot’s head office in Watford also visited two National Lottery-funded projects in Birmingham – creative innovation centre STEAMhouse, which has had £500,000 of funding awarded by Arts Council England to Birmingham City University, and the Lapworth Museum of Geology, which has £1.6 million of funding through National Lottery Heritage Fund for its education room.
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News

Jane sets out to raise funds for friend in need

By on

7th May 2019

- News

A member of the Wolverhampton-based classifieds team is calling on colleagues to lend their support to a vital fundraising effort.
 
Jane Cornforth, trade sales coordinator based at the Express & Star, is organising a series of events to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). 
 
As well as a musical extravaganza evening, Jane and her colleagues are organising an in-house raffle and would welcome any donations possible.
 
The fundraising – which has already topped £2,200 – is being held on behalf of Steve ‘Snowy’ Watson, a good friend of Jane’s. Snowy was diagnosed with the condition in 2017 and Jane said it has been horrendous to watch her friend suffer from the rapidly progressing disease. 
 
Motor Neurone Disease attacks the brain and spinal cord, leaving people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk, swallow or eventually breathe.
 
“Snowy has always been a fun loving, intelligent, larger than life man who was cruelly diagnosed with MND in 2017. There is no cure,” said Jane.
 
“It has taken my formerly fit, able, strong friend from an active and rewarding life and has gradually eliminated his ability to move, breathe unaided, or perform the most basic tasks that most of us take for granted. 
 
“Steve is now in a wheelchair and relies on a ventilator to breathe. He needs 24-hour care at his home in Bradmore.
 
“Though Steve’s response to contracting this disease has been incredibly positive, inspirational and truly courageous he needs support from as many sources as possible,” she added.
 
A group of Snowy’s friends initially set out to raise £1,000 for MNDA. 
 
Donations have already exceeded £2,200 and there are no plans to stop there. A musical event being held at The Newhampton Arts Centre is being organised for 15 June with just a few tickets remaining.
 
Jane and her classifieds colleagues are also planning a dress-down day and in-house raffle for later this month to boost the fund further.
 
“Snowy has always loved music and since many of his extended group of friends are musicians, we have decided to put on a musical fundraising event,” said Jane.
 
“I have been so touched by how many people want to help, whether they know Snowy or not, so many contacts have asked how they can get involved.
 
“I will be collecting donations for the raffle throughout May and intend to sell tickets too. If anyone would like to lend their support, I would love to hear from them,” she added.
 
The MNDA is a charity that relies heavily on voluntary donations. It offers those with the condition advisory, financial and practical help, as well as support for their families. Up to 5,000 adults are living with MND at any one time in the UK.
 
Ongoing research aims to find a cure for the cruel disease.
For more information visit https://www.mndassociation.org/
To contribute to Jane’s fundraising efforts visit
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Events, News

Got the purrrr-fect pawtrait of your pet?

By on

29th April 2019

- Events, News

Is your pet picture purr-fect? From cute kittens and top dogs to floppy-eared rabbits and furry guinea pigs – we want to see your creature companions wow the camera.

 

The Express & Star is launching a new competition, inviting pet owners to submit their favourite picture of their pet to be in with a chance of walking away with up to £500 in prize money.

 

We have long been a nation of pet lovers and everyone knows that animals really do make a real difference to our lives.

 

To celebrate our special bond with our pets we want to see your best photos – or Pawtraits – of the animals that are part of your family.

 

They can be easily uploaded online and all pets are welcome – no matter how small, furry or funny!

 

Photos of your pets will feature in a supplement in the Express & Star on Wednesday, June 5.

 

From there you will have the opportunity to vote for the pet that you think has the perfect portrait by sending in voting tokens, which will be printed in the Express & Star daily from Wednesday, June 5 until Saturday, June 22.

 

The overall winner of the competition will secure the coveted title of the Express & Star’s most popular Pawtrait Pet of the year as well as £500 in prize money.

 

So, get your cameras at the ready and get snapping!

Rob Kelly, head of circulation, said: “The Express & Star is launching a fantastic new competition called Pawtrait Pets focusing on our readers’ love of pets. We want to see your favourite photograph of your pet.

 

“This is the first time we have carried out a pet competition and we know that our readers will love to see all these fantastic photos which will appear in a special supplement in the Express & Star on Wednesday, June 5. We are expecting a great response from this competition and cash prizes will be up for grabs for the first, second and third placed pets, after readers have voted for their favourite.

 

“Please read the terms and conditions of the competition and ensure that the photo you send in is of good quality so it reproduces well within the supplement.”

 

* For details go to www.expressandstar.com/pawtraitpets

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Events, News

BBC presenter is delighted to be involved in this year’s awards

By on

25th April 2019

- Events, News

Winners of the Great Big Thank You Awards will be invited to an awards ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Shropshire breakfast presenter Eric Smith.

He explains why he is delighted to be involved in this year’s Great Big Thank You Awards campaign:

“It means such a lot when people say thank you!

“It’s quite humbling to meet people featured in The Great Big Thank You Awards – they don’t do things for reward, or to receive your thanks, but they certainly do make a difference in their local community. It’s easy to think that someone else will get involved and do something, but there are those who just get in there and get on with it! Maybe you know someone who deserves a great big thank you for a job well done.

“It certainly brings communities together, and with your help, it’s nice to say ‘thank you’.”

Eric, who has fronted BBC Radio Shropshire’s breakfast show for the past 22 years, is one of the most familiar and best-loved broadcasters in the county. He is also well-known for his star turns in the Christmas pantomimes at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn.

Eric, 67, took over the breakfast show in 1997, and over the past eight years has forged a popular double act with co-presenter Clare Ashford.

He moved to Shropshire in 1988, when appointed to an off-air role at the station, having previously worked as a nightclub DJ and record librarian at BBC Sheffield.

When he first took up his post, as assistant station manager, he was not expecting to stay around, but quickly fell in love with the county.

He says: “I was expecting to be in Shropshire for a couple of years as a stepping stone before moving on.

“I am from Yorkshire and had been job hopping around local radio stations and expected to keep that going.

“But I stayed and have fallen in love with the county. It is beautiful, there’s nowhere else I would prefer to be.”

Go to the website here to make a nomination: https://www.starthankyou.shropshirestar.co.uk/

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