National Media Relations, Public Affairs and Regional Business to Business Public Relations

The University retains external consultancy companies to fulfil a brief relating to National Media Relations, Public Affairs, and Regional Business to Business Public Relations. The University's desire to retain the services of these companies is driven in part by a recognition of our need and opportunity to raise our profile from among the mass of 'modern' universities located outside the Home Counties. The University currently retains two PR agencies split between UK offices in Manchester (helping to capitalise on the location of Media City and raise our profile nationally) and Preston with a focus on business-to-business local and regional PR and a more specific brief to support the role out of the University’s 10-year, £200 million Masterplan development. Some regional Public Affairs support is also provided by the Manchester-based agency but much of our lobbying work is done via Universities UK, enabling the University to be engaged in key debates around government policy with impact on HE. The University's Corporate Strategy (2015-2020) reaffirmed our vision, mission and values and set out a plan to deliver these through aims and objectives aligned to strategic themes. Social engagement is at the heart of the University, and is recognised as a core theme, with a strategic aim that echoes our mission; 'the University will continue to inspire positive change in organisations and people from all walks of life, to enable them to achieve their full potential'. This ethos is embedded across each of the themes. The University's External Relations Strategy determines principles and priorities to deliver on our mission; to ensure we maintain our reputation for attracting and retaining talented students, whatever their background, and work towards deep-rooted engagement with the wider communities of Preston, Lancashire and the North West. Our vision is to firmly establish Central Lancashire as an anchor institution in the city and region, with a reputation for social responsibility: a source of civic pride.