EDGE'S 'NEXT STEP' CAMPAIGN

As hundreds of thousands of young people receive their exam results, Band & Brown has launched a national campaign for the education foundation Edge urging young people to remember ‘whatever your A-level results, know your options.’
The campaign is designed to tap into the ‘decision-making mindset’ of parents and young people during August exam results season. The centrepiece of the campaign, a guide intended to help young people navigate the many vocational and practical routes to success, was created in partnership with The Guardian.
The campaign also featured a news story revealing that 18,000 first and second year students (13 per cent) who entered university through clearing are unhappy about their choice of course with 46,000 (33 per cent) saying they rushed their university selection.
The story achieved print coverage for Edge in the Times, Sun, Daily Mirror, Metro and regional papers across the UK encouraging people to consider the many potential paths to success. It was also featured on BBC News Online, BBC London and BBC Five Live.
Working in partnership with fellow Cossette agencies MCBD and Elvis, the campaign was rounded off by a series of adverts in national broadsheets, on radio and online and a microsite providing advice for young people and invitations to engage in the country’s education debate or download a copy of the Next Step guide.
For more information, visit www.nextstepguide.co.uk or email marsha@bbpr.com

ALESHA DIXON HEADS-UP FIRST VQ DAY

The nation's first national celebration of vocational success was spear-headed by a Band & Brown lead event at the Royal Opera House, starring Strictly Come Dancing winner Alesha Dixon.
Alesha was joined on stage by Secretary of State for Skills John Denham and his opposition shadows David Willetts for the Conservatives and Stephen Williams for the Liberal Democrats. Also at the event were learners from across the country demonstrating their skills, including performers from Cambridge Performing Arts College and the Academy for Contemporary Music.
Simultaneously, over 50 regional events took place across the UK, including an event at the Royal Welsh show, organised by fforwm, the representative body for further education in Wales.
Set design was by Band & Brown's design arm Thirst, while event production was by Brando.

For more information contact Simon Francis: simon.francis@bbpr.com