Pagoda Public Relations
Pagoda is a PR company rund by the former head of the Institute of Public Relations Scotland Ian Coldwell.
It ran into controversy in a conflict of interest case. The Scotsman reported:
- AN ARGUMENT over a lucrative contract involving some of Scotland's highest-profile PR firms has landed on the desk of Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm
- Pagoda - chaired by former Tory minister Sir Michael Hirst and with former Edinburgh Council leader Keith Geddes as policy director - won a four-way pitch for the prestigious contract. However, concerns have been raised when it was revealed that Pagoda also listed Communities Scotland, the stock transfer regulator, as one of their clients...
- Pagoda has already undertaken a number of consultation programmes on housing stock transfer programmes throughout Scotland. The firm has worked with Scottish Borders Council from the initial tenant consultation through to a successful ballot in favour of transfer providing advice on public consultation, focusing on tenants and other stakeholders such as housing staff, voluntary agencies, elected members, community organisations and the wider public.
- Pagoda worked with the Highland Council on 52 public meetings and roadshows to consult tenants on the options for future ownership and management of council housing, and the firm is now working with Inverclyde and Aberdeen City on a similar consultation and communication exercise.
- Ian Coldwell, managing director of Pagoda, says he is awaiting confirmation from Edinburgh Council to confirm the housing transfer account was theirs. He says they no longer work directly for Communities Scotland: "We carried out a short internal communications audit for Communities Scotland a year ago and are no longer retained by them. We do not see why this is in any way relevant. "We are extremely pleased to have won the Edinburgh tender. It is the latest of a number of communication contracts we have won against Beattie in recent months. We believe we have a very strong public sector offering and are disappointed that Beattie should choose to respond in this way." A spokesperson for Communities Scotland confirms that Pagoda worked for them in 2003 on an internal communication project for their staff.
Contents
Staff
Pagoda PR is a team of consultants with offices in Edinburgh and Belfast. Each of us has expertise in specific practice areas across the public and private sectors. We work in small teams to the highest professional and ethical standards. We specialise in strategic communications work including media relations, public policy, internal communications and issues and crisis management. We work with a network of associates in Scotland and across the UK.
- Sir Michael Hirst Chairman MCIPR
- Ian Coldwell Managing Director FCIPR
- Giselle Dye
Director MCIPR giselle.dye@pagodapr.com
Nicky Petrie Director MCIPR nicky.petrie@pagodapr.com
- Keith Geddes Policy Director ACIPR
Lynne Veitch
Consultant ACIPR
lynne.veitch@pagodapr.com
Jacquie Kane Consultant ACIPR jacquie.kane@pagodapr.com Full Profile
Neil Freshwater Account Executive ACIPR neil.freshwater@pagodapr.com Full Profile
Lorna Saunders Administration lorna.saunders@pagodapr.com Full Profile
Jenny Greenaway Consultant ACIPR jenny.greenaway@pagodapr.com Full Profile
Clients
List from Pagoda website (12 November 2005)
Clients we are currently conducting projects for
*Cultenhove and Cornton Regeneration Programme
*NIPPA - the early years organization
*Northern Ireland Office (DCAL)
Clients we have recently concluded projects for
Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
Affiliations
Spinwatch resources
Beattie Accuses rival of conflict of interest PR Week, 9 February 2005.
External links
Pagoda PR website [1]
SHARON WARD 'Fighting still rages on the homes front' The Scotsman Thu 3 Feb 2005.
