Blog

Fresh investment in hotel shows Bay is on the up
Torbay Council’s planning committee has given the green light to proposals to regenerate Torquay’s Imperial Hotel in another sign that the Bay is on the up.

Christmas lights, warning bells
The illuminated Christmas trail at the National Trust’s Killerton House has caused social media complaints and media coverage. Had the Trust listened a little more carefully back in July, it may not have walked into the current round of Facebook and media criticism, just as the trail opens.

A tale of two Devon rivers in the global climate crisis
As world leaders discuss how to meet de-carbonisation targets at COP26 in Glasgow, 450 miles away in Devon two significant climate change mitigation projects are already underway as they speak. Two nature-based solutions to climate change are already being implemented on the River Otter and the River Culm in East Devon.

The Power of the Podcast
How we tell and consume stories is everchanging. For some of us, asking Alexa to update us on the latest news is more familiar than picking up a local newspaper. And with an increasing desire to listen to stories on demand, podcasting has never been so popular.

Exeter’s Local Plan – a phoenix still rising or the latest chapter for the city’s evolution?
Exeter is soon to consult on a new Local Plan, but is the city still rising from the ashes of a World War Two Blitz?

Nurturing support for change in the countryside
At a time of significant change, challenge and opportunity for the British countryside, estate owners, land managers and rural businesses are looking for ways to future-proof their operations.

Lessons from 10 years of building a new community
It’s 10 years since work started in earnest on Devon’s first new town since the Middle Ages: Cranbrook. The anniversary has been seen by East Devon District Council officers as an appropriate time to look back on what has been achieved and what lessons can be learnt.

Reforms aim to put beauty – and people – at the heart of the planning system
In a major speech on planning reform, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said local communities will be put at the very heart of decision-making to help shape their towns and cities.

Green infrastructure: a box-ticking exercise or an ‘out of the box’ opportunity?
At a recent conference hosted by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) a government minister, alongside planning, public health and environment advisers, discussed how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed attitudes towards green spaces.

Trials launched into digital transformation of local plans
It was impressive to see local councils across the country embrace digital tools to ensure they could carry on working through the pandemic. Digital-first consultations capture the opinions of a much wider community.

A dam good evening with the beavers
The KOR team were lucky enough to head out on a rather unusual field trip recently to see the results of a major project we’ve worked on over the past few years, which has seen the reintroduction of these fascinating creatures in East Devon.

Going live… How we used TV broadcast skills to stage a launch event
KOR was commissioned by Clinton Devon Estates to stage a live online broadcast to celebrate the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths being declared a National Nature Reserve by Natural England.

High-speed internet from the stars via Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network
Commercial Director Guy Newman shares KOR’s experience with Elon Musk’s high speed broadband service, Starlink.

Misreporting in the media and how to correct it
The nation’s news organisations are seeing record numbers of online readers, so it’s reasonable to say that more people are consuming local and national news than ever before.

Keeping planning applications on-track with virtual exhibitions
Members of Torbay’s planning committee have now given the green light to unlock £100m of private-sector investment in Torbay’s tourism industry which will create hundreds of new jobs and see visitors spend millions of pounds annually in the area.

The role of the media during Covid-19 and why it’s more important than ever before
These are chaotic, life-changing times and millions of us are relying heavily on a daily, maybe even hourly, dose of trusted news and information to provide clarity and guidance.

Keep in contact and keep the wheels of business turning
Once staff have settled into working from home, many business owners and managers will be turning their attention to exactly how they’re going to conduct “business as usual”.

Public support for hotel planning application “quite something!”
Major planning applications can often divide communities, but the level of public support for one in particular has been highlighted by councillors as they voted to support proposals for a new five-star hotel in the English Riviera.

Bad news travels fast, can you stop it?
Bad news travels fast and, in this age of digital, more so than ever before. But when bad news about your company hits, can you stop it?
Yes, you can. If you do and say the right things…

How the RNLI rescued its reputation
You may have read in the news recently that some donors to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) cancelled their donations because 2% of funds are supporting causes in other countries, while jobs were being cut in the UK.

3 crisis comms lessons from President Nixon’s ‘moon disaster’ speech
As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, President Nixon’s ‘in the event of a moon disaster’ speech has been released, a powerful and poignant speech which would have been used if the worst had happened on the mission.

How IKEA used social media to turn a complaining customer into a company advocate
Social media is being used increasingly by businesses keen to share company information, news, and details on products or services. It’s also a very convenient way for customers to get in contact with an enquiry, a thank you or a complaint.

How to build a great reputation
All businesses and CEOs know that it takes a lifetime to build a good reputation and it’s not just about talking the talk, it’s about actions too.

Planning for planning – don’t forget the neighbours!
I learned the hard way – and the expensive way – about the perils of not fully engaging with your neighbours ahead of making a planning application.

How to integrate Instagram into your communications plan
A picture speaks a thousand words and that’s the beauty of Instagram.
Using pictures to tell stories about your business is a smart way of getting across a message with impact. Capturing your audience’s attention with compelling images will draw them into your story and tempt them to find out more.

Who to call if you’re struck by a cyber attack
Nearly a quarter of South West SMEs believe it is just a matter of time before they have a cyber-attack or data breach but admit that dealing with cyber-security isn’t a priority.

Employee advocacy on social media
Most businesses understand the importance of a strong online presence for the company, but some overlook the fact that their employees are representing them on social media too.

Work experience: “my first few strides into the big wide world”
Hamish McCorriston, a year 11 student at Colyton Grammar School, joined us for a week’s work experience in October. Here’s what he learnt during his time with the KOR team.

Measuring the value of earned media
In a recent survey of senior marketing people, 73 per cent declared that earned media is more effective than paid media.

PESO Model – what is it, and why PRs should embrace it
The PR industry has often struggled to show its worth because, as many professionals can relate to, it is hard to put a price on media relations, let alone demonstrate its value and investment to clients.

One month to go until Data Day – Practical steps for compliance
By now, you will have no doubt heard endless presentations on general data protection regulations (GDPR) at networking events and will have an inbox full of emails from different organisations requesting you opt-in to legitimise their marketing efforts post May 25th.
So, what are you doing about the data that you hold?

7 ways to improve your PR measurement
Measurement is a hot topic in the public relations industry. Often, it can be hard to see if a message has been truly disseminated, absorbed or actioned.

Make the most of digital trends for your small business
Nowadays, we all find ourselves, willing or not, in the fast lane of digital connectivity. AI and voice recognition have become more than distant tales of a new era.

How to ensure your time spent on Facebook is well spent
The average person will spend five years and four months on social media in their lifetime*. In that time, you could walk the Great Wall of China 3.5 times or fly to the moon and back 32 times. So, it’s pretty great news that with its latest algorithm change, Facebook wants to make sure that time spent on the platform is of value to its users.

A new breed of ‘Working Dogs’
As a company, we’ve all had to adapt to the ever-changing world of work and technology and being a dog is no excuse. Dogs are no longer just herding sheep or helping the blind and partially sighted, they’re also leading the way in Public Relations.

Fonzie and the Yimbys – global answers to the housing crisis
I guess it’s a generational thing, because I got it right away, whereas younger folk in these parts needed it explaining: in Australia, a self-contained flat above a garage is called a Fonzie Flat, because The Fonz – played by Henry Winkler in the TV show Happy Days – lived in an apartment above the Cunningham family’s garage.

Measure what matters: why measurement is key
What’s the point in delivering a brilliant communications strategy on behalf of your client if you’re unable to show them it’s been effective?

KOR! What a week…
Beth Rice, student at Colyton Grammar School, recently joined the KOR team for a week’s work experience. Here’s what she learnt during her time here…

Welcome to KOR – Work Experience at KOR Communications
Hannah Corfield, journalism student at Falmouth University, has spent the past week with KOR learning about PR and communications. We asked Hannah to share her thoughts on her experience and whether she sees any similarities between journalism and PR.

KOR shortlisted in the annual CIPR awards
KOR Communications is proud to have been shortlisted for this year’s PRide Awards for our entry into the STEM Campaign category.

Lead by Example – communication and collaboration
English and Drama graduate, Grace Henley, has been working with KOR for the last four weeks supporting the team with all aspects of our work and getting experience in working for a PR consultancy. Before leaving us, we asked Grace to share her thoughts on working in the PR industry, how she felt coming to join the team and what she learnt during her time.

4 ways to give your social media a spring clean
Get the feather duster out – It’s time for a social media spring clean.

Three top PR tips when planning for planning
Those who have read “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” will know that the book starts with our hero Arthur lying in front of a bulldozer, trying to prevent his house being knocked down to make way for a bypass.

KOR named Outstanding Small PR Consultancy
KOR Communications has been named the “Most Outstanding Small Public Relations Consultancy in the South of England and Channel Islands” after collecting a Gold in the CIPR PRide Awards 2016.

How to make your business event a success
If there’s an important landmark coming up in your business calendar, perhaps an anniversary or a new product launch, you could well be planning an event. But how do you make sure your event aligns with your business goals?