Much excitement at Launch Towers this week as the teams behind the inspiring Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the Pole recreation met TRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Earlier this year the five team members completed their arduous trek, covering 920 miles in the process. Incredibly, the Scott team reached the South Pole 100 years to the day as Captain Scott did, before he began his ill-fated return trip.

The Duke is patron of the expedition and joined team members in London to show his support. As you might expect, there was much media attention focused on Kate’s attire but when Prince William held the oh-so-cute three week old Hugo Vicary, son of Scott team member Vic Vicary, the media and social media sphere went into overdrive.

Fantastic front page coverage followed for the Legion, with much of it mentioning the heroic efforts of Lt Col Henry Worsley and his Army team-mates in raising funds for The Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre.

The expedition raised a staggering £160,000. And Team Poppy at Launch has been honoured to be involved and supporting them every step of the way…

I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but I have been absolutely transfixed by the whole Leveson Inquiry. For someone who is obsessed by and works in the media, it has shone a light on some of its more nefarious dealings (not something we’ve had anything to do with here at Launch).

At times it has seemed like an episode of The Thick Of It (particularly the scene when Malcolm Tucker invites four journos to his house for a friendly curry whilst on ‘holiday’). The more sinister revelations are more like something out of a Stieg Larsson novel.

Unfortunately (or fortunately if you’re Jeremy Hunt, Rupert Murdoch or one of the other people who have had aspersions cast on their character) there is no Lisbeth Salander available to use either her photographic memory or supreme hacking skills to uncover the real truth.

The questioning of both James and Rupert Murdoch this week have been characterised by the limitations of the evidence available. There have been salacious emails that, on the surface, appear to pull those involved right into the mire. However, those who have been implicated by these allegations have been able to play down the seriousness of the evidence. And when it comes to phone calls, meetings and conversations, memories become even sketchier.

The unfortunate truth is that, whilst it may feel that we are living through an epochal moment in the way that politics, media and the public interact (history in the making, you might say), the full reality of how News International and the various political parties have worked and clashed over the past 20/30 years is only going to become apparent once the major players have a lot less to lose.

We can spend time (as they did on Newsnight last night) discussing the effect the Inquiry will have on Murdoch, whether Leveson and Robert Jay could have been stronger in their questioning and whether criminal charges should be brought. However, we’re probably going to have to wait until memoirs are published and empires crumble for the full truth to out.

In the meantime, let’s sit back and enjoy the ride. And be thankful that we at least UK politicians and the Murdochs have their own opinions that they are not afraid to share (unlike the guy below…)

Pinterest is a social network that has been creating a lot of interest online in recent months, but what exactly is it and how does it differ from old favourites Facebook and Twitter? Take a look at our handy need-to-know guide below, and then look up Launch Group’s very own Pinterest page!

What is it?

Pinterest is a new social network that allows users to ‘pin’ the things they love from around the web into one place. These ‘pins’ are organised into ‘boards.’ Try to think of Pinterest as a great big interactive scrapbook where you can show off everything you’re interested in, and follow, as well as comment, on others with similar interests. Anytime you pin something, you are given the option to share it across your Twitter or Facebook pages.

Re-pinning, following and likes

‘Re-pinning’ works much in the same way as ‘re-tweeting.’ If someone has posted something you like too, re-pinning it will add it to one of your own boards. You also have the option of following other people – either every single one of their boards, or one in particular. Those that you follow will appear on your Pinterest dashboard when you log-in. ‘Liking’ a pin tells the person who pinned it exactly that – you like it! It does not automatically add the pin to any of your boards.

How does it work?

First of all, you need to download the ‘Pin It’ button from the website and add it to your browser. That done, it’s incredibly easy to use. When you’re browsing the web and come across an image or a video you like, hit the ‘Pin It’ button. This brings up a window with all of the available ‘pin-able’ content. Select the image or video you want, choose which of your boards you want it added to, add a short description and BOOM! You have successfully pinned an item. When others click your pin, they will be directed back to its original source, which is great news for brands who have had pins taken from a product page and will benefit from the back-link.

What are the demographics?

According to Mashable, 42 per cent of users are aged between 25 and 34, and of those 56 per cent are male (versus 44 per cent female).

Why are people using it?

Pinterest is a slightly different kettle of fish from your Facebook and your Twitter – primarily because the emphasis is on being inspired. People flock to Pinterest for ideas on what to have for dinner, how to re-model their bathroom and what they should wear to a friend’s wedding. In this way the site gives its users vicarious pleasure in taking a look at what other people – all over the world – like. Visitors are also already in a ‘buy hungry’ state of mind by the time they arrive at Pinterest, which offers a not insignificant opportunity for brands.

How could brands use it?

Showcase ‘exclusive’ never-before-seen content
Let followers get involved in curating brand content by selecting the function that allows others to add to your boards
Request images or video of followers with a particular product in return for rewards
Run image and video competitions
Run focus groups and use the comments functionality to collect feedback
Promote new products and campaigns in a visually interesting way
Upload a selection of coverage
Inspire a brand lifestyle by going beyond simple product-pushing. We really like the Whole Foods Market Pinterest page, which inspires not just on the culinary front, but across exercise, well-being and environmental too

I’ve been to Tesco loads of times. Seriously. I’m not bragging, but I mean loads and loads of times. In fact, I’ve been so many times I know that if you were to live your life sequentially, rather than chronologically, then the time spent in Tesco would take up a 64 day stretch. That’s bonkers really. 64 days. Two summer months and two days. 9 weeks and a day. 92,160 minutes.

But I’d never been with Launch Group. Not for one second.

I am new at Launch Group, coming to the end of my third official week. It’s been great: really cool. What I have particularly responded to, and talked about at home and on the phone to my mother, is the immediate sense of cohesion. I never felt like the ‘work experience’ kid, I never felt like the ‘tea-mule’, rather a legitimate member of Launch Group. Sure, the most inexperienced member, but a member none-the-less.

This sentiment is no better explained than on my second day. I was at home, talking about how much I was enjoying Launch and eating a Solero, when I receive a text asking whether I would like to attend a photo-call in the morning at a nearby Tesco to launch the Together for Trees initiative. I didn’t expect that. It wasn’t necessary to extend a professional olive branch. I was grateful enough, as I should have been, to be on work experience with Launch Group, let alone be allowed to attend official business with our CEO Johnny and an important client. But then again, I have been in Tesco loads, so maybe they have spotted my retail nous. ‘I’d love to’. ‘Great news David, see you at 8am’.

It’s 8am. I enter, what is a very large Tesco near Earl’s Court, and bashfully ask whether a PR event is being hosted. The gentleman didn’t know, but pointed me to an aisle that had been turned in to a “rope bridge or a jungle or something”. I’ll give that a try. I walk down the central reservation, no real jungle in sight, but there is a group of people at the very far end. As I get closer and closer, what unravels is both surprising and charming. The aisle isn’t an aisle any more, it is closer to an installation: lined with looming plants, and a wooden bridge on the floor held together by rope. Two colleagues are being directed by the photographer. I stand, reticent. Not only do I not know how to help, but I don’t know what I could even do to enhance what is an impressive display of PR imagination and implementation. In the meantime, Kevin is still being told to hold the hose higher above Harri’s umbrella while she peers out looking delicately affected by the fake rainfall.

I turn around and am suddenly shaking hands with Ed Stafford. I know of Ed Stafford. It was a real pleasure to meet him, and he put me at an ease I didn’t realise I needed. He gets called to position by the photographer. “Here?”. “Yeah that’s great”. Immediately, and with consummate ease for an explorer not a model, he looks like he is back walking the Amazon. Except for the trolley of food. Although I wouldn’t put it past him to walk the Amazon again with a trolley full of food, that’s for sure.

The photographer is done. I look to my colleagues. “Right, back to the office’. That’s it. This magnum PR event finished. Except of course it isn’t finished. It is just the spark that starts the day’s work.

Today’s date (11.11.11), a perfect palindrome and a particularly poignant Armistice Day as the Royal British Legion commemorates its 90th Anniversary. To say it’s been busy at Launch Towers would be an understatement. The RBL team has been working relentlessly in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday securing media opportunities left right and centre. With too many to mention individually, I’ve compiled a few highlights from the last couple of weeks.

Boris meets Doris

Boris Johnson appeared with Launch’s very own Harriet ‘Doris’ Murphy to launch London Poppy Day, the largest single fundraising day in the capital with servicemen and volunteers aiming to raise over £500,000 in just 12 hours. Thanks to Harriet (and of course Boris), the pictures made it to page 2 of the Evening Standard and kick started the media frenzy…

London Poppy Day

Question: What do you get if you cross nearly 1,000 men in uniform and a load of poppies. The answer is London Poppy Day, a PR dream and enormous honour.

The largest fundraising day started with a bang with Launch’s illustrious team leader Rebecca running round London trying to coordinate service personnel, beneficiaries, route master buses, Olympic cyclists and a number of national film crews. Whoever said working with children and animals was difficult should speak to Rebecca about coordinating the PR for London Poppy Day! Joined at her side by media hound Charlie who was last seen running after the TFL commissioner’s routemaster bus as it left without her and the BBC London film crew who had come down to film the bus! Thankfully she caught up with it and the team achieved some astounding coverage (personally some of the best I’ve ever witnessed) including numerous broadcast interviews with BBC London News and ITV News.

Piggybacking the news agenda

A particularly great piece of ‘PR piggybacking’ also occurred. Cue ITV News broadcasting a piece on the opening of a new road in the city complete with vintage cars driving down Regent Street. I can only imaging their PR team’s frustration as some rather dashing soldiers holding trays of poppies appear in the back of the vintage cars. Sorry!

May the force(s) be with you

To mark the end of London Poppy Day with a total of nearly £450,000 raised in just 12 hours, the team headed down to Leadenhall Market for a glass of wine with the soldiers. Without giving too much away, we lost an umberella and gained a few friends…..my lips are sealed *ahem*!

Shoulder to Shoulder

In true ‘All Channel PR’, some phenomenal digital work as we also launched Shoulder to Shoulder. The RBL team capitalised on the random appearance of Suggs in the building and added to the virtual wall of Remembrance alongside the Saturday’s, Lorraine Kelly, Barbara Windsor, Andy Murray to name a few. The number of people currently standing shoulder to shoulder is 17,000  but is increasing by the day.

From Cupcakes to Bling….Poppies take over the world!

Any of you watching  Live with Gaby today will have seen Flossie cup cakes for Remembrance Day and Recipes for Remembrance….massive well done to Larissa, the relentless phonecalls have paid off! Twitter also went crazy last weekend with the airing of Strictly Come Dancing and the X-Factor….well done to Charlie who couldn’t physically have featured more poppies on primetime TV if she had tried!!

And finally… today the team went down to Silence in the Square. A truly moving experience for me personally given that my grandfather died serving his country in the Navy. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Launch team to achieve the phenomenal amount PR coverage for the Royal British Legion. What a fantastic start to my time at Launch.

This week Launch Group joined The Royal British Legion for this year’s launch of the Poppy Appeal 2011.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of The Royal British Legion and to celebrate, the Legion is calling for the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder with serving and ex-Service personnel and show their support by wearing a poppy.

Whether it’s the traditional poppy or a virtual poppy, the long standing symbol of The Royal British Legion remains a powerful reminder of those who have served and still serve the Armed Forces.

This year, the team are helping to get the word out about  The Shoulder to Shoulder app, which enables people to upload a photo of themselves, add a poppy to it and then a message of support to our Armed Forces. Once submitted, the images then appear on the Shoulder to Shoulder virtual wall.

The app launched yesterday and already an amazing 2,800 people have uploaded pictures to show their support.

To show your support, check out the website and follow Shoulder to Shoulder on Twitter.

Launch started life as a consumer brands project PR agency in 2001.  We were one of PR Week’s best new agencies of the year, attracting great people and great clients alike.

In 2005, our offer began to integrate media relations, digital and events.  We launched our corporate team around this time too.

And now, towards the end of 2011, we’re talking to people about our all-channel PR offer.

Innovation is good in business.  In fact, if you don’t innovate, your business quickly loses its shine and appeal.

All-channel PR?

It’s logical – whatever you have to communicate, to whichever audiences, we consult around the key PR channels-to-market to do it.  And we have all the capability in-house.

Clients should be guided, clients should be advised, and they shouldn’t feel hampered by one dimensional offers.  There’s too much at stake in the real / virtual / consumer / corporate inter-connected world and the relationship between experience / content / digital and media needs to be well explained – and bought in part (if that’s the need against the audience), or in whole.

Some clients come to us and say – ‘we’d love a bit of that.’  And that’s great.  Others come saying ‘we’re not sure, you tell us’.  And that’s equally, if not more exciting.

One size doesn’t fit all.  Having all the channels open and available has to be in a client’s best interest.

Add amazing people, brilliant thinking, collective culture and nice coffee and you’re probably on to something.

Great talent drives great businesses – and here at Launch HQ we are on the look out for some fantastic new PR talent to come and join us……

If you’re a seasoned Consumer Account Manager or fresh faced Assistant Executive looking for a new challenge, look no further. If you want to work at an award winning agency on some of the most exciting consumer brands in the UK, then talk to us!

With a results-driven ethos and big creative platforms at the centre of everything we do, our all-channel PR approach means our consultants work on everything from traditional media relations to digital and experiential campaigns.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, please send your CV and covering letter to cvs@launchgroup.co.uk stating your desired salary and one of the team will be in touch.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Over the last few months we have been working with Capital One on their Credit Made Clearer initiative. Working with Professor Geoff Beattie of Manchester University (aka the Big Brother psychologist) research out this week has revealed that Monday 26th September to Sunday 2nd October is the worst week of the year for money worries.

The study revealed that the biggest factors that make this week the worst week for money are: the bills coming in for our summer fun, the cost of kids going back to school and university, preparing for colder weather and, not least, the realisation that the great Christmas spending spree is nearly upon us.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – the worst week for money was also a great week for coverage, with the story being picked up by the Daily Star, I, The Times online, Daily Express online and Guardian online to name just a few. So far, we have achieved 330 pieces of coverage with more to come so watch this space!

We’ve always known that Launch is a great place to work but now everyone else knows it too!

It’s been celebration time at Launch Towers this week as we’ve just been named as one of PR Week’s Best Places to Work for the second year running!

In a survey of the PR industry to find out which are the best agencies to work for in the UK (that’s around 3500 agencies by the way) Launch received the bronze medal, with the judges being particularly “impressed with the agency’s commitment to staff wellbeing and training”.  And being one of the main things that attracted me to Launch in the first place, I would be inclined to agree with them.

Since starting at Launch five months ago, I’ve had regular 1-2-1s with my line manager and Johnny, our CEO, to discuss my development, enjoyed several training sessions on everything from commercial practices to twitter, joined the team on an amazing trip to Paris in honour of their stunning work on a client campaign and even been promoted.

One of the standout things about Launch is that if you are interested in doing something, they will give you every opportunity to do so and as the company moves into an exciting new decade, I can’t wait to see what that will bring.

To find out about Launch’s other top drawer benefits that caught the judges’ eyes (and the eyes of our Launchers) check out the awards results online here.

Being the ambitious bunch we are though, along with our Olympic hopefuls, we’ll be going for gold next year so watch this space.  Or, better still come and join us!