Mosaic Publicity Blog

Mosaic opens new training suite

2011-04-27T21:16:00.000+01:00

Just a few days to go now and the Mosaic Media Training suite will be open for business at our Colchester premises. This three room self-contained suite includes two training rooms plus a video recording studio.

As well as being our new base for our 16 different media training courses, it is also available for hire.

The main training room accommodates eight delegates plus two trainers and can be laid out in a variety of formations, including a horseshoe shape, four separate tables facing the front (with two people at each table), or the four tables together.

The recording studio, ideal for our broadcast training courses, allows us to offer a studio set up, with two people (an interviewer and interviewee) on camera. We have two high definition cameras, a mixer desk and professional lighting, with live mixing and instant playback.

We also have a green screen option for anyone wishing to have their own backdrop added afterwards, during the video editing process.

Our TV and radio interview training courses also incorporate TV interviews outdoors, radio interviews face-to-face and telephone 'down-the-line' interviews. Plus we have a radio recording booth for anyone seeking perfect quality audio.

Our second training room is ideal as a breakout room and a base for lunch and refreshments, with a sink unit, table and seating for eight people.

If you would like further information, please contact Mosaic on (01206) 548100 or email training@mosaicpublicity.co.uk.

Mosaic launches new service marketing Apps for Business

2010-11-30T08:25:00.000Z

If you have developed a new App for your business, you'll want the whole world to know about it. Mosaic Publicity has launched a new service to market Apps for Business.

By writing engaging stories for both 'traditional' and online media, we can generate results for your organisation. Please contact us on 01206 548100 for details and visit our new Apps for Business blog.

A clutch of silver

2010-11-04T09:47:00.000Z

A great night at the CIPR Pride Awards 2010 where we won Silver awards for Best Use of Social Media, Community Relations and Best Event. We were also a finalist in the regional Outstanding PR Consultancy category. Congratulations to the team and a big thank you to all our clients for giving us some great projects to work on.

Mosaic makes CIPR awards shortlist

2010-10-03T15:17:00.000+01:00

The Mosaic team is absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for all four CIPR awards that we entered this year.

It's always very time-consuming to write award submissions when you are very busy but it is very worthwhile when the shortlist drops into the email after being judged by your peers.

As well as being in the top three for the Outstanding PR Consultancy of the Year for the Eastern region, we're also one of two shortlisted for best Community Relations campaign for the submission we jointly entered with DP World London Gateway.

Our social media skills using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, blogging and many other channels of communication have been acknowledged in the Best Use of Digital PR category, in which we entered our very own 10th anniversary Guide Dog campaign.

Plus we've also made it to the final of Best Event for the 30th Colchester Lecture, featuring war veteran Simon Weston, recognising the talents of our own in-house Event Manager Gemma Rawlinson.

We're very lucky to have such a talented team at Mosaic Publicity and we're always delighted when the work we undertake for our clients is recognised for its high standards. More than anything, we're grateful to our clients for giving us such fantastic projects to work on in the first place!

All this, combined with our re-accreditation of Investors in People and our incredible fundraising efforts this year will ensure that the 10th anniversary of Mosaic Publicity really is a year to remember.

Click here to see the awards shortlist.

Maximus makes a visit

2010-09-29T16:35:00.000+01:00

The Mosaic team were delighted when our first sponsored Guide Dog puppy, which we named Maximus, paid a visit to the office. The gorgeous two month old golden Labrador has already began training and will be a fully fledged Guide Dog in just over a year! Check him out on our Facebook page!

Essex Chambers of Commerce fun

2010-09-22T15:59:00.000+01:00

Mosaic Publicity is working with Essex Chambers of Commerce on social media; we're having a great time!

Just the Biz Variety Show photos

2010-09-19T23:38:00.001+01:00

What an amazing evening - thank you so much to everyone who took part, helped, sponsored or supported this wonderful event in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Here are some photos of our very special evening at the Mercury Theatre on September 18th 2010.

Tickets on sale for Just the Biz variety show

2010-08-21T21:37:00.001+01:00

It's Just the Biz! Members of Colchester's business community are preparing a night's entertainment to remember. Talented singers, musicians, dancers, comedians and more will be treading the boards at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Co-ordinated by Mosaic Publicity as part of the company's 10th anniversary celebrations, all money raised on the night will be to help Mosaic pay for a second guide dog puppy to start training. Tickets for the event on Saturday September 18th can be bought from the Mercury Theatre in Colchester.

Variety show rehearsal schedule announced

2010-08-08T22:58:00.001+01:00

We're making giant strides with preparations for Just the Biz variety show at the Mercury Theatre on September 18th. But rather than read all about it here, we'd like you to visit our Facebook site to see our video of the guide dogs in action and some photos from our first rehearsal, as well as a list of rehearsal dates. And if you can't take part, we hope you'll come and watch!

Business Variety Show launched

2010-05-09T21:23:00.000+01:00

A date for your diary - Saturday September 18th at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester - Just the Biz variety show for the business community in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind - put the date in your diary. Take part or just come along and support. More info will follow at a later date.

Guide Dog Blog and Podcast launched

2010-05-09T21:18:00.002+01:00

Learn about the life of a guide dog from Layla, a Guide Dog who has found her voice! As part of Mosaic Publicity's 10th anniverary celebrations raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, we've been getting to know gorgeous Layla, a labrador cross golden retriever, owned by Sue. In our podcast, we've recorded Sue as Layla's voice (ok, no doggy barks and woofs but you get the idea) and Sue is fabulous in bringing to life what Layla does in her doggy working week. We've also recorded Elaine, a puppy dog walker, as the voice of Zipoy, a black labrador in training. To read and hear more, please visit our Facebook page and become a fan! Spread the word too. We'll also be recording video of the guide dogs at work. We'll keep you updated via Twitter, Facebook, Blogger and LinkedIn - all of which can be found via the front of the Mosaic Publicity website.

You can also see photos from our fantastic Mosaic Masquerade Ball on our Facebook page - we raised enough in one night to pay for a guide dog puppy to start its training - and by the end of the year, we hope to have raised enough money for a second.

Puppy love at media masterclass

2010-03-01T22:11:00.001Z

A basket of cute puppies stole the day at the Mosaic Publicity 10th Anniversary Media Masterclass, held in association with Colchester Connected magazine.

But far from being an Andrex moment, the puppies were simply furry toys snapped up by masterclass delegates keen to push the day’s fundraising efforts towards the £1,000 mark.

As Mosaic Publicity Chief Executive Karen Ainley explained: “When it comes to securing media coverage for your organisation, you can’t go wrong with pictures of animals making puppy dog eyes. The fact that ours were soft toys is a minor point!”

Speaking at the masterclass alongside former BBC reporter Karen were Colchester Connected Editor Irene Kettle and Founder Linda Green, heart FM Colchester news editor Sonia Clark and Press and PR photographer Nick Strugnell.

The event is one of a series aimed at raising £10,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind across Mosaic Publicity’s 10th anniversary year. Mosaic, which specialises in PR, websites, media training and event management, is now taking bookings for the Mosaic Masquerade Masked Ball at Le Talbooth on April 23rd. Contact gemma@mosaicpublicity.co.uk, or call 01206 548100 for further information.

Media Masterclass Speakers Announced

2010-02-07T22:10:00.001Z

Mosaic Publicity is organising a media masterclass in Colchester on Friday February 26th in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. For full details, please see our media training press release.

10th Anniversary Clothes swap update

2010-01-27T22:52:00.004Z

A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the Mosaic Publicity 10th Anniversary Clothes Swap, which raised £750 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. See our slideshow!

To view or download individual photos, click here.

Or view our video on the Mosaic YouTube Channel!

It was our first event of 10 as part of our anniversary celebrations and was a huge success. We would like to express our gratitude to the team at St Mary's Arts Centre for their support and to everyone who brought clothes, baked cakes or helped in some way.

Mosaic's events co-ordinator Gemma Rawlinson succeeded in attracting around 70 people to the event, through excellent publicity, including articles in the local papers and listings in various publications, including the Arts Centre magazine. Well done, Gem - a great testiment to your organisational skills.

Big thanks also to Rachael Bilby who secured the support of Monsoon, who kindly loaned us clothes rails and coathangers.

We're now preparing our next event, the Mosaic and Colchester Connected Media Masterclass in February - more on this to come later.

Creating a YouTube video channel

2010-01-20T21:33:00.000Z

If you are a business looking to create video content for your website - or perhaps a vodcast (video podcast) with an RSS feed, Mosaic Publicity can help.

We can create simple video for you with our high definition camera - or if you want an all-singing, all-dancing corporate video, our BBC trained in-house journalists will partner with our professional camera crew to write and direct the full kit and caboodle!

A simple hosting solution is to use YouTube and create your own video channel, like the Mosaic Publicity Channel - we'll be loading lots of new videos on here over the year to share top tips on how you can get the most out of the media and to showcase some of our work. Plus you can see our corporate videos at Mosaic TV on the Mosaic Publicity website.

You may be eligible to become a YouTube partner and have your own channel banner on the top to reinforce your branding, like the impressive Citizens Advice Bureau Channel. See the YouTube partnerships page for further information.

We're on candid camera!

2009-11-13T22:41:00.000Z

Karen and Rechenda were papped at the EEDA Destination Growth event and persuaded to give their views on film! See the vox pop here - http://bit.ly/DestinationGrowth; also below:

Mosaic's Wild West runners are getting ready for charity fun run

2009-09-07T10:15:00.003+01:00

Our wild west runners Gemma and Rachael have begun to limber up in preparation for next weeks Run 4 Fun, organised by local solicitors, Birkett Long.

The event is set to be a lot of fun with participants following a Cowboy and Indians fancy dress theme running around the 2.5 mile route through the Colchester Castle Park, on Thursday 17th September.

It is a great annual event all in aid of raising money for the Mayor's Charities, which this year are: Army Benevolent Fund, CO1, Colchester Youth Outreach, St Helena Hospice and Colchester Night Shelter.

Sponsorship is key to helping these local charities in such difficult times and donations are flowing in. If you'd like to help by sponsoring Gemma and Rachael please contact Gemma on 01206 548100.

Update - congratulations to Gemma for completing the run and commiserations to Rachael who was ill and couldn't take part!!

Mosaic Publicity Award Shortlist News

2009-09-04T11:47:00.003+01:00

Despite having to dig out our jumpers and thermals over the coming Autumn months, the beginning of September is also when we can start looking forward to big dinners and glitzy events as we enter the business awards season.

It has been a great start for Mosaic Publicity as we have just been shortlisted for three awards at this year's Chartered Institute of Public Relations regional PRide awards.

The first award we have been shortlisted for is the "Best use of Social Media". From Podcasting and Vodcasting, to DVDs and interactive newsletters, Mosaic Publicity always prides itself in offering up to the mark PR and marketing tools to help our clients get results.

Our PR Account Director, Rechenda Smith has also been shortlisted for the "Young Communicator of the Year" award. With natural passion to be at the top of her game teamed with her feisty charisma there is no suprise the judges will have been impressed by how much she has achieved in such little time!

Finally, we are very proud to have been shortlisted for the "Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy" award which we hope to win after a year of hard graft and determination to rise above the recession and push Mosaic Publicity forward as the region's best PR consultancy.

We are also proud to announce that our client Spicerhaart has been shortlisted for eight national estate agency awards set to take place over the coming months.

So, with the big award nights to look forward to, our fingers are tightly crossed to hopefully bring home the golds!

Celebrity chefs galore!

2009-08-07T13:14:00.004+01:00

Through our friend Mark Baumann at Baumanns Brasserie in Coggeshall, we've been meeting celebrity chefs galore. Take a look at our pix - Mosaic Director Karen Ainley is with the Hairy Bikers while Co-Director Kevin Bentley is with Jean Christophe-Novelli and Mark Baumann. See the Baumanns Brasserie website for further details.

Celebrity spotting with Mosaic

2009-07-22T10:20:00.008+01:00

What a week we’ve had for celebrity spotting. Hard on the heels of a photo shoot for one of our clients – details of which will follow in a future blog – four of the Mosaic team were invited by Vicki Skeels at the Hearing Care Centre in Colchester to a fantastic photography exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, sponsored by Phonak.

Pop star Bryan Adams had taken photos of many famous celebs to help raise awareness about the Hear the World charity. What we hadn’t expected was to see so many celebs close up, one after the other.

Mosaic Director Kevin Bentley was pictured with his culinary hero Rick Stein while fellow Director Karen Ainley, Event Manager Gemma Rawlinson and PR Account Manager Fiona Bates were snapped with pop star Gareth Gates.

The paparazzi were out in full force, as the likes of actresses Martine McCutcheon and Cherie Lunghi, athlete Colin Jackson, hairstylist to the stars Nicky Clarke and a whole host of other famous people stepped onto the red carpet.

Funny though – no-one took our pic! Our gratitude goes to Vicki for the invite but what we must all remember is that this is for a very important cause. It’s amazing how many people will suffer hearing loss during their lifetime and it is thanks to these celebs that awareness is raised about hearing impairment – while thanks must go to Vicki and her team for all the work they do in helping people overcome their hearing difficulties.

In tangent with Tangent

2009-07-14T13:19:00.002+01:00

It's been another busy month for Mosaic Publicity Director Karen Ainley who is currently 'on tour' with her presentation on 'The Changing Face of the Media'. Karen spoke to Chelmsford Tangent last week and will be with the Layer Ladies this week. If you would like to book Karen for a speaking engagement, please email info@mosaicpublicity.co.uk.

2008-07-18T11:41:00.001+01:00

CIM podcasting success!

Tune in! Mosaic Publicity Director Karen Ainley offered her tips for podcasting success during a guest presentation slot at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Digital Media Conference, held at Robinson College, Cambridge.

She delivered an inspirational seminar on Podcasting and highlighted how businesses can apply it to their marketing strategies.

The former BBC radio and TV reporter heads up Mosaic Publicity's Podcast Training course, along with 16 other media training courses on offer!

Karen who is well versed in all the techniques needed to create excellent audio and video for the web and shared tips from her 'Five Ps to the Perfect Podcast' course with the CIM audience.

Click here to listen to audio of Karen's presentation.

CiB Communic8 Winners announced

2008-07-11T10:48:00.005+01:00

Congratulations to all the winners at the CiB Communic8 Awards, celebrating the very best in professional communications in East Anglia. Organised by our event management team at Mosaic Publicity, the awards were held in the splendid surroundings of the luxurious Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket on July 3rd.

For our news release and details of the winners, please see below. To see photos of the winners, please visit our Picasa site at ttp://picasaweb.google.com/rlabilby/CiBCommunic8Awards2008?authkey=WwVyg5xR2A8 or you can view a slideshow here.

News release

Award winners really know how to Communic8

Professional communicators across the region have come out on top at the Communic8 Awards, organised by the Anglia Region of Communicators in Business (CiB).

A bumper crop of brochures, newsletters, websites and new media entries were reviewed by a panel of experts, including CiB East Anglia Chairman Phillip Brooks, Past National Chairman Ken Runicles who is the editor in chief at BT, and Diana Flower who has worked in corporate communications for a wide range of major organisations.

The awards recognise the skills and talents of communication professionals whose creativity, tenacity and commitment to clear and truthful communication are helping organisations work effectively with their employees and clients.

Mr Brooks commented: “The quality of entries was extremely impressive and shows that the East Anglia region is full of creative individuals and organisations who are able to deliver powerful messages that create tangible results.”

The awards were also attended by special guests, Paul Brasington, National CiB Chairman, and Phil Dance, MD of Technology Development for BT at Martlesham Heath. Karen Ainley, Mosaic Publicity Chief Executive compered the ceremony.

With success filling the room, businesses from all sectors bagged trophies and “Awards of Excellence” for the following 9 categories:

Category 1 – Internal Publications; 12 pages or Less

Winner – Essex Police with “The Law”

Awards of Excellence went to:

• Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital – In the news
• Project PR - @FordRetail

Category 2 – Internal Publications; More than 12 pages

Winner – Archant with “Archant Network”

Awards of Excellence went to:

• Cambridgeshire County Council – countywide
• University of Essex - wyvern

Category 3: External Publications; 12 pages or less

Winner – Colne Housing with “C-mail”

Award of Excellence went to

• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital – The Pulse

Category 4: External Publications; more than 12 pages

Winner – South Cambridgeshire District Council with “South Cambs”

Awards of Excellence went to

• Cable and Wireless Pensioners Association – CAWPA News
• Cambridgeshire County Council – east Cambridgeshire
• PMA Media Training – Attract London

Category 5: Brochures, Annual Reports and Reviews

Winner: Sowerby.rc with “Care Aspirations”

Awards of Excellence went to:

• Essex Police – When I leave school
• Mackman Group – Smugglers Wharf
• Wyboston Lakes - Relax, Dine & Stay

Category 6: New Media

Winner: Shergroup DVD

Awards of Excellence went to:

• Cambridgeshire County Council – Cambridgeshire Together
• Fisher Jones Greenwood – i-legal
• Spicerhaart – Valunation

Category 7: Website

Winner: Wyboston Lakes with http://www.wybostonlakes.co.uk/

Awards of Excellence went to:

• Local Secrets
• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
• Project PR for http://www.teamipswich.com/
• Red Tiger Design for http://www.beauty-magazine.co.uk/
• Shergroup

Category 8: Photography

Winner: Spicerhaart with their “Fine haart” magazine

Category 9: Golden Communicator of the Year

Winner: Suffolk Criminal Justice Board

The big winner of the night, Suffolk Criminal Justice Board, who scooped “Golden Communicator of the Year” will automatically be entered into next years national awards!

Full details of those who were shortlisted for each award are now available online on the CiB website.

The Changing Face of the Media

2008-06-17T23:29:00.004+01:00

Mosaic Publicity Director Karen Ainley spoke to Colchester Rotary Club today about the changes that have taken place during her past two decades of working in the media.

During a whistestop tour, she reminisced about her days carrying brick-sized mobile phones and using razor blades and sticky tape to edit tape when she worked for BBC radio.

Karen is an expert on podcasting and new media, and introduced the gathered throng to the finer details of blogging and social networking.

Mosaic Publicity expands

2008-06-11T22:32:00.002+01:00

Mosaic's newest recruit, Rachel Harrison, has now joined our ranks as a Junior PR Account Manager. Rachel is in a gap year from her university PR course in Leeds. She brings many skills to Mosaic, including a love of new media, podcasting and all things creative. Mosaic is well known for its podcast training and Rachel will be continuing the tradition.

CiM podcasting talks

2008-06-10T12:57:00.002+01:00

Mosaic Publicity Director Karen Ainley will be a guest presenter at two forthcoming events for the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

The Essex branch of the CiM is holding its Summer Marketing Conference on June 18th at Writtle College, whilst CiM Cambridge will be holding its annual Digital Marketing Conference at Robinson College on July 10th.

So if you’d like to find out how and why Mosaic Publicity's podcast BizPodEast is put together, now’s your chance!

Miss Essex FM finalist

2008-06-09T10:10:00.006+01:00

Good luck to Mosaic Publicity Junior PR Account Executive Rachael Bilby who has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Miss Essex FM beauty competition.

Rachael, who will shortly be taking up her place on a ‘marketing and innovation’ degree at the University of Essex Business School in Southend, is keen to practise what she preaches and wants to help put Essex on the map.

She's a great believer in making the most of what Essex has to offer and prove that Essex girls really can have brains as well as beauty!
Hard-working Rachael has 4 A levels, 2 AS levels and 10 GCSE’s, all at grades between A* and B, achieved at Sir Charles Lucas School and the town’s Sixth Form College.

The Miss Essex FM competition is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for Essex FM presenters Martin and Su’s Essex Kids charity, which provides opportunities and support for children and young people who experience poverty and disadvantage or who are experiencing abuse, neglect, homelessness, violence or crime.

As part of the judging criteria, Rachael has to raise awareness about the charity and has to hold a fund-raising event during the summer, giving something back to the youth of Essex.

We’d like everyone to back her in this competition by logging on to the Essex FM website and voting for her online or by attending the awards event on August 28th at the Liquid & Envy nightclub in Basildon. Thank you.

CiB Communic8 Awards

2008-06-08T22:22:00.000+01:00

Communicators in Business in East Anglia will be hosting its first regional award ceremony for many years on July 3rd 2008 at the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.

Mosaic Publicity has been involved in organising the event and we're looking forward to welcoming all those shortlisted to the gala award ceremony.

The awards were judged by Regional CiB Chairman Phillip Brooks, with former National CiB Chairman Ken Runicles and experienced communicator Diana Flower.

If you haven't yet booked tickets, please contact Mosaic Publicity for further information.