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A year’s networking in one evening

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The Trades
The Trades

The Nationals

Property Journalist
Property Journalist

IBP’s Face to Face event at The Building Centre proved a spectacular success, with a number of In house and consultant PR’s enjoying unique access to some of the most influential editors and journalists in the sector.

The brainchild of IBP CEO Gerald Bowey and Willmott Dixon director of communications Andy Geldard, Face to Face gave PR’s the chance to book 10 minute ‘one to one’ slots with editors on a first come basis.

The fact that all slots were booked up within 48 hours of Face to Face being launched showed just how popular the format was, providing a chance for PR’s to have quality time with journalists without interruptions or deadline pressures getting in the way! The PR’s taking part also made individual donations to the Journalists’ Charity, raising £250.

The stellar cast of journalists taking part included: Giles Barrie, Property Week editor in chief, Claer Barrett, news editor London desk at the FT, Rebecca Evans, Construction News editor, Martin Hilditch, Inside Housing deputy editor, Deirdre Hipwell, property writer at The Times, Elaine Knutt, Construction Manager editor, Christine Murray, AJ editor and Sarah Richardson, Building deputy editor.

In house communication managers from Mott MacDonald, Shepherd Construction, Nightingale Associates, Purcell Miller Tritton architects were joined by PR consultant executives from ING Media, Ash Communications, Aylwin Communications, Edelman, London Communications and TTA amongst others

Gerald said, “It was fantastic that the journalists were able to commit time to meet so many companies and give them a level of access that they have not had before; the PR professionals that thought out of the box and committed to this ‘new’ IBP initiative were able to see instant benefits in their exchange with the journalists. It was a good way to exchange ideas and provided in the space of a few hours the type of networking with our sector journalists that it can take years to build up. This sort of event is exactly what IBP is all about, bringing together the PR industry with journalists’. You will see more of this type of event from IBP in the future, but they will only be available to members that react quickly to these innovative exchanges and can see the real benefits.”