Passed by thousands of people everyday on their journey to, from and through The Mailbox, The Cube site is one of the most visible construction projects that Birmingham has witnessed. 

Driven by social forces and the demand for economic growth and regeneration, Birmingham like other global cities, has given rise to the demand for an icon, and Birmingham Development Company’s latest regeneration project certainly fits the bill.

In their very essence iconic buildings stand out from the crowd, push the boundaries and make an instant impression, often becoming a subject of discussion or controversy.  Although not complete, The Cube does tick all of these boxes but unusually, its location and position next to a public footbridge, has meant that buzz among spectators began long before construction started.

The launch of the design competition that crowned Make – one of the UK’s foremost architectural firms founded by Ken Shuttleworth – the winning design team in 2005, started the public thinking about the possibilities of The Cube, and even the excavation of the 20m hole caused a stir around the building before a brick was even laid.

Now, against all the economic odds, The Cube is well over halfway into the build programme that will see completion on schedule for mid 2010. Passers by will have seen the first layers of the metallic anodised cladding installed to the lower levels of the building frame that is slowly bringing the building to life. Yet without reaching anywhere near its full potential or vision, The Cube has somehow already become an icon.

Paul Scott, Partner at Make and member of The Cube design team believes that the building has what it takes to be considered an icon, although the public and indeed the critics have a lot more to see before the full design impact and complexities of The Cube are realised.

Paul said: “From the outset we wanted to change the landscape by means other than the building itself, we also looked at the impact we will have on the surrounding area. As a signature architect working on a landmark and iconic development, one of our key aims was to ‘create a spectacular new ‘front door’ that leads to the canal towpaths and city centre beyond’, actively drawing people through the site.

“Inspired by the jewellery and engineering heritage of Birmingham the mathematically pure cubic structure is based on the concept of a jewellery box; intricate and decorative but protective and intriguing.

“To communicate this philosophy, the sophisticated cladding system that is already beginning to give the exterior façade shape, was carefully developed to convey both the industrial and delicate character of the building. Working closely with contractor BuildAbility and specialist cladding sub-contractor Haga, the material and colour of the façade has been refined throughout the design process to ultimately achieve the subtle and sophisticated blend of light gold, silver and bronze panels.

“To further enhance The Cube’s appearance, the façade panels have three different depths, casting various shadows to add texture and grain. The natural, silver panels are the brightest possible shade external aluminium can be and stand out and project from the building the most. Although these panels glisten in the light, too many bright surfaces would reduce the perception of texture that the design team wanted to achieve, as the shadows cast are less clear. 

“It was therefore decided that in order to ensure the texture of the façade is expressed in the most dramatic way, a subtle palate of light gold for the mid-panel and bronze for the panels that project the least were chosen.”

“As the building grows, the texture of the façade will be further animated by the changing light throughout the day and evening. The crowning glory of the glazed rooftop bar and restaurant that will cut through the skyline, offering visitors an outstanding panoramic view and refracting light onto the cladding that will provide further stunning visual effects and reflections.” 

Whilst giving the building a distinct external identity, the modular cladding system also plays a key role in the building’s environmental strategy, offering infinite flexibility to tailor the glazing of each facade in response to potential solar gain.

Paul added: “Meanwhile, installation of the pastel coloured cladding that will be visible inside the building has taken place over the last few months. This will surround the twisting courtyard that will also draw natural light deep into the heart of the building and create interesting effects.

“With work due to begin shortly on the fretwork screen, the construction is nearing another physical milestone that will again transform the façade of the building, bringing it even closer to completion.

“For the design team The Cube really is a labour of love and there is a lot hard work underway to ensure that the team achieves this challenging vision.

The Cube building, Birmingham. With Neil of Buildability, and Paul Scott of Make.

Providing a total of 339 spaces, the car park is being installed by German sub-contractor Wohr, and as a result of The Cube’s construction programme remaining on track and on time, marks the first time that the sub-contractor has ever been given the green light to start a job on time.

Sitting 20m below ground level, the three storey car park will be the largest of its kind to be seen in the UK, mirroring the unique vision of The Cube’s developers and offering residents and commercial tenants a cutting edge and quick method of parking in the city.

Using intelligent technology, the automated system will allow users to to drive in, and using swipe cards holding detailed information, the cars will be ferried swiftly and safely from one of the four lift garages to the appropriate space within one of the three levels below the iconic building.

When leaving the building, drivers will then be directed to a dedicated lounge area where they will have to wait a maximum of 120 seconds to pick up their vehicle as it is collected from the stacking system.

Neil Edginton, Director of Birmingham Development Company and construction arm BuildAbility, said: “The four garages in place aid the car lift to automatically stack vehicles in a much quicker way. It also ensures that the advanced system will return a car to its owner within a maximum of two minutes – it would probably take longer than this to walk to your car in a traditional car park. There are also two separate stacking systems in place, offering a back up in case of an unlikely breakdown.

“The car park solution not only makes the use of space below The Cube far more efficient, but also benefits tenants by offering a high level of security and also environmental benefits, for example lessening the emissions from driving around a traditional ramped underground car park – not to mention the dizziness!” 

In keeping with BuildAbility’s unique approach to construction and in a bold departure from standard practice, the company made an upfront design payment to Wohr to cover the work prior to the delivery of the system to site. This method is unusual in the UK, but proved crucial to achieving long-term supply commitment, an approach that has clearly paid off now that two years down the line installation has commenced on time.

Neil added: “From the outset we wanted The Cube to be the most special building in the region and features like the car park, and glazed rooftop restaurant and the twisting glass atrium that will reach up through the building are really bringing this vision to life. Upon its launch next year, The Cube will offer a truly mixed-use development within a luxury and landmark destination.”

Tameside Park Travelodge development with James Hinton (striped suit) and Andy Mair, RBS.

Midlands based property developer Hinton Properties has announced the start of the fourth phase of development at its £20 million Birmingham scheme with the construction of a 60-bed hotel.

Due to complete in October of this year, leading hotel brand Travelodge has chosen Tameside Park as one of the key locations for its future expansion in the Midlands.

The development will sit within zone one of the 14-acre scheme, and signals the next phase of development that is set to attract a high calibre of commercial tenants to the growing business park element of the development.

Situated on one of the main arterial routes into Birmingham and fronting the A453 Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, the development has already attracted a number of high profile occupiers including Wickes, Ford and Goals Soccer Centres, that have already benefited from the strong transport network and proximity to the city centre.

This year sees Hinton Properties celebrating 18 years of business success and James Hinton, director of Hinton Properties, believes the new hotel will add to the offering at the already established Park acting as a major draw in attracting further investment.

He said: “Tameside Park is our biggest scheme and as such we have already secured a number of key organisations that have brought considerable footfall and recognition to the scheme. The addition of a well known and trusted brand such as Travelodge is not only set to kick start other business and leisure interest, but will also secure Tameside Park’s position as a retail and commercial centre of regional importance.

“This is a significant brownfield site on a key route into the city and, with the launch of the fourth phase of development, there are a number of flexible freehold and leasehold design and build opportunities up for grabs. We are currently progressing plans for the remaining 4.5 acres at Tameside Park, which would offer an excellent opportunity for commercial, leisure or retail organisations keen to take advantage of the space, location and amenities on offer.”

Funding for the development has been provided through The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in Birmingham.

Andy Mair, Associate Director at RBS, said: “When Hinton Properties first came to us with the vision for Tameside Park, as a bank we were impressed by the vision they had for the development in a key and growing area of the city.

“Tameside Park has clearly captured the interest of many occupiers. With a proven track record, we are confident that the introduction of  Travelodge to the development will contribute to the further growth and success of the Park.”

The development incorporates a number of sustainable design initiatives including storm water drainage attenuation, and extensive landscaping of the scheme to provide a tree lined avenue in to the development and enhance the river bank setting. Each of the buildings being developed are highly energy efficient.

Warwick -based Hinton Properties was established in 1991 by experienced property professionals and has grown rapidly with an extensive portfolio of projects throughout England, ranging from traditional housing schemes to multi-million pound mixed use urban regeneration programmes.

Previous schemes include Marston Park in Tamworth, a 42,000 sq ft commercial office development, The Moorlands in Leek, a 70,000 sq ft retail development and the Europa Centre in Birkenhead, 110,000 sq ft retail and leisure development.

Agents at Tameside Park are Vail Williams.

Birmingham, UK –

The recent sale of 5 St Philips Place at a yield of 7.00% saw intense competition from three or more cash bidders, which resulted in outbidding and gazumping until the eventual simultaneous exchange and completion of contracts at £31.5 million.

Whilst this deal proved extremely promising for the Birmingham market, Ashley Hudson, investment partner at Knight Frank does not believe the deal represents an achievable yield for the city moving forward.

He explained: ”5 St Philips Place is extremely well let to the Government and three Blue chip corporates, and is in a 100% prime location.  There are probably only two other buildings in the city that could provide this income profile, and it is this profile that many of the potential purchasers who are active in the regional market are seeking.

“This has resulted in a multi tier prime market with super prime yields being 7% and a little better, but only for the best in class buildings in the city.

“There is then a second tier prime for modern buildings in 100% core locations such as Colmore Row, but without the long term secure bond type income stream where yields range from 7.5% upwards.  Moving away from prime, there is a further yield shift for 90% buildings in 90% locations (such as the city core periphery including Edmund Street and Cornwall Street) and despite these buildings being modern, Grade A and in the central core, there could be a discount of up to 100 base points from the secondary prime level of 7.5% to 8.5%.”

“This climate represents a superb opportunity for investors to acquire very good buildings in very good locations at substantially discounted prices.  Looking forward, in an improving market the boundaries between super prime, secondary prime and 90% buildings blur and as demand increases a similar yield can be applied to all three markets and this could provide a significant capital uplift for the purchaser or a 90% building in today’s market.”

With purchasers principally driven by income as they seek to maximise return on cash from assets representing minimal risk, a very good building in a very good core location but with a weaker covenant or a short leasing term will attract a significantly discounted yield. A more secondary building with a very good income stream on the other hand will achieve a better yield.

The downward pressure on rents and drop of headline rent experienced in Q1 2009 is also leading the sophisticated investor to consider purchasing choices more carefully. 

Ashley added: “Investors in the city are shying away from buying buildings with headline rents set at the peak of the market, as rental growth will be restricted moving forward. Investors would rather acquire at sensible rents of say £25.00 per sq ft where rental growth is more likely.

“As we move through Q2 2009 the market is seeing more investor interest than in the previous 12 months.  The restricting factor on deal flow is as yields start to firm up, vendors are unwilling to sell unless they are forced to and this is leading to an acute lack of stock. 

“The signs so far appear to be encouraging with a willingness of purchasers to look at acquiring assets at market prices.  This improved interest has resulted in an improvement of yields at the prime end.  However, the more secondary market remains particularly moribund as the highly leveraged purchasers are unable to obtain debt and this does not look likely to change in the short term.”

Paul Downing (pink shirt, of Design Works Group), and David Walking (of Arucana Ltd). Design Works has acquired a 50% stake in Arucana.

Specialists in office design and commercial fit out, The Design Works Group (DWG), has acquired leading Birmingham based workplace consultancy practice Arucana.

Already boasting an impressive and unrivalled portfolio of office design firms, including interior fit out company Systems by Design, office furniture supplier Dobergo and refurbishment company Live Work, the latest acquisition of Arucana strengthens the Group’s position as one of the leading players in the UK office fit out and refurbishment marketplace.

Trading under The Design Works Group from this week, the Solihull based company will provide a design led vehicle to maximise the Group’s Midlands opportunities, whilst providing Arucana’s clients, which include Eon & Wesleyan Assurance, with a seamless in-house solution for office design and consultancy.

Paul Downing, Group Managing Director of DWG, said: “Arucana has been leading the way in its sector for over nine years, much like the existing companies under DWG. Since we established the group 20 years ago, our unique offering has carved a niche in the office interior industry. We felt that Arucana’s consultancy service approach compliments our current offering by underpinning our existing portfolio, as well as creating a synergy in approach, quality and people that will lead to future growth.”

David Walkind, Managing Director, Arucana, said: “Becoming part of the Group will enable the company to continue working independently, but with the support, reputation and shared knowledge of the Group as a whole. It is unique to have come together with a number of companies that share such complimentary values, with brands that are all market leaders in their own right.”
Despite the downturn, the Group is still seeing strong demand for relocation services, with a significant upturn in the number of refurbishments in the commercial office market. With Arucana on board, the group is set to service such demand from an even earlier stage, offering expert workplace consultancy advice even before a premise has been found – a service that can in fact influence a company’s choice of premises from project strategy stage.

David Walkind, Managing Director, Arucana, added: “A typical Arucana workplace consultancy service will begin with a full project workshop, talking to clients to fully understand their operations and needs. This is followed by a spatial appraisal to ensure a client obtains premises that has the appropriate amount of space for the organisation’s needs, and an occupancy study to gain an insight into how an organisation utilises its space over a two to four week period.
“Unlike most companies in our field, we take this information, and based on the results we can drive decisions for the design brief based on appropriate data such as number and size of meeting rooms, type of workstation requirements etc. It provides factual and impartial data which enables the design brief to develop with confidence.”
Tony Eaves, Chairman of DWG, said: “Over the last eight years I have watched Arucana grow into the only serious player in workplace consultancy market – I am delighted to be investing in it now, and welcome the team as valuable members to the Group.”

Founded nine years ago, Arucana has built a loyal client base of wide ranging businesses, all varying in size, market sector and location, but with a shared objective to have an office environment that meets their organisations’ operational, visual and financial objectives.

Local residents and interested parties attended two consultation events at the AREVA T&D site this week where they viewed St. Modwen’s proposals for the creation of a £55 million science park including; new facilities for AREVA, a refurbished Sports and Social Club and new housing.

AREVA T&D Public Consultation

The company’s outline plans propose replacing AREVA’s existing buildings with a new science park comprising offices, workshops, laboratories and research buildings.  The existing Sports and Social Club, which is the largest of its type in Stafford and used by many people in the local community, would be retained and refurbished with the balance of the site, extending to around 20 acres, being proposed for residential development.

Feedback from the public consultations will assist St. Modwen in preparation for submitting a planning application to Stafford Borough Council for the new 330,000 sq ft development and housing scheme.

Information shared at the open forums can now be viewed at www.stmodwen-thefairway.co.uk.

-ENDS-

Image caption: Computer generated image shows the view from St. Leonard’s Avenue of the proposed redevelopment of AREVA T&D’s premises.

Notes to Editors:

St. Modwen is the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, operating across the full spectrum of the property industry through a network of seven regional offices and a Birmingham based head office. The company is wholly focussed upon regeneration with expertise in brownfield land renewal, partnering with industry, town centre regeneration, Innovation Centres and education projects. www.stmodwen.co.uk

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte McCarthy

PR Manager

St. Modwen Properties PLC

T: 0121 222 9400

E: cmccarthy@stmodwen.co.uk

Karoline Adamson

Core

T: 0121 643 8151

E: karolineadamson@core-marketing.co.uk

Hill Hire plc, one of the UK’s largest truck and trailer rental specialists, has signed a 5 year lease at £110,000 per annum for the land, on which it will securely store a range of trucks and trailers.

Hilton Business Park

Hilton Business Park offers a range of industrial and warehousing options including open storage land, existing industrial and warehousing units, plus 10 new build units of which just two now remain and are available for immediate occupation.

“This latest letting and the swift uptake of warehousing units at Hilton Business Park clearly demonstrate the ongoing demand we are seeing across the region for industrial space,” commented Julie Rossiter, senior asset manager for St. Modwen.  “Just last month we reported a 41,000 sq ft letting at nearby Stretton Business Park in Burton on Trent and alongside Barton Business Park we have created a trio of developments which are swiftly forming a thriving new business community along the A38/A50 corridor.

“With an investment of £25 million in these combined business parks, our commitment to the area centres around a combination of identifying prime locations and creating developments which meet the specialised needs of industrial occupiers.  This includes speculatively building high specification units with level access doors, generous external areas and parking provision, alongside providing potential occupiers and owners with the opportunity to design bespoke units for their specific business needs.”

Situated less than a mile from the A50, Hilton Business Park is approximately three miles west of the junction with the A38 at Burnston.  Stretton Business Park and Centre 38 – the latest phase of Barton Business Park – also lie within easy reach of the A38/A50 corridors, two key arterial routes which open up access to the M1, M6 and M6 Toll motorways, giving occupiers the benefit of first class transport links to the north and south of the country.

Commenting on the local marketplace, Paul Rushton of agents Rushton Hickman added: “We are experiencing a significant upturn in demand in 2009 for all sizes of industrial and warehouse accommodation.  We are receiving more enquiries, carrying out more viewings and inevitably this leads to more lettings and sales.

“St. Modwen’s developments at Stretton, Barton and Hilton are strategically located on the A38 and A50 corridors to benefit from this greater level of activity.”

Units and land are available to lease and purchase across all three business parks.  The two remaining units at Hilton Business Park each offer 6,000 sq ft of space, priced at £62.50 per sq ft to purchase, and £5.25 per sq ft to lease.  Stretton Business Park has two units of 8,120 and 8,820 sq ft available at £60.00 per sq ft to purchase and £5.00 per sq ft to lease. Centre 38 also has two distribution/warehouse or manufacturing units available of just over 30,000 sq ft and 35,000 sq ft respectively priced at £75.00 per sq ft to purchase and £5.50 per sq ft to lease.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

St. Modwen is the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, operating across the full spectrum of the property industry through a network of seven regional offices and a Birmingham based head office. The company is wholly focussed upon regeneration with expertise in brownfield land renewal, partnering with industry, town centre regeneration, Innovation Centres and education projects. www.stmodwen.co.uk

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte McCarthy

PR Manager

St. Modwen Properties PLC

T: 0121 222 9400

E: cmccarthy@stmodwen.co.uk

Karoline Adamson

Core

T: 0121 643 8151

E: karolineadamson@core-marketing.co.uk

Mike Herbert, St Modwen’s regional director, who runs Trentham commented, “This is a fantastic start to the season.  The National Trust announced this week that it has also had a very good March and April with a 38 per cent increase in overall visitors. But even its top garden, Stowe Landscape Gardens in Buckinghamshire – often stated to be Europe’s most influential landscape garden – only attracted 20,242 visitors (a 60 per cent increase), less than three quarters of the total number who visited Trentham.”

“We were blessed with good weather over Easter, but we are pleased that the enhancements to the Garden over the winter period have evidently increased its attraction.  Visitors can now also enjoy the mile long lake walk as part of the Italian Garden experience; and we have introduced significant reductions in Annual Ticket prices, together with payment by Tesco Club Card vouchers for all Garden tickets.  Annual Ticket holders also have additional benefits, such as a 10 per cent discount in participating shops on site.”

Trentham is at the heart of North Staffordshire’s leisure and tourism offering and is an established visitor attraction.  Five years into a flagship £100 million regeneration project, St. Modwen has undertaken England’s largest garden restoration project at Trentham, and as such the Italian Gardens have undergone a massive transformation.

Mike added, “Trentham never stands still.  We are constantly looking at ways to improve the visitor experience, with the next major milestone set to be the launch of the beautiful new Italian Garden Tearoom in the Gardens at Trentham.  The front of the new building is a full height semi-circle of glass giving panoramic views over the Garden and Lake, and we are sure this stunning Tearoom will become one of those “must go” places in the region when it opens just before May half term.”

Cont/d…

The Trentham results appear to form part of a wider regional trend.  St. Modwen recently announced ten deals across four of its commercial development schemes in North Staffordshire with a strong take-up of commercial space since the beginning of the year.  This, coupled with the record visitor levels at Trentham, provide an indication that a sense of confidence is returning to the marketplace.

-ENDS-

For high res image click here : TrenthamGardens

Notes to Editors:

St. Modwen is the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, operating across the full spectrum of the property industry through a network of seven regional offices and a Birmingham based head office. The company is wholly focussed upon regeneration with expertise in brownfield land renewal, partnering with industry, town centre regeneration, Innovation Centres and education projects. www.stmodwen.co.uk

Over the last five years, St. Modwen has invested an average of around £6 million annually into The Trentham Estate.  It is committed to improving and regenerating this world class tourist attraction.  Earlier this year, changes were made to the pricing structure at Trentham, with the lake reintroduced as part of the Italian Gardens attraction with no increase in day ticket prices and large reductions in Annual Ticket prices which also have benefits such as 10% discount in most shops on site.

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte McCarthy

PR Manager

St. Modwen Properties PLC

T: 0121 222 9400

E: cmccarthy@stmodwen.co.uk

Sally Earl

Core

T: 0121 643 8151

E: sallyearl@core-marketing.co.uk

Residential team at The Cube

Despite news that construction professionals are now at the top of the dole queue hitting the headlines, the construction arm of Birmingham Development Company, BuildAbility Ltd, has recruited seven members of the 10-man team needed to build out the apartment element of the landmark development The Cube.

Owing to the current stage of the fast moving construction programme, David Lane and Shaun Lyons have joined the already 20-strong team at BuildAbility as residential section managers, and Bill Morris, Kevin Alviti, Gary Crick, Allun O’Brien and Simon Penny have also joined the ambitious team as residential finishing foremen.

As one of the only live construction sites in the city, The Cube is well on track to complete in spring 2010 when across 23 storeys it will provide a boutique hotel, waterside cafés, designer retail stores, offices and the 244 luxury apartments – well over half of which have already been sold, with the remainder being launched to market nearer the completion of the scheme next year.

Like most of the pioneering techniques used throughout the project’s build programme, in early summer the newly formed residential team will undertake a unique construction process to build out of the nine floors of apartments.

Neil Edginton, director at Birmingham Development Company and BuildAbility, explains: “As a company we have never done ‘ordinary’. To create the most special building in the city we are constantly pushing the boundaries in the construction and design stakes to carry this through to fruition, so it’s no surprise that we need an ambitious and skilled team behind us.

“As with most elements of the scheme, we have chosen to do things differently with the residential to create flexibility and a sense of community within the scheme. The nine floors of residential apartments will be split in half on each floor so that one side is designated to investors and the other to owner occupiers. Owing to the split nature of the apartments and the complex build programme, the newly appointed residential team will be required to work in a unique way, with two separate teams each dedicated to each side of the building, to achieve the quality of specification that is required within the challenging timeframe.

“With this in mind, when recruiting the team we made it clear that they would each be required to think very differently from how they may have previously worked before. BuildAbility is not like a regular contractor, so as such we expect that all preconceived ideas and techniques are challenged. We are always searching for the best ways to get the job done on time and within budget, and continually push the boundaries to deliver this special project.”

The Cube is well underway both from a construction and a lettings point of view, with the rooftop restaurant let to D&D London, formerly Conran, and over half of the office space pre-let to Highways Agency. With this in mind, BuildAbility will continue to recruit across its construction team as the build programme requires.

As well as completing The Cube, the current team and any new recruits will also come together to build out BDC’s future construction projects, which includes a recent instruction to build out 6,000 sq ft of bespoke office space for Associated Architects (AA) at The Mailbox – a project that will complete in early summer this year.

BuildAbility’s new approach to construction techniques is also reflected in its benefit structure. Uniquely the firm offers a guaranteed share of 60 per cent of the company’s profits to every employee, which is a clear incentive for those in the industry that are ambitious and committed enough to take on the complex projects offered by the forward thinking firm.

The construction and development industry is undoubtedly experiencing uncertain times but  ‘in-house’ firms such as BuildAbility provide a safe alternative to many construction professionals, as well as aiding the retention of regional professionals who may otherwise be tempted in this economy by the larger public projects further a field in London or overseas.

Friend will advise companies on digital marketing strategies and is set to introduce social influence marketing to the region.

Chris has more than a decade’s experience in the internet business. In 1995 he set up web consultancy WebXpress. The award-winning company was acquired by Sutton Coldfield-based advertising agency WAA in 2006. Chris joined WAA following the sale, as head of digital, working with clients such as House of Fraser, Habitat, B&Q, Intercontintal Hotels, Hilton Hotels and insurance giant Willis. He is a regular contributor to The Birmingham Post.

His new business, based at Brindleyplace, will provide digital marketing audits; digital marketing strategies and deliver social media and more traditional online PR campaigns.

He aims to work alongside traditional PR and marketing agencies looking to promote their clients’ products, services and brands on-line, as well as developing direct relationships with his own client base.

Chris said: “There are plenty of marketing and web agencies in the Midlands who work with traditional and new media to promote their clients, their products and brands. Friend will work alongside them, as well as direct with our own clients, targeting emerging social media such as bloggers, social networking sites such as Twitter, Wikipedia, Facebook and LinkedIn.

“The rapid rise of on-line communities together with mobile internet means that power is back in the hands of the consumer. It is fundamental that businesses start to engage with these audiences. A single blogger has the power to dramatically influence a business – for better or for worse.

“By listening, engaging, responding and conversing regularly with key audiences you can achieve real results, including improved traffic, advocacy, ‘word of mouse’ and, of course, sales.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Chris Tomlinson, managing director, Friend Digital

T: 0845 459 4003 E: chris@frienddigital.com

Friend Digital

4^th Floor

Four Brindleyplace

Birmingham B1 2JF

www.frienddigtal.com