PR for a greener world

By PRSD, on Monday, January 11, 2010

Sinclair Consultants specialises in PR for the green economy. We spoke to the company’s founder Christopher Biggs to find out what that means.

What are communications solutions for a sustainable economy? How do they differ from common or garden PR?

My business endeavours to offer a full PR/marketing/communications to businesses that operate in the green energy / sustainable sector. We specialise in this 100 per cent, so understand the technologies and the challenges and the market environment, have excellent contacts in the energy media and the various trade associations such British Hydropower Association and Renewable Energy Association. We keep our overheads low so we can offer good value for money. My background before I set up Sinclair Consultants was in communications for top 100 FTSE companies ending up as comms. director, so we offer blue chip professionalism and experience to our clients at a fair rate.

How do you ‘put something back into society’ through your PR work?

As well as such things as volunteering at Dartington doing hedge-laying etc. the success of our clients – thanks to the work we do for them – means that they have been successful and that means there is a lot more renewable electricity being generated and greater penetration of renewable projects all over the UK.

You have two offices, one in London, and one in Totnes. What challenges/benefits are there with working in South Devon, and does the London office counter-balance these?

Most of my customers are not based in the South West so London is a good place to meet, plus that is where journalists tend to be as well as the Govt./ trade association policy meetings are held.

What is ‘success’ in PR terms?

Success is when our clients are meeting their business objectives (eg increased sales or where their target audiences have a great understanding of what they are doing or increased media coverage etc)

How have social networks affected what you do?

It is beginning to make an impact, but I think face-to-face contact is still very important and I encourage my clients to meet customers and journalists and all other interested parties in person.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Despite the fact that the Government talks a lot about moving the UK to a low carbon economy, we still lag behind most other European countries in this regard. There are hundreds of green businesses out there that could help deliver this transition but Government policy still makes it very difficult for them to grow strongly, which is a great shame!

Christopher Biggs, many thanks