Chamberlain has appointed Peter Crowe as an Account Director, to work across a range of high profile client business.

Crowe will report to senior consultant and agri-industry stalwart, Geoff Dodgson, who said: "Peter’s knowledge of the agricultural industry is exceptional and perfectly complements our existing team. His extensive experience of working with a wide range of issues including food, farming and renewable energy means that he’ll be hitting the ground running. We’re delighted to have yet another team member of this calibre, who will add value to our clients’ business from day one."

Crowe, who joins the agency from agri-food consultancy Ceres, is a communications professional with more than 30 years’ experience, including ten years in the dairy industry. He was a pioneer of public relations evaluation in the UK, as well as being the founding secretary of the Marketing Communications Group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Crowe’s recent work has included advising the Renewable Energy Association, and working with Imperial College London on a series of Science Bulletins for HGCA (formerly Home-Grown Cereals Authority).

A dynamic new advertising campaign designed to catapult Huntingdon-based Ruston’s Engineering Co. Ltd (RECO) ahead of the field for agriculture and groundcare machinery is set to break in January.

The work, which will hit specialist titles in the New Year, was developed by agri-marketing specialist agency Chamberlain, now part of leading communications agency Ware Anthony Rust.

RECO managing director Richard Ruston said: “Chamberlain’s team combined expert sector knowledge with a level of advertising creativity that really stood out. We’re confident this is the campaign that will deliver results.”

Geoff Dodgson, Chamberlain’s senior consultant, said: “RECO has built a strong reputation over the years; to have the opportunity to take forward advertising for such a high quality range is very exciting. And working with a machinery firm extends our client portfolio out to yet another area within this very specialised agricultural sector.”

High profile clients within the farming and land management arena already working with Chamberlain include Dow AgroSciences, GrowHow UK, Merial, AIC and ABP.

The 2009 advertising campaign will cover the wide range of products in RECO’s portfolio, including Sulky spreaders, Maschio power harrows, Jeantil spreaders and Kioti compact tractors. The work, chosen after a four-way pitch, focuses on equipment quality and benefits, as well as highlighting the high standards provided by RECO service and support.

How to get ahead – or get a job – in the food sector is the fulcrum of a new campaign for the Meat Training Council (MTC). And the charity has drafted in food chain communications specialist Chamberlain to help spread the word.

The campaign will focus on the MTC’s commercial arm, Food and Drink Qualifications (FDQ), the awarding body which works with third party trainers to deliver information on and training for jobs, careers and qualifications across the entire food industry.  

Chamberlain is part of leading integrated communications agency Ware Anthony Rust. The company’s managing director, Alison Meadows, said: “Through Food and Drink Qualifications, MTC is evolving into a real contender as a broker for training and skills to the food sector as its portfolio of services expands. The training offered can support businesses in making the right choices to become leaner and more efficient in what is an increasingly competitive industry. “

MTC CEO Bill Jermey said: “We were impressed by the team’s energy, enthusiasm and understanding of our sector – I’m looking forward to working with them to maximise the potential of the organisation.”

The activity, which starts immediately, draws on the team’s expertise in PR in the first instance.

A top conservation charity has set its sights high – BirdLife International aims to raise £19m over the next five years to secure the future of the globe’s most threatened bird species.  And the organisation has brought in top flight communications agency, Ware Anthony Rust (WAR), to help it on its way.

The agency’s work was used to support the launch of BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions Programme to a global audience in South America. The programme encourages organisations and individuals to become Species Champions for a named endangered species, and supports conservation experts in their role as Species Guardians - Sir David Attenborough has already thrown his hat in the ring to become champion one of those on the critically endangered list, the Brazilian Araripe Manakin.

WAR’s creative team rose to the challenge of taking highly complex scientific material and presenting it in a compelling and easily accessible way; the result, a vivid and striking brochure hammering home the threats faced by many of the world’s bird species, was first aired at a huge global event in Buenos Aires with guests like environmental campaigner and actress Isabella Rosellini, and author and BirdLife patron Margaret Atwood. They were among the 1000-plus people who attended the BirdLife International World Conservation Conference.

Another creative piece designed and produced by WAR was used to raise awareness and encourage donations from birdwatchers at the UK’s heavily attended Birdfair.

Jim Lawrence, BirdLife’s Programme Development Manager, said: “ We are benefiting from WAR’s sound marketing advice and creative flair – they’ve really helped breathe life into this crucial initiative.”

Account lead, Shelby Haslam, is WAR’s Head of Account Management. She said: “BirdLife is a complex organisation with Partners in more than a hundred countries and territories worldwide. It was vital that we came to understand all of the different audiences and their needs, and the materials we produced reflect the effort we put in to doing so.”

Staff at communications agency Ware Anthony Rust stepped knee deep into Welly Week, by donning their wellies for the day.

Welly Week (11th – 18th October) is a national fundraising event organised by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) to help those in need within the farming community.

And the marketing specialists at Ware Anthony Rust are certainly no stranger to wellies. From the classy range of Wellington Boots on offer at client Van Hage, to the muddier items owned by the Chamberlain team, who’s work with leading organisations across agriculture and the food chain including Lloyds TSB Agriculture, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Fengrain and EBLEX, often requires this essential piece of kit.

One of the larger wellies has been left in reception for contributions, and once filled will be donated to RABI for this worthwhile cause.

Alison Meadows, managing director of Ware Anthony Rust, said: “There is no shortage of welly wearers at WAR, and many of the ladies prefer them to high heels! It is great that we can help raise funds for RABI, while at the same time having fun – and comfy feet!”

World leading animal health company Merial has engaged rural affairs communication specialist Chamberlain to promote its ground-breaking pig vaccine Circovac®.

Chamberlain, the specialist agriculture and food chain division of leading communications agency Ware Anthony Rust, will assist in planning a range of activities as well as working on the production of supporting promotional material.

The agency team will be led jointly by account directors Sarah Furneaux and Gemma Richley.

WAR MD Alison Meadows said: “We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious organisation as Merial. The team’s specialist skills mean we’re well versed in communicating effective messages to this target audience, maximising campaign impact. ”

Furneaux added: “This vaccine is a unique product that can make a huge difference to pig producers and we recognise the impact it will have on the industry, not only in terms of improved production but also pig welfare.”

The brief will tackle industry attitudes, scientific efficacy and cost benefits of the vaccine.

Merial Production Manager Andrew Buglass added: “We were impressed by the team’s energy, enthusiasm and understanding of our sector – I’m looking forward to working with the team to maximise the potential of the vaccine.”