Public relations management services

Tender description

FSCS requires a strategic partner to support its delivery of a comprehensive communications strategy. The successful agency will need to get to grips very quickly with the unique role of FSCS and its place in the regulatory family. This is essential; The agency FSCS appoints will work as an extension of FSCS’s communications team to deliver including but not limited to the following: — public relations; — public affairs; — stakeholder relations; — digital. FSCS requires a strategic partner to support its delivery of a comprehensive communications strategy. The successful agency will need to get to grips very quickly with the unique role of FSCS and its place in the regulatory family. This is essential; the agency FSCS appoints will work as an extension of FSCS’s communications team. The agency will need to have: • an ability to ‘get under the skin’ of FSCS and truly understand the constraints and opportunities that its unique position affords its communications, and can work effectively and proactively within those constraints whilst taking advantage of the opportunities; • a strong team with a focus on delivering the right results, with a particular focus on delivering results for the client; • the ability to embrace FSCS’s values; • capacity as well as capability; • creative, compelling and fully financially forecasted plans that are actionable and drive results; • a track record of working with other agencies and demonstrating an integrated, successful and collaborative team approach; • demonstrable experience of supporting fully integrated campaigns (covering PR, digital, public affairs and stakeholder activity); • a strong focus on evaluation and providing proof of delivery. In particular, the successful agency will be required to provide advice and support in relation to: Overarching activity • integrated strategic counsel (including delivery of strategy) and reputation management; • corporate positioning and storytelling; • executive profile raising; • research and thought leadership; • engagement of key opinion leaders/opinion-formers. Public Relations • press releases (include selling in) and Q&A’s; • media contact programme (including briefings); • media training; • crisis communications. Digital • strategic and tactical support for social media channels (including content creation and integrating social media into the full range of FSCS communications) Stakeholder Relations; • FSCS’s work with the industry who pay its levies, including: advocacy and information and advisory groups, consumer bodies, regulatory bodies, financial education bodies, and think tanks Public Affairs; • public affairs contact programme (including MPs, think tanks, researchers); • engagement with political advocacy groups; • raising awareness and understanding of FSCS amongst MPs (including supporting organisational objectives); • monitoring and intelligence; • select committee training; • briefings for meetings. The successful agency will be required to provide an account team that has demonstrable experience of public relations, public affairs and stakeholder management across a range of clients, some within financial services, covering the breadth of audiences described previously. The agency will have a proven track record of successful campaigns targeting the relevant audiences across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and will need to demonstrate an extensive knowledge and breadth of understanding of a range of media including consumer news, features, personal finance and consumer affairs. It will be required to work closely with FSCS and the Scheme’s existing agencies, to deliver an integrated communications strategy and programme. FSCS Communications Team Since FSCS’s inception in 2001, the communications team has grown from two people to a current team of 10 people. Supporting material • FSCS strategy: FSCS into the 2020s: protecting the future; • FSCS pensions report: The need to know: FSCS protection makes a difference; • FSCS Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19; • FSCS Plan and Budget 2019/20; • FSCS industry newsletter — Outlook.