I was recently working in the press room at a major exhibition when a husband and wife PR team arrived with a pile of annual reports to distribute. The husband's sales pitch began: "Hi guys, would you be interested in..." Decency forbids a transcript of the replies. However, the wife added: "There's a free memory stick in each pack." A few days later I was writing about a subsidiary of the 'annual report company' and was surprised to see that I'd included the brand name on my new memory stick in the text. I'll swear its little orange light gave an extra blink in gratitude. Colin.
The Scottish and Welsh Governments have each announced a rural broadband fund, designed to bring faster download speeds to 'small-scale, community-driven projects'. The total on offer in Scotland is £800,000, with a bid deadline of September 24, 2010, while the offer in Wales is £2m. Email us for more details.
Roger and Colin will both be at the CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire (July 23-25). As Editor of Energy Now, Roger will be based in the renewables section while Colin is working with a major banking client. If you're planning to join the expected 135,000 visitors, give us a call on 07780 661805 (Roger) or 07703 469458 (Colin).
The Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh, is being talked up as the new farming and rural business event for the whole UK, not just Scotland. This follows the demise of the Royal Show, Warwickshire, previously a July meeting point for business and political leaders.
"The Highland is well equipped to fill the gap," said Colin Ley, fresh from two days at the show with clients. "The showground is within walking distance of Edinburgh Airport, which makes it easy to attend, volcanic ash permitting. Equally important, the Highland has remained true to its farming roots. As a result, 187,644 people attended this year's show (June 24-27). See you there in 2011?"