25th September 2007
Quoted companies in the South West will be able to pick up some tips on how to effectively communicate with shareholders and prospective investors at a conference in Bristol in early October.
The Winning Financial Communications Strategies Forum 2007, which is being organised by strategic communications consultancy JBP, will look at a range of financial communications areas.
The only event of its kind in the region, focussed on the development of best practice financial and corporate stakeholder communications, it will include presentations and panel debates on the power of the brand in investor communications; the communications success of Smallbone PLC, which won six awards at this year's South West Financial & Corporate Communications Awards; enhancing the investor friendliness of your website; making your company stand out from the crowd in the eyes of the investment community; and effectively communicating business critical messages to key stakeholders.
Chris Lawrance, director of JBP, says: "The Forum builds on the success of the South West Financial & Corporate Communications Awards and provides an ideal opportunity to share best practice on financial and corporate communications and to make new contacts."
The event, which will take place at the Hotel du Vin between 9am-12.30pm on Monday 8 October, is sponsored by Allied Irish Bank, Smith & Williamson Solomon Hare, Performance Communications and Greenaways. The event costs £40 + VAT to attend and to make a booking please contact Jenny Lockyer or Kat Brady at JBP on 0117 9073400.
The full programme for the Forum is as follows:
9.00-9.30am Registration, coffee and welcome by Jeff Durant, Senior Manager, Corporate Business, Allied Irish Bank.
9.30-9.55 The Power of the Brand in investor communications
Vicky Banham, Communications Manager at national building company Rok Plc, the overall winner this year of the best financial and corporate communications award for main market companies, talks about the importance of strong brand values to an effective investor relations strategy.
9.55-10.20 Cooking up a communications treat for shareholders
At the South West Financial & Corporate Communications Awards 2007, Smallbone scooped no less than six awards. Gordon Montgomery, the company's finance director, reveals the secrets of their success.
10.20-10.45 How investor friendly is your website?
Roz Bulmer, Director of Electronic Communications at Performance Communications and author of Digital IR a best practice report, shares the findings of her latest research study amongst the investment community which covers what brokers and analysts like/dislike about online IR. Roz will also provides some tips on making the website investor friendly.
10.45-11.00 Coffee
11.00-11.45 Panel debate: How do you make your company stand out from the crowd in the eyes of the investment community? This debate will look at the different levers that quoted companies need to use to get the best valuation and understanding of their business amongst buy and sell side decision makers in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Panellists include Jo Finely, Investor Relations Manager at Pennon Group plc; Ian Richley, Private Client Investment Manager at Smith & Williamson Solomon Hare; Chris Wickham, European Consumer Analyst at Mainfirst; and Alan Bulmer, Research and Financial Communications Director at Performance Communications.
11.45-12.30 Panel debate: Is your financial and corporate communications programme successful in conveying business critical messages to key stakeholders? This debate will explore the best vehicles and tactics for maximising the impact of communications to shareholders, prospective investors and the wider investment community, as well as highlighting the importance of integrating financial and corporate communications activities. Panellists include: Vicky Bacon, Head of Group Communications at Future plc; Bob Hodgson, Chairman of Greenaways; Chris Lawrance, Head of Corporate Communications at JBP PR; and Peter Wilson, Education Director of the UK Shareholders Association.