News in brief

PR Week UK, Friday, 28 May 2004, 12:00am,

PRWEEK AWARDS: The deadline for entries to the PRWeek Awards 2004 is now just one week away. Entries coming in after 4 June will be subject to an extra fee of £50 plus VAT.

PRWEEK FORUM: There are a handful of places left for the PRWeek Forum in Chepstow from 23-25 June. In-house PROs wanting to attend

should contact Anna Campbell on 020 8267 4225 by 4 June.

RECRUITMENT: Freelance service Xchangeteam’s Nextrole arm – which provides staff for permanent PR jobs – has launched Next Generation, a service that aims to supply in-house comms teams and PR agencies with ‘pre-vetted graduates and young professionals’.

CONSUMER PR: RDF Media has enlisted Henry’s House to promote its two biggest reality TV launches this summer. Ladette to Lady will show the attempted civilisation of ten rowdy girls, while The Block, a home renovation competition, will feature Simon Cowell’s younger brother, Nicholas. Both shows will air on ITV.

FINANCIAL PR: Bell Pottinger Corporate and Financial has poached Brunswick senior associate partner Tim Grey. M&A and retail specialist Grey is to join as one of the firm’s seven board directors in one month’s time.

B2B: Tyre firm Continental has appointed Strategic Alliance International to promote its truck tyres across Europe. The agency will work alongside Harrison Cowley, which promotes its tyres in the UK.

MEDIA RELATIONS: The Drum Consultancy is handling PR for Ian McShane as he promotes the release of the Lovejoy TV series on DVD. The agency, which reports to distributor Delta Music, is promoting in-store signings and broadcast appearances.

B2B: Visual effects company Double Negative is to launch a PR blitz targeting the film industry. The company, which created special effects for films such as Cold Mountain, has hired Brands2Life.