Aberdeen-based AVC Media Enterprises has recently been awarded accreditation by ‘Investors in People’ for the tenth consecutive year following its ongoing people development successes. This now secures accreditation until November 2010.

AVC received outstanding praise within the recent IIP review with the assessor stating that the company was “one of the most positive environments witnessed”. This accolade contributes to the continuing success of AVC, which has recently enjoyed a year of phenomenal growth.

The review identified particular strengths in a variety of development and training strategies currently in place at AVC, which focus on the overall improvement of employee performance. The induction training scheme set in place for all new staff has proved outstanding in delivering an effective, professional and extremely informative overview of the company, with one employee commenting, “I’ve worked for a few companies but this is the best induction I have ever received.”

Continual development of employee performance has also been accredited to AVC’s commitment to learning through effective communication, appraisal processes and one-to-one coaching by experienced members of staff. This ensures employees can identify and set personal objectives as well as contributing to the organisation as a whole.

The IIP Assessor identified that employees are empowered by the opportunities available at AVC to contribute to decision making and become masters of their own destiny. It was also noted that AVC displays elevated strength through inspirational leadership and frequent communication throughout the organisation.

AVC Director and Head of HR Lynn Sangster comments, “AVC’s success is down to its people. We have a great team in place and we are dedicated to providing them the opportunity for continual development no matter what stage they are at in their individual careers. To gain IIP accreditation for a tenth consecutive year is a great achievement and I believe that with continued development, guidance and advice through team learning, AVC will continue to develop an industry leading workforce.”

With the company on track to implement further improvements to such areas as the employee handbook, intranet provision and corporate guidelines the company can look forward to continuing achievements as it sees the development of its £3 million extension due for completion later this year.

Aberdeen-based AVC Media Enterprises Ltd has strengthened its creative team with the appointment of Andrew Blackwell.

Andrew joins the team as AVC’s first Creative Director during a period of considerable growth for the company. Andrew will be heading up a team of four talented designers who cover a range of specialist areas including logo and corporate identity branding, multimedia and web design, print and 3D animation.

Andrew joins the communications agency with over fifteen years experience in the creative industry. Formerly a copywriter and producer for a local radio station, Andrew then moved on to Grampian Television in 1996, where he founded and grew a Commercial Production department that serviced a broadcast area across Scotland. Throughout this role Andrew was responsible for overseeing hundreds of television campaigns every year across almost ever conceivable genre, working with a variety of clients including; John Clark Motor Group, Amec and HSPC. Latterly, Andrew was promoted to STV Commercial Production Manager and was responsible for operations in Glasgow and Aberdeen. With a wealth of skills and experience behind him, Andrew is delighted to progress his career with AVC as the first Creative Director in the agency’s history.

“I am very pleased to be joining AVC at such a pivotal time. With an ever growing client base, I am looking forward to providing the highest quality design and creative work with my new team. We aim to provide the very best of service to our clients, above and beyond expectations and together we have the talent to meet any challenge head on.”

Spencer Buchan, Director of AVC comments, “I am delighted to welcome Andrew to AVC. He heads up an extremely talented team and his knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we continue to develop and deliver the industry leading, quality service every client deserves as standard.”

After a highly successful 2007, AVC has a £3 million extension underway, due for completion in summer 2008.

The addition of two PR Account Executives enhances The PR Partnership (Scotland) Ltd team following a merge with AVC Media Enterprises late last year.

After becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AVC, The PR Partnership appoints Emma Hogarty and Lynsey Shepherd following the progressive growth in work and clientele. Both are delighted to be joining the company at such an exciting time.

Emma comments, “Arriving just after the merge means that we join at the beginning of a new chapter for The PR Partnership. It gives the whole team the opportunity to find our feet here at AVC together.”

Emma, 24, joins the workforce following the completion of an honours degree in Publishing Studies with Journalism. Her inquisitive nature took her on a gap year after her third year where she spent three and a half months in South East Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Emma has also enjoyed work as a freelance journalist, writing a variety of pieces for the award-winning entertainment and current affairs magazine, The Big Issue and is looking forward to applying this experience into her new position.

Lynsey also 24 joins The PR Partnership after the completion of an honours degree in Corporate Communication. Previously, she has enjoyed work with a small Aberdeen-based design and communication consultancy where she developed her design skills and assisted with numerous photo calls for nightclub promotions and adventure holidays. Following a five month temping contract at an integrated corporate communications company, Lynsey decided to pursue her ambition to see her writing in print and become part of a busy PR team, welcoming the opportunity to join The PR Partnership.

PR Partnership Director Neil Robertson comments, “Having arrived with a variety of skills and experience, both Emma and Lynsey are primed to contribute fresh ideas and talent to the PR team. They are a welcome addition to The PR Partnership and fit well into the AVC Media Enterprises team.”

Both Emma and Lynsey are proud to have landed their new roles at one of the leading media and communications agencies in Scotland and look forward to the challenges and opportunities AVC and The PR Partnership has to offer them now and in the future.

Aberdeen and Edinburgh- based AVC Media Enterprises has merged with Aberdeen PR consultancy, PR Partnership (Scotland) Ltd.

Becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AVC Media Enterprises, along with AVC Brand Advertising and Remote Data Services, PR Partnership will retain its name and relocate to AVC’s purpose built facility in Altens, Aberdeen.

AVC Media Enterprises, now in its 31st year, has experienced dramatic growth and is forecast to turnover £12million for the 2007/2008 financial year. With the addition of PR Partnership, a long established name, operating for over 20 years and servicing clients throughout the UK, the move will cement AVC’s goal to become a dominant force in the field of media and communications across the country.

Commenting on the move, PR Partnership Director, Neil Robertson said: “Through hard work and commitment we have built a successful business over the last 23 years. We recently completed the buy back of shares from our former ‘sister’ company, as the first stage in a development plan to meet our aspirations and future potential.”

Spencer Buchan, AVC Media Enterprises, AVC Brand Advertising and PR Partnership Director, comments: “We have been developing the services at AVC with the aim to provide our clients with a full, integrated communications service. The addition of PR Partnership is a natural progression that will help us to achieve this.

“PR Partnership has the correct mix of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm so will be a great fit to the AVC Media Enterprises portfolio.”

Joining AVC’s existing PR consultant will be PR Partnership’s three Directors and one Account Executive. Creatus, the PR Partnership’s internet division will also transfer across to AVC and join the group’s IT department, bringing the total number of full time employees at AVC Media Enterprises to 92.

Neil Robertson continues: “We believe the merger with AVC brings us the succession planning required to bring our business forward and as part of a much bigger and progressive organisation like AVC we believe it is a natural next step in our growth strategy. We have set ourselves some ambitious goals for the next few years and AVC’s structure, energy and vision provide the perfect platform to enable us to achieve them.”

AVC Media Enterprises becomes the majority shareholder with PR Partnership Directors Ken McEwen and Neil Robertson also retaining shares.

With over 1500 clients based across the UK and globally, AVC strengthened its service offer by acquiring Brand Advertising in April 2007 to form subsidiary company AVC Brand Advertising. With its existing service portfolio, the company comprises expertise across the full service of communications, media and sports productions, offshore entertainment, audiovisual services, training, IT and broadband satellite, all from its purpose built production house and conference centre in Altens, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen and Edinburgh – based AVC Brand Advertising finds itself one staff member down later this month as Vanessa Kennedy, Advertising Account Executive with the company heads off on a holiday with a difference.

Vanessa is jetting off to Vietnam with a group organised by Scottish children’s charity Aberlour Child Care Trust, where she will not only climb Vietnam’s highest mountain but will also help build a library, which will be used by children from the local Bin Luc orphanage.

The trip for Vanessa has been made possible with financial backing from AVC Media Enterprises and sponsorship from friends and colleagues, which has resulted in an overall donation to Aberlour of £2300.00.

Aberlour Child Care Trust works in Scotland with and for children, young people and families who need additional support, to promote their development and well being.

Vanessa comments: “I’m so grateful to everyone who has backed me with this project. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I am sure it will be very humbling. It’s also a great opportunity to visit a beautiful country and give something back to the children at Bin Luc orphanage who face such hardship through no fault of their own.

“Not only this, by taking part in the trip we are helping children in Vietnam as well as raising funds for children back home in Scotland.”

Vanessa leaves for Hanoi, Vietnam on September 15th along with a party of 10 from across Scotland, organised by Aberlour Child Care Trust. With a workforce of over 700, the charity is currently coordinating over 44 projects throughout Scotland provides the specialist care to those children most in need.

With it’s roots lying in the Moray village of Aberlour where in 1875 Canon Charles Jupp established the Aberlour Orphanage, Aberlour has since developed flexibility to respond to the ever-changing needs of children throughout Scotland.