Acceleris Cements Position as UK Leader in Social Housing Communications

Published by JenCooke for National Federation of ALMOs in Housing

Harrogate-based Agency Adds £215,000 to Annual Turnover as Europe’s Largest Housing Conference Comes To Town

Fast-expanding communications agency Acceleris Marketing Communications has cemented its reputation as a UK leader in social housing communications.

The agency has expanded its growing portfolio of social housing clients with the addition of three new retained accounts: manufacturer Rixonway Kitchens and London-based management organisations St Georges Community Housing and Hillingdon Homes as well as working with leading national supplier Morrison Facilities Services.

The appointments come as Acceleris launches a specially developed web portal, @home for the social housing sector on the first day of Europe’s largest housing conference and exhibition in Harrogate. The three-day Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Conference and Exhibition will attract 6,500 delegates and one of the key issues to be discussed is the future provision of social and affordable housing in the UK.

Earlier this year, after a competitive tender, Acceleris was reappointed as the retained public relations and communications agency of the National Federation of ALMOs, whose 69 members manage more than 1 million council homes around the country and deliver the Government’s multi-billion pound Decent Homes programme.

Acceleris, based in Harrogate operates for clients around the UK including housing organisations stretching from London to Leeds, Essex to Bolton.

Its latest account wins bring the total number of housing sector clients to a dozen, including some of the leading private sector suppliers.

Rixonway Kitchens, based in Dewsbury, is the only kitchen manufacturer in the UK to specialise solely in the social housing sector. Acceleris has been appointed to provide a press office service, media training and a selection of public relations initiatives that will raise brand awareness.

St Georges Community Housing and Hillingdon Homes are Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) – the Government’s most successful form of council housing management which manage 26,000 council homes between them across the Basildon and Hillingdon districts.

Acceleris is working with St Georges Community Housing in the run-up to its Audit Commission inspection in June which, if successful, will unlock a substantial £143 million in additional government funding for housing renovation.

The agency is delivering a major client hospitality event at the CIH Conference and Exhibition for Morrison Facilities Services which features Wayne Hemingway - the former fashion designer turned housing authority and chairman of Building for Life.

The new appointments will add an estimated £215,000 to Acceleris’ annual turnover which is expected to reach £1.5 million this year.

Acceleris Marketing Communications Managing Director Peter Davenport said: “Since our appointment by the NFA in 2006, we have become a major voice in social housing communications, and these new appointments underline the extent to which our expertise is now recognised and respected.”

Acceleris Marketing Communications is an integrated communications agency providing a broad range of services, including public relations, digital marketing, web development, film, event management, corporate communications and graphic design and production, to clients in the private and public sectors around the UK.

Launched in December 2006, it has recorded revenues in excess of £3 million to date. Among its major clients are the National Federation of ALMOs and motors.co.uk, the online, motor retail site of the Daily Mail Group. The agency has also worked with such well-known names as Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, the Big Lottery, McDonald’s and the Saatchi Gallery.