Alliance Against IP Theft

The Alliance Against Intellectual Porperty Theft is a cross-industry coalition of trade associations with a combined turnover of over £250 billion. Its members include representatives of the audiovisual, music, video games and business software, and sports industries, branded manufactured goods, publishers, retailers and designers. Its role is to raise IP protection on the political agenda and ensure that IP theft is treated as at least as seriously as other theft by lawmakers. Working with the Alliance, Luther has recently been at the forefront of the debate on the Digital Economy Bill, Peer to Peer filesharing, better regulation of markets to prevent counterfeits being sold and work to prevent copycat packaging.  As part of this work Luther provides the secretariat for the All-Party IP Group, runs parliamentary inquiries, promotes Private Members’ Bills and organises receptions, dinners and one-to-one meetings as well as targeted media work to complement our campaigns.

Department of Health: Workforce Directorate

Luther has worked closely with the Department of Health Workforce Directorate senior communications and leadership teams to provide strategic communications planning and support. This has covered all of the workforce policy strands to emerge from Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review, distilling DH policy milestones into a set of communications tools that run through the Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care and Foundation Trusts, to the 1.4m staff working across the NHS’s 450 employer organisations. We worked with the DH’s own communications channels, trade and national media, and key stakeholders ranging from the King’s Fund, trade unions, and NHS Employers, to the Royal Colleges, Deaneries, and the BMA, to name a few. 

NHS London

Luther has worked with NHS London to help the organisation explain and positively position its programme of structural transformation and service reform in the capital. Working closely with NHSL’s leadership team, Luther developed clear, strong messages conveying its far-reaching plans for commissioning, new local services and new relationships between providers and purchasers of care.

We have tailored information and messages to various health audiences across London for use by the executive board of NHSL as they make the often contentious and complex case for change in the capital’s healthcare to its key audiences, including London MPs and Assembly Members, business groups and local authorities, the Department of Health and NHS staff.

Department of Health Act F.A.S.T Stroke Campaign

The F.A.S.T. campaign is a £12 million public health campaign. Luther has planned and implemented all campaign media engagement, reinforcing its vital messages and maximising their impact. Luther supported PCTs across the country in running their local stroke awareness campaigns, and acted as an effective bridge between the DH and local organisations.

The campaign aims to help people recognise the signs of stroke, and stresses the importance of fast emergency response. Built around a simple acronym – Face, Arms, Speech, Time – the campaign promotes stroke services at a regional and local level. We have used poll data, research and case studies to support the media activity with consumer, national and regional press. In addition, a Facebook page was created around the campaign and has helped to generate both support for the campaign as well as providing case studies.

Cancer Campaigning Group

Luther Pendragon runs the secretariat for the Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG), a coalition of 45 cancer charities representing service-providers, research, advocacy and campaigning groups for cancer patients and their families.

The CCG was started in 2002 with the aim of campaigning for the continued prioritisation of the prevention, treatment and research of cancers and focused on communicating these messages to Government, Parliamentarians and health policy-influencers. Luther Pendragon develops and with patient organisations communicates these messages to a targeted health-focused political audience. In 2008 we collated and published the CCG response to the Government’s Cancer Reform Strategy, the Additional Drugs review and first Annual Cancer Check (ACC) to assess progress after the first year of the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS).

We recently audited MPs’ understanding of engagement with cancer issues and the CRS in particular and are currently engaging with each party based upon a new set of policy priorities for the CCG, ahead of the general election. Luther has produced a second ACC that continues to assess the implementation of the CRS at the Britain Against Cancer Conference, December 2009.

Baxter Healthcare

Luther Pendragon has worked with Baxter Healthcare for the past four years on a wide range of projects and issues. We work closely with the Heads of the various business units at Baxter, for example through our work on a Parliamentary reception on renal dialysis options. We have also engaged with senior policymakers in government and among the opposition parties on the Advanced Planning Announcement around avian flu pandemic vaccine provision.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Patient Safety

In early March 2005, Luther Pendragon successfully launched the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Patient Safety. This was the first parliamentary group to focus specifically on the issue of patient safety and bring together parliamentarians, patient groups, health professions, NHS managers and others to play a positive role in examining and influencing policy in this area.

Since 2005, Luther Pendragon has provided the secretariat for the Group, organising a series of meetings focusing on patient safety, with topics ranging from NHS regulation to hospital-acquired infections. Over the past three years has attracted speakers including the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, and Lord Naren Patel, Chairman of the National Patient Safety Agency. The current minister responsible for patient safety, Ann Keen MP, told the Group in late 2007 that it had pushed the issue of patient safety to the forefront of Government thinking on healthcare in the UK.

All-Party Pharmacy Group

Luther has provided secretariat support to the All-Party Pharmacy Group since its formation in 1999.  The Group has grown to be one of the most active and popular at Westminster, regularly commanding attendances of more than a hundred at its public meetings, and directly influencing government health policy.

Luther supported the Group throughout its 2006/07 inquiry into the future of pharmacy, which resulted in the publication of a detailed report containing over a hundred recommendations for action.  A launch event held in Westminster was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including MPs, the media, Department of Health, pharmacy bodies and pharmacy businesses.  The report generated a significant number of pieces of national and trade media coverage and has been acknowledged as being a significant influence on the Pharmacy White Paper published by Government in April 2008.

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Luther Pendragon has been working with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee PSNC for more than ten years. In 2005, a new NHS contract was negotiated for all community pharmacies in England. We ensured pharmacies were informed and aware of the changes through 28 road shows and material explaining the contract. The PSNC was positioned as the voice of authority on issues relating to pharmacy and the new NHS contract. Once accepted, implementation of the new contract began in April 2005 and was fully in place by October 2005. The community pharmacy contract is now worth in excess of £2 billion per year.  Luther is now working with PSNC through the implementation of new services that will extend the role of pharmacies in healthcare even further.  

Croydon Council

Luther has been working with Croydon Council to help communicate the council's plans to transform the standard of education in all schools across the borough.  Luther has provided crisis communications advice, proactive media relations and stakeholder engagement support with the local community, coordinating a number of consultation meetings as the council undertakes its schools regeneration programme (BSF).  Luther has worked with Croydon Council to develop a cohesive new identity and vision for the overall programme – ‘Transforming Croydon Schools’.

Haringey Council

Luther has worked with Haringey Council to help produce a communications strategy to deliver culture change in the wake of the Baby P tragedy. We helped develop a compelling vision to support morale and rebuild confidence in child protection and safeguarding services. Our plan helped to secure ownership of that vision across a variety of different agencies across the borough, and supported them in communicating it to their own staff.

Exeter City Council

Luther has  supporting Exeter City Council in its campaign to become a unitary authority; helping the council to refine its messaging and the arguments in favour of unitary status for the City and to communicate these to key politicians, regional and national media and to the people of Devon. The campaign is currently awaiting the outcome of a court case in the Royal Courts of Justice.

Southwark Council

Luther assisted in supporting Southwark’s opposition to a Berkeley Homes development through a process of meetings with the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government. Pan-London media were also briefed against the scheme and engaged enthusiastically with Southwark’s position. London Mayor, Ken Livingstone eventually backed down and certain aspects of the scheme’s design were removed.  Southwark Council and Berkeley Homes then entered a partnership and new plans for the site were developed by Squire & Partners, with further public consultation and stakeholder engagement work facilitated by Luther.

Air Products Healthcare

Air Products provides the NHS home oxygen service to around 50,000 patients living at home.  Luther coordinates Air Products’ engagement with patients and the public, organising patient forums, building partnerships with MPs and local stakeholders, and securing positive coverage in a broad range of local and regional media.

Air Products Hydrogen

Luther Pendragon is working towards three main goals in its public affairs strategy for Air Products Hydrogen. These are: raising the profile of hydrogen as a credible option for transport fuel; promoting the role of Air Products in the transport infrastructure; and working to ensure hydrogen features in the low carbon economy package and any other green measures planned for 2009 and 2010. To meet these goals our strategy and tactical plans include ensuring that Air Products is engaging with key political stakeholders and raising awareness of hydrogen as a fuel source among policymakers, the media and NGOs.

National Pharmacy Association

The NPA is a prominent advocacy group representing Britain’s pharmacy owners. Luther has worked closely with the leadership team at the NPA to select and appoint the new Head of Communications. Luther also orchestrated the successful launch of the NPA’s  ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’ with government Health minister Mike O’Brien MP and the Conservatives’ shadow Health minister Mark Simmonds MP.

Catch 22

Catch22 is a recently merged £45m charity focused on turning around the lives of troubled young people. Luther supported the rebranding and launch of the new charity, developed the rationale for the launch campaign and set out detailed plans for communications. Catch22 recently won Third Sector magazine’s 2009 award for Brand Development.

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is a globally-loved brand for everyone who travels.  The company has strong ethical values established by their founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler, and this continues now they are 75% owned by BBC Worldwide.  Luther Pendragon has worked to track issues through online and other sources, monitoring and devising appropriate responses with the in-house senior management, marketing and media & communications teams.  We have also provided extensive training to a core group of company spokespeople who continue to take a proactive and engaged approach when they receive inquiries.  We also helped the company to emphasise through all channels that it sets great store by the integrity of its authors, a key element of the brand which is a trusted friend to travellers. 

Endsleigh Insurance

Luther Pendragon has worked for Endsleigh, the leading student insurance provider, for the past six years. Luther runs a number of national and regional media campaigns throughout the year, positioning Endsleigh as an intelligent provider of products and advice specifically tailored to the student and graduate market.

Endsleigh’s annual Freshers’, burglary and motor campaigns receive widespread coverage in the national, regional and online media. Endsleigh’s spokespeople are regularly interviewed on radio and television programmes related to student and graduate insurance issues and recently Luther has put into place an initiative, positioning Endsleigh’s financial advisers as experts for young professionals looking for advice on pensions, mortgage advice and investment decisions.

Diocese of London

The Diocese of London covers 277 square miles of Greater London, encompassing the Cities of London and Westminster, and including 479 churches. Luther Pendragon provides strategic communications advice and an outsourced press office function for the Diocese as a whole, as well as providing media relations support to its individual clergy, churches and their related organisations and activities across the capital. Luther also acts as communications adviser on a national and local level to the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, one of the most senior figures within the Church of England.

Clarion Events

Clarion Events has become one of the top three event organising companies in the country. Luther Pendragon has worked with Clarion’s senior management to propose and develop as a core business strategy a very proactive stance on managing issues.  Working with the senior management we developed a detailed process for monitoring web-based interest in Clarion events.  The company actively seeks to engage the public, visitors, advertisers and exhibitors and express the company’s point of view on issues from defence procurement to human rights. 

Luther Pendragon monitors and responds to any direct action and provides a ‘virtual’ media desk which supports the press teams working at events.  This allows Clarion’s executive team  to concentrate on the smooth running of the show for exhibitors and visitors.