Situation

Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust (BCCET) was a new, fast-growing multiple academy trust that recognised early in 2020 that it needed support to manage its communications requirements internally and externally. The MAT was set to become one of the largest in North East England with more than 30 schools joining within two years. BCCET needed to manage and control communications during a period of growth while also promoting individual schools that were not achieving full student capacity. A better understanding of the MAT and its values needs to be communicated to stakeholders.

Our Task

With multiple objectives that needed to be achieved, MHW developed a strategic plan that incorporated a proactive media relations campaign, video creation, advertising and marketing materials, social media support, and greater direct communications with staff and parents.

Results

During our period of engagement there was an unprecedented level of positive regional media secured across print press, news websites,TV and radio. More than a dozen promotional videos were created for primary and secondary schools. Tactical advertising campaigns for individual schools were also implemented. MHW helped establish the Trust’s first staff newsletter, a digital format magazine. Social media training was designed and implemented for schools within BCCET. Our work with BCCET came to a contractural end in August 2022.