Brazil Launches Graduate Trainee Programme

Brazil has launched its new graduate trainee programme and is currently searching for a graduate to fill a permanent roll as a PR trainee. Every year Brazil will take on a minimum of one trainee to be based in its central London office.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about current affairs and the media (both traditional and online) and should be looking for a career where he or she can be genuinely creative and develop existing writing and communication skills.

Is this job for you?

· Do you have strong writing and excellent communication skills?

· Can you come up with creative and exciting ideas?

· Are you keen to learn more about how both traditional and social media informs, creates awareness and influences people?

About Brazil

Established in 2003, Brazil is a vibrant and successful PR consultancy with a broad client base. Our award-winning work covers the full range of services including media relations, social media, crisis management, message development and internal communications.

Our clients range from multi-national businesses through to ambitious start-ups, covering sectors including financial services, consumer goods, property, professional services, automotive, retail, healthcare and food & drink.

About the position

You will provide account-handling support on a wide range of clients, experiencing different skills, ideas, approaches and markets. Your time will be split between writing, research, media relations, social media work, account and general administration. For those who demonstrate a keen interest and aptitude, there is the opportunity to be fast tracked within the agency and to work on complex PR accounts and issues.

What are we looking for in our trainees?

We are looking for bright, career-orientated graduates with excellent written and oral communication skills. A keen interest in business, the media (including social media) politics and consumer trends is important, and some relevant work experience is a benefit. A good academic degree is essential, as is a thirst for knowledge. You should be intelligent, confident in written and spoken English and a good team player.

Applications

Please send through your CV accompanied by a cover letter outlining why you’re interested in this job to sean@agencybrazil.com. Deadline is Monday, 13th December 2010.

Welsh Whisky Wednesday

Penderyn asked us to get more novice whisky drinkers to try Penderyn whisky – no mean feat, when you consider the fact that, as a small, independent distiller, Penderyn puts its money into making some of the best whisky around rather than expensive marketing campaigns.

So, we came up with an offer drinkers couldn’t refuse – free whisky. With Brazil’s help, Penderyn teamed up with some of London’s coolest bars to offer free warming whisky every Wednesday, all winter long.

We started last week by putting bottles of ‘Welsh Gold’ behind the bar of The Albannach, traditionally a scotch fortress, and Mint Leaf Lounge, one of the City’s most classiest hangouts. How did it go? Well, in our experience, free whisky never fails to draw a crowd, and we warmed many Londoners’ hearts that night.

Just as importantly, London’s most important bloggers got in on the act too: Dwink, Hot-Dinners, Whisky for Everyone, Love Food Love Drink and Foodepedia to name but a few, loved the idea, and showed their support by telling their readers about it. It was also a huge hit on Twitter, and the #WelshWhiskyWednesday hashtag was used to get even more people involved. We’ll be running it all winter long, and who knows – if it continues to do so well, maybe we’ll be taking it further afield...

Meanwhile, check out www.twitter.com/penderynwhisky to find out where we’ll be serving up free Welsh gold this week – hope to see you there!

Brazil launches Oxford University Rugby Community event

Earlier this week, Brazil worked with the Oxford University Rugby Club to engage with the city’s public and generate interest in the oldest rugby club in England. The event saw Blues players showing off their skills on the streets of Oxford and engaging with local children to promote the grassroots game using a series of skills exercises.

Hundreds of tickets to the London Wasps match were given away to people who had never seen a rugby match before, and the club recorded bumper crowds for the match, attended by many from the next generation of rugby players.

SMO vs. SEO

Recently, we’ve heard commentators say that social media optimisation (SMO) is now becoming more important than traditional SEO. We think that’s untrue for the majority of markets and brands because, like it or not, Google still holds the key to their direct sales, leads and awareness on the internet.

Of course, it’s true that certain brands are moving more resources into social media and away from SEO, and you could make the case that ‘word of mouth’ is more trusted as a source of information than any other. Therefore it makes sense for brands to pay extremely close attention to what’s being said about them online and interact at the appropriate time, in an appropriate fashion – something we practice day in, day out here at Brazil for most of our clients (for an example of this, check out some of our work on social media with swiftcover.com).

Our opinion? Social media optimisation should not be seen as the be all and end all, neither should it be dismissed. The key thing to bear in mind is that all media is integrated, and as a result, there are very few successful online campaigns that don't utilize the unique and important values of other marketing disciplines such as advertising and public relations. Well, maybe a couple.

Brazil makes two new signings...

Brazil has taken on two new recruits at associate and account director levels following the company’s move to London.

Sean Williams joins as associate director from Consolidated PR to lead the financial services division and build the social media offering. Meanwhile, Pritesh Mody joins Brazil from Ketchum and will lead the Honda account as well as head up the FMCG arm.

The appointments coincide with Brazil’s relocation to Soho, London and the launch of a new website (www.agencybrazil.com) – moves designed to increase Brazil’s proximity to clients and expand the firm’s social media offering.

Contact Sean and/or Pritesh by calling 020 7785 7383 or email them direct:

sean@agencybrazil.com

pritesh@agencybrazil.com

Brazil wins Genactis brief in four way pitch

Brazil has been appointed as the retained PR agency for Genactis, an international healthcare research firm.

Genactis, which has offices in the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy and France, appointed Brazil after a competitive four way pitch. Brazil is the first PR agency to have been appointed by Genactis.

Brazil was called in to change the perception of Genactis from a market research agency to a life sciences provider, and the brief includes both online and offline work. Richard Kenyon, who recently joined Brazil from Fleishman-Hillard’s healthcare agency will lead the account, and will work closely with Brazil MD Joshua Van Raalte.

New Soho office and website

Brazil has moved to 10/11 Archer Street, which is now our main office. We’ve also got new website up at www.agencybrazil.com, and a new contact number to boot: 020 7785 7383.

Let us know what you think.

Brazil