[New] Strand PR celebrates adecade of delivering results

An agency that started out with just one client and now boasts a huge portfolio of Hertfordshirebased companies and Chamber members has just celebrated its 10th anniversary in business.

RDT Architects are proud to have played a key role in the design and development of this new purpose built 77-bedroom care home for Hertfordshire County Council.

Part of a 3.6acre redevelopment on a former school site with RDT being part of the wider masterplan design including 13 residential dwellings.

RDT were involved throughout the conceptual design, planning and construction phases and retained as architectural design advisors on behalf of the Council during the construction.

The home owned by Hertfordshire County Council and operated by Gold Care Homes, was built with sustainability and innovation at the forefront and designed to cater for residents living with a variety of cogitative and physically challenging conditions.

Private bedrooms offer spacious living environments with modern wet room ensuites, retaining dignity and privacy for residents. The home also offers bariatric care within specialist rooms and equipment.

The architecture was carefully designed to reflect the needs of a modern care home in terms of function whilst respecting the suburban context. The New River setting allows residents to engage with nature and wildlife from the variety of external gardens and first floor balconies.

One of the key factors within this new care home development was to provide flexible design in the spaces created, allowing the architecture to respond to changing needs identified by the care operator, while enabling the home to deliver modern forms of care as innovation in the sector continues.

Founded in 2012, Strand PR has fast become one of the top-rated PR and marketing agencies in the county, recently featuring at number 14 of The Drum’s top 50 digital companies in 2022.

Known for its no-nonsense marketing and clear communications, the firm has gone from strength to strength achieving national and regional coverage for many of its clients.

Reflecting on the growth of the business within the last decade, Founder and Managing Director Laura Pearce, said: “There’s no doubt about it, running a business is tough. “In a decade of Strand PR I’ve steered us through a recession, Brexit and a pandemic. There’s some tough decisions along the way, and it hasn’t always been fun, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.” their service, achieving £40,000 worth of coverage in just six months, which was outstanding considering what our fee was. l We focus on attracting people who match our values first and foremost l We encourage people with little or no experience to come and ‘have a go’ through our work experience programme l Our own experienced people love to be mentors and share their experience l We are working with Herts LEP to partner with local schools, CTP to retrain ex-services personnel and in collaboration with other industry colleagues l We are starting an Academy to train and upskill apprentices and trainees www.mcp.community

In addition to running a successful company, Laura, who supports the Chamber’s Entrepreneur Foundation, has worked hard to create opportunities for the next generation.

Vacancies in construction related businesses are at an all time high and we, like our industry colleagues are facing a skills shortage right now and over the next 10+ years.

MCP is a repairs and maintenance, family business based in Hertford, caring for our customers since 1978.

We are committed to ensuring our people make a positive difference to our residents and their homes.

She said: “Employing people who are brimming with ideas and champing at the bit to make their mark in the world is what Strand PR is all about, which is why I have employed a couple of young entrepreneurs who are all about finding solutions in a way that no one else thought of. “I started my business aged just 22 and people believed in me, which is what has got me here today. It’s important to me to continue to use the influence I’ve built to lift up as many people as I can, inspiring young people and giving them the platform to express their ideas and try new things.”

Strand PR’s services to the Chamber began back in September 2021 soon after the organisation realised it needed to raise its profile and required some PR of its own.

Chamber CEO Briege Leahy said: “When we first engaged with Strand PR we were at a crucial point as we needed to get our name out there. Laura and her team were clear with what they were going to deliver and went above and beyond with

“Securing the level of coverage they did in such a short space of time exceeded all our expectations and has led to other things. We would like to wish Strand PR a very solvent, profitable and rewarding 10th birthday and here’s to the next decade.”

Laura and her team also work with other Chamber members, who have all experienced the same first-class service and excellent results. Laura said: “I am very grateful to the Chamber and all the opportunities it has put before me. There’s no doubt that its support has definitely given Strand PR a huge boost, which is why we always go that extra mile to ensure the Chamber and all its members are well looked after.

“As it’s our 10th year in business, I would like to start working with another 10 Chamber organisations, so I am offering 10 per cent off our fees for their first service. We’re calling it our ‘decade of delivering’ package. Just quote that when approaching and we’ll take it from there. I have high hopes for the future and I hope the Chamber members are coming with me.”

For more information, visit strand-pr.co.uk