“Excellence in the face of adversity” secured the title for The Glasgow School of Art
The GSA’s Director of Marketing, Communications and Strategic Planning, Scott Parsons,
and Communications Manager, Kirsty Barr, with 2015 THELMA’s host Jack Whitehall.
The Marketing and Communications team from the GSA has been recognised for its excellence in the face of adversity and its outstanding achievement in managing the communications around the fire in the Mackintosh Building and its aftermath. The GSA collected the Best Marketing and Communication Team Award at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards, the winners of which were announced in London last night, 18 June 2015.
The judges described the school’s “systematic” plan to
deal with the emergency and the global interest as “an outstanding achievement
in such a very short space of time”.
deal with the emergency and the global interest as “an outstanding achievement
in such a very short space of time”.
“The proactive approach by the school’s
communications team got international attention and global coverage, and has
led the way for a restoration programme and development funding to rebuild this
wonderful edifice.”
communications team got international attention and global coverage, and has
led the way for a restoration programme and development funding to rebuild this
wonderful edifice.”
Full text of the Times Higher Education press release below.
Further information on the GSA
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
News Release
The Glasgow School of Art won
the Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team award last night, at the Times Higher Education Leadership and
Management Awards 2015. The awards, now in their seventh year recognise
outstanding leadership and management in the UK’s higher education
institutions.
the Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team award last night, at the Times Higher Education Leadership and
Management Awards 2015. The awards, now in their seventh year recognise
outstanding leadership and management in the UK’s higher education
institutions.
Excellence in the face of adversity secured the title for
the Glasgow School of Art with the award recognising the success of the school’s
response to the devastating fire that swept through the institution’s famous
Mackintosh Building in May 2014 and attracted interest from around the world.
the Glasgow School of Art with the award recognising the success of the school’s
response to the devastating fire that swept through the institution’s famous
Mackintosh Building in May 2014 and attracted interest from around the world.
As the flames raged, the communications team issued a
quick factual statement, which set the tone for a multi-channel response that
had several key objectives: providing transparent updates, protecting the
institution’s reputation, attracting donations for restoration and maintaining
applicant numbers. After the initial response, the school provided daily updates
that were sent to staff, students, alumni and applicants, and also shared
publicly online.
quick factual statement, which set the tone for a multi-channel response that
had several key objectives: providing transparent updates, protecting the
institution’s reputation, attracting donations for restoration and maintaining
applicant numbers. After the initial response, the school provided daily updates
that were sent to staff, students, alumni and applicants, and also shared
publicly online.
Key influencers such as Peter
Capaldi were lent their support to the school’s campaign, and the
use of social media was also very important: the school’s following in key
networks increased by 50 per cent in the month after the fire and has remained
steady since.
Capaldi were lent their support to the school’s campaign, and the
use of social media was also very important: the school’s following in key
networks increased by 50 per cent in the month after the fire and has remained
steady since.
The judges described the school’s “systematic” plan to
deal with the emergency and the global interest as “an outstanding achievement
in such a very short space of time”. “The proactive approach by the school’s
communications team got international attention and global coverage, and has
led the way for a restoration programme and development funding to rebuild this
wonderful edifice.”
deal with the emergency and the global interest as “an outstanding achievement
in such a very short space of time”. “The proactive approach by the school’s
communications team got international attention and global coverage, and has
led the way for a restoration programme and development funding to rebuild this
wonderful edifice.”
Winners attended a black-tie event in at the Grosvenor
House Hotel, London, hosted by actor and comedian Jack Whitehall, where over
1,000 guests gathered to celebrate outstanding performance in the competitive
world of UK higher education.
House Hotel, London, hosted by actor and comedian Jack Whitehall, where over
1,000 guests gathered to celebrate outstanding performance in the competitive
world of UK higher education.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges including
Alison Johns, Chief Executive of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education,
David McBeth, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange Services at the
University of Strathclyde, and Maja Maricevic, Head of Higher Education at the
British Library.
Alison Johns, Chief Executive of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education,
David McBeth, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange Services at the
University of Strathclyde, and Maja Maricevic, Head of Higher Education at the
British Library.
For more coverage of the awards, profiles of the winners,
and photos from the evening, please visit www.thelmawards.co.uk or pick up a
copy of THE, available in newsagents
from 25 June.
and photos from the evening, please visit www.thelmawards.co.uk or pick up a
copy of THE, available in newsagents
from 25 June.