A York-based marketing communications consultancy is reaping the benefits of international links forged in 2002.

The Partners Group became the sole UK representative of International Public Relations team (IPR team), a global PR practitioners' consortium, in October last year. Through its international links, the company has increased the scope of work within its existing client base and is currently developing a Europe-wide press campaign for a client in the food industry.

Karen Tinkler, account director at the Partners Group says, "IPR team is a global network of independent marketing communications consultancies established to meet the specific marketing needs of small to medium sized businesses seeking to enter international markets.

"The feedback we've had in the UK suggests these companies are reluctant to approach the 'big names' when seeking to raise their profile internationally but previously have not known where to turn. This shows that there is a need for specialist knowledge at an international level to help SMEs achieve global growth and this is the driving force behind IPR team."

IPR team partners currently operate across Europe, Australia and Africa using local knowledge of media systems, cultures and economic and political environments in over 14 countries to develop and implement co-ordinated marketing communications programmes for small to medium sized clients.

Karen attended the first IPR team conference in Amsterdam in February, which brought together six of the fourteen partner organisations.

She says, "The aim of the conference was to review the team's progress over the first twelve months and develop a strategy for its continued development. Several successful international projects have taken place within the first year and further business opportunities were identified at the conference. This proves that the assumptions on which IPR team was established are well-founded and indicates the potential for the initiative to continue to thrive in the future."

The Partners Group specialises in the provision of fully integrated marketing communications programmes to organisations in the construction, property, housing, manufacturing, education and professional services sectors.

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