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CHAIR’S REPORT

Chairing the Scottish Group on behalf of CIPR members

in Scotland for the last two years has been rewarding in

many ways. Last year the Group reported an increase in

membership, better engagement, increased activity and

we were in good financial shape.

Taking the opportunity to Chair the Group for a second

year has allowed me to take a wider look at the Group

and its overall activity, questioning the future strategy of

the Group, its members and ultimately what we need to

do to be sustainable and deliver an even more valuable

service to members.

The Scottish Committee volunteers continue to be

dedicated to their tasks and as a result, we’ve been able

to increase our mix of activity to include new

partnerships, more guest blog posts and indeed a better

way of working with our colleagues at the CIPR in

London.

Through a better understanding of PR and the national

agenda in Scotland, the CIPR CEO announced earlier

this year that there would be a greater focus on Scotland,

responding to members and as a result, we will appoint a

development consultant in Scotland to assist the efforts.

As with any committee, commitments change

throughout the year and as a result, we’ve seen Minty

Woolger, Laura Berry, Candace Watermeyer and Zevi

Watmough stand down, with David Russell, Glenise

Borthwick, Nathalie Agnew and Suzanne Cameron-

Nielson co-opted onto the Committee to strengthen

resource. Retiring from the Committee after this term are

Ruth Fry, Joe Walton and me.

Although I am stepping down from my position as

Chair, I am delighted to have been co-opted onto the

CIPR Board of Directors, which will allow me to further

represent Scotland and assist in a more strategic

capacity.

2012 was a learning curve and 2013 was a year where

we were able to push ahead and achieve more. 2014,

however, promises to be an exciting year, with many

opportunities for the profession, not forgetting the

world’s media will be watching Scotland, with the Ryder

Cup, Year of Homecoming and the XX Commonwealth

Games.

Thank you to everyone that has helped us achieve what

we believe to have been a successful year and a special

thank you to the volunteers of the CIPR Scotland

Committee for their efforts over the last year. Thanks

also to our colleagues at the CIPR – office-bearers,

Council and staff - who have supported our efforts

throughout the year.

Laura Sutherland, CIPR Scotland Group Chair,

2012-2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chair’s Report .................................................. 1

Membership 2013/2014 ................................... 2

CIPR PRide Awards ........................................ 2

Training ............................................................ 3

Events ............................................................... 3

Member Communications ................................ 5

CIPR Scotland Public Affairs Sub-Group ....... 7

Representing the Membership ......................... 7

Treasurer’s Report 2012 .................................. 9

Please note that this annual report has been written

from 2013 AGM to 2014 AGM rather than the financial

year (January-December). In the future, this report will

be aligned to financial reporting.

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MEMBERSHIP

2013/2014 At the time of the AGM last year, there were 831

members. This year, we have steadily increased our

membership. The latest figures show we now have 894

members in Scotland.

Nearly 75% of our membership register their address in

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The remaining 25%

is based in Falkirk, Inverclyde, Ayrshire, Perth and

Dundee. Other areas include Inverness, Lanarkshire,

Kilmarnock and Kirkwall.

It’s important to recognise contributions to the

profession throughout the year and we were delighted

that Caroline Binnie, former Chair of the Scotland

Group (2010-11), was made a Fellow in late 2013.

The Group’s Treasurer, Grant Thoms, stood for Council

and was elected to start his three-year term in January

this year.

As of the end of the 2013/2014 CPD cycle (on 28

February) there were 107 Accredited Practitioners in

Scotland and 4 Chartered Practitioners.

We are pleased to recognise the following members who

have gained Chartered status since its inception:

Jane Cumming

David Russell

Francoise Van Buuren

Jason Wassell

The CIPR Board once again granted £3,000 to funding a

Secretariat, who assisted with our administration of

events and training as well as a point of contact for

sector groups. This has enabled the rest of the

Committee to develop opportunities elsewhere.

CIPR SCOTTISH PRIDE

AWARDS 2013 was the 10th anniversary of the CIPR Scottish

PRide Awards so it was only appropriate that the

Awards broke records again this year, with more entries

than ever. 154 entries from 45 organisations were received across

21 categories, an increase of 12 entries on the previous

year.

The Committee would like to thank judges Lesley

Alexander, Izzy Crawford, Clare Smith, Sandra Steel

and Susan Stewart for their time and professionalism.

Our colleagues in the CIPR events team organised the

Awards in Scotland and Laura Sutherland, Katrine

Pearson and Elaine Fee took on responsibility for

sponsorship and promotion on behalf of the CIPR

Scotland Committee. This year the Committee was ably

assisted at the ceremony by PR students from the City of

Glasgow College.

Local sponsorship was secured from Glasgow

City Council, Nasdaq, Press Data and the

Scottish Government generating £4,700 of

income.

The group also received 10% of entry income

which amounted to £1,948.

Sponsorship in kind was agreed for

photography, video and design of the Awards

programme from John Linton Photography,

Solo Creative and Pocapoc Creative

respectively.

Over £1,450 was raised for the CIPR

benevolent fund IPRovision.

Partnerships with the Marketing Society in Scotland and

Institute of Directors,Scotland continued with reciprocal

packages which raised the profile of CIPR Scotland and

PRide Awards, at the Star Awards and IoD Scotland

Director of the Year Awards.

338 industry professionals and guests attended the CIPR

Scottish PRide Awards ceremony at the Grand Central

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Hotel in Glasgow on 24 October, hosted by television

and radio presenter Bryan Burnett.

Guests were entertained by Jazz DJ, Mark Robb, and a

visual display which celebrated 10 years of PRide in

Scotland.

TRAINING Training remains a priority as we continue to push

professional development and standards, feeding into the

CIPR’s CPD scheme.

FRESHLY BREWED

Since the last AGM, we have

co-ordinated nine Freshly

Brewed workshops, which are

still proving to be hugely

popular, not only because they

are half-day sessions, but

because of the competitive

pricing.

Our negotiations with city venues have enabled us to

organise affordable events at the likes of the Blythswood

Hotel, Glasgow, Edinburgh Training and Conference

Centre, MacRobert Arts Centre in Stirling, Robert

Gordon University and Park Inn, Aberdeen,

All of the course content is approved by CIPR and

contributes to CPD.

Bitesize briefing on evaluation

How to maximise your profile on LinkedIn

Unlock your inner creative

Managing LinkedIn Groups and pages

Ethical practice in lobbying and stakeholder

engagement

Change management and leadership

Internal communications

Crisis management

Crisis communications geared towards oil and

gas

In total 77 people have attended Freshly Brewed

workshops, an increase of 48 from 2012/13.

FRESH

This year we launched FRESH, a short evening training

event, which focuses on basic, key skills involved with

account handling. Four sessions were held between

Glasgow and Edinburgh and 33 people attended.

Topics included ‘how to write a photography brief’ and

‘how to write a design brief’.

FRESH will continue in 2014, with a focus on skills

which senior practitioners may take for granted, for

example, how to network and build confidence.

EVENTS 2013/14 saw a wide range of events organised

throughout Scotland, with activity in Glasgow,

Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, including our first

live on-line event, How to Win a PRide Award, and our

first event organised by the Student members.

EVENT FINANCIALS

Members £7,471 55%

Non-Members £6,205 45%

£13,676

Booking fee

income

£543 4%

£14,219

Please note that these figures do not take into account

the conference and are projections.

CIPR SCOTLAND AGM 2013

The Annual General Meeting of the Scotland Group was

held on Monday 11th March 2013 at The Caledonian

Hotel, Edinburgh. The conference was broadcast live

online for the first time.

44 members registered for the evening organised by Joe

Walton and Elaine Fee. Jon White presented his research

PR 20:20 on the evening.

CIPR SCOTLAND CONFERENCE

CIPR Scotland’s second annual conference takes place

on 11th March 2014 in The Blythswood Square Hotel,

Glasgow with sixty members and non-members in

attendance. Laura Sutherland led the conference

organisation with Katrine Pearson and Elaine Fee.

The conference will focus on the hot topic, “Future

PRoofing”, looking at how the CIPR can guide its

members to prepare for changes in the profession,

including team structures, recruitment, education and

how the profession can better engage with the business

community.

PR has to maintain its own reputation but also raise its

profile in the C-suite and on the boardroom agenda to

ensure it’s a key focus of every strategic meeting.

We were thrilled to secure Nick Jones, formerly Head of

Digital at No.10, now Head of Digital, Visa Europe and

Jason Gallucci, CEO of Lexis as our keynote speakers.

Other speakers included in the programme: Professor

Jacquie L’Etang and Dr. Mandy Powell from Queen

Margaret University; John Heuston, Curriculum Leader

for Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations at City

of Glasgow College and David Martin from Skills

Development Scotland; David Watt, Director of IOD

Scotland; Phil Morgan, Policy and Comms Director and

Alastair McCapra, CEO of CIPR.

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SOCIAL IN THE CITY

We saw two Social in the City

events this year, with 25

members/non-members

attending. Thanks to Elaine

Fee for organising.

ABERDEENSHIRE: BUILDING A BRAND

THROUGH REPUTATION

Our VIP speaker at this event held at Robert Gordon

University was Cllr Jill Webster, Convener of

Aberdeenshire Council. Along with Kate Bond and

Belinda Miller from Aberdeen City Council and Rita

Stephen from the Aberdeen City of Culture bid team, the

group took us through how important it has been to

develop the North East as a brand, looking at the key

aspects of a strong and diverse local economy, low

unemployment and a thriving tourist industry.

30 people attended the event, along with members of the

CIPR Scotland Committee. Thanks to Laura Sutherland

for organising.

NETWORKING EVENTS

Two free networking events were organised this year

with our colleagues at the CIPR and CIPR Scotland

Committee.

The first event “Bring a Friend” encouraged members to

bring a friend to join the CIPR and get a special offer on

their joining fee. Jane Wilson, CEO, and Phil Morgan,

Policy and Communications Director, joined the CIPR

Scotland Committee to talk through the benefits of the

CIPR, training requirements and up and coming events.

The second event, a focused networking breakfast

organised at Standard Life in Edinburgh, gave Jane and

Phil a chance to talk about Chartered Status and

professionalism within the industry. Thanks to Matt

Pittam and Katrine Pearson for organising and

welcoming guests.

SOCIAL MEDIA IN OIL AND GAS

In Aberdeen, Rene Looper, founder of Tuminds Social

Media, looked at how social media can be used

effectively in the Oil and Gas Sector. Thanks to Laura

Sutherland and Tricker PR for organising.

32 people attended the event held at the Park Inn. This

event outlined a requirement for similar sector-specific

activities to be organised in the city.

FELLOWS LUNCH

Senior practitioners events were a focus of the year, with

a Fellows lunch in Edinburgh in June with CEO, Jane

Wilson, and Chair, Laura Sutherland, discussing

professionalism, PR practice and the role of Fellows in

the future of the CIPR.

SENIOR PRACTITIONERS EVENT

In December we invited CIPR Scotland members who

are senior practitioners to a round table event with Phil

Morgan to discuss professionalism, engagement with

senior practitioners and how CPD will play an ever-

increasing part of the CIPR’s professional standards.

Since these events, we are delighted that Fellows have

participated as PRide Awards judges, Jane Cumming

spoke at an event in Inverness and we have three more

senior practitioners joining the Committee in its new

term.

PR THE PROFESSION

For the first time in a few years, CIPR Scotland

organised an event in Inverness, where a collection of

public and third-sector PR professionals heard from

CIPR Fellow, Jane Cumming, and Vice Chair, Katrine

Pearson, about the benefits of CIPR membership and

what requirements the Highland membership have for

the coming year.

This event highlighted the opportunities for CIPR

Scotland to engage further in this area and plans are

underway for a follow-up event in the next term. This is

a theme Scotland Committee would like to explore

further how CIPR members can self-organise in their

locality.

THE LOVES AND LOATHES OF JOURNALISTS

Andy Barr from 10 Yetis came to Glasgow to discuss

the company’s international research on the “loves and

loathes” of journalists. Thanks to Elaine Fee for

organising.

More than 40 members and non-members attended the

event, held in The Corinthian, which saw Andy cover

topics including how much journalists rely on Twitter,

how to send them a picture, and good and bad news

releases.

COMMUNICATING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

This panel discussion with John Brown, Co-author of

"PR and Communication in Local Government and

Public Services"; Jacquie L'Etang, Professor of Public

Relations and Applied Communication, Queen Margaret

University, Kate Fitch of Murdoch University, Western

Australia, and Stuart Wilson, Director of

Communications and Public Affairs, NHS Lothian in

Edinburgh, was attended by 36 members and non-

members from across the private and public sectors.

It looked at the challenges faced by public services PR

practitioners in communicating confidently in the public

interest. Thanks to Ruth Fry and David Russell for co-

ordinating.

AN INSIGHT INTO INTERNATIONAL PR

At a sold out event, Ella Minty, Strategy and Change

Consultant to the oil and gas industry, looked at public

relations in an international capacity.

Thanks to Elaine Fee and Grant Thoms for organising.

30 people attended this event at Edinburgh Napier

University, examining reputation management, strategy

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and how working in a different country can impact on

how you develop your PR campaigns.

HOW TO WORK WITH THE PRESS

ASSOCIATION

30 people attended this event in The Corinthian in

Glasgow where Victoria Mitchell, PA Scotland Editor,

talked attendees through a typical day in the life of the

PA and explained how to work with her and her team,

and exactly what the PA need and want from the PR

professional. Thanks to Elaine Fee for organising.

MEMBER

COMMUNICATIONS Building on last year’s success, the communications

team focussed on consistency and putting in place the

tools to achieve a more balanced approach to Scotland’s

member-focused communications.

CIPR SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER

Under the co-ordination of Ruth Fry and Sandra Steel, in

2013, CIPR Scotland sent out 12 e-newsletters and 15 e-

flyers to over 800 members.

Timing was changed to ensure communications were

optimised to arrive in members’ inboxes first thing on a

Tuesday – early enough in the week to have time to read

them, without getting lost in the Monday morning mail.

This year, CIPR Scotland was also able to target email

communications to members in specific geographic

areas, which proved a useful way of publicising events

in Aberdeen and Inverness.

Our average open rate for these communications was

27%, higher than expected for this type of

communication, with a small but significant number of

people clicking through to book events and training.

Plans for next year are for more targeted

communications and working with the sector groups to

promote events in Scotland.

CIPR SCOTLAND BLOG

With Eventbrite, CIPR Scotland’s event platform, and

wordpress.com, the Group’s blog provider, announcing a

new tie-up, the blog changed its theme to integrate the

two. This was a free way to help highlight events and

create a central hub for information.

Under the eye of Matthew Pittam and Joe Walton in

2013, traffic to the blog rose to 11,712 from 8,441 in

2012. This is a smaller rise than seen in previous years

reflecting the maturity of the blog.

The blog pointed a considerable number of people to

events and provided a platform for guest blogging and

discussion.

The top four posts for 2013 were:

The CIPR Scotland Communicator of the Year

2013 – Clare Smith – Scottish Government

Marketing and Communications

Three Challenges for PR Practitioners

Engaging Internally Through Yammer

Guest Post – Teaching Public Relations in

Scotland

The blog continued to host presentations that

attendees could view after the event to save time

responding to individual enquiries.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The social media team built on the previous good work

in this area to develop the networks and consistency.

Schedules were put in place with a five-day rota for

posting. Thanks to the following committee members for

their contribution:

Joe Walton

Katrine Pearson

Kenny McDonald

Laura Sutherland

Laura Berry

Nathalie Agnew

TWITTER @CIPR_SCOTLAND

The CIPR Scotland Twitter account has grown from

1,848 followers in March 2013 to 2,405 at the end of

February 2014.

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An average of six tweets per working day were issued

sharing interesting content, CIPR Scotland activities and

links to events that might benefit members.

The year also saw:

Live tweeting of the CIPR Scotland PRide

Awards nominations

Live tweeting of the CIPR Scotland PRide

Awards results. This resulted in the hashtag

#prideSCO trending in Glasgow

Live tweeting during events such as How to

work with the Press Association

The team put in place an editorial calendar for tweeting

to avoid duplication and to keep the feed fresh.

The Twitter account was the biggest referrer to the

Eventbrite page and listings as well as the blog.

LINKEDIN

CIPR Scotland's LinkedIn Group numbers have grown

steadily throughout 2013 and 2014, up from 115 group

members in February 2012 to 337 on February 2013. As

of March 2014 the group now has 546 members.

The group continues to remain closed to counter

growing spam on LinkedIn. Only those living in

Scotland or with a relationship to Scotland and who

work in the communications field are allowed to join.

FACEBOOK

Between March 2013 and the end of February 2014, the

CIPR Scotland Facebook page has grown from 196 likes

to 317 likes.

Over the past year, the social media group has put in

place a regular posting schedule limiting this to one per

day. This was to work with changes in the Facebook

timeline algorithm and to help plan further ahead.

The team posted 174 updates, up 17% on the previous

year. This is nearly one for every working day.

The page is being used to bring traffic to events and let

members know about vital updates.

YOUTUBE

CIPR Scotland used the YouTube channel to focus on

key events and use new technology where possible.

Solo Creative was brought on as a partner for the CIPR

Scotland PRide Awards. The video was the most popular

of the year.

Having experimented with using a Google Hangout for

the 2013 AGM, the communications group used the

software to run a live hangout on how to win a PRide

Award.

Two former judges, Scott Douglas, from Holyrood

Partnership, and Dr Emma Wood, from Queen Margaret

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University, joined Secretary, Joe Walton, to give the

judges’ version on how to win an award.

The three videos have been seen 297 times between

them. Even with fewer videos, this was an increase on

previous years.

Videos were well received and in 2014 the Committee

will look to develop the video offering further.

CIPR SCOTLAND

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

GROUP The CIPR Scotland Public Affairs (PA) Group was set

up in 2013 with the aim of better representing our PA

sector group members, feeding into both the CIPR

Scotland Committee and the CIPR PA Group.

Andrew Watson volunteered to take the Team Leader

role and co-opted CIPR members Neil Cuthbert, Callum

Chomczuk, Graeme Downie and Siobhan Paterson onto

the group shortly after.

A Christmas drinks reception was held in December and

20 members registered to attend.

The policy work has focused on the Scottish

Government’s proposal for statutory regulation of the

Scottish lobbying sector and the subsequent Scottish

Parliament Standards, Procedures and Public

Appointments Committee inquiry into lobbying.

CIPR Scotland PA Group supported by CIPR staff and

in co-ordination with ASPA and APPC submitted

written evidence to the SPPA Committee and Andrew

Watson provided oral evidence on behalf of the CIPR in

January.

The Scottish Public Affairs Group continues to monitor

the progress of the Committee inquiry, which is

expected to report before the summer recess.

The group will continue to liaise with Scottish Ministers

and officials to ensure that the views of the CIPR are

taken into account when the legislation is drafted and

that any legislation supports the CIPR’s existing work to

improve transparency and professional standards in

lobbying.

Andrew Watson will step down at the 2014 AGM and a

new Team Leader will take on the chair role for the next

term. The new Scottish Development Consultant will

work alongside the PA Group and Committee to ensure

opportunities are fully exploited.

Throughout the 2014-15 term the Scottish Public Affairs

Group will look to deliver a series of events throughout

the year which will help to support the needs and

represent the views of PA practitioners in Scotland.

REPRESENTING THE

MEMBERSHIP The Scottish Group has made strides to engage members

this year and representing the needs of the membership

in Scotland to the wider CIPR network. This has already

led to further support from the CIPR Board with

Scotland receiving funding for a new paid position in

Scotland to work across policy and membership

development.

“STUDENTS INTO PR” EVENT

For the first time, CIPR Scotland and CIPR Student

representatives from Edinburgh Napier University,

Queen Margaret University, Robert Gordon University

and University of Stirling held a “Students into PR”

event to connect students with PR practitioners and

CIPR members. The event was held at Edinburgh Napier

University last April.

61 students attended the event which focused on PR

practice in corporate, political and internal

communications as well as the third sector. We would

like to thank guest speakers: Christina Cran, Billy

Partridge, Ian Dommett and Cristina Dello Sterpaio for

giving the students the benefit of their experience.

Thanks to our student organisers Bart Misiak, Yulia

Malkina, Ka Wing Wong and Eliane Nugent Ngoue

QMU PILOT STUDY

Laura Sutherland met with Professor Jacquie L’Etang,

Professor of Public Relations and Applied

Communication in the Division of Media,

Communications & Performing Arts at Queen Margaret

University (QMU) to discuss trending issues and

possible scope for research into the public relations

profession in Scotland.

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It was agreed that a pilot project could be scoped out

with senior practitioners in Scotland, looking to see how

they got into the profession, what role they play and

what their thoughts are about the profession in terms of

landscape, learning and professional development. QMU

granted funding for this project and the findings will be

presented at the second CIPR Scotland Conference.

SKILLS SCOTLAND EXHIBITION

Supported by key Scottish stakeholders the Skills Scotland series attracts over 10,000 visitors across the three exhibitions, giving them access to employers, training providers, sector skills councils, universities, colleges, charities /voluntary sector organisations and career / business advisers in an interactive and vibrant environment.

The exhibition helped increase awareness with a younger age group (S4-S6), supporting CIPR’s overall objectives to target people in schools who are potentially making career choices. CIPR Scotland - with financial support from CIPR HQ - took on organising and manning the three days of the exhibition in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as organise branding, banners and co-ordination of material from CIPR.

CIPR Scotland will re-evaluate the value of this exhibition in 2014 as it was felt that this was not necessarily the right platform to engage with students.

AMES

Following the pilot research project, a further meeting to

discuss an opportunity to engage with teachers in senior,

further and higher education who teach about media was

held. This will allow CIPR to speak directly to teachers

in Scotland who have an effect on the reputation and

perception of PR and potentially the opportunity to

change how PR is being conveyed via media education.

It has been confirmed that CIPR Scotland will speak and

be members of the panel of the Association of Media

Educators in Scotland annual conference in May 2014.

PRESS COVERAGE

The Group represented the CIPR members across the

media this year.

While coverage was lower this year, important pieces of

coverage were generated around the PRide Award

winners and nominations. The CIPR’s voice in the

lobbying bill debate has continued to grow with

representation in The Times, Scotsman, Herald and on

STV.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

During 2013/2014 the Committee continued to build

relationships with other professional bodies and working

groups as well as develop new relationships, where it

was considered to add value to CIPR members.

AMMO

AMMO was set up in 2011 with a view to bringing all

marketing organisations together, to ensure best practice,

sharing of information and events and to give a bigger

voice to the industry. CIPR Scotland will continue to

share information about events and training and assist

where possible by representing the views of the

membership.

IOD SCOTLAND

As well as being involved in our PRide Awards and the

IoD’s Director of the Year Awards, CIPR members also

benefit from the IoD’s training and events via a discount

on key activities. We have included these activities in

our member communication throughout the year.

Laura Sutherland and Katrine Pearson met with IoD

Scotland’s Membership Manager and discussed the

opportunity to develop the relationship. It is hoped that a

pilot training session geared towards leadership will be

organised by IoD for CIPR members in May 2014 and

after further scoping out, CIPR will run board room

communications workshops for board directors, not

necessarily involved in communications.

IoD Scotland will also be represented by Director, David

Watt, at CIPR Scotland’s Future PRoofing conference,

discussing communications in the boardroom.

Further scoping out is required for development of

specific awards at PRide and Director of the Year,

namely PR/Communication Director of the Year.

MARKETING SOCIETY STAR AWARDS

CIPR Scotland sponsors the PR category of the Star

Awards and promotes the awards to its members. 450

guests from Scotland’s leading agencies and

organisations attend the awards, demonstrating the

highest level of creativity in strategy and campaigns.

Laura Sutherland presented the PR Award on the

evening and CIPR branding was used across event

material and in the venue.

The Marketing Society also attended the PRide Awards,

having logo representation on all materials, as well as

presenting an award.

ABERDEEN COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (ACG)

CIPR Scotland has been active in sharing event and

training information with the ACG.

We have recently learned of a new Chair, Lauren

Strachan, who we have spoken to with regards to

supporting their annual ball, held in October.

As there has been a restructure, there hasn’t yet been an

opportunity to develop joint activities but this will be

followed up in due course.

VISIT SCOTLAND

Laura Sutherland met with VisitScotland (VS) to discuss

how both CIPR and VS’s PR Communicators Forum

(PCF) could better work together, with both offering

different opportunities for its members.

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PCF is free to join and is focused on travel, tourism and

leisure and particularly relevant for 2014 in Scotland.

Laura Sutherland with VisitScotland PR Manager Sarah

Ormerod, worked together on the first joint event which

offered members a free networking opportunity and also

saw the launch of the “Scotland Welcomes the World”

advert.

This sold out event gave Laura the opportunity to talk

about the new partnership but importantly gave

VisitScotland Marketing Manager (UK & Ireland) Helen

Campbell, a chance to recap on opportunities available

around Homecoming Scotland 2014. Helen also spoke

about the Media Hub for the Commonwealth Games and

how PR people can get involved.

A schedule of quarterly events and networking

opportunities has been developed. The next will take

place at the VisitScotland Expo in April at the SECC,

Glasgow.

TREASURER’S

REPORT 2013

It is my pleasure to present the audited accounts and

financial report for a second year: probably one of the

most profitable in a long time.

WHERE DID OUR INCOME COME FROM?

CIPR Scotland is funded by income raised by the

Committee through its training and events activity and

raising sponsorship at the annual Scottish PRide

Awards.

Additionally, we receive commissionable income from

CIPR HQ in the form of a share of membership dues and

PRide Awards entry fees.

CIPR Scotland was also successful in obtaining

considerable support from CIPR HQ for a number of

initiatives including underwriting our secretariat support

and contributing to the Skills Scotland Exhibition

initiative.

All in all, this is broken down as follows:

2013 2012 Share

of

income

2013

Share

of

income

2012

Events £14844 £9192 51% 58%

HQ

grants

£5615 £513 19% 3%

HQ

commis

sion

£4018 £2169 14% 14%

Sponso

rship

£4700 £4052 16% 25%

Total £29177 £15926

HOW WAS MONEY SPENT?

The accounts are laid out to show how the direct costs of

running training and events are offset from ticket sales to

create a surplus before the running costs of the CIPR

Scotland’s other activities are taken into account.

2013 2012 Share

of

expendi

ture

2013

Share

of

expendi

ture

2012

Events £12581 £6634 58% 43%

Pride £3460 £4844 16% 31%

Admin £4185 £3111 19% 20%

Accoun

tancy &

Bank

£670 £623 3% 4%

AGM £807 £189 4% 1%

Total £21703 £15401

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SURPLUS?

The accounts show a considerable increase in the year-

end surplus, primarily driven by a healthy return on the

activities we organise.

The return of a Scottish conference in January 2013 set

the scene but it should be noted that income from non-

members provides a substantial contribution of the

overall surplus.

This year’s surplus is added to the retained surplus from

previous years and will be required to underwrite the

plans for future development of services and

membership in 2014 and beyond.

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HOW ARE WE DOING IN THE LONG RUN?

I have shown the figures for the past five years of

income and expenditure.

The key indicators from this show:

Event and training income has trebled in five

years

Surplus from event and training income has

remained stable for last five years at £2500

Administration costs have gone down in actual

and real terms despite an increase in activity

PRide Awards sponsorship covered all

associated costs last year for the first time in a

number of years

From a difficult year in 2009, reserves have

recovered within three years and are now

double the 2009 figure.

There is a slight caveat to these figures in that not every

annual audited accounts categorised the same figures in

the same way, so these are only indicative.

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