Over more than a decade, BBS has implemented a profiling and thought leadership program for AECOM (and its predecessor brands) to support its growth and evolution in Australia. This program involved developing messaging for company spokespeople in areas of business growth and specialty, pitching thought pieces and research to key media and industry publications and leveraging speaking opportunities.
As part of a broader program of thought leadership, BBS has trained AECOM senior executives and spokespeople, including the Managing Director and Regional Managers. This training has supported proactive media engagement but also the handling of difficult issues relating to contentious projects and legal proceedings.
The company is working to meet the growing international demand for cleaner burning fuels through gas supply for liquefied natural gas export.
In 2013, Arrow engaged BBS to develop a bespoke training program for its project staff who are expected to perform at exceptionally high levels when engaging with key stakeholders, including regional local governments and landholders.
BBS rolled out a capacity building program which featured training elements relevant to community engagement, presentation skills and negotiation skills. Arrow Energy staff use these skills daily as they continue to work the project through its development phases.
BBS has delivered media training and executive coaching for BOQ over several years, relating to general interview skills and preparedness, as well as strategic counsel relating to court proceedings.
BBS has implemented external communications for BDO’s Queensland business since 2011 and was appointed to the national role in 2014.
Our integrated thought-leadership approach to communications actively supports BDO’s growth objectives.
Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), formerly ULDA
BBS’ community engagement program was genuinely inclusive and harnessed the feedback of the tightly knit and exclusive Northshore Hamilton community to help shape the final Draft Development Scheme which was submitted to the Minister.
The positive feedback cemented the ULDA as a responsive and responsible government agency and had set a new benchmark in community engagement. The success of this UDA paved the way for a state-wide rollout of future UDAs.
BBS won an IAP2 award for this project, but the ULDA also won an IAP2 award for the decision maker category.
BBS has worked for the fund since 2009 and assisted with strategic communication around the formation of Energy Super in 2011 from the merger of industry superannuation funds ESI Super and SPEC Super. Today BBS continues to provide the award-winning fund with member communication, media relations and corporate communication support.
BBS developed a media strategy to relaunch the ‘new’ Darrell Lea in time for Australia Day 2013, in line with the brand’s new positioning and refreshed product range.
A key activity of the Australia Day event was a Guinness Book of World Records attempt by Darrell Lea to create the world’s largest piece of “Rocklea Road” in the shape of Australia.
Mainstream and social media were important strategies in the campaign and included media-based competitions and consumer engagement.
Green Cross Australia Harden Up – Protecting Queensland Launch
BBS’ media campaign used a combination of exclusive interviews and tailored regional media releases to achieve national and international exposure for the initiative.
On the day of the launch Hardenup# trended on Twitter and coverage ran across print, electronic and online media. During the launch period, the portal received almost 18,000 unique visitors with 4300 Personal Resilience Plans started.
The Queensland Government subsequently announced further funding to continue the development of the portal which was an enormous achievement for Green Cross Australia and BBS.
There are four key portfolios that sit under the Ingenia Communities brand: over 50s and 55s lifestyle community (or land-lease) properties to purchase (Ingenia Lifestyle); secure rental options for independent seniors (Ingenia Gardens); affordable short-term rental living options (Ingenia Rental); and family-friendly holiday parks (Ingenia Holidays).
BBS provides strategic media relations support across the four Ingenia portfolios, supporting the need to maintain lead generation and boost occupancy rates as well as elevate public awareness and understanding of Ingenia Communities.
The broader understanding our team has gained of the business has also enabled us to quickly respond in the event of crisis, such as the 2019-2020 bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic, in providing strategic issues communication support.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
The “Under Threat” Campaign
BBS led the strategy coordination and implementation of the Pharmacy Under Threat campaign in the lead up to the 2013 Federal Election. This project involved a large-scale, nation-wide campaign to inform pharmacy patients about changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that would have a serious impact on them and all community pharmacies.
Due to the nation-wide reach required and the limited budget, BBS chose to develop a social media campaign to provide critical uplift to the mainstream media and political communication elements of the project.
Pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy students and patients took to social media to express their concerns, posting messages of support for the Pharmacy Under Threat campaign and share what they were doing to get the word out in their local communities.
Posts on the Guild’s Facebook page were seen almost 100,000 times in less than five weeks. The Guild’s website was revamped to reflect the campaign and an online petition started.
In total the campaign led to more than 1.4 million Australians signing a petition, the largest ever presented to Federal Parliament.
BBS assisted QAL with the community consultation process as part of its Gold Coast Airport Masterplan, and has delivered a company-wide community engagement framework, and social media strategy (including the internal staff social media policy).
Queensland Education Leadership Institute (QELi)
BBS manages external communication, including media, business development and digital communication, for QELi.
Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ)
BBS has worked for the REIQ for several years providing communication strategies and support to strengthen the relationships between the institute, its members and its stakeholders.
These have included member communications audits, member satisfaction surveys, generating content for the monthly REIQ journal, and developing member communication.
BBS Communications has worked with RFG over eight years to position the organisation as one of Australia’s leading franchise system managers.
Initially, our role was to provide communication support for RFG’s Initial Public Offering – – from the development of the prospectus through to the opening of the Initial Public Offer and listing day. A total of 36.5 million shares were offered at $1.00 per share during the IPO. The company had a market capitalisation on listing of approximately $71.7 million.
By creating awareness of the brands and the company’s ASX listing, distributing proactive media releases, securing state and national media coverage for all eight franchisee brands, developing consistent and tailored company key messages and implementing strategic marketing and communication strategies, RFG has been positioned as a financially strong company with continued growth potential.
As a food manufacturer and retailer, brand management is critical in times of crisis and BBS has been instrumental in developing and implementing crisis management protocols for RFG and its brands.
The 6.8 kilometre toll road is Australia’s longest road tunnel and is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Queensland. In 2009, BBS was appointed by RCM to manage liaison with Brisbane City Council and to assist in the development and implementation of the media strategy to promote the CLEM7 in the lead up to opening. Following the opening, BBS was engaged to provide ongoing communications and media relations support for the promotion and reputation management of the tunnel until it was sold in 2013.
BBS was engaged to maintain and promote RCM’s reputation throughout a range of potentially damaging issues and events, from traffic incidents, major customer disputes and the process of receivership. Positive engagement with commentators and stakeholders had led to changes in driver behaviour, with traffic reports noting a steady increase in traffic numbers each year.
To give residents a voice and also tap in to their local knowledge & experience Seqwater worked with BBS to develop a Community Reference Group (CRG) to develop key principles to guide the development of a Natural Asset Management Plan (NAMP) for the storage area. A NAMP provides a set of best practice rules and regulations to ensure the best possible conditions are maintained to assist with water quality.
BBS developed and implemented a number of community engagement activities over a six month period and the process has informed future engagement protocols for Seqwater.
Since 2012, BBS has provided strategic communication advice to SP Brewery’s corporate affairs team, helping to build a structure and skills base that will best help the organisation manage its reputation, issues and opportunities.
BBS Communications was contracted to provide strategic advice and engagement support to TransLink for a series of information sessions being held on the island.
BBS recommended an “open house” format for the sessions that would allow TransLink and BBS staff to communicate one-on-one with residents and provide individualised information.
Despite the controversial nature of the project a survey of attendees found that 80 per cent found the sessions either extremely or very helpful.
The new Woods Group website will reposition the business as an internationally-competitive agribusiness company at the leading edge of export food production and an Australian success story.
The new website will have mobile and tablet functionality and will include integrated tools relating to grain pricing, ordering and marketing.
Wotif has engaged BBS on multiple occasions to conduct executive media training and to assist with the preparation for key media interviews.