Lizzie McManus (right) and Abi Constantine of Warrior Agency which turns one this month.
Published: March 17, 2022 | Updated: 20th March 2022
Warrior Agency celebrates a roaringly brilliant first year
Warrior Agency, Bournemouth’s first ethical PR agency founded by PR expert and eco-warrior Lizzie McManus, is celebrating its first anniversary this month.
Launched on March 21, 2021, the agency has had a busy first year supporting more than 50 businesses with PR and Green Audits, volunteering for international and local causes, and achieving multiple accreditations for sustainability.
Specialising in supporting ethical and sustainable brands, Warrior has helped clients from international non-governmental organisations and local charities to start-ups and big brands creating innovative, eco-friendly products.
As a result, the agency says its clients have been seen by over 126 million people on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, influencers, podcasts, bloggers and more.
In her third month, Lizzie employed her first Warrior, Abi Constantine – just promoted to Senior Public Relations Account Executive – and now the fledgling agency is looking to find another PR professional who’s just as passionate.
Warrior has also made a name for itself in the local area, through support of events such as Southbourne’s Shake & Stir vintage festival, the SOBO Wastebusters Festive Fair, The Big Sustainability Expo in Southampton, and co-founding the popular Swish It! clothes swapping events with Alice Nichol, Sustainable Stylist and Founder of Buddy and Noo, at The Larder House in Southbourne.
Lizzie said: “We love our home in Southbourne and the support we’ve had from the local community has been invaluable to us and it’s really important that we give back too.
“Over the past year, we’ve been honoured to volunteer our services to causes close to heart including Transition Bournemouth, Your Planet Doctors, The Footprints Project, the campaign for Gladis Law, fighting ocean plastic pollution with Oly Rush’s swim around the Isle of Wight, and most recently, Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine.
“We will always make time to keep doing that, no matter how busy we are.
“Fighting the good fight is one of our mottos here at Warrior and we plan to keep on fighting.”
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Gigaclear works with Dorset Council on complex broadband build
Gigaclear, the UK’s largest rural alternative network (alt-net), is working collaboratively with Dorset Council to bring ultrafast full-fibre broadband to Blandford Forum.
It’s the company’s first commercial investment in Dorset.
Blandford Forum’s existing broadband speeds are around 54.22Mbps, which is below the national average of 80Mbps plus.
Gigaclear’s full-fibre upgrade is bringing speeds of up to 900Mbps to more than 6,000 homes and business premises in Blandford Forum and parts of Blandford St Mary.
The build is not without its complexities.
The market town’s paving stones are in the process of being restored, complicating the trenching process needed to lay the 33,000 metres of fibre required for the build.
By working collaboratively with Dorset Council, Gigaclear is making use of existing broadband ducts and pole infrastructure and says it will remediate any, and all, trenching work to the highest possible standards.
Jo Scarrott, General Manager for Gigaclear in the South West, said: “Access to workable broadband is a must in today’s world, for education, home working, running a business, entertainment and keeping in contact with loved ones.
“We’re proud to be bringing warp speed internet to the people and businesses of Blandford Forum!”
Gigaclear’s network build in Blandford Forum is already underway and the first live connections are expected by the summer.
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Life Education’s Katie recognised by High Sheriff of Dorset
Life Education Educator Katie Barnett has been recognised for her services to the community over the last 20 years by the High Sheriff of Dorset, Michael Dooley.
Katie was presented with the award, on behalf of the High Sheriff, by Felicity Hedger, a Trustee of Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley, at Upton Junior School.
Watching the presentation was ‘Harold’, the charity’s famous giraffe puppet, and children who had just completed a Life Education workshop.
Katie joined the health and emotional wellbeing charity as an Educator in 2001.
She has taught around 200,000 children in local primary schools across Dorset, largely in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch areas.
Felicity said: “Katie is a dedicated Educator/Trainer who has built excellent relationships with local schools and teachers over many years and the children that she works with adore her.”
Life Education Wessex’s ‘Skills for Life’ programme teaches children how to look after their bodies, mental health and how to avoid risky behaviours that may be potentially damaging to their wellbeing and their futures.
