Kirsty Innes PR

21/12/2024

🌟Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.🌟 I'm very lucky to have two little miracles keeping the Christmas magic alive in our house - they also helped me design my Christmas card. Here's hoping for some equally magical times for my clients in the year ahead.

It really is a pleasure to work with such a fabulous range of businesses, projects and individuals across a wide range of sectors from conservation and biodiversity restoration to tourism and the arts. There have been many highlights in 2024 including:
- celebrating the South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project's groundbreaking success as the project team branches out to launch a new standalone charity, Restoring Upland Nature.
- positioning Argyll and the Isles as Scotland's Sustainable Sailing capital for Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative
- driving media coverage for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Oban Stopover.
- showcasing accessible tourism with The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
- supporting the successful Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere crowdfunder to launch the Merrick Knitwear social enterprise.
- announcing the news that McKinlay Kidd is now employee owned.
- supporting The Brunton Theatre Trust’s fundraising appeal and need for support following the closure of the Brunton Hall. Attending The Brunton panto was also a personal highlight - so if you haven't already, I'd recommend getting tickets for the remaining shows.
- securing some national broadcast features, including a story about the South if Scotland Golden Eagle Progect on Countryfile (more exciting broadcast features to follow in the new year....)
- and bringing Hamza Yassin for the Moffat Eagle Festival.

I will have room for some new projects in 2025, so if you would like me to support you with strategic communications, please do get in touch. Look forward to seeing what the New Year brings.

26/11/2024

A sad reminder why the satellite tagging work, like that done by South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, is so critical. I'm very proud to work with a project team that is so committed to working collaboratively to ensure nature and humans thriving alongside each other. The team has valuable data that can help guide future renewable energy developments in southern Scotland to mitigate risks to golden eagles, and support the sector in addressing the twin climate and biodiversity loss crisis.

The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project aims to help reinforce the isolated and vulnerable population of one of Scotland’s most iconic species, The Golden Eagle, in the South of Scotland. Explore our website for the latest news and information throughout this exciting and innovative project.

23/11/2024

The South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has exciting plans for the future, as they become a new charity, Restoring Upland Nature (RUN - charity number SC053663)

To help them make the greatest impact possible please donate here: https://www.goldeneaglessouthofscotland.co.uk/

A conservation project is looking to build on its success by taking the birds into England and Wales.

20/11/2024

So thrilled to see my client, the pioneering South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project unveiled as one of 30 Game Changing Moments across the UK to feature in an exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery in London celebrating National Lottery Good Causes’s 30th birthday. The project’s unprecedented success in restoring a previously low population of golden eagles to record numbers is reflected in the exhibit by renowned photographer and social media influencer Thomas Duke (Stepping Through Film).

The exhibition marks the National Lottery’s 30th birthday and celebrates its impact in raising £50bn for Good Causes. The photographer has used his unique style to highlight some of the most memorable cultural moments of the last three decades made possible with the help of National Lottery funding. The project was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.

10/11/2024

Thanks to the Border Telegraph for sharing news of the Women in Tourism Top 100 2024. Such a privilege to feature alongside so many incredible women, including Borderers Fiona Drane Marketing, Sandy Maxwell-Forbes (from The Great Tapestry of Scotland) and Sarah McDonald from Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here. My journey into PR began when I was a pupil at Galashiels Academy, when I started to explore career options. That was nearly 30 years ago now. 🙈

Four women from the Scottish Borders have been recognised as some of the top 100 women in tourism.

08/11/2024

When the PR becomes the PRd: I’m more familiar with putting my clients in the spotlight, but it’s such a privilege to be awarded this accolade and to feature alongside, so many inspirational women. Thanks to Women in Tourism, and to MidlothianView.com for sharing the news.

The 2024 Top 100 Women in Tourism represent women working across nearly every area of the sector.

06/11/2024

Such a privilege to be named as one of the Top 100 Women in Tourism alongside some amazing women. Congratulations to all who feature. There are so many inspirational women in tourism in Scotland. Thank you to Women in Tourism for championing us all and to the peers who nominated me.

We’re absolutely delighted to introduce the 2024 Top 100 Women In Tourism!! Peer-nominated, the Top 100 was first launched back in 2018, and this is the fourth edition of this important initiative. This year we received 250 nominations – the highest level since we created the Top 100! Those work...

03/10/2024

Bosses at the venue say its long-term future is in serious doubt after battling a “challenging” financial landscape over the last five years.

03/10/2024

The Brunton Theatre Trust has issued an urgent appeal: Please support them if you can by donating, enjoying one of the events in their autumn/winter programme (including their very popular panto), or helping to spread the word about their funding needs. As I reach out to media on their behalf, it has been lovely to hear from producers and reporters who can tell me about their own fond memories of Brunton performances. The Trust now needs your help to make sure future generations can enjoy the very best theatre, music, dance, comedy, film and participatory events for many years to come.

The Brunton Theatre Trust has operated on a reduced income since their purpose-built performance spaces at the council-owned Brunton Hall closed following the discovery of RAAC in 2023. Because of this and almost 50% reduction in East Lothian Council funding, they have unexpectedly had to use a large amount of their carefully managed reserves to keep going.

They are now in a very difficult financial situation and urgently need support from East Lothian Council, Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government, and the public to ensure they can continue to deliver the same level of high-quality arts, culture and entertainment events and education projects throughout 2025 and beyond.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24625302.brunton-theatre-issues-urgent-appeal-funding-support/
To donate or book tickets visit: https://www.thebrunton.co.uk/

Discover theatre, dance, music, and more at The Brunton in East Lothian. Enjoy diverse shows in Musselburgh and Haddington, easily accessible from Edinburgh.

11/09/2024

The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project needs your help to secure its long term future. Please share and donate if you can at goldeneaglessouthofscotland.co.uk. The project team hope to secure enough funding to continue their groundbreaking work in the South of Scotland, and to put plans in place to reintroduce golden eagles to other areas of the UK where they are currently extinct.

10/09/2024

Thanks to Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams for lending his voice to support the pioneering South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project's fundraising appeal. "It's really exciting what's going on." The project needs your help, so if you can please donate to secure a long term future for this important project. Thanks to all who have donated so far. Donation link in comments.

The project, which has already successfully restored a previously low population of golden eagles in the South of Scotland to record numbers and provided an economic boost to the region. It hopes to continue its work to protect the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland and put plans in place to reintroduce golden eagles to other areas of the UK where golden eagles are currently extinct. However, as the Project’s current funding runs out at the end of this year, the initiative faces the imminent threat of needing to wind down unless they can raise £400k (which will cover all their project costs for a year).

09/09/2024

The South Of Scotland Golden Eagle Project needs your help. Please donate if you can: The award-winning pioneering charity initiative, which has successfully restored a previously low population of golden eagles in the south of Scotland to record numbers, has launched an urgent public fundraising appeal to help secure its long-term future and put plans in place to reintroduce golden eagles to other areas of the UK where they are currently extinct.

It has been an absolutely privilege to work with this team and all their partners for around six years now. It is hard to put in just one short post, just what an incredible group of people they are: successfully restoring a previously low population to record numbers, supporting biodiversity restoration, and driving regenerative communities. And in spite of their groundbreaking success, numerous awards and international acclaim, they remain a caring down to earth team who just want to make a positive difference for nature.

The project was initially due to conclude this year, but the team and their long-standing partners have developed bold new plans to harness their unprecedented success to address the nature-climate crisis facing the UK. However, as the Project’s current funding runs out at the end of this year, the initiative faces the imminent threat of needing to wind down unless £400k can be raised.

Link for donations in comments. With thanks to Phil Wilkinson Photography & Video who took these pictures of the fourth annual Moffat Golden Eagle Festival this weekend, which provided a significant boost for businesses in the town.

04/09/2024

It is fantastic to see visitor attractions like The Great Tapestry of Scotland really invest in making transformational learning experiences accessible to all. Huge thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and Awards for All for ensuring these inspirational creative workshops could be delivered free of charge to participants.

It is a tough climate for many attractions right now as they continue to recover from the impact of Covid, the domestic visitor market declines, cost of living and operational costs increase, and grant funding streams decline, but initiatives like this really reinforce the incredible dedication those working in the sector have to supporting their communities. Please do visit and support them if you can.

Well done and thank you to Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, Andy Pollexfen, Callum Black and their team for delivering inspiring initiatives like this...and for operating a lovely cafe that provided parents with a lovely, much needed moment of summer-holiday respite while children enjoyed their workshops.

An inspiring programme of free events delivered by leading artists, singers and artisans supported the development of over 360 future young Borders creatives and visitors from as far afield as Australia this summer, thanks to National Lottery Awards for All.

30/08/2024

Emerging technology, like AI, may provide new ways to engage and service customers, but multiple studies evidence that the level of direct human interaction tourism businesses like McKinlay Kidd delivers really is irreplaceable. The Glasgow-based award winning specialist UK & Ireland tour operator has this week become employee owned to reinforce the importance of that human touch in tourism.

Pictures by Martin Shields Photography

A ‘trail-blazing’ Glasgow tour operator has moved into employee ownership after 21 years in business.

28/07/2024

The out of office is on. Having a lovely break at Anns Hill - Annshill Holiday Cottages in The Lake District. I will be back at my desk on 12 August.

19/07/2024

Tune into STV News tonight to hear all about the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race's visit to Oban, Scotland. Here's a sneak preview with interviews from: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world - the Clipper Race was his brainchild; and Cathy Craig, CEO of Wild About Argyll.
Love Oban
Argyll and Bute Council

16/07/2024

Brilliant to see the Oban community and local businesses really embracing the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race stopover.

A fleet of Oban Chocolate Company yachts has even "entered the bay and is racing towards the chocolate shop - caramel shortcake truffle is leading the chase followed closely by whisky truffle….who will be victorious?"

Lots to see and do in Oban while the race his here (until 21 July) and of course it's a fabulous place to visit all year round.

Love Oban Wild About Argyll

Just one more day until the Clipper Race arrives in Oban but in the meantime, it looks like there’s another race happening! A fleet of chocolate yachts has entered the bay and is racing towards the chocolate shop - caramel shortcake truffle is leading the chase followed closely by whisky truffle….who will be victorious?

13/07/2024

Wonderful to see the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crews get such a warm Scottish welcome as they arrived in Oban last night and this morning. Martin Shields Photography captured the moment with some great photography. And Clipper Ventures communications’ team worked through the night to catch the arrivals on film.

Crews taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race arrived in Oban on Friday – the first time the race has come to Scotland.