Pennebaker | Fifth Ring, as the company is known in the United States, received the award for the planning and execution of the 2009 HIMA Americas Integrated Marketing Plan. The company scored 90% for the work completed in an assessment by a panel of professional marketers and distinguished members of the PRSA Houston Chapter.

The HIMA Americas campaign used a mix of traditional and non-traditional public relations tactics, including whitepapers, telemarketing, press releases and case studies, to successfully drive sales leads and identify prospects in a business-to-business environment.

HIMA America’s is part of Germany-based HIMA Group and is the global leader in safety-related process automation.

The Integrated Marketing award recognises a project that employs the creative and effective integration and leadership of public relations strategies and tactics.

Fifth Ring’s business development director, Ian Ord, who is responsible for the Houston office said: “It’s wonderful to see our work recognised and receiving this prestigious gold award is true testament to the team’s hard work and dedication. To be award winners in less than two years since our launch in Houston is a huge achievement.

“To have our expertise recognised by the PRSA is fantastic and illustrates that our aim to increase the value of our clients business is paying dividends for our client and ourselves.”

Fifth Ring, which now employs 80 people across the United Kingdom, United States and Middle East, offers a full range of corporate communications services. The company provides a global communications strategy combined with local delivery in the key energy capitals of the world, thereby supporting the ambition of its clients to grow internationally.

Business development director Ian Ord and PR account manager Phil Allan, were joined by friend Chris Clark on the four-day cycling marathon that saw the trio join 13 other riders on the 433-mile charity bike ride throughout the length of Scotland.

The guys tackled the inaugural MOG-JOG (Mull of Galloway to John O’Groats) cycle challenge in aid of UCAN and the charity looks set to smash its £30,0000 target from the event.

Beginning at Mull of Galloway (MOG) at the most southerly tip of Scotland on Friday (June 4) and ending at John O’Groats (JOG) on June 8, the ride represented a daunting daily tally of over 100-miles in the saddle and took in some of the nation’s most spectacular – and hilly – countryside. In addition to the hours spent in the saddle the cyclists had to cope with the vagaries of the Scottish summer – single figure temperatures and rain and wind, for three of the four days.

UCAN is dedicated to raising awareness of urological cancers, and improving support and quality of life for people and families who are affected. The four main urological cancers include kidney, bladder, testicular and prostate cancers. Urological cancers account for 1-in-3 of all cancers in men and 1-in-5 of all cancers in men and women.

Ian has good reason to support the charity. In 1989, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thanks to an early diagnosis and swift treatment, he made a full recovery. As a result, he is passionate about getting across the message to men in particular, that seeking medical advice at an early stage can literally make the difference between life and death.

“Thanks to the expert medical advice and care I received I have had 7,500 extra days of life. Taking part in the UCAN cycle challenge is a small price to pay to give something back to a charity which does so much to raise awareness of urological cancers.”

The MOG-JOG began with a 13-mile warm up from Mull of Galloway to Sandend on Friday evening. The next day, the guys and around 20 people who signed up for the challenge, tackled an average of 105 miles per day in four stages. The route stuck largely to minor roads, many included in the national cycle network.

Phil said: “It was an incredible trip, the miles ticked, the weather was foul but we have a real sense of achievement. To have raised so much money for UCAN is just fantastic. We have been astounded by people’s generosity and support. It was a tremendous effort from all those involved and represented a real physical challenge.”

Ian added: “We won’t tire of repeating of saying ‘thank you’, for the tremendous support. It kept us going during the tougher times of the trip.”

Friday saw the cyclists complete an easy 16 miles from Mull of Galloway to Sandhead after a team photo at the picturesque lighthouse on the southerly tip of Scotland.

Stage Two from Sandhead to Lanark was completed in bright, warm sunshine with a favourable wind. Before the team arrived in Lanark, tired but exhilarated and enjoyed a well-earned cold beer.

Sunday was Lanark to Pitlochry and 115 miles in the cold and mist. The journey through Livingston was grim, more stop-start cycling due to complicated routing and horrible rain. Chris had the inspired idea of stopping off at a petrol station and bought some gaffer tape to wrap round Ian’s broken finger to keep it safe. Everyone was glad to arrive in Pitlochry for a shower and dry clothes

Monday was Pitlochry to Evanton and another 100 plus miles. The bikes were taking a battering and needed some maintenance before setting off on the next stage. The Drumochter Pass heralded black clouds and the heavens opened and it was several hours in the rain before the guys regrouped for the final slog to Evanton near Dingwall.

Tuesday was Evanton to John O’Groats and the 106 miles began with a photocall for the P&J and with the rain letting up the pace was steady. As the day went on a headwind got up and it was back to slogging into the rain and fog. Ian’s knee had gone, but there was no way he was contemplating giving in as John O’Groats became more than just a name on a roadsign.



Ian: “It was a hard five days and we are delighted to have received such a large sum of money this worthy cause. I would like to credit everyone involved, as there has been a great spirit among the team, despite the horrible weather.”

For Chris Clark, of John Clark Motor Group in Aberdeen, the trip also has relevance as his grandmother has recently been diagnosed with a urological cancer.

Details of the MOG-JOG route:

June 5 - Stage one: Sandhead to Lanark, through the scenic and hilly Galloway countryside. This stage covers the South of Scotland in a day, travelling from Dumfries and Galloway into Lanarkshire (which has more hills than you might think). Travelling mostly on unclassified roads heading north east from the starting point.

June 6 - Stage two: Lanark to Pitlochry. Day two passes through West Lothian before crossing the Forth Road Bridge into Fife and on in to Perthshire and the final stop at Pitlochry in the heart of Scotland and the halfway point on the journey.

June 7 - Stage three: Pitlochry to Evanton north of Inverness. Most of the day follows the National Cycle Route 7, with long stretches alongside the busy A9, except on the old road which runs parallel and performs the role of extra wide bike path. The drop down to Inverness leads us over the Kessock Bridge to finish at the village of Evanton.

June 8 - Stage four: Evanton to John O’Groats: The home stretch leading through Alness and Tain heads north to Golspie and Brora. There’s a late sting in the tale at Helmsdale where the Berridale Braes provide the last and possibly the toughest test. The guys will be hoping for a tail wind for the final few miles run in to John O'Groats.

For more information on UCAN, which was set up in 2005 and offers support for patients and their families through the UCAN Care Centre at Ward 44 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, visit

UAE

UAE based Lamprell has won a $129 million newbuild windmill installation vessel contract from UK wind installation specialists Seajacks. The contract is for design, construction and delivery of a Gusto MSC NG-5500 design self-elevating and self-propelled offshore wind turbine installation vessel, to be named Seajacks Zaratan and will be delivered in 2012.

KUWAIT

Kuwait National Oil Company has awarded Italy’s Saipem a contract for US$900m for an engineering, procurement and construction contract for its new booster station. The station is made up of three high and low pressure gas trains. Once built the trains will produce 234 million cubic feet per day of dry gas and 69,000 barrels per day of condensate.

SAUDI ARABIA

Luksa, a joint venture between Russia’s Lukoil and state oil giant Saudi Aramco, has relinquished 90 percent of a gas exploration block in Saudi Arabia. Luksar relinquished most of the 29,900 sq km area in Saudi’s Empty Quarter last October and has decided to go ahead with the second phase.

Saudi Arabia will store 3.8 million barrels of crude oil in Japan, helping the Pacific nation stock up its reserves while giving the top oil exported better access to Asian markets.

What would typically take six months was fast-tracked into an intense twelve-week timeframe. Work included stakeholder analysis and strategic workshops right through to logo design and key messaging. Their new strategic principle, “Enriching the community” represents the significant impact the department has on its community, tourism and media.

The award was presented at an event for UAE Government officials, dignitaries and VIPs, to launch the new brand identity, and publish the vision, mission and values of the Ajman Culture and Media Departmentat the Kempinksi Hotel in Ajman.

Annette Fernandes, Fifth Ring’s group operations director who oversaw the entire project, commented: “In a very short period of time we have been able to establish a strong commercial relationship with the department, created a strong and vibrant identity and launched it to their key stakeholders. This has only been achievable through genuine teamwork and mutual respect between our two organisations.

“What made this project standout is that every single element of the work carried out was done simultaneously in Arabic and English, from initial research, every interview and resulting messaging. We had teams thinking from left to right, and teams thinking from right to left. I know I speak for everyone at Fifth Ring when I say this has gone beyond simply delivering on the project to something that we will all hold special for years to come.”

The Culture and Media Department is the first department within the Government of Ajman to undertake such an in-depth analysis of their stakeholders and market positioning. As a result, the department is now empowered with the knowledge and vision to develop and strengthen their offering in terms of culture, tourism and mediain the emirate as well as reinforcing their image locally, regionally and internationally.

Faisal Al Nuaimi, Deputy General Manager of the Ajman Culture and Media Department said, “Although our corporate identity has never been absent, we felt the department needed to refocus and reposition itself within the community. We approached Fifth Ring, due to their reputation for delivering world-class branding, and after 3 months of in-depth research and analysis they helped us develop a new identity with a clear and compelling 2 year vision.

Fifth Ring have been working with brands and clients across governmental, energy and consumer sectors, in the UAE, Europe and the US since 1991.