REBRANDING: Ross Thornley, Strategic Director of RT Brand Communications (in waistcoat) running workshops with colleagues and members of the UNV team in Nairobi, Kenya. RT Brand Communications, of Wimborne, spent 14 months rebranding the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) UNV to reposition and modernise the way the global organisation communicates and operates
A branding agency in rural Dorset beat global competition to win a tender to rebrand the United Nations Volunteers (UNV).
RT Brand Communications secured a six-figure contract against competition from some of the largest players in the world after a rigorous progress.
The Wimborne-based company has spent 14 months working with the UNV to reposition and modernise the way the brand communicates and operates.
With its head office based in Bonn, Germany, UNV was founded in 1970 and is part of the United Nations Development Programme. It mobilises 7,000 volunteers across the world, is active in 130 countries every year and has field units in 86 countries.
RT founder and Strategic Director Ross Thornley, who led the campaign, said: “I know we have made a positive difference to them and that is all that matters. This was a once in a career opportunity and I am so pleased we managed to win it.”
HEALTHY OUTLOOK: Ross Thornley, Strategic Director of RT Brand Communications, with colleagues, UN Volunteers and locals at the Kibera Health Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
The challenge facing RT was to help increase the international placement of volunteers, enrich the sense of pride felt by them and generate a greater understanding and awareness of the important contribution volunteerism makes for world peace and development.
Volunteers are people with professional skills and academic qualifications or training, willing to contribute their time and expertise, serving on average 30 months. Eighty per cent are citizens of developing and transition countries and many volunteer in their own country.
RT’s work included a self-financed field trip to Nairobi, Kenya, to get a deeper understanding of the work on the ground, several visits to Bonn, in-depth research with senior managers, workshops, pilot projects and explanatory videos.
The project, delivered in 12 phases, culminated with a simplification of the UNV brand to make it more globally accessible and with a cohesive identity.
Jennifer Stapper, Chief of UNV Communications, said: “Everyone involved in this project at UNV has recognised RT’s enthusiasm and expertise.
“Their passion for driving what was right for us helped navigate through the inevitable dips and challenges in a project as significant and wide reaching as this.
“Without their ability to simply articulate the value of a change it would have been difficult to maintain momentum and deliver.”
FIELD VISIT, Ross Thornley, Strategic Director of RT Brand Communications at the UN Campus in Nairobi, Kenya.
RT’s newly-produced ‘Brand Book’ clarifies introductory messages about the UNV and its ethos; its ‘Brand Guidelines’ is a how-to document creating layouts, styles and best practice guidelines and a further ‘Communications Toolkit’ provides a set of logo files, assets and templates in an easily-accessible online form.
Ross added: “We are incredibly proud to be a part of this project and to have worked so closely with the UNV team. Experiencing first-hand the very significant impact that UN Volunteers make has been a privilege.”
The new brand is being gradually rolled out across the world over the next six months with a new website being launched at the end of 2016.
Ross was also invited to Vienna to address the annual meeting of the United Nations Communications Group, a high-level occasion in which senior UN communications colleagues meet.
The newly-launched UNV website can be found at www.unv.org
Notes to Editors:
RT Brand Communications is an award winning marketing and branding agency established by Ross Thornley in 2000 and now employing 16 people.
Address: Allen House, 2a East Borough, Wimborne Minster BH21 1PF
Phone 01202 888192
News release issued by:
Cliff Moore, Account Director
Deep South Media
Mobile: 07469 158458 Office: 01202 534487
E-mail: cliff.moore@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Website: www.deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Twitter: @DeepSouthMedia
Deep South Media is the 24/7 press office, multi-media content provider to 50 companies and organisations.
Website: www.deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Twitter: @DeepSouthMedia
