Full-year - Chime Communications PLC

Advertising and Marketing ServicesVCCP Search continues to deliver strong growth, backedby innovative, differentiating technology and adding a vitalelement to successful VCCP campaigns such as that forwww.comparethemarket.com. Launched in 2007, thebranding agency SomeOne is already delivering work forBritish Basketball and the Royal Opera House. VCCP Healthhas made an impressive start, working for two of the tenclients within the specialist healthcare sector.With the Group’s portfolio of clients largely free of exposureto the banking and retail sectors that have seen the mostsignificant cuts in marketing expenditure, prospects for2009 remain strong.Fast TrackThe Division’s full-service sports marketing agency, Fast Track,delivered strong growth across all areas of activity during2008. High-profile work during the year included thecommunications team’s successful activation of BritishTelecom’s partnership with the 2012 Olympic and ParalympicGames in London; the integration of the agency’s eventmanagement and communications offerings to raise theprofile of British Basketball and support the national team’sbid to qualify for the 2012 competition; the ongoing successof the televised indoor and outdoor meetings organised byFast Track for UK Athletics; and the role of Fast Track’sconsultancy in planning activation campaigns for high-profilebrands such as Lucozade Sport, Emirates, Land Rover,HSBC and National Express.Consistent return on investment (ROI) ensures that sportsmarketing remains an attractive channel for brands lookingto maintain a cost-effective profile over the short and mediumterm. The approach of the 2012 Olympic and ParalympicGames in London is helping to boost activity in the market,with seven Tier-1 sponsors signed up to sponsorship dealseach individually worth in the region of £50 million, and allsponsors looking to gain maximum value from their rightsover the three-year period leading up to the Games.Fast Track’s end-to-end offering, from consulting onsponsorship opportunities to developing activation strategies,driving communications and organising and managingevents, positions the agency strongly to benefit from thisincreased activity.TeamspiritTeamspirit, the Division’s specialist financial services agency,continued to perform well during 2008, despite the immensechallenges facing the financial sector. The agency’s expandingdigital and PR offerings, and the consistently high quality ofits integrated work, are helping to maintain demand for itsspecialist services in the current environment.The agency picked up the Institute of Financial Services’Innovation award for Best Marketing Campaign for its launchof MetLife, the world’s largest insurer, in the UK, and tookhome two marketing effectiveness awards from the FinancialServices Forum for its work for unbiased.co.uk and Prudential.Besides MetLife, the year’s major wins included digital workfor Aviva and Abbey and the rebranding of Legal & General’sinvestment management arm through an integratedadvertising and PR campaign.Medium-term prospects for the sector remain robust, withwell-respected brands determined to maintain a marketingprofile during the downturn and digital channels, in particular,offering strong advantages through ROI and detailed trackingof budgets. Financial Services typically leads the economiccycle, with the effects of the downturn felt earlier thanin other sectors and activity likely to increase aheadof an economic upturn.“Prospects for the short andmedium term remain strong,supported by increasedexposure to public sectorbudgets, innovativeintegrated offerings andgrowth in sports marketingactivity resulting from theapproach the 2012 Olympicand Paralympic Gamesin London.”Chime Communications plcAnnual Report & Accounts 200817