Leeds PR agency Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger has set up a student agency to work on a range of public relations and social media campaigns for national brands.

Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger appointed the students following a competition for second year Leeds Metropolitan University (pictured) Public Relations students. The five students – Adam Burns, Steph Holloway, Lois Ackerley, Elizabeth Davies and Katherine Hesselby – were one of five teams to enter the competition.
 
Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger director, Nathan Lane said: “This is a really talented and motivated group of young people. They shone during the competition and we are confident that they will prove a valuable addition to any PR campaign. They bring great insight into the youth market and bags of enthusiasm. We believe this provides a great opportunity for large organisations to work with students and get involved with the employability and skills agenda.”
 
“It demonstrates our continued support for the Leeds Metropolitan University PR course and commitment to developing regional PR talent. The five students will benefit by working closely with experienced PR consultants.”
 
Lucy Laville, course leader of PR at Leeds Metropolitan University added: “Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger has created a fabulous opportunity for our students. The winning team will now work closely with experienced PR professionals to become practitioners whilst studying at Leeds Met. Our PR graduates already have one of the highest employment records at 97.3%, compared with a national average of 61%, thanks to our links with industry and support from employers.”
 
Bell Pottinger parent company, Chime Communications plc is one of a number of companies that is supporting an initiative by Business in the Community (BITC) to improve the work experience their companies offer to more than half a million young people.