Eureka! The National Children's Museum has appointed Northern Lights PR to open up its expertise in play and learning to government policy makers, academics and businesses.

Eureka! in Halifax was one of Northern Lights' first clients when the agency started out 20 years ago.

Explaining why it had gone back to the agency, the museum's chief executive, Leigh-Anne Stradeski, said: "Northern Lights really understands our brief to be respected leaders in the field of play and learning - and came up with a solid strategy to get us there. 

"We are launching an academic blog and will be engaging with policymakers and academics using social media in a very focused way."

It is one of six new business wins for the Harrogate-based agency in the last two months.

After competitive tenders it won work with HR company HR180°, software developers MyKnowledgeMap and  LHASA and start-ups welcometraining.com and homesalebureau.com.

Victoria Tomlinson, chief executive of Northern Lights, said: "Like many businesses we were hit by public sector cuts last year - 60% of our business disappeared overnight.  However, these successes show our ability to reinvent and refocus the business and there is a considerable growth market in technology-based businesses and innovative start-ups."