Today as much as 50 per cent of North Somerset public relations and communications specialist ORION PR’s revenue comes from HPC-related work.
It started in 2015 when ORION director Louie Hadley registered to receive bulletins about the HPC project and to find out about the work packages available.
“I immediately signed up to the online portal to list my key services,” he says. “After that I familiarised myself with the project and read as much as I could about how to try to win work there.”
Established five years ago, ORION PR works with local and national organisations, creating bespoke editorial content for use across their
marketing activities as well as helping clients win industry awards and valuable media coverage.
A year on from registering on the portal the Hinkley Supply Chain Team itself contacted Louie and asked if he would quote for ongoing copywriting projects that demonstrated how local companies were winning work with HPC as well as targeting regional businesses that had yet to sign up.
“It was a huge boost to know that not only were my details being accessed from the database, but that smaller businesses could indeed win work connected to such a mammoth project” he says.
Since then Louie has interviewed and photographed dozens of South West business owners, learning about their success stories when it comes to supplying HPC and writing those up as case studies for use across the Supply Chain Team’s marketing activities both online and off.
“It’s been a fascinating experience,” he says. “I’ve met so many people across so many sectors, it’s given me an amazing insight into the diverse range of businesses that are now supplying HPC and the hard work and sacrifices they’ve gone through to do so.”
The experience has also opened doors for further HPC-connected work, as well as expanding ORION’s business network contacts right across the South West, so much so that almost half of the business’s revenue is linked to the project.
“Like many business owners based close to Bridgwater I had been watching developments at Hinkley with interest but never really thought it would lead to any opportunities,” he continues.
“I’m delighted to have been proved wrong and would encourage others to thoroughly research the project and find out about the kind of work being carried out there.”
He added: “The work won’t come quickly or easily, but there is lots of support to help you position yourself to be ready and capable of grabbing that opportunity when it arises.”
For more information about Orion PR click here