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Posters & Fliers
To get merger messages across visually and continually, posters and l iers should be designed and
copywritten for display within all three colleges. These can be adjusted for use externally (i.e. school events)
once the Merger Proposal document has been signed.
Student Union
We should work with the Student Union Presidents of each college in respect of all the aforementioned
activities - research, newsletters, website, posters & l iers, pop ups on tv screens etc. - to render them more
meaningful and credible to the student population. M technology should be optimised.
Protocols & Procedures
All marketing communications channels will be directed by the Merger Communications Co-ordinator.
All press releases will be issued by the Merger Communications Co-ordinator via an external agency
- currently the Big Partnership.
Up until the point of merger, FOI requests related to merger shall be handled by each college using
existing FOI procedures. Where appropriate, responses can be coordinated via the Merger Steering Group.
Convergence with NCG Communications
NCG currently have a Communications Plan as well as a Stakeholder Relations Plan, but no longer have
a dedicated Communications member of staf to carry out these plans. A temporary solution is currently
in operation (Co-ordinated by the Head of Marketing & PR from Glasgow Met supported by two external
consultants). At some appropriate point, merger and NCG Ltd communications should converge. The
optimal point for this will have to be identii ed - possibly when the Principal Designate takes up his/her
post.
Resources
This is a critical consideration, and must be addressed early on. The implementation of any merger
communications plan has to be properly resourced in terms of budget and stai ng if it's to be successful.
Use of consultants will be essential as only so much additional work can be absorbed by current college
staf . This will become increasingly pivotal as we move into the planning phase for the launch of the new
college.
Evaluation
We need to regularly evaluate merger communication activities. It is essential to know if we are getting the
key messages across or not.
Key methods should include:
Press Clippings
Google Analytics
Survey Monkey
Focus Groups
One-to-Ones
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Appendix 14.5: Merger Communications Plan