National PR agency Grayling’s Bristol office has been appointed by Bath Spa University to handle a wide-ranging public relations brief over the next year.
The core public relations strategy includes a focus on the sector-leading research emerging from the university’s expertise in art, sciences, education, social science and business. It will also showcase its creativity, culture and enterprise, from the music studios to the biology laboratory. 
The account was secured by Grayling following a competitive tender process which included a number of regional PR consultancies.
Bath Spa University has around 7,600 students and nearly 1,000 staff spread across three sites. Its main campus is on the outskirts of the city at Newton St Loe. The university is also developing a new art and design campus based in Bath’s iconic former Herman Miller furniture factory, designed by renowned architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and a key part of the city’s industrial heritage.
Grayling will also work with Bath Spa’s established national ambassadors, including professor of creative writing Naomi Alderman – winner of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2017 – and highlight the value of its local and national partnerships, including with Bath Festival, Theatre Royal Bath and the Holburne Museum, as well as with Santander, which recently renewed the relationship between its universities global division the university.
Bath Spa head of communications Jane Wakefield said: “Bath Spa is a leading university for creativity, culture, enterprise and education, and we are proud to showcase the achievements of our talented students and staff.
“The team at Grayling clearly understands our ethos and will play an important role in shaping how we evolve the way in which the university is perceived over the coming years.”
Head of Grayling’s Southern Region Craig Ling added: “We are thrilled to have been appointed by Bath Spa University at such an exciting and pivotal time for both the university itself and for the wider education sector.
“Bath Spa has a truly unique voice, offering a compelling blend of heritage, modernity, tradition and innovation. Working closely with the university’s in-house team, we’ll help to showcase that engaging blend at both a regional and national level.”
Grayling, part of the London Stock Exchange-listed specialist communications and PR group Huntsworth, has been operating in Bristol for more than 45 years under a variety of names. It also has offices in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds and Southampton.
