The construction sector is the second largest industry in the UK (the first being the service industry) and one that is very diverse.
The sort of companies that would be involved in the construction sector would be: Architects, Plumbers, Lighting Engineers, Facilitators, Estate Agents, Civil Engineering, Roofing Contractors, Property Developers, Heating Engineers, Maintenance, the list goes on and on (but it is quite large).
There are many PR agencies around the UK that have a specific focus and experience with clients in the construction and property sector which makes them ideally placed for being able to offer PR and media advice.
Having a PR agency that knows and understands the construction sector can be massively advantageous to one that has no experience at all. Apart from it being logical, the PR company would have the media contacts to get you started with the campaign, as well as knowing precisely the publications to target for you.
The construction sector and property sector are closely associated as one feeds off the other (similar to food and beverage) so a PR agency that has a background in property could benefit a construction company just as well as one that has a background in construction.
Many PR agencies are diverse in their experience, spanning a wide variety of industries and markets they may cover construction as one of the many markets they have experience in. There are however a large number of PR agencies that have a unique experience in construction and only work with clients in the construction industry.
This can bring a lot of benefits, one being if you are a construction firm and are looking for PR support, then they are the ideal agency to turn to. However if the industry crashes (as it did back in 2007) then they could be in a risky situation due to being subject to the industry trends. The same could be said for when the housing boom started in 2000 then there would be a knock on effect for all the PR agencies supporting the property sector.
Construction experienced PR agencies would have close ties to mainstream publications such as Construction News, Building The Architects Journal, Property Weekly and all other popular reads of the sector. This can help get your campaign the right level of support but of course get you quicker results. Rather than an agency having to lean about the construction industry an experienced one can get you started right away with the momentum your campaign needs.
It is always advisable to work with a local PR firm; as a meeting is highly advised.
This is to get a feel for how well the PR agency knows the construction industry, also you can find out what other construction or property firms the agency is working with. PR companies tend not to take on businesses that will cause a conflict of interest - but this can normally be ascertained within the initial phone call.
Getting the PR agency to visit your site/office is also beneficial, as they can get a feel for how your company works and get better information for your campaign and chat through any construction marketing experience they have.
It is advised also to meet with the agency throughout the campaign, as they will be more honest with you face to face rather than over the phone. If the PR company knows they have a meeting with you, then they will push for results to talk about at the meeting (rather than having a meeting with you and trying to justify their fees for no results).
Closing Thoughts
As the construction industry is in a difficult period, it is prudent to compare PR prices in order to compare PR agencies that know the construction industry. If you are interested in getting some quick free quotes from construction experienced PR agencies just fill out the quick form opposite.