Community Relations
DP World London Gateway
Overview
During the development phase of south Essex port and logistics park DP World London Gateway, Mosaic was commissioned to create a strategic plan to position the port at the heart of the local community and reinforce its positive benefits.
Campaign objectives
- To help London Gateway engage with its potential new workforce
- To explain the local and national economic benefits of the project
- To alleviate any concerns about building works
- To explain how the project is using world-leading technology and processes to ensure the build meets the most stringent safety guidelines
Strategy and tactics
The local community campaign was pegged to a world-renowned environmental scheme, hinged on four key milestone events:
- The launch of the high-tech environmental and relocation programme
- The unearthing of a 2,000-year-old saltmaking site
- The start of the dredging operation
- The breach of the sea wall
Press conferences secured local, national and trade media coverage, supported by explanatory videos and briefings with key stakeholders including MPs, investors and government ministers.
Community engagement
To engage and involve the community, we invited local people to the site to see work taking shape and organised schools visits trips for pupils to see the breaching of the sea wall and the creation of a new nature reserve.
Results
Archaeology Media Day
- Coverage in Thurrock Gazette, Basildon Recorder and on BBC Essex Drive Time and Breakfast
- Production of video news clip and podcast for digital marketing
- Wide attendance from local journalists, national journalists, specialist publications, regulators, local councils and academics
Results: Dredging Begins Media Day
- Coverage in The Times, International Herald Tribune, Thurrock Gazette, Southend Echo, Thurrock Yellow Advertiser, Essex Enquirer, Lloyds List and SeaTrade
- Three-minute news clip on Drive Time, BBC Essex, plus 30-second soundbites repeated in news bulletins
Results: Breach Day
- CEO of DP World, interviewed live on BBC Essex breakfast show
- ITV London video report
- Local and national TV coverage, including BBC Coast and Countryfile which filmed the relocation of voles from the site
Testimonial
Mosaic has helped us gain a considerable amount of consistent media coverage locally, regionally and internationally on the key milestones at London Gateway. The community relations campaign has enabled us to reach out to the varied audiences involved with the scheme to ensure they are always informed of the site’s progress. Without the support Mosaic has provided, we would not have the excellent relations with the community that we do.
Xavier Woodward, Former Communications Manager, DP World London Gateway