UK City of Culture 2025

Unprecedented media coverage as Southampton reaches final

Reaching the final in the bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 brought unprecedented media exposure for Southampton highlighting its status as one of the county’s leading locations.

In its role as regional PR agency for the Southampton 2025 Trust, which led the bid process, Lee Peck Media delivered high impact coverage across digital, TV, radio, and print media which culminated in film profiles of the city on The One Show on BBC1.

Founder and Managing Director Lee Peck said: “Without doubt delivering such a strategic and sustained PR campaign has been one of the highlights of my media career and cemented the agency’s credentials as one of the country’s leading independent communications consultancies.  The campaign galvanised the city like never before bringing together business, the arts, entertainment and the community as a whole.

“We would like to give a huge thank you to our friends and colleagues in the regional and local media that have shown immense support and enthusiasm for the campaign including BBC South Today, ITV Meridian, BBC Radio Solent, Southern Daily Echo, Wave 105, Heart FM South Coast, Awazz FM Radio, Our Version Media, Unity 101 Community Radio, Voice FM and We Make Southampton CIC.”

Councillor Satvir Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: “For us the bidding process has unlocked a scale of ambition, vision and financial commitment that is unprecedented, with over 150 businesses, cultural and community organisations and 11 neighbouring local authorities committed to transforming the city and wider region through culture. Southampton City Council, Solent University and the University of Southampton have committed to continue investing in the Southampton 2025 Trust to deliver against an agreed programme putting culture at its heart.”

Claire Whitaker OBE, Director of Southampton UK City of Culture 2025 Bid, said: I’d like to thank you personally for all of the time you have taken to support the bid process. Lee, you have been simply incredible, your dedication to the cause really has been so impressive. You have supported us and kept us smiling throughout the process. I know that Gemma (Commercial and Marketing Director Gemma Nichols) has more than valued the support you have given to her and the team throughout the bid.”