Fife’s Gateway to The North Sea

The Challenge

St Andrews Harbour is a vibrant working harbour and a much-loved and valued part of the town’s landscape, attracting thousands of residents and tourists every year.

As well as safeguarding and maintaining this 14th-century national asset, St Andrews Harbour Trust has one eye on the future, with ambitious plans to revitalise and future-proof the harbour for future generations.

Central to these plans is the proposed creation of a harbour hub to meet the practical needs and expectations of harbour users and the wider community.

Acutely aware of the sensitivities of the area, the Trust strives to be as open and transparent throughout all communications. Central to this goal is a robust and strategic communications plan that speaks to the local community, including students, harbour users, potential funders and partners.

The Solution

Initially tasked with communicating its plans for a harbour hub, the PR agenda took a dramatic turn just months into the project with the unwelcome arrival of Storms Babet and Ciara, which caused devastating damage to the harbour.

Overnight, there was a need to update and inform the local community about the damage and associated repercussions, which, due to the unique dynamic of St Andrews, attracted interest from press and media near and far.

The Trust’s fundraising campaign went on to attract local, national and international donations, requiring announcements on everything from the progress of repairs to donations received.

With repairs ongoing and development plans taking shape, the Trust continues to rely on well-executed and strategic communications which I’m delighted to support with.

The Impact

By maintaining the harbour’s profile in the local and national press and media, we underline the Trust’s commitment to honest and open public consultation while continuing to stress the harbour’s long-term goals.

The future for this beautiful, mediaeval harbour is bright and having previously worked at the town’s university for nearly 10 years, I’m excited to support the Trust on its journey!