New logo for GDF represents a costly conversation

‘£4,600 excluding VAT’ was the answer to the query posed to Nuclear Waste Services by NFLA Secretary Richard Outram who asked about the cost of commissioning a new logo for the GDF Theddlethorpe Community Partnership.

With two speech bubbles signifying a conversation, the new logo was conceived by House 337, who are ‘experts at building brands across many sectors’. House 337 is an arm of NWS’s ‘contracted strategic delivery partner’, MHP.

Wags might suggest that a single speech bubble signifying a one-sided conversation or a deaf ear signifying an inattentive NWS might have been more appropriate.

Ends://For more information, contact NFLA Secretary Richard Outram by email to richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk

The FOI request sent in by NFLA Secretary Richard Outram to Nuclear Waste Services on 27 August 2024: 

Dear NWS,

I see that alongside your new Chair, the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership has acquired a new logo.

I am assuming this represents two speech bubbles signifying a conversation?

I would like please to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please can I ask you:

• Which agency was commissioned to design the logo?
• How much did commissioning this work cost NWS / CP?
• Will there be any additional costs incurred, such as being required to discard existing promotional materials with the old logo and replace these with others incorporating the new logo?

The response from Sam Gosling at NWS received 13 Sept 2024:

Dear Richard Outram

Ref: FOI27600

Thank you for your information request received on 27^th August for the following:

I have treated your request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. We have carried out appropriate searches and confirm that Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) holds information which falls in scope of your request. This information is provided below:

• Our contracted strategic delivery partner, MHP have a sister agency, MHP/House 337, part of the Engine group, who were commissioned to design the logo. House 337 are experts at building brands across many sectors.

• The cost for commissioning the design of the Theddlethorpe logo was £4,600 and is ex-VAT.

• There will be no additional costs incurred, NWS does not hold stock of branded material, but produces it when required.  As and when these new materials are required, they are branded in the new design.

With regard to your assumption that the logo represents two speech bubbles signifying a conversation, you are correct, it does indeed have two speech bubbles meaning ‘conversation’. Conversations within the local community, with the Community Partnership (CP) and with the GDF developer, via the CP itself and engagement channels, to understand GDF in order to make an informed decision in the Test of Public Support.