R4E.L Regulatory News (R4E)

6 Sep 2007 07:01

First Artist Corporation PLC06 September 2007 First Artist Corporation plc ("First Artist" or "the Group") The Finishing Touch Signs Major Contract with The Training and Development Agency for Schools First Artist Corporation plc, the integrated marketing, sport and entertainment management group, today announces that it has signed a three year contract through its event management subsidiary, The Finishing Touch, with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). Included within the contract is the option to extend for a further two years. The Finishing Touch will be responsible for delivering the TDA's training eventsprogramme aimed at "securing an effective school workforce that improveschildren's life chances". The Finishing Touch has an established relationship within the public sector,having worked with a division of the TDA over the past four years. In theGroup's audited accounts for the 10 months to August 2006, the contribution toFirst Artist revenues from the public sector totalled £1.4 million. Managementexpectations are that this new enhanced contract, which will commenceimmediately, will be materially larger than this on an annual basis. The TDA is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department forChildren, Schools and Families. It also has a close working relationship withthe Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Richard Hughes, Group Managing Director of First Artist, commented: "We are delighted to be awarded this contract as it represents a considerabledevelopment in the relationship with the TDA and comes at the end of an extendedand particularly competitive tendering process. It is a clear endorsement of thequality of work that The Finishing Touch undertakes and we look forward tofurther developing our successful partnership with the agency". - ends - Enquiries First Artist Corporation plcJon Smith, Chief ExecutiveRichard Hughes, Group Managing Director Tel: +44(0) 208 900 1818 Bell Pottinger Corporate & FinancialAnn-Marie Wilkinson / Peter Otero Tel: +44(0) 207 861 3232 Dawnay, Day Corporate Finance LimitedDavid Floyd Tel: +44(0) 207 509 4570 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange