Times Radio wants to hear from Edinburgh and the Lothians today

  • The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio announces 2024 election marketing plans 
  • Times Radio is hitting the road with an Election Bus tour 
  • The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio launch “From Westminster to your World” marketing campaign 

As the British General Election on July 4th approaches, Times Radio is excited to announce the launch of the Times Radio Election Bus tour. 

Broadcasting live from a studio within the giant branded tour bus, Times Radio will travel across the country to listen to the voices of local communities and highlight the political issues that matter most to them. 

Starting its journey travelling from Dover to London, the bus will visit key battlegrounds and politically significant areas up until polling day, including Glasgow, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Birmingham, and more.

At each location, Times Radio will provide real-time updates, expert analysis, lively debates, and must-hear interviews, ensuring listeners are fully informed on every twist and turn of the election campaign. 

Along the way, the British public will be able to record messages for the next Prime Minister against a realistic No.10 Downing Street backdrop. Messages will then be incorporated into Times Radio’s programmes. 

Tim Levell, Programme Director of Times Radio, said; “The General Election is the one moment when power flows to every individual person across the United Kingdom.

“We are delighted that the Times Radio Election Bus, complete with its state-of-the-art on-board radio studio, will be visiting communities right across the country, to hear the concerns and opinions of the voters who will decide our next government.”

The tour bus was supplied by Empire RV, the design, advertising and activation was created by The Tenth Man and produced by Extreme Productions. 

Gethin Evans, UK Managing Director, The Tenth Man, added: “It’s been pretty exciting working with the team at one the worlds best known media brands as our founding client for the London office.

“It’s not very often you get the chance to help brands that are almost 250 years old – and we are delighted to help them promote Times Radio across the UK in a pivotal political period for the country.

“We’re taking current affairs on the road, without the boring bits.” 

Coinciding with the launch of the tour, The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio have today also unveiled a new election marketing campaign. Created by News UK’s dedicated agency, Pulse Creative, the integrated campaign, “From Westminster to your World,” illustrates how these brands help customers better understand the real-life impact of the election on the issues that matter to them. 

The striking hero social films feature British political icons – the red budget box, green Commons bench, Big Ben, and the door to Number 10 – in relatable scenarios, symbolising that Times journalism brings everyday context to Westminster politics.

These films are supported by a series of insightful social videos, created in partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times, and Times Radio’s editorial teams, that take a closer look at the key political issues set to shape the 2024 election. 

Louise Agran, Marketing Director of Times Media, said; “This campaign demonstrates what sets The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio apart – insightful journalism that helps our subscribers and listeners understand the consequences of the election, and politics more broadly, so that they can make the right decisions for themselves and their families.” 

Russell Ramsey, ECD of Pulse Creative London, said: “There’s a lot of negativity about Westminster party politics at the moment, so we wanted to tell a more relatable story about the election.

“This campaign highlights the real value of The Times by focusing on what truly matters in an election – the lives of the voters.” 

Social media will be an important battleground for this election, so ‘From Westminster to Your World’ is designed to be social-native.

The campaign leverages a diverse array of social formats across various platforms, delivering multiple touchpoints with politically engaged audiences, ensuring The Times is active wherever opinions are shaped and debated. 

The details for Edinburgh are:

Times Radio Election Bus x Edinburgh and the Lothians

Date: Friday 14th June

Time: 6am – 5pm

Location: Register Square, Edinburgh (next to Starbucks at St James Quarter entrance)

Topics to be discussed include:

  • The investigations into SNP finances and its impact on SNP performance in the capital
  • Labour’s potential gains in the city
  • Scotland’s first game at the Euros

Chistmas is just around the Quarter!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at St James Quarter! The festive season kicks off with the official ‘Christmas Light Switch On’, hosted by Forth One’s Boogie and Arlene tomorrow (Thursday, 10 November) from 6pm.

Taking place on Register Square, the dazzling event is open to the public and free to attend, with representatives from charity partners, Cash 4 Kids and Deaf Action, set to push the big red button and light up The Quarter for Christmas.

St James Quarter’s retailers are also getting involved by revealing their glitzy Christmas window displays to accompany the 40 glowing star sculptures that will give an explosion of gold sparkle throughout the galleria for shoppers to admire.  The Edinburgh Rock Choir will also be spreading Christmas cheer by taking to the stage and singing loud for all to hear.

This Christmas St James Quarter has donated over £6,000 worth of prizes to the Forth One Boogie in the Morning Supervan campaign which raises vital funds to support children who are disadvantaged by poverty, the rise in living costs and trauma.

The contents of the Supervan will mean the winner’s Christmas shopping is complete with a variety of experiences and goodies from businesses across Scotland.

The donations from The Quarter include a £500 gift voucher, a 12-month Sky Q TV subscription, dinner for four at Maki Ramen, a year’s membership at Everyman plus many more.

The text lines to enter will be open from 06:00 – 10:00 on Friday 11th November, for further details tune into Forth One Boogie in the Morning.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “There is no better way to mark the beginning of the festive season than joining our charity partners to switch on the shimmering stars throughout the Galleria.  

“This year we are also joined by Boogie and Arlene who will no doubt be singing along to the Edinburgh Rock Choir. As the past few years have shown, this time of year is about bringing people together and enjoying the Christmas spirit. We look forward to welcoming our guests and filling St James Quarter with festive joy”.