The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) of the U.K. has decided to outsource its marketing, communication and PR functions to Media Contact Services (MCS), the PR, marketing and event management agency in Manchester that organizes the eight-year-old Outdoor Trade Show at Stoneleigh Park. Described as the longest-established agency in the (British) outdoor market, MCS has formerly represented the Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB) and continues to represent the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI), which has more than 6,500 members. Because of its experience in event management, MCS is also expected to play a role in the next annual convention of the OIA on March 17-18. The move follows the departure of the OIA's former marketing and communications manager, Terry Stephenson, who is moving back to the northeastern part of the country to work for Montane. The OIA will also save costs by closing its office at Ambleside and terminating its contract with its former PR agency, Right Lines, which is run by Chris Lines. The organization continues to be run by its very dynamic chief executive, Andrew Denton.

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