In welcoming the new agency on board, Geof Webb, the TTA Communications and Marketing Director, said: 'KLP will bring a fresh, vigorous approach to the campaign. It's an exciting time when we are improving the integration of our marketing and communications activity to fill every one of the 33,000 teacher training places in England.

'Our face-to-face activities have played a major part in raising the awareness of teaching as a career and helping to attract the highest number of recruits to teacher training for seven years, and I am grateful to Hill and Knowlton for their huge contribution.'

Hugh Treacy, Managing Director, KLP Euro RSCG, said:

'This is a great opportunity for the Agency, and a great opportunity to make a real impact on a profession on which all others depend.'

The appointment follows the statutory review of Hill and Knowlton's seven year contract. The company has been organising and managing the TTA's presence at up to 650 recruitment fairs and other events annually across England and Wales.

Hill and Knowlton will continue to manage some events and exhibitions for the TTA in the short term, including workshops for careers advisers and presentations to final year students at higher and education institutions. It will also manage the Teaching in London Event (TILE), in January 2003, the TTA's flagship recruitment fair in London.

Media enquiries:
TTA Press Office Tel: 020 7925 3855/3735
Out of hours: 07771 934629
e-mail: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk

General enquiries: 020 7925 3700
People interest in initial teacher training should visit the TTA website, Teach, or contact the Teaching Information Line: 08545 6000991.

Notes for editors

1. The Teacher Training Agency is responsible for promoting recruitment to Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in England and Wales, and improving the quality of ITT in England.
2. During the academic year just ended, about 29,000 people were due to start ITT in England. Recruitment to postgraduate and undergraduate courses increased for the second year running and was the highest for seven years. A further 3,200 people started training under the Graduate Teacher Programme.
3. The TTA's recruitment advertisement is currently running on television, encouraging interested candidates to visit the TTA's website, www.canteach.gov.uk or to seek personal advice from the Teaching Information Line, which recently handled its 500,000th call.
4. Five companies were short listed and four interviewed for the contract, which takes effect from 1 October 2002.