Podcasts about uk pr

Welcome to the latest PRmoment podcast. On the show today we're talking to Heather Blundell, the UK CEO of Grayling. Heather joined Grayling in late 2023 after a brief spell at Ketchum as deputy UK CEO. Before that she'd headed up Weber's Manchester office and been part of the leadership team at Weber in London.On the show today we're going to talk through Heather's career story, from her time as a trainee at Edelman, which she describes as “like SAS training” through to her MD role at Grayling today.Grayling has global revenues of £40m with about half of those in the UK. It has 30 offices globally.Clients include Visa, Birmingham Football Club and Grindr.Before we start, two pieces of good news at PRmoment this week. The first is that the programme for PR Masterclass: AI in PR is now complete. The PR Masterclass series are hybrid events so you can attend either in person or virtually. The event is on July 3rd and themes include:How to Integrate AI into your PR WorkflowThe impact of AI on JournalismAI as a content production toolIs LLM optimisation PR's biggest opportunity of our lifetimes?How will AI impact the agency business model?How to build and scaling AI-powered PR toolsThe legal implications of AI in your communicationsThe intersection of PR and AI for in-house communicatorsHow to move from AI experimentation to implementationCheck out the microsite PRMasterclasses.com for all the details including the speaker line-up.The other vital bit of information is that The Creative Moment Awards are now open for entries. You can see all the categories for 2025 at the microsite creativemomentawards.co.The early bird entry deadline is Friday 16th May.Here's a summary of what Heather and PRmoment founder discussed:3 mins Heather on the current health of UK PR would you say?“The agency model and way of working is continuing to evolve.”“We're seeing clients be cautious.”“Pitching is more aggressive than ever.”8.30 mins Heather started her PR career at Edelman. Looking back, is that where she learnt how to be good at PR?“There was a high level of expected excellence. I've tried to emulate that throughout my career. It was a high challenge, high support culture.”15 mins How did Heather make the move from Edelman in London to Weber Shandwick in Manchester?16 mins Heather talks about the role Colin Byrne and Jon McLeod played in her becoming MD of Weber Shandwick Manchester aged 29.“Agencies must be a meritocracy, not a test of longevity.” Ben Smith19 mins How Heather and her team turned around the fortunes of Weber Shandwick in Manchester to have a fee income of about £5m and 40 odd employees in 2014.24 mins Heather and Ben reminisce about the PR legends that were Colin Byrne and Robert Phillips.Here is the link to the PRmoment Podcast with Colin Byrne, referenced in the show.28 mins Why did you leave Weber to go to Ketchum?29 mins What did Heather learn from her time at Ketchum?31 mins Heather on why she moved to Grayling.“Grayling is the first PR firm I've worked at where the UK business is bigger than the US. That makes a difference.”Here is the link to the PRmoment Podcast episode with Sarah Schofield reference on the show.35 mins In some ways, the defining trend of the l

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in April 2025Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Before we start, two pieces of good news at PRmoment this week. The first is that the programme for PR Masterclass: AI in PR is now complete. The PR Masterclass series are hybrid events so you can attend either in person or virtually. The event is on July 3rd and themes include:How to Integrate AI into your PR WorkflowThe impact of AI on JournalismAI as a content production toolIs LLM optimisation PR's biggest opportunity of our lifetimes?How will AI impact the agency business model?How to build and scaling AI-powered PR toolsThe legal implications of AI in your communicationsThe intersection of PR and AI for in-house communicatorsHow to move from AI experimentation to implementationCheck out the microsite PRMasterclasses.com for all the details including the speaker line-up.The other vital bit of information is that The Creative Moment Awards are now open for entries. You can see all the categories for 2025 at the microsite creativemomentawards.co.The early bird entry deadline is Friday 16th May.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:Here is this month's run down of the biggest PR pitch wins in April 2025:“Brands are hiring for what agencies can do, they are less fussed about who the agency is.”Here is a link to Ben Smith's podcast with W's Warren Johnson that was referred to in the show. Toyota and Lexis GB appointed Hope&Glory - Another big win for the UK consumer independent PR firm, it's a strategy and creative development brief.Heineken UK appointed  Blurred – Oversee corporate social impact strategy.Tik Tok appointed  Ready10 – Consumer PR for TikTok and TikTok Shop amidst security and content moderation concerns.Tesco appointed Pretty Green and Tin Man – New creative agency roster for consumer PR.Russell Hobbs/Remington appointed B The Communications Agency – PR, influencer, and social media for a 3-year contract.Dunelm appointed  Tin Man – Consumer and influencer PR to increase brand awareness.Channel 4 appointed Mischief – Launching TV series, including Handmaid's Tale final series.Plaidis Global appointed The Romans – UK savoury portfolio PR.Aperol appointed Manifest – Global PR and influencer strategy.Trip.com appointed Rooster – UK and European PR for online travel service provider.Heathrow Express appointed Splendid – Retained PR agency following a project on language masterclasses.Mountain Warehouse – Work and Class – Integrated communications account to inform customers globally.Michael Page – Words+Pixels – Consumer and B2B PR to raise the profile of the global recruiter.LNER – Brands2Life/Mischief/One Green Bean – Creative roster for the train operating company.Sky News – Mu

Show Notes:The current negative sentiment and noise around equity and inclusion can feel overwhelming. At such times it makes sense to step back and celebrate the work of organisations steadfast in their vision (there are many of them around). The Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF) is one such organisation dedicated to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the communications industry that has been doing some stellar work to deliver on its purpose. I recently took the opportunity to invite Koray Camgöz, the new CEO of the TBF and one of the nicest people I know in the UK PR industry to talk about his priorities and focus.Koray has been a staunch advocate for building a fairer and more inclusive industry from his time at the PRCA, including championing the work of PRCA REEB and the EIAB. Always extending himself to support the cause. So, it was great to hear him reflect on his experiences including his recent stint at Ketchum and how it has shaped/prepared him for his current role as CEO. We also spoke about

How will Trump's tariff chaos impact UK public relations ? PR's H1 Review 2025 with W Communications founder Warren Johnson On the PRmoment podcast.Every six months or so I like to catch up with Warren Johnson from W Communications to talk about the financial state of UK PR.And as Q1 is done and dusted, Trump is having endless fun throwing tariffs at the global economy, and we've just finished the agenda setting PRmoment Awards season: now seems like a good time.And before we start, do check out the homepage of PRmoment. We're entering our pre summer golden events period and there is a LOT going on. We've got webinars, lunches, networking and face to face conferences and events.Everything is on the PR Calendar, which you can access from the homepage of PRmoment but do check out our next webinars:In an Era of Global Doubt: How can Brand Communications be Optimistic? On 29th April. This webinar is free to attend.And Creative Moment Creative Campaign Case Studies on 30th April, tickets are £35 + vatThanks to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what PRmoment founder Ben Smith and Warren discussed:1.30 min How does Warren see the impact of Trump's Tariff Tax on public relations?“We are going into a tariff era… He's trying (misguidedly) to shift the burden of tax from income tax to tariff tax. Anyone who has studied economics knows that is not going to work.”“The randomness of them is going to sow quite a bit of economic uncertainty.”“I fear that just as we were starting to see quite an encouraging financial year ahead of us, I think many of us had a strong Q1, I fear that we're going to slip back into the great inertia post Covid.”4 mins Warren, PR's resident economist (he did an economics degree) gives us his insight into why tariffs are unlikely to work from an economics perspective.6 mins What are brand communicators likely to do about Trump? “Whilst there are opportunities there will be unexpected threats as well. I'm not sure where comms will net out.”“I don't think we've (PR) had more than 6-8 months to have a really good run at things since 2020."8 mins Warren reviews a very good Q1 performance for UK PR.13 mins Is the PR new business market still busy?14 mins Warren on the margin pressure currently experienced by agencies?“Constant procurement overreach, to the point of bullying.”Paid media briefs: how is paid media supporting editorial ideas?15.30 mins What PR services are clients buying?“Loads of influencer and a bespoke blend of integrated marketing services. I haven't seen a press office brief for 3 or 4 years.”19 mins Warren on the evolution of paid behind earned media creative across multiple channels, including media owners.

For those of us who've worked in PR for looong time, there were 3 things you could rely on in public relations:There would be someone at every measurement conference who couldn't resist the mention of AVE to start a fight/push their personal brand. There would be an endless analysis of the pluses and minuses of PRs 2 UK trade bodies. This would take up an inordinate level of discussion amongst UK PR people.And 3, the B2B tech PR sector would keep growing.Then 2022 happened. And all of that changed. We'll leave an analysis of PR's trade bodies conversation and AVEs for another day but today on this show we are going to chat with Hoffman CC Group's Dan Miles about a very interesting report he's recently authored discussing the impact of the tech recession on B2B tech marketing.B2B tech PR grew pretty consistently for about 20 years from 2000 to 2022. There were obviously a few downturns and bubbles bursting during that time but the PR B2B tech sector proved very resilient through all of that. Until 2022. I only know 3 B2B tech agency side PR guys, who when talking about 2022-24, don't lean back in their chair, take a sharp intake of breath and look to the ceiling!It was a properly tough period. But do we really understand why? Downturns happen, they are part of professional life, but in B2B tech marketing this was a 2 year period like no other.And as the B2B tech PR sector wasn't used to recessional downturns, it was especially hard. Perhaps B2B tech PR wasn't ready for the pain?Today on the show Dan Miles is going to try to explain to what happened, why it happened and what comes next for the B2B tech PR market. Just to say, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA4 mins Dan on why he decided to write this report? 7 mins Dan talks us through the methodology for the report: 400 in-house folks surveyed across B2B tech marketing and PR.8 mins Why was 2022 - 2024 a perfect storm for tech marketers? Do we know why that tech recession happened? “11,000 tech companies laid off 260,000 members of staff between 2022 and 2024.”“Hiring freezes meant there was a sense of having to do more with less.”11 mins How quickly did the tech PR market go from “Yep, we're alright”, to: “We've got a problem.”13 mins Why did the tech PR sector suffer so badly compared to other areas of public relations?20 mins How bad was the B2B tech PR downturn?:How many PR people got laid off?By what percentage did budgets decrease?Do we know how many tech PR firms went out of business?How long did the hiring freezes last?How long did the short term, “get sales in” activity last? What were these short term objectives/ tactics?28 mins What was the B2B tech PR sector like to work in during that time?“It got to the point in 2024 when you couldn't rust the brief. Because you didn't know whether the brief would be completely changed part way through the process or if the person (giving the brief) might disappear entirely!"32 mins In terms of the recovery, we're a bit beyond the green shoots stage aren't we? When did the B2B tech PR market start to turn?“It took until March this year (now) for us to be approaching bullish about growth.”35 mins Has the B2B tech market come out as a different thing, doing different things?

How have PR agencies adapted to April's tax increases and other cost rises? How do they feel about current trading generally? PRWeek UK's Beyond the Noise podcast takes a look. PRWeek journalists John Harrington (UK editor), Siobhan Holt (news editor) and Evie Barrett (senior reporter) delve into PRWeek UK's latest Top 150 Monthly Trading Tracker to see what agency bosses have been saying about recent trading.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.As increases to National Insurance Contributions, the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage come into effect, they discuss new research from the Trading Tracker that shows how UK PR agencies have been adapting.Freezing or scaling back recruitment and staff pay rises, and reducing freelance and other business costs, are among the steps taken by some comms agencies.We also hear what industry recruitment firm Latte has to say about the impact of April's cost increases on the PR recruitment market.On a lighter note, the journalists pick out their favourite April Fools' PR stunts, and ask: should brands still bother with the annual prankfest? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in March 2025Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Before we start, do check out the homepage of PRmoment. We're entering our pre summer golden events period and there is a LOT going on. We've got webinars, lunches, networking and face to face conferences and events.Everything is on the PR Calendar which you can access from the homepage of PRmoment but do check out our next webinars:In an Era of Global Doubt: How can Brand Communications be Optimistic? This webinar is on 29th April. This webinar is free to attend.Also check out this Creative Moment Creative Campaign Case Studies webinar on 30th April, tickets are £35 + vatAlso, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:PITCH WINSPapa Johns appoints The Romans – culture-first PR and social retained account; 6-figure brief to elevate brand creativity.Café Direct appoints Tin Man – UK PR and social for ethical coffee brand, Tin Man further expands its food division.Horlicks appoints Tangerine – Influencer and social brief for Kids Chocoland, targeting parents.Uber Boats appoints PC Agency – Global brief to promote London river bus service, including electric ferry launch.Sudocrem appoints Brazen – Extended PR, influencer, and social content to broaden audience reach.Stock Spirits Group appoints The Remarkables – EU brief for product launches, international expansion and ESG commitments.MGM+ appoints Academy – UK/EU retained agency for streaming platform's brand and content campaigns.Verify Me appoints Academy – Age verification tech provider; brief includes US and Europe expansion.O&CC appoints Brandnation – Integrated PR, influencer, marketing, and creative brief for retail brands.Segway Navimow appoints Sprekley PR – Launch of X3 robotic lawnmower with Paris event and product reviews.Molton Brown appoints PC Agency – Hotel amenities PR to increase hotel placements, B2B and B2C focus.Tristan Capital Partners appoints Duet London – Launch of Sicilian Ave in London as dining and social destination.Health Shield Friendly Society appoints Midnight – B2B brief to position as leading employee health benefits provider.SunLife appoints Third City – Raise awareness of financial services and promote new brand image.Love Finance appoints WPR – Paid social creative across TikTok and Meta for brand awareness and lead gen.The Brain Tumour Charity appoints Evergreen PR – GP education campaign to support faster brain tumour diagnosis.Capgemini appoints Fleishman Hillard – Global comms agency for integrated support and brand reputation management.Serco appoints MHP – Strategic and corporate comms brief for outsourcing company working with governments.Experience Oman appoints Finn Partners – PR and marketing to enhance awareness of Oman's tourism.M&A activityTogether Group acquired experiential tech agencies, Imerza and Visualisation One – expanding service lines in the luxury market with VR and game-engine tech.Sauce Communications buys a majority stake in The M Collective – creating The Sauce Collective, a luxury lifestyle PR and digital agency with 50 FTEs.Finn Partners acquired Rice C

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers and acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins, mergers a d acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in February 2025.Bloch  is the lead consultant  PR, social, content and influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.He launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020 and Big Dog Talent in January 2025There's a couple of new webinars that have gone live including The World's Greatest PR Research, which is a new topic, where we highlight the insight of some of the best PR related insight we've seen recently. Also now live is our free to attend Why PR has an attention advantage on social with the folks from Tangerine. Tickets are now available for both The PRmoment Awards shows, including the London Ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster on Thursday 27 March 2025 and the Manchester Ceremony at Manchester Hall on Thursday 3 April 2025.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Bloch and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:This month's run down of the biggest PR pitches:Linkedin appoint KetchumNomad Foods appoint BursonHusqvarna appoint BursonHello Fresh/Green Chef appoint John DoeField Doctor appoint Shook IFIT+ Nordic Track appoint ShookOrdnance Survey re appoint MarkettiersAutotrader appoint Hope & GloryThe Growth Foundation appoint Words+Pixels Disaronno appoint Mercieca Oxford Landing Wines appoint FrankGu appoint Tin ManRadisson appoint WUtility Warehouse appoint Here Be DragonsTravel Supermarket appoint JBHThis month's biggest M&A activity in public relationsStagwell merged Hunter and KWT GlobalConnect Group (Strategic Comms) acquire majority stake in Linco, an Edinburgh based Public Affairs Publicis acquire BR Media Group

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in Jan 2025Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.There's a couple of new webinars that have gone live including The Worlds Greatest PR Research, which is a new topic, where we highlight the insight of some of the best PR related insight we've seen recently.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.1 mins Why Andrew is feeling optimistic about 2025.2 mins This month's round up of PR's biggest pitch wins:The Children's Society appoint Smarts Oxfam appoint  Hope & GloryAdidas Manchester Marathon appoint  PHASport in Mind mental health charity appoint  Work in ClassRemy Cointreau appoint LXBella + Duke (pet wellbeing) appoint Aisle 8Napo Pet Insurance appoint  Munch for PR – Flabbergast for Social mediaGenerator (global hospitality brand) appoint  Munch and FlabbergastGrenade appoint Tin ManFor Goodness Shakes appoint  Rooster National Lottery Operator (Allwyn Group) appoint M&C SaatchiAlton Towers appoint  Smoking GunHolocaust Memorial Day appoint AtalantaHublot (LVMH) appoint WYo Sushi appoint EarniesBudweiser brewing Group appoint Hanover.Air Canada appoint PC AgencyGovernment Digital Service appoint Four24 mins This month's run down of M&A in public relations:Stagwell set to acquire UniceptaStagwell acquire Create GroupMarketbridge (US marketing firm) acquire April Six – Part of Mission Group (listed holding company)Cavendish acquire Deryn

How prepared is UK PR for the AI revolution? PRWeek's latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode takes a look.Our guests this week have been looking at that question as part of a major study: Jo Sutherland, MD at comms agency Magenta Associates; and Dr Tanya Kant, senior lecturer in media and cultural studies (digital media) at the University of Sussex.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Sutherland and Kant discuss the survey from last year of 1,100 UK-based content writers and managers working in PR, comms or marketing.The duo explain the background to the research and choose their top lessons from the study, which looks at what proportion of comms professionals are using AI, what they think of the tools, and how many have received training. The report – ‘CheatGPT? Generative text AI use in the UK's PR and communications profession' – also asks about ethical and legal concerns.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests discuss the biggest barriers to AI success for comms professionals, including an apparent lack of sufficient training.They talk about upcoming regulations around the technology, the dangers of ‘AI fatigue', and offer practical advice for PR professionals who want to get ahead. Sutherland also gives the lowdown on Magenta's experience with AI – including how the agency secured money from the Government's AI Upskilling fund, which covers 50 per cent of the PR firm's AI training.This week's episode is the second in a row on AI. Last week we spoke to Erin Lanuti, chief innovation officer at Omnicom PR Group, who discussed DeepSeek's dramatic entry to the AI market and what it might mean for the comms industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the PRmoment Podcast we're talking to Latte founder Dean Connelly about the PR recruitment market in 2024. The reason for analysing the recruitment market in PR is that it tends to reflect the confidence of the sector. If firms are recruiting, they are feeling confident, if they are not recruiting they tend to be more concerned about the future.Latte is a PR recruiter in London and Sydney and Dean founded the firm in 2016.Before we start, we've now launched our PR Masterclass: The Intersection of Data, Planning and Measurement. Attend this PR Masterclass to hear from experts on the latest techniques, tools and case studies about the use of data in modern communications. Early bird ticket prices are available until December 20th.The other big news in public relations is that the PRmoment Awards 2025 are open.All the categories, the updated entry form and the 2025 entry pack can be viewed on the awards microsite. For some more perspective on the current PR recruitment market, take a look at this Linkedin discussion.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what PRmoment founder Ben Smith and Dean discussed:3 mins Dean outlines the current state of the PR recruitment market.“We're seeing more corporate and tech roles coming through but consumer is quiet.”“The first half of the year for us in consumer was quite busy but it's seen a steady decline.”6 mins Why the move to project income and shorter turnaround times on briefs has impacted the recruitment sector for full time employees.9 mins Which sectors are up/down in PR recruitment currently?“One consistent message is inconsistency.”“Covid growth meant unrealistic financial targets were set.”14 mins Dean runs us through his PR recruitment heat thermometer for Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.15 mins The most in demand jobs titles: Account manager to account director.17 mins Which job titles are less in demand?18 mins Dean outlines his talent trends of 2024 and predictions for 2025.

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2024.If you haven't heard already I'm pleased to say we've now launched our PR Masterclass: The Intersection of Data, Planning and Measurement event. Attend this PR Masterclass to hear from experts on the latest techniques, tools and case studies about the use of data in modern communications.The other big news in public relations is that the PRmoment Awards 2025 are open. The final entry deadline is on January 17th. Miss it and miss out!Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.JANUARYPitchesIceland appointed TangerineHenkel appointed BCW/BursonMinistry of Justice appointed KindredAirbnb  appointed The Romans.M&AMerger of BCW and H+K to become Burson and create a £1bn + agency.Bully Pullpit Interactive acquired Boldt. FEBRUARYPitches“This is often the hangover from the Golden Quarter Pitches that start to get announced.”Bolt appointed Boldspace.Burger King appointed The Academy.British Gas appointed Smarts. M&A SEC Newgate acquired a 70% stake (over 5 years) in Athens HQ V+O Group.Real Chemistry acquired Avant Healthcare -Havas acquired Ledger Bennett. MARCHPitchesPepsi appointed Hope & Glory.“The first change for Pepsi in 14 years. This was a big big brief.”Taco Bell appointed Earnies.“You never forget your first win'Pizza Express appointed Pretty Green. M&AMHP acquired La Plage (creative content above the line agency). First acquisition for MHP since its acquisition by Next15.W acquired Franses,Havas appointed WildernessAPRIL PitchesWilliam + Grant appointed Exposure.Shark Ninja appointed  BursonTinder appointed The AcademyCarlsberg appointed Hope&GloryEA appointed Premier.M&AAccenture bought Unlimited“In my mind one of the smartest deals that was done this year.”WPP announced that leading global investment firm KKR has made a growth investment in FGS Global.“WPP has focused on releasing cash and consolidation and they've done that impeccably well.”“The holding companies and the big private equity firms have all realised that scale is important.”MAYPitchesEDF appointed Tin Man/Lucky Generals“What we've seen in consumer PR is... the agencies who went into the year strongest, have come out even stronger.”Reebok appointed Brand Nation.Pringles appointed Mischief MHP.Unilever appointed Golin“Nothing beats the UK, no one comes close, in terms of strategic creativity.”M&APagefield sells to PPHC.JUNE/JULYPITCHESFamous Grouse appointed Pretty Green.B&Q appointed Romans.Homebase appointed Aduro.The Independent appointed W.WRAP appointed Kindred.National Grid appointed 9 agencies to a “Community Agency Framework” for next 3 years – Grayling, Cavendish, Lexington, Aecom, Arup, Camargue, Copper, grasshopper, JBP.M&APublicis acquired Influential.Havas - acquired a controlling stake in Klareco Communications.Prime Weber Shandwick – MBO. AUGPITCHESMoet Hennessy appointed Earnies - wines and spirits division of LVMH.Dept for Education appointed FourArla Foods -appointed City Press.  

A slightly different and shorter podcast today to briefly talk about Agency proof points, PR agency growth rates and The PRmoment Awards early entry deadline is this Friday 13 DecemberI've just finished some analysis of the top 100 agencies in the UK looking at the number of full-time employees they have. The source was LinkedIn, so it's not a foolproof measure, but it gives a decent indication of the employee hiring growth and decline of UK agencies.One caveat would be that I can see there's an argument that bearing in mind the increase in project income, relative to retained income, PR firms may have increased their use of freelancers compared to full-time employees. A deeper dive analysis of these stats will be revealed over the coming weeks, but one top line stat is that of the 100 largest agencies in the UK, the average full-time employee growth over the last 12 months is 2.5%.This, in a UK PR market that by and large seems to be picking up.Whether FTE growth will follow the current gentle momentum to growth of the UK's PR sector, remains to be seen. I've asked a handful of people in the last month or so, if during this golden quarter, on a score of 1-10, if 5 was normal, where are we at at the moment from a new business/pitch busyness perspective.PR agency CEOs and the like seem to put PR on a score of 5/6 currently. This time last year they'd put us PR's pitching busyness barometer at a score of 2/3. So relatively speaking, we're on the up.From PRmoment's Linkedin analysis of the number of FTE of PR firms - there are some really interesting trends when it comes to the type of businesses that are growing or plateauing and I'll be sharing that insight over the next few weeks.Which leads me on to my point about the PRmoment Awards. Some agencies have grown their number of FTE's at 15%+ percent over the past 12 months. But not many. When it comes to your PRmoment Award entries it's an opportunity for you to shout about your work.The vast majority of entries for The PRmoment Awards are campaign lead.If you've got a compelling agency of the year story, then go for it. And as per my FTE analysis, it's a different marketplace now. Across the board, relatively growth rates have been suppressed compared to the post Covid boom. But much of the work I see coming out of UK PR firms is excellent. Clients are getting integrated work across multiple channels. They are getting good value. And they are getting better strategy and creativity than at any time since I started working in the sector. (2004 if you're interested!)A number of PR agencies have reduced revenue, retained profits but they're still doing outstanding work and the PRmoment Awards can be your proof point of the quality of that work.A PRmoment Award is a proof point of that work to clients. And proof points are really important for PR agencies and indeed in-house PR teams.  If you're thinking of entering the PRmoment Awards, the early entry deadline is on the 13th of December, and the final entry deadline is on the 17th of January. If you are a regular listener of this podcast, and don't enter already, go on, take the jump and enter the awards - join many of your peers.It's also probably worth mentioning at this point that we offer an excellent feedback loop for anyone who doesn't make the shortlist. More details about how this works can be viewed on the PRmoment Awards microsite - but I'd argue this functionality alone makes entering the PRmoment Awards a uniquely useful benchmarking exercise for the quality of your work

Send us a textWelcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in November 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.If you haven't heard already I'm pleased to say we've now launched our PR Masterclass: The Intersection of Data, Planning and Measurement event. Attend this PR Masterclass to hear from experts on the latest techniques, tools and case studies about the use of data in modern communications.The other big news in public relations is that the PRmoment Awards 2025 are open.All the categories, the updated entry form and the 2025 entry pack can be viewed on the awards microsite.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.3 mins Andrew on the current state of the PR market. How does the golden quarter compare to previous years.“Measurement is more critical than it ever has been.”PITCHES DFS appoint Red Consultancy and PR First. Teneo continues to work on financial comms.“Everyone loves a retail client.”Simply Business appoint Golin. Danone appoint Freuds.“This is a whopper… a fame making brief.”“The best agencies have had very good years organically (growth.)” Pret A Manger appoint Frank. Headland continues looks after corporate pr Levis appoint Burson – corp reputation brief  across the EU.  Stanley 1913 appoint The Romans – pr and influencer for drinkware brand (best known for Stanley cups – the quencher) UK, France, Germany, Netherlands. Product launches, brand partnerships.  Apply creative with local relevance. PG Tips appoint The Romans – retained pr and social- engaging tea lovers across UK. PG Tips now part of Liptons (formerly Unilever) Rebrand – new blends, packaging etc. previously a project client. Digital and social now a third of all biz for Romans. Cayman Islands Tourism Dept appoint Allison. Essity appoint PR Agency One.  B2B comms brief to raise the profile of the group and reinforce position as industry and category leader across brands. Fed Olsen Cruises appoint The Academy – consumer pr. Targeting new and existing passengers. Previously in-house.Tui (First Choice/Marella Cruises) appoint Ogilvy for a long term comms strategy and earned first activation. First Choice merged with TUI in 2007. Nest, the UK Government backed pension scheme, appoint H+K (now part of Burson) – Corporate reputational support services. Also work with Blurred to help promote purpose PR strategy.Uni of Warwick appoint Shook This month's round up of M&A activity:“This has been a boom month for the PR M&A sector.” Croud sell majority stake to ECI (PE) – Croud is a full service marketing company. Croud is estimated to be worth £180M+. Fee income of £23.5M.“Croud is one to watch for sure.” Coolr sell minority share to Growth Capital Partners (GCP.) Founded in 2017 by Adam Clyne. 120 full time employees (FTEs.) This acquisition will help deepen service offering and scale quicker including i

Send us a textWelcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in October 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, check out the programme for our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum. It's on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London. Face-to-face tickets are expected to sell out, so if you want to come along, don't hang about.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA1.30 mins Andrews run down of this months biggest pitch wins“It's decent, the budget has created some uncertainty…its picked up a little slowed than I had expected post the summer but there's plenty going on.”Formula E hires Soapbox – Soapbox also look after Matchroom Boxing, Pro Darts Corporation, Under Armour, AJ, Luke Littner and Eddie Hearn.Primark hire Weber Shandwick to support global trust and reputation projects. Asos hires The Earnies for consumer comms.Typhoo also hire The Earnies G- Shock hire Kingdom Collective – National Energy System Operator (NESO) – Britain's new energy body responsible for planning Britain's electricity and gas networks – appoint Brands2Life to deliver brand strategy and Eulogy to create a national advertising campaign.Bafta film awards hire DDA Pooch (healthy premium dog food company) & Mutt hire Munch Dave's Hot Chicken hire Cut The bull Epson, the global tech company hire Kindred ESG brief for internal and external audiences. Ena Athletics, the premium performance sportswear brand hire Brand Nation San Miguel hire MSL –XIX Vodka hire Sunny Side Up. Honda hire Exposure Monopoly Lifesized hire One Green Bean.21 mins Andrew talks us through this month's biggest PR M&A deals.“There's been a lot of people trying to get things through because of the budget”Auspicious Group – A new creative services agency is formed via acquisition of 2 film companies.  Studio Yes and Blue Chalk Media.  3 businesses already have 40FTEs and $7m revenue.Run by Rachel Pendered, co-founder of Media Zoo who will be co CEO alongside Barnaby Cook co-founder of Casual Films and Mark Killik also previously from Media Zoo. Helios Global Group (healthcare comms) gets backing from Telemos Capital (PE). Berkeley Communications acquire Danebury Research – a PR survey company. Blue Communications acquire Saltwater Stone.

The big talking points from the PRWeek UK Awards are the focus of the latest edition of PRWeek's Beyond the noise podcast.More than 800 people from across the industry were at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London on Wednesday for UK PR's biggest event of the year - view the winners here.PRWeek's Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Siobhan Holt (news editor) are your commentators this week to examine the stories behind the 2024 PRWeek UK Awards.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.After talking about their own experiences of the evening, the PRWeek trio examine how the awards have evolved over the years, including the growing presence of in-house teams.They look at some of the main winners this year and discuss trends around purpose, humour, AI and the role of the classic PR stunt.The journalists also give a 'shout out' to the winners and highly commended entrants in some of the agency and in-house categories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in September.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, make sure you get your tickets quick for our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum . It's on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London.“Honestly, I had one of the most fascinating and useful days of my career. I can't think of anything that needed improvement. The quality of the speakers was phenomenal. Thank you!”PR Agency, director “The best day I've spent at work for ages!”PR Agency, director “What an incredible line-up of speakers!”PR agency, founder 1 min This month's rundown of the biggest PR pitch wins Reed Employment – Soho Communications.  Corporate and consumer brief,  Soho was founded by James Henderson the former CEO of Bell Pottinger in 2018. NHS - £500M framework – will run to 2028 – for consultancy and advisory services for health. Divided into 10 lots one of which is for ‘communications, engagement and research”. 27 firms were selected. The potential of £45M value. Include agencies such as Engage Communicate Facilitate (ECF), Freshwater UK, and Lynne Group. Mars Pet Foods – Brands 2 Life will lead social across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Including influencer and paid. Kellanova (the new name for Kellogs, who own Pringles, Pop Tarts, etc.) appointed Tin Man for the US brand Cheez-It UK launch. Bassetts Vitamins – Tin Man – consumer PR brief for leading vitamins brand. Earned first, creative, press office and influencer. Motorway – Romans – Consumer PR brief. Fight or Flight handles corporate comms.  Nationwide – Romans: consumer PR brief to raise awareness of the financial services brand with younger audiences and families. Greggs – Here Be Dragons:  Project basis on consumer activations. Zurich Insurance – Boldspace: Corporate press office. Handled two projects earlier in the year, now retained. Gordon Ramsey Restaurants– H/Advisors Maitland– global corp comms. The plan is to build out the restaurant groups' corporate profile and engage with key audiences. World Travel & Tourism Council – Finn Partners  – global comms for the launch of the ‘Together in Travel' comms campaign. Currys – Red – Press office and creative. Increase awareness of expertise, range and relatable playful brand tone ahead of Black Fri and Xmas.  Hitachi Zero Carbon – Brands 2 Life – EMEA, APAC and N America. The brief is to increase brand awareness for this division of Hitachi, which is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon world largely by converting public transport and commercial fleets to electric vehicles.Ellen McArthur Foundation – Kindred – Kindred will support the charity's media and comms team to develop and amplify stories across the UK, US and EU with particular focus on food and plastics projects.Kidney Cancer UK – PHA Group – The brief is to support the charity's press office and long term awareness raising mission.20 mins This month's rund

PR's pay gaps, and how to close them, are the focus of the latest episode of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast.This week has seen the launch of the 2024 Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us, which sees UK PR agencies reveal their own gender and ethnicity pay gaps alongside analysis of the big trends.To discuss the findings are Sheeraz Gulsher, co-founder of People Like Us; Jo Carr, co-founder of PR agency Hope&Glory and president of Women in PR; and Paul Joseph, partner at PR agency Full Fat.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests disect the big themes from the Pay Gaps Report and talk about progress in pay parity across the industry more generally.They discuss their disappointment at the continued lack of participation from the UK's biggest agencies.Carr and Joseph speak about steps taken at their agencies to close pay gaps.The guests put the findings in the context of the comms market more generally and discuss whether Labour's plans for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for larger firms may change the project in the future.Finally, the trio each give their top tip for closing PR's pay gaps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in the summer of 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum has now launched. It's on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London.“There is momentum building. We're going into the golden quarter.”“My observation is that the same agencies are doing very well, but there are some agencies that are struggling.”“As always, it's important to keep an eye on your margins.”“Brands are being cautious…there's a fair bit of try before you buy."“Everything is going in the right direction. The work being done by agencies is bold.”The summer's PR Pitch wins:Castore hires Pretty Green. Famous Grouse also hires Pretty GreenB&Q hires The RomansIkea franchisee Ingka Centres hires The RomansVirgin Voyages also hires The Romans The Independent hires W Communications. All Things Butter hires MunchZenDesk hires AxicomHomebase hires Aduro Jammie Dodgers (Fox's Burton Biscuits) hire FrankEvri hires CitypressBrewdog hires Ilk UK Export Credit Agency hires EulogyWRAP hires KindredOpen Table hires LaunchNational Grid hires nine agencies to its “community agency framework” for the next three years, namely Grayling, Cavendish, Lexington, Aecom, Arup, Camargue, Copper, grasshopper and JBP.The summer's M&A activityWPP exit FGS Global - KKR takes majority control - valuing the company at $1.7B$AKT Health sells to JPA Health, the US HQ full-service healthcare group. Ascential (formerly known as Emap) to be acquired by Informa - £1.2bn cash offer deal.  Ascential owns Cannes Lions and Warc, a deal which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. Ascential is FTSE 250 - Cannes Lions generated 131M last year with an EBIT of 55M+.  Publicis acquires Influential - a leading influencer marketing platformHavas - acquires controlling stake in Klareco Communications - 3rd acquisition this year to add to global strategic advisory network H/Advisors.Prime Weber Shandwick – MBO – Swedish creative PR agency bought ten years ago.  Will now operate as an affiliate owned by five members of the leadership team. Will remain a close partner in the network. Supreme Group (A US Healthcare and Life Science Comms and Marketing) acquires Bio Strata (a Cambridge based life science pr and marketing.)

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in July 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, we'd like to let you know that our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum has now launched. It's on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London.3 mins July's run down of PR Pitch winsMoet Hennessy appoint Earnies Pernod Ricard Champagne appoint Hopscotch SeasonBrown Forman appoint Taylor Herring and HalpernBrooks Running appoint Sunny Side UpBest Cereal also appoint Sunny Side UpDept for Education appoint Four Harvard win 16 new clients in H1 of 2024Arla Foods appoint CitypressWho Can Fix My Car appoint Hard Numbers World Travel Market appoint Davies Tanner 12 mins July's M&A Activity in UK PRWPP reject KKR (PE) majority bid for FGS Global - KKR currently owns 30% of FGS.W Communications - sells the majority of shares to an Employee Ownership Trust.Muckle Media buys Spey, which are both Scottish-based. Finn Partners acquires Claudine Collins Communications.MHP Group acquires Truva Partners.

In our twice-yearly review of the UK PR market PRmoment founder Ben Smith catches up with Warren Johnson.Warren founded W Communications in 2009. It now has global revenues of £25m and a headcount of 200, with 120 in London at W, 40 at its travel PR specialist Lotus, 25 in Singapore, and 15 in New York.Do check out the agency and in-house programmes for our new education programme PRmoment Leaders.PRmoment Leaders is our new subscription-based learning programme and community, built by PRmoment specifically for the next generation of PR and comms leaders to learn, network and lead.Thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.1. 30 mins Warren reveals why and how he has just sold his business, W Communications, to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT.)“It's a government-backed business structure designed to help business owners pass on their business, realise some value from it…and pass it into the hands of the next generation.”11 mins Warren discusses the performance of the PR market for H1 2024.“It's a bit of a slog. The economy is still pretty weak. There is a lot of nervousness client side.”“Productivity is poor. The Brexit impact is ongoing.”“We (the UK) are managing our decline not very well.”“A lot of the top agencies are doing a great job of land grabbing from other industries.”20 mins Why Warren worries about UK PR's productivity.“Hybrid working has run its course…10% of the UK PR industry lost their jobs last year. If those people were all productive I just don't believe they would have lost their jobs.”“I don't know a single agency which hasn't reduced their headcount in the last 12 months.”“Hybrid working reduces productivity…in specialist roles, I can see how it can boost productivity in generalist roles, I question its value.”“At pace is how I build my business…I just think not being around each other breeds legacy behaviour. All businesses need to re-invent themselves at a quicker pace and if you can't work together to do that, you will become obsolete.”

Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in June 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start,a reminder that the final entry deadline for the Creative Moment Awards is coming up on Friday, June 28th. So you need to get a wriggle on if you've got good creative work that you want to enter this year.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment podcast founder Ben Smith discussed:“It feels like confidence is building and returning, especially in the consumer sector.”5 mins Andrew updates us on Jumnes biggest PR pitch wins:  The Academy wins Fullers London Pride Alfred wins Perfect DraftHere Be Dragons wins Koppaberg Premier win Wireless Festival - (Live Nation)Tin Man win Blue Light CardStakked and Munch win Netflix Buying London Cast and separarelty KabutoW win Extreme EHatch win British CyclingTin Man/Lucky Generals win EDF“This was an integrated pitch where the client wanted the PR agency and the ad agency to come together at the outset to create a campaign that had earned at its heart.”The Earnies win The Royal Academy of Engineering Brand Nation win reebok Wild Card win Ask Italian - TrunkBBI win MoonpigUnlimited Group win National Highways Coolr win BritvicPitch win global brief for les MillsMischief MHP win PringlesShook win SoareThe Heard - Monster EnergyGolin win Unilever 36 mins This month's M&A run down:Pagefield sells to PPHC Candid (a Netherlands-based marketing and comms group) acquires Houston PRLewis acquires Tayburn

PRWeek's latest podcast hears from two jurors on the Cannes Lions PR category about what to expect from the 2024 International Festival of Creativity.Our guests on this week's Beyond the Noise are Kat Thomas, founder and chief creative officer at One Green Bean and this year's PR Lions jury president; and Fenella Grey, another juror and former EMEA MD and chair, now senior advisor, at Porter Novelli.Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or on your favourite platform.As the industry prepares to make its annual jaunt to the French Riviera, PRWeek journalists Siobhan Holt and John Harrington quiz our guests on some of the big talking points at Cannes in 2024.They examine whether 'purpose' work will be prevalent this year after a dip in the number of purpose-led campaigns in 2023, and discuss how the genre is evolving.The duo give their take on the likely success - or otherwise - of PR agencies in the PR Lions category. They also talk about the new and revised Cannes categories for 2024.And they answer the question: will AI-led campaigns be a big hit this year?Thomas and Grey also offer insights into the Cannes Lions judging process - including the number of entries jurors have to sift through.Cannes Lions takes place from 17 to 21 June. Stay tuned to PRWeek for all the news and insights from the festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast. On the show today, we're chatting with Michael Murphy and we're going to talk about Michael's guide to buying, selling and growing your PR firm.Michael is an advisor and non-executive for a range of PR firms. Notably, he's helped WE since 2014. He also currently works with Coverdale Barclay, Alfred, and Lodestone, amongst others. Previously, he was CEO of APAC and CEO of International at Weber Shandwick from 1993 – 2000,  CEO of Trimedia International from 2004 – 2009 and Global CEO of Grayling from 2009 – 2013.Before we start, a plug for our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. The line-up of speakers for the first semester is now complete. Do take a look - I think you'll be impressed!Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here is a summary of what Michael and I discussed:2 mins What advice would Michael give to PR agency owners who are thinking of selling their business?“Most business owners believe their business is worth more than it often is…many have inflated ideas of their worth.”“No offence to the trade media, but often the maximum possible price (the earn-out figure) is talked about as the price in the (article) headline.”“I know lots of agency owners who have sold their business and it has been a success. I know others where it has been an unmitigated disaster. You have to remember, you're giving up your baby. You're giving up your freedom. “You're likely to only sell your business once in your life, so you better get it right.”6 mins Why do PR agency owners want to sell their businesses?“The (PR agency) market is littered with small and medium-sized firms.”“You need to build around you people who will challenge you.”“PR is a tough game. If you don't enjoy it - get out.”12 mins What are PR firms' owners' exit options? Who are their likely buyers? Michael gives us an insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each.“There's never been a better time to sell your business. There is so much interest in the sector. So much money.”13 mins What's the rough ratio to profit that PR agency owners can expect to get upfront, compared to what they get in an earn out?“The cultural fit of who you sell to is at least as important as the cash.”“Private equity is much more prevalent in the sector than it used to be.”PR owners exit options are:Trade buyersPrivate equity buyersManagement Buy Outs (MBO)Employment Ownership Trusts (EOTs)Don't sellBecome an acquirer of other PR firms.“So many people think about selling, don't do it and wait until it's too late…they have something that's worth a pittance to what it was worth a few years ago.”23 mins What skills should agency owners look for when they choose an advisor for a sale?25 mins What do PR agency acquirers look for when purchasing? Or, conversely, how can you prepare your PR agency for sale?29 mins How do you get to a sensible valuation of your PR firm?31 mins The likes of W Communications and The Romans are UK PR firms trying to increase their international offer, but Michael remains surprised that more UK firms don't utilize the UK's access to finance to more aggressively to scale their businesses globally.“We're (the UK) is the number two centre for comms and PR and public affairs outside North America - we're renowned for our scale, our expert

Welcome to our April 2024 Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in April 2024.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, a plug for our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. The line-up of speakers for the first semester is now complete, and even if I say it myself - it's almost perfect! Do take a look at this semester-based career development programme, details are on the homepage of PRmoment.Finally, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment podcast founder Ben Smith discussed:2 mins April's PR pitch update:“The volume of briefs has significantly increased in the last month.”“If the tide hasn't quite turned, it's turning.” Hovis appoints Clarion.Brixton Brewery (Heineken) appoints Fanclub. Brompton Bikes appoints The Romans. 19 Crimes - part of Treasury Wine Estates Portfolio appoints Manifest.  Scottish Widows Life Insurance and Pensions provider appoints Team Spirit -and The Agency Partnership.The Macallan appoints Havas Red.William + Grant appoints Exposure. HM Treasury appoints Teneo and Lexington Renault appoints Ready 10Motorway appoints Fight or Flight - Shark Ninja  appoints Burson - Tinder appoints The Academy Carlsberg appoints Hope&Glory“One of the biggest briefs out there in consumer PR.”EA appoints Premier Hootsuite appoints Words + Pixels“A game-changing account for Words+Pixels, potentially,” Cancer Research appoints Shook  April's M&A updateAccenture buys UnlimitedWPP announced that leading global investment firm KKR has made a growth investment in FGS Global Together Group (owner of Purple) buys Frame PublicityCavendish - expand into NI and ROI with the acquisition of MCE

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast. On the show today, I'm chatting with Jules Herd. Jules is the founder of PR agency Five in a Boat, which she started six years ago. It's a tech PR firm with a fee income of about £750K. The business mainly does reputation advisory work, so it is at the more serious end of the PR spectrum. Looking to the future, Five is a Boat is looking to double in size and wants to launch in San Francisco in the short term.Five in a Boat has grown for five years since its launch, but like many tech PR firms worldwide, it has had a tougher last twelve months or so.If you're wondering, the name Five in a Boat is a nod to Jule's rowing prowess!On the show today, Jules and I will discuss whether UK PR agency founders have lost their confidence in recent times and no doubt we'll chat about a bunch of other stuff.Before we start, a plug for our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. The line-up of speakers for the first semester is now complete, and even if I say it myself - it's almost perfect!Do take a look at our latest PR Masterclass: PR and AI. I'm tremendously excited about it because we've filtered out the snake oil salesmen, the bluffers, and the AI dead ends to create it. It really is an exceptional programme of speakers. It's only been live for a couple of days but already tickets are going quickly.If you're wondering why you should attend?Well, AI is going to impact all of our businesses. Whether you've already begun your professional AI journey or if you're looking for advice on where to start - this Masterclass will help you.At this one event, 12 experts will give 10 Masterclasses on PR & AI. All the details are on the PRmoment.com homepage.Finally, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Here's a summary of what Julia and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discuss:2 mins Why does Julia think UK PR firms have lost their entrepreneurial confidence?“There has been a reticence to take risks since COVID, work environments have changed and people have become more reliant on being able to have a better work-life balance, which I'm an advocate of. The downside to that is the sense of ambition has dissipated.”7 mins Are UK PR firms losing their ambition?“There's not this drive that there was five years ago on the sector.”“(In the UK) the younger generation…if you come last in a race, you get a medal.  If you apply that to the business world, that isn't good. Business is about elite performance.”9 mins Being aggressive in business is much easier if a) you've got lots of money in the back or b) you're spending someone else's money. Most PR agency founders in the start-up stage don't have those luxuries, do they?“Failure is not trying at all… Nothing is going to be perfect in life.”“50% our our clients are non UK clients.”“We get most of our new saints through cold calls.”12 mins The games industry made up 70% of Five in a Boats fee income 12-18 months ago. That sector has cut back on its PR spending heavily. How has Five in a Boat managed that shift from one sector to other areas of work?

Is trading on the up? That's just one of the topics examined in PRWeek's latest Noise in Brief podcast.Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek UK journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.This week's edition is hosted by PRWeek UK news editor Siobhan Holt and features UK editor John Harrington and reporter Evie Barrett.In the podcast, the team discuss the most recent PRWeek UK Top 150 Monthly Trading Tracker, which surveys UK PR agencies on trading in the past month. Elsewhere, the trio chat about the recent news that Scottish Labour has criticised the Scottish Government for its comms bill for health and social care, and explore how the PR and comms industry can justify its value to the general public. And the journalist also discuss Brazen PR's ‘Mind the Gap' report, which asks if it's time for brand marketers to burst the London PR bubble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our March 2024 Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, here is a plug for our latest launch:  our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. Do take a look and let us know if you like it.And if you fancy joining us at the PRmoment Awards in either London or Manchester you need to get your tickets quick.Thanks also so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.2.30 mins Andrews updates us on this month's PR Pitch winsPukka Organic Herbal teas appoint Grayling.Global Brands (who own VK and Hooch) appoint Prohibition.Pepsi appoint Hope & Glory.Taco Bell appoint EarniesPopeyes appoint The Romans.Pizza Express appoint Pretty GreenCook appoint Don't Cry Wolf.Carlsberg Group appoint Richmond & Towers for a global PR and social media strategy for Brooklyn Brewery brand.National Hockey League appoint Mischief.Casio appoint Kingdom Collective - (Part of Splendid group.)Nobu Hotel appoint W Communications.Franks Hot Sauce appoint Pangolin.18 mins A discussion of the state of the PR new business market at the moment.“It's not a bed of roses for everyone, but there is still business out there.”You have to show resilience and dig deep. ..running an agency is always a bit of a roller coaster. It's often a question of how quickly you come out of the dips. It's not plain sailing. Anyone who runs an agency and tells you it's a piece of cake, I'd call them a liar.”19 mins A round-up and discussion of March's M&A activity.21 mins Ruder Finn acquire Atteline - expanding its Middle East and global footprint.Woodrow has formed a partnership with Paris-based Taddeo to expand both organisations' work across the UK and Europe. Jim Donaldson, the former CEO of Fleishman Hillard, joined Woodrow as non-exec chair in February this year.Stagwell acquire Sidekick. Sidekick launched in 2021 after the merger of experiential agency Kreate and content agency Many Makers.MHP acquired creative content above-the-line agency La Plage.Havas acquires Wilderness in its second acquisition this year already.

Welcome to our February 2024 Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also co-founder and managing partner at PR agency Frank, before stepping back in 2020 to found Andrew Bloch & Associates.A quick mention about the relaunch of PRmoment. If you take a look at PRmoment.com, you'll see a brand new design with lots of new features, hopefully, easier navigation and also the launch of our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. Do take a look and let us know if you like it.Thanks also so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.2 mins Andrew talks us through this month's biggest PR pitch wins in the UK:Tortilla, the Mexican fast food restaurant,  appoints PR agency Houston.Orlebar Brown - a luxury swimwear brand owned by Chanel - appoints PR agency W.Bolt appoints PR agency BoldspaceBurger King appoints PR agency The AcademyVersuni (Philips brand owner) appoints PR agency Smoking Gun.(Ketchum continues to partner with Philips. Tin Man continues to handle global comms.)Heineken's trade PR goes to food and drink  PR specialist Fleet StreetBallantines Whisky appoints Pangolin on a global brief.M&C Sport and Ents retain the global music brand strategy brief and Firstlight Group handle corporate comms.Four Seasons appoints Red - replaces PRCO after a 30-year client-agency relationship.Greggs appoint That Lot for a social media brief.Santander appoints two agencies - Lansons Team Farner for its consumer PR and MHP for its public affairs work.eToro appoints Lansons/Team Farner on a combined corp and brand brief.British Gas appoints Smarts for a consumer PR brief. (Working alongside BCW)“If there is a lack of long-term client commitment you have to adjust your cost base accordingly. The great agencies do that.”“We don't do this for fun. There is no point running an agency that doesn't make any money.”16 mins Andrew talks us through February's M&A activity:Faith Brand Communications is acquired by Fantastic MediaSEC Newgate acquires a 70% stake (over five years) in Athens HQ V+O Group.Real Chemistry acquires Avant Healthcare.Havas acquires b2b marketing specialist Ledger BennettCognito, an independent global PR agency, has completed the majority acquisition of its German operation Cognito DACH.

Welcome to our January 2024 Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also co-founder and managing partner at PR agency Frank, before stepping back in 2020 to found Andrew Bloch & Associates.Before we start, a plug for our latest webinar launch; the topic for this one is “How to track the success of an earned media campaign." tickets are free and we're putting this one on in partnership with our good friends at Carma. The event is promoted on the homepage of PRmoment.Thanks also so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.2 mins We kick off with some thoughts from Andrew and I on WPP's merger of BCW and Hill&Knowlton“It's really nice that they are honouring Harold Burson.”“It's potentially going to be the biggest PR agency in the UK… taking them ahead of Brunswick.”“You rarely merge two firms together because they are doing so well.”“It's been reported that both of these firms had a tougher time in America; they've had a better time of it in the UK.”“It just makes sense. You don't need that many agencies in one group, especially when they have that much overlap.”7 mins A discussion of January's biggest PR pitch wins:The Dept for Science, Innovation and Tech appoint Unlimited and Pablo as lead creative and strategic partners, with Nelson Bostock Unlimited providing the PR support. Andrew pays tribute to Nelson Bostock co-founder Roger Nelson, who passed away recently.Iceland appoints Tangerine for creative consumer, corporate, sustainability, crisis and social.“A massive win for Tangerine.”The Savoy hires the PR agency Fox Communications to handle media relations, digital media, and influencers.“A lot of specialist agencies have done extremely well in the last few years.”Sudocrem appoints Brazen.Kidney Cancer and UK Reflo, the sustainable performance wear brand, appoint PR agency PHAOatley appointed Blurred for consumer, corporate and public affairs work following a 6-way pitch.  Nest - Britain's largest pension scheme backed by govt - also hire Blurred. Henkel appoints BCW (soon to be Burson!)  The Ministry of Justice appoint Kindred on £1.3m Luke “The Nuke” Littner -the teenage dart sensation who reached the final of the world championships, has appointed Soapbox London.Airbnb appoints The Romans. Previously, Hope&Glory has held the Airbnb account for nine years, and Andrew and Ben pay tribute to that body of work.Giff Gaff appoint Splendid for a strategic and creative comms brief.Stonegate Group - Pitch. The UK's largest pub company, operating nearly 5,000 pubs, includes brands like Slug & Lettuce and Walkabout. “It's busy and this time of year is always busy. We're still facing some of the challenges we saw last year...which is delaying decisions.”"Whenever there is a lack of confidence in the economy, there is a lack of confidence in making appointment decisions.”30 mins A round-up of PR's January's M&A activity“2024

Welcome to our 2023 Year in Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also a co-founder at PR agency Frank PR, where he is still a shareholder.Before we start, The PRmoment Awards 2024 are now - OPEN! The final entry deadline is on Friday, 26th January.There are some exciting changes this year; we've tweaked the categories, refined the entry form and launched a regional champions scheme with no additional entry fee to reach the work across the UK.Do check out the PRmoment Awards microsite.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Finally, thanks to PRmoment's data and insight partners, Meltwater, for supporting the show.2 mins Andrew talks about December's M&A activity: PHA acquired Leeds-based creative comms consultancy MCG.Premier acquired Edinburgh-based The Corner Shop PR. It will be renamed Premier Scotland.Brands2Life was acquired by the Scandinavian holding company Paritee. Brands2Life has a fee income of £21 million and circa 180 full-time employees.“It's not easy for an agency to remain at the top of their game for so many years, and that is what Brands2Life has done.”6.30 mins December pitch wins: 8 mins Our Review of Pitch PR Wins and M&A Review for 2023January 2023 Pitch Highlights10 mins January's PR M&A Highlights“One of the biggest M&A deals in the sector. ““Teneo will give Tulchan an international footprint.” “I don't think this will be the last acquisition we see from Teneo.” 12.30 mins February 2023 Pitch wins highlights“They become part of a roster that included Cow and Edelman...the first in a stellar year for The Romans.”“Kuoni is a big big win.”13.30 mins February's PR M&A highlights“A landmark deal for Markettiers”15 mins March's pitch wins highlights“A very significant win for MSL, who have one of the strongest social media units within the PR space.”17 mins March's 2023 M&A Highlights20 mins April's pitch wins highlights:“Supermarket comms is about as tough as it gets.”23 mins April's 2023 M&A Highlights“Goat is a very data-driven influencer influencer agency.”“This will give Camarco global reach and deep expertise in corp advisory.”25 mins May's pitch win highlights:27 mins May's M&A Highlights28 mins June's pitch win highlights29 mins June's M&A Highlights31 mins July's pitch win highlights33 mins July's M&A Highlights:.34 mins August's PR Pitch Wins35 mins August's M&A Highlights36 mins September's PR Pitch Wins37.30 mins September's PR M&A Highlights40 mins October and November's PR Pitch Win Highlights41.30 mins October and November's PR M&A Highlights

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our November review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.He is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also a co-founder at PR agency Frank PR, where he is still a non-executive director at Frank PR.Before we start, we've got some huuuuge news - The PRmoment Awards 2024 are now - OPEN!There are some exciting changes this year; we've tweaked the categories, refined the entry form and launched a regional champions scheme with no additional entry fee to reach the work across the UK.Do check out the PRmoment Awards microsite.Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.Finally, thanks to PRmoment's data and insight partners, Meltwater, for supporting this podcast.2 mins Andrew on how this year's pitch golden quarter is going!Andrew's current outlook for public relations:“Things won't really pick up pace until the second quarter next year.”“Great companies do well regardless of the economy, and it's the ones that aren't as well run, that aren't as strong, that suffer when the economy wobbles.”“I think we will see an uplift overall in (PR) industry in spending this year.”“Because we're always on…we are more protective of when we do get some shut off time.”6 mins  How does Andrew look back on the pitching year of 2023?“Not a boom year…but healthy.”“Tech's had a tough year, but coming out of it now…you're already seeing that come back. Which is great.”9 mins Andrew and Ben reflect on the sad news that Science Magic, previously The London Communications Store, has gone into voluntary receivership.“This was a sizable firm of over 100 people.”“You can look at lots of agencies and quite clearly see they are overstaffed for the level of fee income they've got.“Now you have a lot of specialists within an agency…who aren't necessarily direct revenue drivers.”“PR firms have a higher cost base now than they ever have.”11 mins This month's PR new business news:Tin Man wins Mars Pet Care (Royal Canin) and Yeo Valley.Sunny Side Up wins Majestic WineJohn Doe wins the Pernod Ricard wine portfolio and Sports Direct.Duet London wins INSHURFrank wins Lounge.tv and Not On The High StreetRed wins Toshiba TVThree Sixty wins Wizz AirThe Romans wins The Gym Group, Formula E and Tony's ChocolonelyHatch wins 365H&K wins Philips Domestic AppliancesPHA wins Alith PayLittle Red Rooster wins Hush Puppies26 mins November's PR M&A News:Life Sciences firm Eversana have acquired digital health consultancy Healthware GroupFreuds buys creative art agency Lawless StudiosUS private equity firm EagleTree Capital buys MMGY GlobalHavas buys Indian consumer firm PR Pundit.Splendid buys DIY Creative.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our October review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.He is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also a co-founder at PR agency Frank PR, where he is still a non-executive director at Frank PR.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.A reminder about our new event PR Masterclass: The Agency Growth Forum.At this one event, 22 experts will give 11 Masterclasses on essential elements of managing a modern, profitable and successful PR firm. Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder discuss as PR enters its golden quarter!2 mins This month's PR agency pitch wins news:The Romans win DeliverooPHA win England GolfStripe win White & MackayMade by Giants win YouLendTaylor Herring win Sky Mobile and Sky BroadbandMission agencies Speed and Krow win the Post OfficeTigerbond win JustgivingPitch win EA Sports FCThird City win NespressoFour win The National Lottery Heritage FundFirstlight win Chivas BrothersCircle PR win Fairmont HotelsM&C Saatchi win Elizabeth Arden 12.30 mins Andrew reflects on the current state of the PR new business market as we enter the busy Christmas period“The markets in a decent place…there's hesitancy, but great agencies always do well despite the economy.”“The tech sector needs to realign and readjust, but it's not going anywhere - it will come back strong.”15 mins Andrew talks about this month's M&A activity“There a lot going on this month - both trade (deals) and private equity.”Havas acquires Australian Public Affairs (APA)Omnicom acquires Plus Comms and FP1 - US-based corporate PR and lobbying firms.“This is all about the run into the US presidential election.”Milltown acquire the tech policy consultancy TasoSEC Newgate aquire Wepublic, a corporate agency in the Netherlands.Tyto acquires Its a Rep, a Dutch comms agency.Farner acquires Lansons.“Farner now has about 17 agencies across Europe. Farner's fee income is about $86m globally.”“They've (Farner) have almost doubled in size in the last couple of years.”“Farner is backed by Waterland Private Equity, the same private equity firm that backed the Markettiers deal.”“The valuation of a business comes down to scale and specialist.”The way that Waterland works is that they don't like to get into bids…they want a partner. They invest time in a non-competitive process.”“It (Lansons) was an EOT, which sometimes makes it (a sale) a complex process.”“Gordon Tempest Hay (ex Teneo/Blue Rubicon) joined Lansons 18 months/2 years ago, and...he's found them a buyer.”“It's interesting that Cirkle and Lansons both sold relatively soon after becoming an Employee Owned Trust (EOT).”28 min Morrow Sodali, the US-based firm, acquires Powerscourt“I think this deal is worth in excess of £50m.”

In this episode, we discuss the management of primary CNS lymphoma, secondary CNS lymphoma and CNS prophylaxis with Dr. Kate Cwynarski. Here are the shownotes: 1. ASH 2022 data on PET scan in CNS lymphoma - https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/140/Supplement%201/1334/492207/Is-It-Possible-to-Omit-Bone-Marrow-Biopsy-in?searchresult=1  2. Elizabeth Schorb ASH 2022 (MARTA) 65-80 year olds – https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/140/Supplement%201/1773/493224/High-Dose-Chemotherapy-and-Autologous-Stem-Cell?searchresult=1  3. IESLG 32 study (MATRIX) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27132696/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35562406/  4. R-methotrexate procarbazine (PRIMAIN) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5383936/  5. RW studies: Andy Evens 500 pts >60 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36965007/  6. LYSA PRECIS study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35834762/  7. IELSG43 study Lugano (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hon.3163_15)  and ASH late breaking 2022 (https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/140/Supplement%202/LBA-3/493427/Effects-on-Survival-of-Non-Myeloablative)  8. Secondary CNS lymphoma 134 pts UK PR vs CR autograft - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36300776/  9. “How I Treat secondary CNS involvement by aggressive lymphomas?”-     https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37702537/   

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our September review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.He is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew was also a co-founder at PR agency Frank PR, where he is still a non-executive director.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors The PRCA.A reminder about our new event PR Masterclass: The Agency Growth Forum.At this one event, 22 experts will give 11 Masterclasses on essential elements of managing a modern, profitable and successful PR firm. Also, a reminder that the final entry deadline for the ESG Awards is 29th September 2023.Here is a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment podcast host Ben Smith discussed on this week's show:2 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of this month's PR pitch winsInstinct wins Moonpig Purple wins Yoo CapitalStir wins Dunkin DonutsCirkle wins Wilkinson SwordSocial Chain wins Holland & BarrattHope&Glory wins Vision ExpressMercia wins WembleyOgilvy wins MullerOne Green Bean wins Singapore Tourist BoardTeneo wins The AAPowerscourt wins RightmoveFrank wins CupraAxicom wins AMD “A gamechanger for Axicom”15 mins Andrew updates us on this month's M&A news:Markettier's acquisition of SassyDefinition has raised £7m debt investment from ThinCatsAn update on the $7 billion Syneos Health deal, which sees the firm go private.

Funmi Lijadu is a creative communications specialist who loves pop culture. She has both agency and in-house PR experience across a range of sectors, including art, publishing, finance, tech, real estate, and retail. Currently, she's an account executive at MSL in the UK. Recently, she finished her dissertation on a rather compelling topic that compares reality TV with classic literature. Here, she discusses her dissertation and shares the current challenges faced by her PR clients in the UK.Key Takeaways:- The similarities between reality TV and classic literature- Current challenges in the UK PR world- The perils of trying to be everything to everyone- The importance of diversity in the PR worldEpisode Timeline:1:30 What do you want people to learn from your dissertation?4:00 The differences in the US and UK versions of "Love Island"5:00 The novels Funmi included in her dissertation8:30 Romantic themes haven't changed that much over time.9:00 The disgruntled lover trope11:00 How Funmi's research applies to PR13:20 The importance of diversity in the PR world15:00 The Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad16:00 The 15-year-old test17:30 Why do female influencers wear big, floppy hats?19:00 Current challenges in the UK PR world21:30 The danger of being everything to everyone23:20 PR request hashtags25:40 Gen X vs. Millennial high-brow, low-brow battleThis episode's guest:• Funmi Lijadu• Follow her on LinkedIn and TwitterSubscribe and leave a 5-star review:https://pod.link/1496390646Contact Us!• Join the conversation by leaving a comment!• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn!Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big themes and stories in comms from the past week or so are put under the microscope in the latest edition of Noise in Brief, PRWeek UK's bite-sized podcast.Noise in Brief – a shorter offshoot of PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast – is released fortnightly and features PRWeek journalists discussing major issues from the previous seven days or so.Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify or on your favourite platform.This week, the team talk about the latest installment of PRWeek's Top 150 Monthly Trading Tracker, which this month asked UK agencies from the Top 150 database whether they've altered their fee structures as costs rise.The trio also discuss whether ‘pure' consumer-focused PR agencies have a future and how the downturn in consumer spending is impacting this PR speciality.Elsewhere, PRWeek UK editor John Harrington speaks to David Fraser, founder and managing director of Ready10, about The Pay Gap Project for 2023 and urges UK PR agencies to provide data on their ethnicity and gender pay gaps.And finally, following the launch of the PRWeek UK Awards shortlist, the team discuss their favourite campaigns from the shortlisted finalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our July review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners advising on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Do look at the brace of new webinars that we've launched on PRmoment, including Social Media in B2B and The Contribution of Comms to ESG. 2 mins Andrew contextualises the state of the new business market in UK PR currently.“In an economy that is a bit shaky…being able to demonstrate effectiveness is more important than ever.”“Why Andrew's PR agency activity barometer is busier than ever!”8 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of PR pitch wins for July, including:Good Relations wins Starling BankFleishman wins HS1Mischief wins Team GBReady 10 wins Kind SnacksStripe wins Giggling SquidPR Network and Heathrow ExpressAzaria win VTech and LeapfrogNudge wins Kettle chipsMSL wins CurrysKetchum wins Dolmio18 mins Andrews gives us his insight into the Havas Uncommon deal.“It could be a deal that's worth up to £120m in 6 years time”“Havas already has a reputation as one of the most creative marketing services in the world…and they are doubling down on creativity.”21 mins Andrew explains the £120m valuation of Uncommon on its current fee income of £22m.25 mins Andrew reviews SEC Newgate's $100m investment from Investcorp, an alternative investment firm, for a 55% stake in the business. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and values SEC Newgate as a $250 m business.28 mins Andrew rounds us off by talking us through some smaller trade deals:The Bigger Boat acquires ScribaBulla acquires Hype CollectiveThere's a management buyout at Lucre Group which rebrands to Gold79.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our June review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.If you haven't taken a look already - do check out all the categories on the Creative Moment Awards website, the early entry deadline is on Friday 30th June 2023.2 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of PR pitch wins for June:Alfred win Westfield Shopping CentresThe Academy win Epson Finn Partners win Tuscany Tourist BoardCow win Gilead Science JPR win Hilton Luxury BrandsTaylor Herring win UnisonBrazen win CastoreHill & Knowlton win Costa CoffeeStripe Communications win Honest BurgersMSL win The FAEdelman win Haribo Portland win Airlines for EuropeThe Romans win Mecca BingoKlaxonn win Grand Designs Life11.30 mins Andrew reveals the ideal length of a client: agency partnership.“You get the best out of people when you know them and you trust them”13 mins Andrew refutes the suggestion that the PR pitch and new business market has gone very quiet.Ben Smith: “Are things as bad as some people say?”Andrew Bloch: “No…it's a bit scrappy…things are slower to sign off.But I'm dealing with more briefs than I've ever had to deal with in my 3 years at the AAR.”18 mins Andrew gives us his M&A update for June:Brandtech Group acquire Jellyfish from Private Equity firm FimalacOne Equity Partners takes a majority stake in Smarts owner MSQ. 

Every six months or so I like to catch up with the shy and reserved Warren Johnson from W Communications on the podcast to talk about the financial state of UK PR.And to my surprise- it's that time again. The first 6 months of 2023 are basically done and dusted.My sense is that it's been a bit of a phoney 6 months or so - the PR sector has been expecting a downturn but beyond a significant tech sector-wide wobble at the start of the year, which has in the main come back, it's been OK, not stellar but OK. And in many cases surprisingly OK.But on the show today we're going to chat about some of the recent league table results we've seen in PR, what constituted good numbers last year, and how the last 6 months have been. We'll also attempt to put some predictions on what might be about to happen next.W has a fee income of £15m, with offices in London, New York and Singapore. It employs approximately 180 people globally and 150 odd in London.A reminder that the final entry deadline for The Creative Moment Awards is Friday 30th June.Thanks to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what PRmoment founder Ben Smith and Warren discussed:3 mins Warren reviews the performance of UK PR in the first half of the year. What's up, what's down, what's flat?“What was quite alarming...was that despite the UK agencies reporting strong growth, they were falling down the international rankings”“We (the UK) are not fully aware of our own demise at the moment and what a second-rate country we're becoming”“UK PR had a strong start to the year… and there is now some preemptive belt tightening client side”Everyone had a strong Q1 with a slight softening in Q2 as the economic outlook, which doesn't get any worse but shows no sign of recovery.”“Overall H1 was relatively robust but we all (PR firms) had to work a bit harder than we were expecting to make those numbers”9 mins Bearing in mind inflation how much did PR firms need to frow last year, to increase their profits?“Our profits grow in line with our revenue…we've not had any challenges in our margin.”“It's something Graham Goodkind once told me - he said he wanted one thing as a KPI for him as a CEO and that's a margin number”“It's harder t maintain that margin than it ever has been, there's been rampant wage inflation and a requirement to offer greater benefits than there ever has been.”“We're big advocates of in-person collaboration so we're doing as much as we can to encourage people into the office but that comes at a cost.”“The other big hidden cost is mental health - which increasingly seems to be sitting away from the government (as a responsibility) and on employers.”“We just rolled out private health care for our company and extended to private mental health care - important to do but these are all costs that chip away at the margin.”“As an industry, we are very good at being inventive…as our margin gets challenged in one area we are able to find opportunities… in certain other areas.”“I certainly get the sense that people are pitching a lot less…pitching is probably the most inefficient thing you can ever do.”“The less you pitch the better…that will hit your margin more than wage inflation”13 mins  What do clients want at the moment?

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our May review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.If you haven't taken a look already - do check out all the categories on the Creative Moment Awards website, the early entry deadline is on Friday 26th May 2023.2 mins Andrew brings us news of wins for:Words + Pixels win GrazePHA win The National GalleryFreud and Pizza ExpressTeneo and EasyjetKingdom Collective and Doc MartinHouston and DominosThe Herd and W Hotels11 mins Andrew reviews this month's PR mergers and acquisitionsPearl acquires KineticDefinition acquires OTM, its sixth purchase since 2020.Here's the link to the article mentioned in the podcast from Heather Baker, CEO of Definition Group, discussing why agencies benefit from joining forces.News of a huge potential private equity deal for Syneos Health 

The project launched on 2 May with the release of the Top 150 table, ranking the UK's biggest PR consultancies by revenue for the 2022 calendar year. PRWeek also tracked major trends in an overview article.PRWeek UK's Beyond the Noise podcast, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Delving into the Top 150 project in today's podcast are PRWeek's editor-in-chief Danny Rogers and UK editor John Harrington, alongside usual host Frankie Oliver, the founder of PR agency New Society.The trio discuss how agencies fared in 2022, which was another year of strong growth across the industry.The main growth areas, and those sectors that have faced more challenges, are pinpointed. And we discuss how agency leaders feel about trading in 2023 so far and what the rest of the year may hold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our April review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Don't miss our trio of webinars that are currently live on the homepage:LinkedIn as a Marketing ChannelWhat are the implications of generative AI for public relations?The March of PR: The increasing dominance of earned media ideas in integrated marketing2 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of April's biggest PR pitch winsKingdom Collective win the PR brief for the energy drink Relentless.Mind + Matter win SuperdrugHope&Glory win PowerleageueRichmond Towers win Calrsbeerg Marston brief Shipyard, Wainrights and Hobgoblin beersFrank win Revel and CrockpotFull Fat win PuttshackSpeed win Haven HolidaysVisible win Flying TigerKetchum win IcelandReady 10 win BrewdogPitch win AutotraderAdhuro win Tetley and Tea Pigs12 mins Andrew gives us his monthly rundown of the most significant PR mergers and acquisitions in April, it's mainly trade deals this month:Edelman buy Landmark Public Affairs in BrusselsWeber buy Diverse InteractiveWPP buy the influencer agency GoatAPCO buy CamarcoKKR buy FSG GlobalSWNS buy Pinpep

Bonjour, j'ai la chance de vous proposer cette discussion avec Germain Barrau, ex-directeur du renseignement des forces terrestres. Un parcours unique et riche :  2022 | Directeur des opérations de l'Institut Français de l'Enseignement Stratégique et Opératif (IFESO) Juin 2022 : fin du service actif, intégration de la 2e section des officiers généraux (OGX) 2020 - 2022 | Directeur du renseignement des forces terrestres 2018 - 2020 | Représentant militaire Français aux USA (Tampa , Floride) Influence de la France dans la zone du proche et moyen orient, planification stratégique. 2016 - 2018 | Directeur des opérations du Corps de Réaction Rapide Britannique (Gloucester, UK) Préparation opérationnelle de l'état major, élaboration des plans de défense (pays baltes, Roumanie, Pologne), déploiement, formation des états majors 2012 - 2016 | Chef d'état major puis adjoint au directeur du centre spécialisé dans le commandement pour les opérations interarmées (CPOIA) Former les armées françaises et les alliés à l'art de la planification stratégique et opérative. Anticiper sur les prochaines crises et préparer une réponse Française et multinationale. 2009 - 2012 | Adjoint au représentant Français de l'état major de l'OTAN (SHAPE) à MONS (Belgique) Défense des intérêts militaires Français dans l'OTAN, dialogue politico militaire, planification stratégique 2007 - 2009 | Adjoint au général commandant la brigade aéromobile Assurer la mise en œuvre des directives : gestion de la formation des personnels (pilotes, maintenanciers, contrôleurs aériens, pompiers, ...) des matériels, de l'évolution des capacités et des savoir faire. (300 aéronefs, 4000 personnels) 2005 - 2007 | Directeur d'une entreprise opérationnelle Assurer le management et la gestion de cet organisme ainsi que sa préparation opérationnelle. (60 hélicoptères, 1200 personnels) 2001-2005 | Chef de la section Système d'Information d'Administration et de Gestion de l'état-major de l'armée de Terre Réaliser le schéma directeur et exécuter sa mise en œuvre : développement des SI majeurs fédérateurs, validation et financement des projets, développement de l'architecture technique globale, dialogue avec les industriels et SS2I. Pour joindre Germain :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/germainbarrau/ IFESO   L'épisode vous a appris des choses ? Pour m'encourager et faire connaître ce Podcast, merci de me laisser un avis sur Apple Podcasts en y mettant un nombre d'⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ et surtout n'hésitez pas à partager c'est comme ça que je pourrai avoir des nouveaux invités. Pour aller plus loin : LinkedIn: Julien RIGAL-DUPONT Twitter: @jrigaldupont  Site Web : https://www.jrd-experiences.com Envie de passer dans le Podcast ? Merci de prendre contact avec le service commercial .  Pour écouter les anciens épisodes : https://www.jrd-experiences.com/podcast-experiences Votre cabinet unique JRD Experiences en Expérience Client depuis 2017. Crédits : Music Producer Compositeur : Ludovic Reig  Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/degnofficial/?hl=fr Montage - Mixage : Grégoire Levillain 

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our March review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Tickets are now on sale for The PRmoment Awards in London on Thursday 20th April and in Manchester 25th April 2023.2 mins Andrew gives us his PR pitch wins updateNews of wins for The Academy with Peroni and Marie CurrieMaven wins The Perfume shopForster wins Transform (a public/private partnership)Full Fat wins a raft of festival briefPHA win Lucozade, Ribena and OranginaMSL win Renault's social media brief10 mins Are PR firms winning more social media briefs from their social media agency peers?“PR agency's should always have an edge when it comes to generating engagement”“There are noticeable differences in the way different (types) of agencies approach it from a strategic perspective”“9/10 the creative I see coming out of PR agencies is right up there with the best in the world, it's the other elements that sometimes let them down”14 mins Andrew talks about what the future looks like for influencer marketing agencies16 mins Andrew completes his review of this month's pitch wins Hope&Glory win TrainlineThe Romans win Candy CrushTin Man wins Smart Energy GB18 mins Andrew's PR M&A updateFinn Partners acquire HyderusJIN buy Opinion ActNews of Martin Loat's exit from Propeller

In this episode, HBW Insight chats with UK PR firm Kaizo's associate director Kerry Lennox about consumer healthcare marketing in the post-pandemic context. With consumers bombarded by healthcare messaging and increasingly anxious about their health and wellness, Lennox explains how OTC firms can play a key role in supporting them to self-care responsibly. With trust shifting away from governments and scientific experts towards frontline healthcare professionals like pharmacists, OTC brands are becoming more important to consumers, helping them “tune back in” to science-based health and wellness while supporting this crucial part of the healthcare ecosystem.

 Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast. Welcome to our February review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies. Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here are a few of the highlights that Andrew and I discussed:2 mins News of big wins for Citypress with Siemens, The Romans with Heineken and BCWwith Swissair.“The best corporate agencies think with a consumer lens”PHA bag a couple of wins Andrew talks us through wins for Ranieri and Stir.“It's a never-ending journey between appointing specialists and consolidating agencies”12 mins Finn Partners win Wagamama's and Greater Palm Springs.14 mins Good Relations wins the Kuoni account.15 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of this month's PR M&A activity, including the big Markettiers deal.16 mins Andrew explains the Social Chain deal.18 mins Clarity continues its acquisition strategy by purchasing Australian agency Sefiani Communications.20 mins Andrew talks about ANM's vertical acquisition strategy.21 mins Spider buy a Tiger!

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our January review of  PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Before we start the final entry deadline for the PRmoment Awards is on 27th January - check out PRmomentAwards.com for all the info you need, including downloading this year's updated entry form.Finally thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment podcast host Ben Smith discussed on the show:2 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of this month's biggest pitch wins in UK PR, including:Premier PR and the Booker PrizeOrganic and The Apprentice (with a shout-out to Taylor Herring's long-term work with the Apprentice.)Splendid and Flock win the Ginster's briefMHP and The Royal Mint (again with a shout-out to Hope&Glory's work on the account over the last 10 years)H&K Strategies and Hills Pet NutritionCapture PR win Gala and Foxy Bingo Praytell and Sonus“The average decision-making period for a decent size pitch is about 6 months.”“A real lesson for me was that…the period between the pitch and the decision is so critical - show your hunger and determination.”“It was a 30 agency pitch…that is a huge amount of agencies. You have to be respectful of the agencies' time… it's all about the size of the prize at the end.”“Making sure the (pitch) process is fit for purpose, respectful and informed”12 mins A discussion about whether the of trend clients consolidating the number of agencies they use will continue.13 mins Pitch wise “this is the busiest January I can ever remember.”  Andrew talks us through why there is so much new business activity in the PR market at the moment.15 mins A discussion about the Tulchan Teneo deal - which saw Teneo acquire UK financial PR specialist Tulchan in a reported £65m deal.“Teneo gives Tulchan an international footprint.”16 mins Andrew talks us through how the Tulchan deal is likely to be structured and how the ratio of profit to revenue is important in a valuation of a business.“Tulchan is obviously a very, very well-run company.”“We're seeing consolidation, the importance of scale and building a global footprint”“The right time to sell is not when you've reached your peak, it's when you feel you've got great growth.”21 mins We chat about Penta's acquisition of Dublin-based corporate PR firm Hume Brophy.“For Penta, this deal gives them global reach”24 mins Andrew predicts that 2023 could have a lot of trade deals in the M&A space.“There are a lot of big trade organisations and holding groups which are sitting on piles of cash and they need to spend it…to keep their share prices high (acquisitions will bring them growth.)”

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.This week we're chatting with Zoe Ward Waring from Sunny Side Up and John Higginson from Higginson Strategy about how and why their respective organisations have become a BCorp.On the show, we talk about what being a BCorp is all about and what the process to becoming BCorp looks like.To put the discussion into some context in the UK there are 1375 BCorp organisations, in the US there are 2226 and globally there are 5711. So it's predominantly a UK and US scheme.21 UK PR agencies are a BCorp including Freud's, Third City, Don't Cry Wolf, Sunny Side Up, Higginson Strategy, Milk & Honey and Kindred.Being a BCorp is about transparency and if you are interested you can view any organisation's BCorp results on the BCorp website.There is also a useful How to become a BCorp handbook that you can buy. The PRmoment Awards 2023 are now open for entries - do check out the awards site PRmomentAwards.com - there are lots of new categories this year and an updated entry form with added criteria. Thanks to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Zoe, John and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discuss:2 mins For anyone out there who is not aware of the BCorp scheme - Zoe and John explain what it is all about.4 mins Why are organisations becoming BCorps?7 mins How difficult is it to become a BCorp?“Anyone can go on (the BCorp website) and begin to self-assess”“Once you go through the process you get an assessment report”“There are 5 sections: Governance, workers, community, environment and customers”“It's really important to get the whole business behind it.16 mins John talks to us about the process to become a BCorp. 18 mins How long does it take?“I'd say (the application process) took about 100 hours”20 mins Is the PRCA's Consultancy Management Standard a useful starting point for a BCorp application?20.30 mins How much does it cost to become a BCorp?

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Welcome to our final PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Before we start the final entry deadline for the PRmoment Awards is on 27th January - check out PRmomentAwards.com for all the info you need.Finally thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment podcast host Ben Smith discussed on the show:1.30 mins Andrew gives us news of a couple of tourist board wins for Lotus and PRM Global.3 mins News of a big win for Smoking Gun PR.4 mins Andrew brings news of The Academy's Decathlon win.5 mins Another win for Frank PR with Meridian Foods5.30 mins Brands2Life win Vitality Insurance's consumer brief.6 mins Axicom win Sage's multi-territory brief.7 mins Andrew talks us through the M&A trends in the PR sector.“The main challenge at the moment is debt financing”“It's a positive (market) for trade deals”10 mins News of British Growth Fund's investment in Komi.11 mins Born Social is acquired by Crowd.15 mins SEC buys a Mexican agency to build its South American offer.18 mins Tyto has bought Cuban Eight19 mins Media Zoo has been on the acquisition trail again.20 mins News of acquisitions for 4 Media Group and Jargon Group.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the latest of our bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Before we start the PRmoment Awards 2023 are now open for entries - do check out the awards site PRmomentAwards.com for all the info you need.Finally thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and I discussed:2 mins Andrew gives us his PR pitch wins update with wins for Ketchum, Tin Man, Splendid, Ready 10, Coolr, Four, Talker Taylor, Good Relations, PHA, and Tigerbond.5 mins Andrew gives his suggestions on how many agencies in-house teams should include in a pitch.11 mins “The M&A market is volatile at the moment but there are still deals being done”“Debt is difficult to raise (in the private equity market) due to interest rate rises and this means people are being cautious and that is scuppering some deals and some are taking longer”“On the trade side (of M&A activity) the trend of building deep specialisms is continuing”12 mins M&A updates include news from Prime Global's acquisition of Earthwear and RSK's acquisition of Copper13 mins Andrew updates us on a couple of PR MBOs at Rise at Seven and BECG14 mins A discussion of Carrie Rose and Stephen Kenwright's story of growth at Rise at Seven and how it's come to an end.16 mins Andrew talks about Lord Suger and Mark Wright's sale of Clime Online for an amount reputed to be around £10 m17 mins News of Clarity's acquisition of Political Intelligence18 mins A wrap-up of why Next Fifteen's acquisition of M&C Saatchi failed

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the latest of our bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Do take a look at the PRmoment home page for details on our latest webinars, including The intersection of Data, Insight and PR Planning.Finally thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and I discussed:1 min Andrew gives his rundown of new business wins, including wins for Havas, Golin, Ready 10, Frank, Stir, Finn Partners, Tin Man and Simon and Simon.5 mins “Pitch wise it feels busier than ever… but definitely more project work (than retainers) and a slowing in terms of the decision making.”8 mins Andrew gives us his thoughts on a year-on-year comparison of the number of PR new business briefs.9 mins“What you tend to see is that for a lot of the big advertising briefs and big media briefs - the PR briefs follow on. I've got visibility on the ad world and media world and it's crazy busy at the moment.” So maybe there are lots of PR briefs coming in the near future?11 mins Andrew gives his M&A update with some big trade side acquisitions from Finn Partners, kyu's acquisition of Lexington, Hill+Knowlton Strategies' acquisition of the Jeffrey Group in Latin America and WE's acquisition of Hopscotch.

This week, Aidy catches up with Georgie Bentinck & Dan Belmont. Georgie is Head of UK PR & Communications at Campari Group and Dan has founded his own retailer called Good Wine x Good People, home of the Personal Somm Questionnaire & New York Bottle Shop. Aidy also gets a chance to interview Matthew Bulcroft, the Sales Director at Franklin & Sons. Thank you to Franklin & Sons for sponsoring this podcast. Creating remarkable, great-tasting drinks that turn the ordinary moment into an extraordinary one.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the latest of our bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and Non-Executive Director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Don't forget the early entry deadline for The ESG Awards is coming up on Friday 16th September.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and I discussed:3 mins It's been a bumper month on the PR agency new business front and Andrew talks us through some of the most recent PR account wins including wins for Adhuro, Ketchum, Edelman, The Academy, Boldspace, news of a shake-up of Direct Line's agency roster, Kindred, Splendid, Tin Man, Wildcard and Spider.9 mins Andrew updates us on the PR M&A market: we've seen the larger enterprise values (over $50/100m) deals suffer from uncertainty in the market.11 mins The number of micro deals involving independent PR firms continues to increase with organisations continuing to want to broaden their offer.12 mins Andrew M&A acquisition update: including Splendid's acquisition of Riot, Enero and Hotwire's continued buying spree, Square in the Air and CTP launch of a JV called Chalk+Dog, another Selby Anderson acquisition and PMLR's acquisition of Health Comms Consultants.20 mins “You need scale to succeed…to generate organic growth but also as a protectionist measure.”

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.This week we're chatting to Rebecca Grant, UK CEO,  BCW Global. Rebecca has one of the biggest jobs in UK PR. She heads up a team of over 200 people at BCW's London office and she led the Cohn & Wolfe London operation through the merger with Burson Masteller to a period of significant growth for what was already a big PR and comms operation.Rebecca joined BCW in 2011, previously she worked for Weber Shandwick and The Red Consultancy. She was appointed UK CEO on 2016.And do check out the home page of PRmoment for our latest webinars, including PR Analytics, LinkedIn as a B2B Marketing Channel and The intersection of Data, Insight and PR Planning.Finally, thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here is a summary of what Rebecca and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:3 mins Rebecca on what it's like running a PR team of over 200 people.5 mins Rebecca reflects on how PR has changed so much in a relatively short period of time6 mins Rebecca's personal story is an interesting one. Her grandmother moved to the UK as a refugee from Zanzibar - so she is living proof of the moral and economic benefits of welcoming refugees into the UK.10 mins I put it to Rebecca that she's got the second biggest PR agency job in the UK!11 mins What is Rebecca most proud of during her time as UK CEO of BCW?14 mins How has the type of work that BCW has changed in the last couple of years?“When I started this job (in 2018) the briefs and client problems were contained at a practice level, so you'd have a  consumer brief and a corporate brief or a healthcare brief, the client work we're doing now isn't confined by those silos, it's about a business challenge.”“As a PR agency, you have a very different perspective on your client's business than many of your competitors within the marketing (consultancy) world.”16 mins WPP's PR Division grew by 27.4% in Q1 2022 - how did the UK bit of BCW fair?18 mins Has the cost of living crisis impacted the PR agency market yet?19.30 mins It's been a full-on couple of years at BCW - they had the merger of Burson Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe and then Covid. What's the shape of the business at the moment? Is the bulk of the revenue still in corporate and healthcare?22 mins What type of consumer work is coming out of BCW London?24 mins BCW has just moved into WPP's office in Bankside - does Rebecca worry that it will be an increasing challenge to retain the BCW brands and culture in a multi-firm office?25 mins A discussion of how multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams within a holding group can work together.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.This week we're chatting to Alex Myers, founder and global CEO of Manifest. Manifest employees circa 70 people globally, has a fee income of over £5m globally, with about $2m of that coming from its fast-growing New York Office. London remains its largest hub. It also has offices in Stockholm and Melbourne.Do check out the home page of PRmoment for our latest webinars, including PR Analytics, LinkedIn as B2B Marketing Channel and The intersection of Data, Insight and PR Planning.Finally, thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a flavour of what Alex and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:2 mins We last had Alex on the show in 2018. How have the last 4 years been for Manifest?4 mins Alex discusses the challenges of trying to take a British consumer PR firm global.7 mins Alex talks about the UK PR market - from regulation, culture and media differences. 10 mins Digital media is very fragmented in the US, so you can't start with the media - you have to start with the brand strategy.13 mins “Sustainability is a four-letter word in Sweden, it's beige level.”15 mins What was the decision-making behind where Mianfest launched its international offices?20 mins Why Manifest have just changed its creative team's structure - making it a centralised resource.23 mins “I don't care what room the money is in as long as it's in the house.”24 mins “I didn't set up the business to be a boss, I set up the business to not have a boss.”24 mins Alex talks us through Manifest's central strategy of trying to move its work “upstream.”26 mins “The best articulation of your brand is your product”31 mins “The challenge with the words “public relations” is that they don't tell you what it (PR) does”34 mins Alex argues that PR agencies that are part of networks are in danger of being merged into the holding company's “endorsement brand.”37 mins “It's not about efficiency it's about efficacy - there are too many channels to have a budget for each of them…you need a customer-based strategy, not a channel strategy”

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the latest of our bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and Non-Executive Director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Don't forget the entry deadline for The Creative Moment Awards is coming up on Friday 1st July.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what we talked about:1 min Andrew gives us his run of this month's biggest pitch news with wins for Kindred, Finn, Luchford, Stir, Alfred, Mischief, John Doe and Rise at Seven.4 mins How likely is the PR market likely to slow down because of the cost of living crisis?7 mins The continued trend towards project work away from retainer relationships.8 mins The continued buoyancy of the corporate PR market - retaining the growth of the COVID years in crisis and issues work.9 mins This month's M&A activity round-up - including news of another funding round for Selby Anderson and a potential hiccup in Next Fifteen's acquisition of M&C Saatchi.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the third of a new bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and Non-Executive Director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Don't forget the entry deadline for The Creative Moment Awards is coming up on Friday 1st July.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:1 min Andrew gives us his run of this month's biggest pitching scene - including wins for Hope&Glory, W, The Romans, Cow and Manifest. 3 mins The Dept for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announces its roster including Four Communications, M&C Saatchi, Freuds, Havas and Engine. 5 mins Andrew's rundown of interesting M & M&A deals in PR, including BGF's investment in Media Zoo, another private equity firm Northedge invested in life science specialist Ramarketing and Clarity acquired 93xdigital.8 mins and 13mins A discussion of Next Fifteen's potential acquisition of M&C Saatchi for £310 million.“We're seeing the future of marketing where data and tech meets creativity and that blend is driving the market”10 mins Andrew on why the PR M&A market is so hot at the moment.

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Here's the second of a new bonus pod series where I chat to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene.Andrew is a co-founder and Non-Executive Director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.This is a final call for The PRmoment Awards in London on April 28th and the Manchester Awards are also shaping up to be a big night on the 12th of May.Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discuss:2 mins Andrew gives us an update on recent PR pitch news3 mins How is the impact of the current high rate of inflation and the uncertainty in the economy impacting client decisions?7 mins Can agencies be more front footed in their negotiations with clients at the moment?9 mins Andrew and I discuss Huntsworth's acquisition of Cirkle.14 mins What private groups are most active in acquiring PR firms at the moment?

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.Time flies doesn't it. We're well over a quarter of the way through 2022 - remember those plans and hopes we all had on Jan 1st? Well, it's time for a progress report!PR land seems to continue to be pretty frantic - it's a hot market both in terms of the amount of work going through in house teams, agencies are as busy as ever and the pressure for talent intensifies.That all seems kinda crazy bearing in mind the horrific scenes we see on our scenes from Putin's war in Ukraine and the imminent cost of living crisis we're about to witness in the UK.So I thought it was time to catch up with a W's Warren Johnson for PR's Q1 Report!Before that - just to let you know tickets are genuinely flying for the PRmoment Awards in London on April 28th. I've no doubt the London Awards is going to be our biggest ever event and an absolute who's who of the UK PR scene - so make sure you get your ticket.Also, thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here is a summary of what Warren and I discussed:2 mins How are you seeing the PR market now that Q1 2022 is done and dusted?2.30 mins “The resourcing game has got expermentally harder!”4 mins “In terms of the overall marketing mix, PR still offers phenomenal bang for buck”4.30 mins Warren updates us on W's purchase of travel communications specialist Lotus Communications.5.30 mins The headcount of W in London is over 100, with revenues of over £10m and 20% growth.6.30 mins The PR industry is yet to understand how to run a business in a high inflationary market.7 mins Warren talks about the importance of a return to growth of live events and hospitality for PR.9 mins Warren outlines the implications of Rish Sunak's change to entrepreneurs' tax law for PR entrepreneurs looking to sell their business.10 mins How is W defining the metaverse and what is the metaverse opportunity for PR firms?14 mins Is the metaverse just another channel?16 mins “Once the new generation of hardware launches, and is adopted, we'll see scale.”17 mins What does a PR agency's metaverse strategy need to look like?

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.This is a quick bonus pod - we're chatting to Andrew Bloch about PR Pitches and merger & acquisition trends in the UK PR scene. Andrew is a co-founder and Non Executive Director at Frank PR and is now Head of PR at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies. The shortlist for The PRmoment Awards is now out, so do get your tickets for the awards nights, all the details are on the homepage of the PRmoment Awards micrositeFinally, thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discuss:1 min What are the biggest and the most significant pitches you've seen over the last few months?4 mins How many agencies should be involved with a pitch?5 mins A discussion of Next Fifteen's acquisition of Engine MHP Mischief7 mins “The M&A market is as busy as it's ever been - it's extremely buoyant”9 mins Who's buying and who's selling?“Private equity has been prolific in (PR) acquisitions”12 mins”12 mins “Some of the valuations are eyewatering”14 mins What ratio of profit are PR firms currently selling for?“There are buyers for everything”

Is it true that London is the source of the Zelensky PR campaign?  EIR's Dennis Small on Twitter said that "Actor and comedian #Zelensky's war propaganda script is written by two public relations firms in London."  According to the UK PR magazine Provoke support for Ukraine has been flooding in from consultants looking to support the war effort; but I can't see any agency of record.I track down the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated support website - which is set up for PR and media overseas https://war.ukraine.ua to gain assets and access to Zelensky and team. If you want to help the war effort, you could also fight with your mouse instead of a rifle.Dennis Small is the Ibero-American Editor of Executive Intelligence Review (EIR), a Washington, D.C.-based weekly magazine founded by the American statesman and economist Lyndon LaRouche.If you want to know how to get noticed this show is for you. I have interviews, tools, tips, everything that an entrepreneur could need in order to help their organization to get noticed for free. Thank you for joining me on the unnoticed show.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEPlease rate the show here. Thank you for listening to this episode of the unnoticed to show. I hope that you've enjoyed. If you have, please do rate it on any of the players. If you'd like more information, go over to EASTWEST PR and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Or connect with me on Linkedin that's just Jim James. I'd be delighted to connect with you and let me know how i can help you to get noticed.Descript is what I use to edit the show. All-in-one audio & video editing, as easy as a doc.Vidyard - Use Video In Your Emails Vidyard is the easiest way to record and send videos that build personal connections.Generate unique marketing texts with AI. AI copywriting tool to generate unique copy, predict performance and increase conversions.Riverside - Your online recording studio The easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality from anywhere. All from the browser.Support the show (https://lovethepodcast.com/Unnoticed)

Elizabeth Bananuka is founder of BME PR Pros, a platform that she launched five years ago to promote Black and minority ethnic inclusion in the UK PR industry. In conversation with PRovoke Media's Arun Sudhaman, Bananuka discusses the organization's five-year journey — which includes The Blueprinted diversity mark for agencies, and The Xec, the first leadership scheme for UK-based BME PR and comms pros. She also breaks down the challenges and criticism she has faced, and the positives she has taken from the experience. 

Ocitáme se v unavující covidové časové smyčce. Jak z toho ven? Byla by cestou povinná vakcinace? Obstojí z právního hlediska jiná pravidla pro očkované a pro neočkované? Debata poslance a právníka Vladimíra Balaše /STAN/, exministryně spravedlnosti Heleny Válkové /ANO/ a senátorky Jitky Chalánkové /senátorský klub ODS a TOP 09/. https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096898594-udalosti-komentare/221411000371025/

The second in our three part mini-series about PR's hybrid working spectrum, this week we're talking to Rebecca Taylor-Cottle, head of communications, Northern Europe at Citrix about the potential for flexible working to change the landscape of how, and where, people work in PR.Potentially it could mean increased diversity, more older people working in the sector, a less London centric sector and a much easier working environment for parents.Thanks so much, as ever, to the sponsors of the PRmoment podcast, The PRCA.Here's a summary of what Rebecca and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed on The PRmoment podcast.2.05 mins Does allowing employees to work from home increase the diversity of a firm's employees?3 mins “I know a lot of women have left agencies in their early thirties when they decided to start a family just because of the practicalities (of a career in PR), the timings, the commute…”4 mins “I don't think offering flexibility is ever a bad thing and providing people with more options is always going to attract more people.”5 mins and 9 mins Citrix was founded in 1989 and was “born hybrid.” Rebecca offers some reflections on a business that has a more mature hybrid working programme.6 mins “Leaders need to remember that their preferences are not everybody's preferences!”7 mins Companies can ignore what their employees want, but then they are likely to have an issue with retention and risk their people going to work for another company that offers them more flexibility.11 mins Is there a danger we end up with a two-tier workforce? One that predominantly works in the office and one that predominantly works from home?12 mins How do we avoid the unspoken perception that if you are in the office more you're working harder?: Focus on outputs, not presenteeism.15 mins Do Gen Z and millennials want to return to the office? 15.30 mins Citrix's research suggests that 90 percent of Gen Z and millenials don't want to return to the office and 46 percent want to work from home all, or most, of the time.17 mins How to retain the learning 'via osmosis' from your colleagues in a virtual environment.20 mins Has a career in PR suddenly become more compatible with being a parent?23 mins Will flexible working see a greater geographical spread of the UK PR scene?24 mins Rebecca gives her top tips for long term flexible working success.27 mins Is the mobile phone the biggest barrier to creating successful work vs home life boundaries?

 In this week's podcast, we're talking to Imogen Osborne, founder of The Pulse Business about a research project she has undertaken into face-to-face and virtual working environments post-COVID. 2 mins Imogen talks through the results of the latest research looking at the UK PR sector's current approach to hybrid working.8 mins Is a hybrid model a tougher model to integrate employees than an all-virtual model or an all-in-the-office working model?.9.30 mins PR is not in a bubble in the hybrid working debate - how are other sectors approaching the issue?10 mins Imogen discusses Google's - working from home pay reduction calculator and compares it to Facebook, Amazon and Deloitte's complete flexibility approach.15 mins Has working from home had a positive or negative impact on PR people's mental health?19 mins What are the implications of career development and training in PR of working from home?What have you seen as the biggest challenges of returning to the office? 21 mins Do employees want to work from home, hybrid, or in the office?22 mins “There are some employees who have grown very comfortable with the working from home model and that is hard to let go of.”23 mins Is there an element of being careful what you wish for here? If employees don't need to be in the office might your employer just as well employ cheaper, highly educated employees from another country?26 mins Office design has changed already—lots of PR firms seem to be taking a members club approach. Is that going to work in reality?28 mins Does the propensity for working from home essentially come down to the length of your commute?30 mins Is the jump to hybrid working a more difficult integration than the one to pure virtual working?

Welcome to the PR Pepper Challenge, produced in association with our good friends at Meltwater.On the show today we've got Bieneosa Ebite, Head of Corporate Communications at Centrica.Bieneosa talks about her role at Centrica, why she loves corporate communications and how PRs diversity stats have not moved in 10 years.The reason we've called this series of interviews The PR Pepper Challenge is that interwoven between my chat with Bieneosa I'll be asking her three PR Pepper Challenge questions. If she gets those questions right, PRmoment's Ben Smith has to eat one of the chillies and if she gets the questions wrong she has to eat one of them.The peppers are of increasing strength—so we'll begin with mild, move on to medium and finish with hot.Here's a summary of what Bieneosa and I discussed:Questions:3 mins As host of the newsbants podcast Bienoesa gives us her perspective on the COVID news cycle, including the anti-vaxxers agenda.9 mins The first PR Pepper Challenge (unmissable drama.)13 mins Bieneosa talks about Centrica's approach to sustainability and ESG communications.18 mins As a comms person what is Bieneosa's role in Centrica's ESG strategy?20 mins In the second PR Pepper Challenge we ask Bieneosa how many newsbants podcasts have there been this year?25 mins Why does Bieneosa believe PR's D&I stats haven't shifted in the last 10 years?27 mins “I think there's a real problem with discrimination and racism within the PR industry.”28 mins Here's the link to an interview we referred to in the show, a PRmoment video interview with Avril Lee discussing the CIPR's Race in the Workplace: BAME lived experiences in the UK PR industry report.30 mins What would Bieneosa do to tackle PR's diversity problem?34 mins What does success look like for diversity in PR?38 mins “I'm for quotas. You can't just have one person, you need a tipping point to change the culture in an organisation...I don't want my niece to walk into an organisation, like what happened to me. We need to be bolder and more aggressive.”40 mins For the 3rd PR Pepper Challenge, the question we asked Bieneosa when British Gas floated on the London stock market. Did she have to eat the final chilli?

On the PRmoment Podcast this week we’re talking to Charlotte Mair, Founder and Managing Director, The Fitting RoomThe Fitting Room was originally called PR and Everything in Between in 2012. It was rebranded as The Fitting Room in 2017.The Fitting Room specialises in Food & Drink, Fashion, Music and Hospitality work. It has revenues of circa £1.2 m and employs 7 people. Clients include Cafe Rouge, Sony, Green King and Putt shack.Charlotte welcome to the show1.30 mins How Charlotte started her business when she had £17.22 in her account!2.20 mins How Charlotte, without an agency background, or much PR experience decided to start her own PR firm because “she’d always had a burning desire to work in PR.”3.30 mins Whether calling their parents is the first thing most entrepreneurs do when they decide to launch their business!4.30 mins How the fitting Room has really gained momentum in the last couple of years.5.20 mins How giving away a couple of Cliff Richard tickets lead to Charlotte winning her first big non-celebrity client!5.40 mins How before her first pitch Charlotte had to Google “How to pitch!”10.50 mins Why Charlotte takes her inspiration from the US agency market, rather than the UK PR agencies market14.30 mins Why The Fitting Room’s vibe is so important to Charlotte.19.20 mins How, almost 10 years after founding the business, Charlotte only got a website in May this year!20.25 mins How Charlotte self-taught herself how to run an agency business.25.30 mins As a black woman running her own firm, does Charlotte feel the pressure to become a role model?31.40 mins How Charlotte wants to be: “who she needed when she was younger.” 35.30 mins Why Charlotte doesn’t like the term BAME. 40.50 mins Why doesn't Charlotte like the word urban?41.50 mins Charlotte tells us about her plans for The Fitting Room?43.30 mins Why Charlotte has launched a podcast called 1722.

In this episode Stella interviews Sarah Waddington, founder and curator of the FuturePRoof book series and discusses the latest edition, 'celebrating BME talent'. Stella and Sarah explore representation in Public Relations, from an inclusivity perspective on the communicators side but also our responsibility in truly understanding, connecting and relating to the public. As well as curating the FuturePRoof books, Sarah Waddington is managing director of Astute communications, an agency in the north of England. Sarah also led the CIPR's gender policy for many years, improved social mobility within the UK PR industry and is now on the advisory board of The Blueprint, which is part of BME PR Pro mentoring scheme. The discussion explores: - Diversity and representation in Public Relations - How organisations can attract, retain and nurture diverse talent - How PR can truly connect and relate to the public - Ethics in communications & how much responsibility lies with practitioners vs. media and social platforms Special Guest: Sarah Waddington .

This week, in the latest of our PR Reset series about how the PR world and the wider economy might reset post the Covid-19 lockdown, I’m talking to PRCA director general Francis Ingham. It’s explosive stuff, the highlights are below, but Ingham believes approximately 5,000 UK PR people are likely to be made redundant and claims “The majority of people on furlough within our industry have no idea what’s coming their way”.Ingham also reveals the PRCA will come out of the Covid lockdown about 25% down in revenue year on year.Here’s a summary of what Francis and I discussed:1.15 mins “The PR sector has taken a hit (from Covid-19) and there are further hits coming”.1.54 mins The PR industry is currently in a recovery stage2.03 mins “The majority of people who on furlough are going to be made redundant”.3.55 mins “The majority of people within furlough within our industry have no idea what’s coming their way”.4.35 mins “The industry is going to be hit hard and it’s not through the worst of it yet”.5.25 mins Ingham predicts that of the 100,0000 people who work in UK public relations, 10-20,000 of those were furloughed and roughly half of those will be made redundant. So approximately 5,000 people.6.00 mins The sector, in terms of the number of people it employs, is going to return to the levels of three years ago.6.20 mins The medium-term prospects for the sector are good but there is “a great deal of pain to come.”7.20 mins Many agency heads either don’t realise the end of the year is going to be tougher than the start of the year, or they are putting out unreasonably optimistic messaging”.9.30 mins On redundancies: “In the next week or so many PR firms will begin the consultation process with a view to losing people at the beginning of August.”11.20 mins How in-house PR teams are “busier than ever, but are certainly spending less money.”14.40 mins Why the healthcare, corporate and public affairs sectors are bullish about business currently.16.20 mins Ingham says: “The recovery we’re seeing in Asia can give us a degree of optimism.”18.53 mins “When we look back in five years’ time at this period and its impact on public relations, the greatest problem coming out of Covid may be the further decline of the media”.23.15 mins “The problem now is the accrued debt that has got to be repaid, that is the key issue affecting our industry”.24.10 mins The PRCA “is going to come out of the crisis smaller... we’ll end this financial year about a quarter smaller than we began it. And that will be sad for me... It was a pretty dramatic drop off a cliff.” 26.40 mins When asked for a prediction on the prospects for the UK economy, Ingham says “He has no idea! And anyone who says they have is making it up as they go along. But you can prosper during recessions.”

On today’s show, we’ve got Crispin Manners and Richard Houghton, co-authors of ‘Grow, Build, Sell, Live: A Practical Guide to Running and Building an Agency and Enjoying It’, talking about the implications of the Covid-19 crisis for PR firms. Here’s a summary of what we discuss:Most agencies have now dealt with the short-term demands of the Covid-19 crisis, but how helpful have the various government schemes been for UK PR firms? Is pride getting in the way of some firms putting some of their employees on furlough? In justifying why furloughing isn’t necessarily the right thing to do, Crispin refers to the Harvard Business article Roaring Out of A Recession. Once agency owners have dealt with the first wave of imminent decisions, what’s next on the to-do list? People, cash, fee forecast, landlords and agency leaders need to look after themselves. Why clients will try and find a way to say that things need to stop. but agencies must find a way of staying relevant to clients and prospects by delivering against the client’s business pain. Why Simon Sinek’s New York Times Conference speech on Why Does Your Business Exist? is a useful listen for PR agency ownersAll agencies are going to have to evolve, but what might that look like? Are we witnessing the death of the open-plan office with firms converting to a hybrid operating model? Budgets are going to be tough for a while, so PR’s ability to show return on investment is going to be crucial. Why agencies need to shift the way they price their services – from a time-based structure to a value-based structure. Why we’re in a phoney war at the moment; some PR firms are not making redundancies because they are relying on government support. How do PR employers need to reshape their businesses post Covid-19? Whether the era of PR agency sector specialisation has just backfired? Once we come out to this what’s the ‘new normal’ going to look like for PR firms?

We are very happy to welcome David Wilson on the show for this new episode. David recently left Sony after almost 20 years as Head of UK PR and Director of Communications.   Starting in the games industry on classic gaming mags Your Sinclair and Zero, he shares some of his early memories playing and reviewing key games and the challenges faced working on games mags at that time.    Moving on from magazines we cover his time at EA as Head of European PR for almost a decade including how he met Buzz Aldrin. Obviously discussing the Sony PlayStation brand gave us lots to discuss including the PS2, Vita, PSP and more.   We hope you enjoy the show and if possible please leave us an iTunes review as every one helps.

This week, in the latest of our life stories podcasts, I’m interviewing Mark Lowe, co-founder of Third City. Third City is a consumer PR firm in London with a fee income of over £2 million and a turnover approaching £3 million and 28 employees.Mark co-founded Third City in 2008 with Graz Belli. Previously Mark had worked at Band & Brown for six years.Here is a summary of what Mark and I discussed.[00:01:09] How Mark originally wanted to be an actor. [00:03:01] Mark talks us through his early career as a singer in a band. [00:05:09] Why if you have a dream in life it's important to at least give it a go! Even if you ultimately end up doing something else.[00:06:35] Mark and I discuss the trend of people going plural and having two or more jobs.[00:07:42] Whether PR firms offer sufficient flexibility in working practices. [00:08:32] Why Mark reckons his CV in his 20s was "a bit of a mess". [00:12:33] Why Mark's career accelerated when he joined Band & Brown and met Graz Belli. [00:13:05] Why you don't have to have a conventional career path, the most important thing is that you really believe in, and want to do, what you're doing. [00:13:31] Why "trying and failing" is an important part of life/your career.[00:15:19] Mark talks us through the challenges and advantages he had of starting his PR career pretty late. [00:15:54] How meeting Jill Brown and Graz Belli was a critical change in Mark's career.[00:16:43] Why Mark believes the PR sector has some cultural preconceptions about age which hold the industry back.[00:17:53] Why Mark would like to redefine PR as "brand communications".[00:18:23] Why PR firms are now working in the space that was previously occupied by branding agencies.[00:20:19] Why the barriers between consumer and corporate PR are being broken down.[00:20:36] Why the way VCs are buying public relations is changing the agency market.[00:22:20] Why brands can no longer manage their reputation and brand out of two separate departments.[00:22:38] How Mark went from a senior account director at Band & Brown at 29 to a director at 32.[00:22:59] What did Mark do in those three years to accelerate his career?[00:26:26] Why Mark decided to leave Band & Brown to set up Third City alongside Graz Belli and Gill Brown.[00:27:22] What were the reasons behind Band & Brown losing its momentum quite quickly? [00:29:53] Mark talks about how Third City was founded.[00:30:44] Why Mark believes its important for a PR firm to be able to blend the best of consumer agencies and corporate agencies. [00:33:02] Why Third City is looking for opportunities for regional expansion in the UK and models for international expansion. [00:34:29] Mark talks us through Third City's structure, including its Third Citizen network. [00:37:41] Why Mark believes public affairs professionals are often more interested in the political process than the political context. And they are very rarely interested in brands. [00:38:23] How people who work in brand communications are often not that interested in politics.[00:40:08] Mark asks whether the rush for purpose is explained by the idea that we are now entering a world in which businesses are neither paying taxes nor creating jobs, so they are having to come up with other reasons and justifications for their existence. [00:41:05] Why is it that VC firms tend to prioritise public relations as a method of marketing?[00:45:11] How the uncertainty of Brexit is impacting the UK PR busines

If you’re a marketer and haven’t looked into AI, you may be at risk of losing your job in the next few years. In my discussion today with Katie King were going to talk about AI for marketers and how they should be looking to incorporate it in their marketing plans for the next year.   Show links:  IN 100 words or less, what is your chatbot or AI Voice app and why? CONCURED Where can the audience find out more? Katie: Your listeners can have a 20% discount off my book Code AIMARKETING20 www.koganpage.com/AI-in-marketing Mark – explore our chatbot on Facebook marketing.  https://m.me/fanaticsmedia?ref=w6471331 BIO Katie King is a published Author, Keynote Speaker and Consultant on marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation: www.linkedin.com/in/katieeking Katie has over 30 years’ of consulting experience and has advised many of the world's leading brands and business leaders, including Richard Branson/Virgin, o2, Orange, Accenture, PA Consulting, Huawei, Arsenal Football Club and Harrods. She is the CEO of digital agency Zoodikers, and CEO of a boutique management consultancy AI in Marketing. Katie is a member of the UK Government All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) task force for the enterprise adoption of AI. Katie is the author of Using Artificial Intelligence in Marketing: How to Harness AI and Maintain the Competitive Edge, published by Kogan Page in February 2019: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Using-Artificial-Intelligence-Marketing-Competitive/dp/0749483393 Katie has delivered two TEDx talks and is a frequent commentator on BBC TV and radio. She is also a regular speaker on the international conference circuit. Katie is a Group Chairperson for the UK PR industry trade body - https://www.prca.org.uk/about-us/boards-committees/pr-council Find Mark Fidelman www.fanaticsmedia.com • @markfidelman Twitter and Instagram • @fanaticsmedia Twitter and Instagram • Facebook: www.facebook.com/fanaticsmedia• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/fidelmanOur Chat Bot: https://m.me/fanaticsmedia?ref=w6471331 

This week on the PRmoment podcast, in the latest of our life stories series, I'm pleased to welcome executive director of Premier, Lawrence Francis.Lawrence has an interesting personal career story because he has successfully made the journey from being a business development director at Premier to working client side.Premier is one of UK PR’s best kept secrets; it's a big firm. It has a turnover of nearly 20 million pounds and employs 170 people. It specialises in entertainment, art and cultural PR. Here is the flavour of what Lawrence and I discuss[00:01:07] How Lawrence made the transition from a business development role to a client-side PR role.[00:06:09] Why Lawrence was a late starter in PR and how he has managed to catch up.[00:07:11] How Lawrence changed his job role within the business. [00:09:08] Why working in businesses that have a certain scale and across multiple markets makes a new business role more sustainable. [00:11:18] How Premier, originally a film PR firm, has built itself into a £20m PR firm by having multiple, niche specialist teams.[00:14:53] Why Premier hasn't tried to launch a technology or healthcare division.[00:17:31] Lawrence discusses the growth of Premier's brand partnerships scheme.[00:18:10] Lawrence talks about the growth of the personal publicist market in the last few years.[00:18:58] Lawrence discusses to what extent a job in sales prepares you for job in PR – and to what extent is PR a sales job?[00:27:06] Why Premier tends to work for smaller organisations, rather than blue-chip firms.[00:30:22] How his previous career in sales meant Lawrence developed a robustness that has benefited his career in public relations.[00:31:58] Lawrence talks us through how London and the UK lead the world in the entertainment PR market.[00:35:53] Why experiential marketing has become more ambitious in recent years.[00:38:31] Lawrence talks us through an experiential case study of Premier’s work on Friends Fest

This week on The PRmoment podcast I’m catching up with Rebecca Blinston-Jones, UK managing director of MWWPR.MWWPR is a US-owned, mid-sized PR firm with revenues of $40-50m that employs around 250 people.In the UK it has revenues of £1.7m and employs around 20 people.Here is a taster of what Rebecca and I discussed: How her formative years at Text 100 played a huge part in Rebecca’s career 1.05 minsHow Rebecca met her husband at Text 100 1.40 minsHow Rebecca used to sign clients on the back of napkins during her time at Mantra PR How Mantra survived the dot.com crash and was then sold to Lowry Group and merged into Speed Communications. 4.30 minsHow Rebecca met and worked for Patrick Herridge at Mantra Communication, then they worked together at Parys Communications and then at MWWPR 6 minsHow Rebecca had equity in both Mantra and Parys - and why the trend of owners offering equity in exchange for fees is less popular than in the past 7 minsWhy Rebecca likes working for businesses when they are “early stage” 8.15 minsThe current “micro” acquisition trend in the UK PR market 10 minsHow PR firms are purchasing non-PR businesses 10.40 minsThe rise of independent mid-sized PR firms in London 11.40 minsHow in the US agencies have started setting up in tier 2 and tier 3 cities to address the cost of living in US big cities 13 minsWhy many mid-sized firms from the US have a “small” brand in London but big ambitions 14 minsRebecca talks about MWWPR acquisition plans 14.30 minsThe challenges of finding the right people for a senior team in London 20 minsThe risk of senior recruits going wrong 21.30 minsWhy Rebecca decided she wanted to become UK MD of MWWPR 25 minsWhy there needs to be equal childcare responsibility between a husband and wife 27 minsRebecca tells us about MWWPR’s growth plans for the UK business 30.30 mins

Welcome to a slightly different PRmoment podcast. This week we're going to be doing a year in review of 2018. The show will be divided up into three parts. First up, we have Alice Weightman, founder and CEO of Hanson Search, who's going to talk to us about the PR talent market in 2018. Then we have PRCA director general Francis Ingham, who’ll be giving us a wider perspective about the health of the sector over the past 12 months. Finally, we have Taylor Herring co-founder James Herring guving us his perspective on the most interesting pieces of work over the past year.Here’s a summary of what Alice and I talked about:The “busyness” barometer of the UK PR sector in the last 12 monthsThe impact of Brexit on PR recruitmentHow the shift from retainer work to project work has affected the recruitment market How 2018 started with a lot of focus on senior hires in PR, but this then fell away over the summerThe trend of talent going client-side in 2018How the continuing divergence of PR practice is splitting the talent market in twoTo what extent management consultants are hiring in great PR talentThe trend of PR firms hiring business consultants in 2018Alice reveals the types of positions that are in most demand in 2018Alice discusses the potential negative impact of a bad hire at a senior levelWhy independent firms are hiring different people from the larger groupsWhy hiring trends in PR are in a period of change and evolutionWhy the rise of freelancers is disrupting the business model for PR markets such as healthcareWhy a lack of flexible working is driving people towards freelance workAnd here is a summary of what Francis Ingham and I discuss: A perspective on the financial state of the global PR sectorHow UK PR is powering ahead financiallyWhat have been the biggest challenges for PR in 2019How talent and evaluation have again been PR's greatest challenges in 2018Why the large, mid-size and small agencies have all had different types of problems in 2018Why mid-size generalist PR firms are having a tough timeThe advantages that independent agencies have over the holding companiesWhether Francis thinks that PR is winning market share from the advertising sectorFrancis questions whether PR has overemphasised its over-servicing problemWhy Francis believes there is an intrinsic link between PR's evaluation problem, its inability to charge more and its growth-limiting talent problem.And lastly, James Herring co-founder of Taylor Herring, gives us his top five campaigns of 2018.

Episode 26 of PR Bants covers these topics: Racial abuse on Ryanair flight How Theresa May is managing Brexit woes, and dancing! Nick Clegg's new job at Facebook Why Kleenex has taken the decision to bin 'Mansize' tissues UK PR agencies helping to boost Saudi Arabia's image Gourmet Burger Kitchen's 'curry war' campaign Permission CEO: why walking away from an interview is a #PRfail Happy listening, and let us know what you think by tweeting @PRbants using the hashtag #PRbants Music from Jukedeck - create your own at Jukedeck

Episode 26 of PR Bants covers these topics: Racial abuse on Ryanair flight How Theresa May is managing Brexit woes, and dancing! Nick Clegg's new job at Facebook Why Kleenex has taken the decision to bin 'Mansize' tissues UK PR agencies helping to boost Saudi Arabia's image Gourmet Burger Kitchen's 'curry war' campaign Permission CEO: why walking away from an interview is a #PRfail Happy listening, and let us know what you think by tweeting @PRbants using the hashtag #PRbants Music from Jukedeck - create your own at Jukedeck

This week, we are joined by Evelyn Sprigg, a colleague from our US office, to talk about the differences between PR in the US and the UK. While we may speak the same language our approaches to media and office life can have some significant differences. Let us know what you think on Twitter @accesslon!

This week, on the PRmoment Podcast, I’m interviewing Vanessa Pine, co-founder of Atlas Partners. What I love about Vanessa’s career is that it’s real! She says she doesn’t have any regrets, but there are a few career decisions which I suspect, in hindsight, she could have played out differently.Vanessa is currently a director at Atlas Partners which employs 10 people and has a fee income of £600K. Atlas was founded in 2015.Here is a summary of what Vanessa and I discussed: Vanessa tells us what it was like to work on the Lib Dem campaign in the 2010 general election when “I agree with Nick” briefly became one of the nation's favourite phrases How the TV debates changed the dynamic of UK election campaigns Why the Lib Dems went to 40% in the polls for a brief period How a very small Lib Dem general election team were almost over-run by the momentum of the 2010 Lib Dem campaign Why Vanessa left the UK public affairs scene to go to Australia when the Lib Dems went into coalition government – at precisely the point when she was most valuable from a UK-career perspective What the differences are between the UK PR scene and the Australian PR scene Why UK PR people are highly prized in Australia How Vanessa ended up working on the “Australian Year of the Farmer” campaign How Vanessa coped with being made redundant from her job in Australia – with the risk of her being deported Why the uncertainty is the worst part of being made redundant How Vanessa became PR manager in Australia for Coca Cola – a job she doesn’t think she would have had in the UK Why recruitment in public relations has become such a conservative process of risk management What does a political special advisor (SpAds) actually do? Why the SpAds role is a blend of media and policy How politics is the art of the possible – it’s not an ideological exercise The role SpAds play in the presentation and politics of policy How SpAds coordinate with civil servants How Vanessa’s previous career influenced the positioning of Atlas Partners Why minority partners in coalitions “get slammed every single time” in elections Why Vanessa launched Atlas Partners The virtuous circle of running a consultancy business: Why happy staff mean happy clients Why it took Vanessa 10 years to gain the confidence to launch her own business How the overlap between media and politics is creating opportunities for firms like Atlas Partners

This week on The PRmoment podcast I’m catching up with Neil Hedges, founder and partner at communications firm Headland. Neil has worked in the UK PR scene for nearly 40 years – so he knows his way around. Before setting up Headland, Neil was one of the founders of Fishburn Hedges – arguably UK PR’s pre-eminent PR shop of the 1990s and most of the noughties. Here is a taster of what Neil and I discussed: How Neil started his career in advertising and decided to move to public relations 0.46 Why PR’s current need for planners is history repeating itself 3.15 Why his time at time at Valin Pollen had a big influence on the rest of his career 4.15 Why a consultancy business is always likely to have very busy periods and some fallow ones 6.45 Why did Neil leave Valin Pollen? 7.20 Why Neil has never bought a business 9.20 How did the genesis of Fishburn Hedges come about? 10.10 Why there was a lot of mediocrity in PR firms in the 1990s 10.40 Why Fishburn was trying to build a business across corporate, financial and public affairs 11.20 Was Fishburn's growth uniform, or did it come in fits and starts? 12 mins Does Neil regret selling Fishburn to Abbott Mead Vickers, which was part owned Omnicom in 1996? 14.50 What was it like shifting from a privately owned business to a publicly owned business? 18.40 What was it like trying to run a publicly owned PR firm in 2008/09? 19.16 and 22 mins Why the response to the financial crisis shook his faith in America 20.15 Fishburn Hedges was the corporate PR shop in London throughout the 1990s and most of the noughties that most of its rival firms attempted to imitate. But in the end, its run of revenue growth came to a sharp halt. Neil tells us why 25 mins How agencies have their periods of ascendancy and tend to plateau 25.40 Neil tells us why he decided to try and do it all again and launch Headland 28.20 and 31.10 Why very few publicly owned PR firms have a financial PR offer 30.05 Why Neil chose a partnership model for Headland 32.15 Why Neil has ambitions for Headland’s partnership to last many generations 33.40 Why Neil’s long-term business relationship with Dan Mines has lasted so long 38.30 Why PR businesses, in the end, suffer if they are managed by practitioners 40 mins How Headland has grown so rapidly in the last three years 42.15 Why Headland runs a graduate scheme 48.15

JOHANNESBURG — It was just over a year ago, on 5 September 2017, that I interviewed Francis Ingham, the Director General of the PRCA. At that time, the PRCA had made the extraordinary decision to expel Bell Pottinger from the organisation amid the dodgy work it did for the Guptas. What followed thereafter was the complete collapse of Bell Pottinger, which lost clients at a blistering pace and which ultimately was put into administration. In many ways, the fall of Bell Pottinger was a bellwether for things to come as the Guptas' empire would come to crumble in SA while Jacob Zuma would ultimately be forced to resign as President. Now we have a Commission of Inquiry into State Capture - unthinkable just a year ago. It was therefore interesting to catch up again with Ingham on how the PRCA's decision impacted the UK PR industry and the backstory to personal threats that he received during what was a dramatic time. Take a listen. - Gareth van Zyl

Ian and Laura discuss; Corporate backgrounds Scale up agenda Strategic economic plan What kind of business is a ‘scale up’ Public sector cuts lead to innovation What areas does a scale up target? Support availability Importance of networking Beginning her career in the City during the dotcom boom, Laura worked on high-profile corporate transactions and campaigns including tech company listings on the Alternative Investment Marketing, easyJet’s flotation, and the launch of the Railtrack Private Shareholders Action Group. In 2002, Laura moved into the NHS’s busiest press and public affairs office at the London Ambulance Service where she worked on award-winning campaigns and public policy agendas, from misuse of the 999 service through to counter-terrorism communications.  Relocating to Newcastle in 2005, Laura joined Admiral PR & Marketing and, over the course of six years, played a key role in its growth to a top 150 UK PR agency.  As client services director, Laura honed skills in new business development and client relationship management, developing agency specialisms in science and technology, healthcare, higher education, and the natural and built environment. As head of marketing and communications at Newcastle University Business School, Laura oversaw a brand identity relaunch and restructured the institution’s marketing function at a time of significant strategic change, globally and nationally. Laura embarked on a freelance consultancy career in 2014 and worked with a diverse range of organisations, from the United Nations Labour Organization to a tech start-up seeking VC funding. 

Thursday 15th March 2018. NORWAYS KONA LOVE AFFAIR Firstly I was chatting to Christina Bu, who is Secretary General of the Norwegian EV Association, last night on Twitter because she’d said there were 18,000 expressions of interest in the new Hynudai Kona. I replied that sounds like the figure I’d heard from South Korea the EV incentive is ending but not for those with their names down, and she replied no, what she was talking about was only those in Norway. Now these aren’t deposits but 18,000 people who have registered as wanting one. Christina put me onto an article which, although I had to use Google Translate, I got the general point of. It looks like that from July, through to the end of the year, Hyundai want to ship 2,500 Kona EVs to Norway. One of my presumptions was that due to domestic demand in South Korea but also due to a limited initial run, Europe and North America would be waiting until 2019. That’s great news. Has production increased? Are they prioritising Norway because it’s just a large EV market? Hopefully we’ll know more soon but there’s no doubt, if they can make enough, they’ll sell a lot of the long range Kona and sister car the Kia Niro. https://www.tv2.no/a/9728933/   VW EV PRODUCTION Following up the VW news about $25bn of battery contracts secured for Europe and China, with North America still in negotiations, some news about where they will be built into the new VW cars. According to Matthias Schmidt, and auto analyst, “I.D. Production gets underway Q3 2019 (one line in Zwickau) moving to a double production line during 2020 (daily production 1.5k)”. It sounds a lot but remember by 2020 Tesla want to be making 500,000 Model 3’s every year.   VW’S CHINA DEBUT CAR Staying with VW news and according to EV Obsession pictures of Volkswagen’s first Chinese electric vehicle, built in its joint venture with JAC, have surfaced from patent The Volkswagen and JAC joint venture should be presenting its 3 models by the end of the quarter, according to Gasgoo and spy images of indicate the first car will be based on the existing iEV7S. It may well be badged with VW’s Seat brand, but this article says: building its electric vehicles from an existing line-up is smart as JAC electric cars are well designed and it will drastically cut entry to market time as the factories and suppliers are already working to make iEV7S and can probably easily migrate based on demand. They won’t be premium, there will be no bells and whistles, but they’ll be solid and VERY cheap by other EV standards. https://evobsession.com/volkswagen-first-chinese-electric-vehicle-platform-nearing-release/   BMW LET YOU RETURN YOUR DIESEL FOR FREE So, do you remember those new, clean, diesel engines which were made to suit Euro 6 emission standards. This isn’t such as issue in America but I wanted to highlight it because it’s an insight into why we ALL haven’t got EV’s sooner. Those new engines were introduced in 2014/15 and, typically, have a life cycle of 7 or so years. So you might wonder why so many car makers have big plans from 2020/21, that’s part of the explanation. And with a focus on ensuring those R&D costs are recouped you can expect to see another couple of bumpy years for electric cars versus combustion engines. As an example of that, BMW just said if you buy a diesel you can return it. Described as a last ditch attempt to shift fossil fuels cars, the 'diesel return promise' starts in Germany this week, and allows anyone who leases a new BMW with a diesel engine to return the car to the Munich-based carmaker if a driving restriction on diesels is introduced in a city within 62 miles of their home, according to Motor1.com. They continue: BMW has also announced it will offer an 'environmental bonus' to owners of older diesel powered vehicles which will be affected by new restrictions. Owners of Euro 4 vehicles or older can receive up to £1,770 towards the purchase of an purchase an i3, a plug-in hybrid or a new Euro 6 vehicle with CO2 emissions of 130g/km or less. It’s great news for those who want peace of mind but, looking at the bigger picture, if you have to offer a money back guarantee on anything you sell, whatever the product, you need to worry. I think they’re worried. They make incredible cars like the i3 and i8, soon the i4 and iX3. But yes that sounds like a company who need to shift more dirty, sorry, clean fossil fuels cars for just a little while longer. https://uk.motor1.com/news/235869/bmw-diesel-return-promise/   PHEV’S SAVE FLEET OWNERS MONEY Moving on and fleet sales are a big profit line for car makers. And now, according to FleetNews: Data from ALD Automotive’s plug-in hybrid and ProFleet telematics trials has shown fleets could save £2,000 if they switch from diesel to PHEV. They say: In the six-month investigation, ALD business drivers swapped petrol and diesel cars for plugin hybrids. Running these vehicles for 15,000 miles a year for either three or four years, ALD concluded that businesses could save up to £2,000 for every vehicle replaced by the PHEV version. Matt Dale, head of consultancy at ALD, said: “We went into this trial with a very open mind and decided from the start there would be no preconceptions, but that it would be a factual review of PHEVs to see how they work. The results in certain cases have surprised us.” https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/fleet-industry-news/2018/03/12/every-diesel-vehicle-replaced-with-phev-could-save-2-000   INCREASING BATTERY PRODUCTION Next up, according to Push EVs, LG Chem’s battery plant in Poland which currently produces 100,000 batteries a year is to triple it’s output. They said: While in China Volkswagen chose CATL, in Europe Volkswagen will probably choose LG Chem as its EV battery cell supplier for the MEB platform. However, in the near future it seems that the upcoming second generation Renault Zoe and the 2019 Nissan Leaf will use most of LG Chem’s EV battery production capacity in Europe. They continue: Samsung SDI’s battery cell production in Hungary will start this quarter, so you can expect the much awaited battery capacity upgrade (42,62 kWh) for the BMW i3 to be announced in early summer. Furthermore, SK innovation is building its new EV battery plant in Europe. Follow the link for more from the always excellent Push EV’s website. https://pushevs.com/2018/03/12/lg-chem-to-triple-ev-battery-production-in-poland/   TESLA SUPERCHARGING PRICE INCREASE Since 2017 new Tesla owners have had to pay from electricity from Superchargers. Now they’re increasing those prices. Tesla's largest market in the U.S. is California, and its rates increased from $0.20 per kWh to $0.26 per kWh. In New York, the rate increased from $0.19 per kWh to $0.24 per kWh. However, the biggest increase so far has to be Oregon, which previously had a relatively low charging fee of $0.12 per kWh. Now, it's more in line with the other states at $0.24 per kWh. A similar thing happened here in the UK a while ago. A company called EcoTricity spent a lot of money early on putting in chargers on the main road networks. Whilst they were doing that, it was on free vend. Electricity became a thing which was free. And then when they said they needed to now start charging, as they’re not a charity, when you were reading the EV forums and posts on Twitter it was like people had their life savings taken away. The rates are reasonable and somehow these chargers have to be paid for along with the electricity they’re buying. https://hothardware.com/news/tesla-hikes-ev-supercharger-rates-across-us-by-as-much-as-100-percent   TESLA SEMI STOPS FOR A BREWSKI Next up, and staying with Tesla, that long range Semi Truck has been on the move, 2000 miles in fact. It showed up at the Anheuser- Busch brewery in St. Louis on. Tuesday. Teslarati point out: “Tesla’s high-powered Megachargers, are set to be installed at key locations frequently visited by fleet operators. This system would enable the Semi to travel from one facility to another without compromising its range. With this in mind, the Anheuser-Busch facility in St. Louis definitely seems to be a site where the beer giant could build a charging stations for the 40 Tesla Semis that the company ordered”. Tesla seem to be testing their prototypes in public which is very brave. Remember the new Roadster which stopped on the road in California, which Tesla said was very much NOT broken down, they took a bit of teasing on social media for that. So it’s good to see they’re getting the Semi clocking up real world miles to identify what needs improving. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-semi-anheuser-busch-st-louis-sighting/   TESLA MODEL 3 LONG RANGE MOTORS And third time’s a charm, a triple whammy of Tesla stories this week, and Reuters point out: Tesla’s shift to a magnetic motor using neodymium in its Model 3 Long Range car adds to pressure on already strained supplies. “Some electric car motors use the permanent magnet technology, probably the most famous is the Tesla Model 3 Long Range. All the other Tesla models — Model X and Model 3 standard — use induction motors,” said David Merriman, a senior analyst at metals consultancy Roskill. And whilst many materials which are called rare earth are actually extremely common, when they’re only found in certain parts of the world, they are open to geopolitical affects such as export bans or tariffs. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-metals-autos-neodymium-analysis/teslas-electric-motor-shift-to-spur-demand-for-rare-earth-neodymium-idUKKCN1GO282?utm_source=applenews   FORD URGED TO ELECTRIFY Moving onto Ford, I often wonder about them. The Chairman seems to talk up electric cars, and yet I follow their UK PR chief on twitter and, whilst he comes across as a really nice chap, I’ve often seen him talking down electric cars, which I always thought a little odd. So I never really know where Ford stand on electrification. Currently Ford makes diesel engines in the UK but, with new sales plummeting, used values in steep decline and buyers not wanting to risk buying a diesel only to find it’s working nothing in 3 years time, or even worse they have to pay an extra fee to get out of the their finance deal because the depreciation was faster than predicted by the lender, the future of that factory has been questioned by some. The union Unite yesterday presented  a document outlining a strategy for the whole UK automotive industry, which it says supports 800,000 jobs. It asked the government to help the shift to electric vehicles by supporting research and development, training and investment. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43363539   Thank you for listening today, I hope you've enjoyed it. I’d love to spread the word about electric cars so, if you can, share this somebody who might be interested. You can listen to every previous episode of this podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, YouTube and the blog https://www.evnewsdaily.com/ – subscribe for free and get every new episode automatically and first. It would really mean a lot if you could take 2mins to leave a quick review on iTunes which will help us spread the word to a wider audience about electric cars. And if you have an Amazon Echo, download our Alexa Skill, search for EV News Daily and add it as a flash briefing. Come and say hi on Twitter @EVNewsDaily, have a wonderful day, and I'll catch you tomorrow.   CONNECT WITH ME! evne.ws/itunes evne.ws/googleplay evne.ws/youtube evne.ws/blog

This week, PRmoment founder Ben Smith interviews Ketchum UK ceo Jo-ann Robertson as part of our series of one to one interviews with some of the most senior people in UK PR. Jo-ann has recently been appointed as UK ceo to Ketchum having been at the firm since 2011. Previously she spent eight years at Weber Shandwick. Jo-ann graduated in 2002 with a BA in Politics from the University of Strathclyde.

PRmoment founder Ben Smith recently interviewed Lord Chadlington as part of our series of one to one podcasts with some of the most senior people in UK PR

This week I caught up with Francis Ingham ceo of The PRCA. This is the latest in a series of PRmoment Podcasts with some of the leading lights of UK PR. The PRCA has grown from an organisation with revenues with £700K to one of nearly £3.2m during Ingham's ten year tenure. Francis and I discuss: How he was brought up on a Manchester council estate Why he hated school and refused to go for year Why he left home and school at 16 and spent two years living in the local catholic hostel How the headmaster at his school subsidised his education How he got into Oxford University Why he’s always been good at "arguing back!" How his time at Oxford shaped his passion for politics Why he left the CIPR for the PRCA His greatest achievement at The PRCA What’s next in Francis Ingham's career path

This week I caught up with Angie Moxham, chief monkey at 3 Monkeys Zeno. This is the latest in a series of PRmoment Podcasts with some of the leading lights of UK PR. Angie and I discuss: How she helped build one company, lost it and then built another one How she went to state school and then went to Oxford What it’s like at Oxford, coming from a state school background Her time at Le Fevre Communications How it came about that Le Fevre was sold for £1 What were her worst moments in her career Why she started 3 Monkeys How she grew 3 Monkeys to become a £6m PR firm in 2015* What the sale process looked like when Zeno bought 3 Monkeys * According to the 2016 PRWeek League Tables

Bell Pottinger's stunning demise since it was expelled from the PRCA has rocked the PR world. In a special podcast with Arun Sudhaman, PRCA director-general Francis Ingham explains why the trade association decided to impose its harshest-ever sanction on the UK PR firm, following Bell Pottinger's work for South Africa's controversial Gupta family.

Doc shares his thoughts on Hurricane Harvey and the LA Fires. He also speaks with his good friend, Adam Sagir, owner of UK PR company, The Noise Cartel, former Century Media Records employee, and bassist of Dripback and formerly of Labrat. Adam talks about working his way up the ladder in the record industry with Century Media, deciding how to balance his band life and other career opportunities, how he became an instrumental figure in launching God Forbid in the UK, and lays out how he started Noise Cartel and what being a Public Relations professional really means. This episode features the song "Wasted" by Dripback from the album Failed Futures. Follow Adam Sagir on Instagram and Twitter @AdamDaRat Follow The Noise Cartel on Instagram and Twitter @TheNoiseCartel Follow Doc on Instagram and Twitter @DocCoyle Listen to more podcasts like this at JabberJawMedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of our series of interviews reviewing 2016 I recently caught up with PRCA director general and ICCO CEO Francis Ingham. Francis identified the following trends for UK PR in 2016: UK public relations has grown by approximately 10% in 2016 according to the PRCA numbers, following a similar growth pattern of recent years. Public relations is becoming more blended discipline Niche specialist agencies are doing well, alongside agencies with an international offer. Mid-sized generalist agencies having a far tougher time as media relations becomes commoditised. Brexit created a period of uncertainty for the pr sector but we've yet to see a significant downturn. Some sectors, notably public affairs, have thrived since the June vote.

As search has evolved, practitioners of public relations and search-engine optimization (SEO) technicians have frequently founds themselves at odds with one another. Both are tasked with ensuring an organization's content can be found. Each takes a different approach to achieving that goal. As Google has shifted its priorities (and algorithms) to reward quality content over keywords, and works to punish black-hat SEO efforts, more and more PR agencies are ensuring they have SEO capabilities in-house. Threepipe, a UK PR agency, recently acquired an SEO shop, possibly the first UK-based agency to take a step that has been more common in the US. In this interview, FIR host Shel Holtz talks with Jim Hawker, Threepipe's co-founder and business development director, about why the company made the acquisition and how SEO fits into PR activities.Continue Reading → The post FIR Interview: Threepipe’s Jim Hawker on PR and SEO appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Agency veteran Neil Backwith, who now consults for a number of highly-regarded UK PR firms, talks to Arun Sudhaman about how firms can optimize their commercial performance, and why so many continue to find this difficult. Cohn & Wolfe digital innovation head Chad Latz also visits the show to talk about his key digital trends from Cannes and beyond.

The Echo Chamber podcast series, now in its third year, returns for 2015 with a new show that features Cohn & Wolfe's Jim Joseph breaking down key marketing lessons from the recent Superbowl. While Joseph notes that Superbowl advertising in isolation is typically ineffective, well-rounded digital strategies are helping marketers use the sporting event to their advantage. He also points to the rise of dads as a key marketing trend to watch in 2015. Meanwhile, CCgroup MD Richard Fogg joins the show to explain why his UK PR firm is attempting to help international marketers understand the US media. And last, but not least, M Booth digital head Amber Roussel talks to me about her experience supporting digital engagement for President Obama's State of the Union speech. The White House, she notes, is keen to broaden social media outreach as it attempts to connect with a younger audience. The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC.

The latest Echo Chamber sees Paul Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss the reputation fallout from Publicis Omnicom's failed merger. Also under the spotlight — how will Max Clifford's conviction affect perceptions of the UK PR industry? Finally, the duo compare the best SABRE work from the 2014 Awards in Americas and EMEA.