Public Sector: The Public Sector Week

The brief will see the agency looking to support the university in a strategic media relations programme designed to strengthen its image in science, technology and business. Esther Black, account director, will lead the Pagoda PR team.

London Communications Agency director Luke Blair has written this week's public sector column, in which he looks at what he sees as the increasing pressure on the public sector to deliver more for less. To read the column, go to prweek.com/uk and click on public sector.

Two ex-COI regional directors have launched an agency that aims to replicate its regional network. Syndicate Communications is based in Birmingham and has been formed by Anthony Aston and Mark Chambers. They are supported by a team of about 20 staff around England, most of whom recently left the COI.

Paul Mylrea, director of comms for the BBC, is among the additions to the speakers list at a local government comms conference in Birmingham. The LG Comms Academy will run from 29-31 May at Birmingham Council House.