VC body aims to boost profile in the UK

It is understood that the association is in talks with UK agencies specialising in financial sector PR and is keen to raise its profile in the country. The UK is the largest centre of European venture capital activity.

‘[For it not to have a presence in the UK] is a bit like being a defence manufacturer and not having an office in the US,’ said a source close to the negotiations.

Any agency appointed to advise the EVCA is likely to be involved with promoting the association’s conferences and statistical surveys.

It is also understood that public affairs will be part of the brief.

New European company regulations and planned legislation on the levels of capital banks must hold in reserve to balance the risk of the investments they make, are just two of the issues with which the association is concerned.

EVCA marketing director Veronique Bockstal confirmed that the association was looking at how it could improve communications in several European countries, but denied that a pitch was currently in progress.

She said the EVCA was discussing with its independent consultant, Chantal Ligertwood, on how best to proceed. She added that any reforms in communications might involve a boost to its spend, but not necessarily the appointment of a retained agency.

‘We are reviewing our PR capacity in general and, in the UK, we are talking to Ligertwood about how we might expand this,’ said Bockstal.

Last summer the association appointed Phillipe Portocarero as its retained PR adviser in Spain. In Germany, the organisation has worked with Vocago for two years.