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The latest public affairs and politics news, opinion and features.
Got a story? Contact Ian Griggs on 020 8267 4893 or ian.griggs@haymarket.com.
News and news analysis
PRWeek UK Corporate, City & Public Affairs Awards: winners revealed
The winners at the inaugural PRWeek UK Corporate, City & Public Affairs Awards have been announced.
BECG buys Scottish public affairs firm as third agency acquisition in six months
Built Environment Communications Group (BECG) has acquired Scottish public affairs agency Liberty One Communications (L1), as it seeks to expand its reach across the UK.
Engine MHP restructures public affairs team leadership and hires pharma expert
Jamie Lyons has been made sole head of Engine MHP's public affairs team, while James Gurling has been made executive chair of the practice, the agency announced today.
PRCA urges agency to rethink 'incredibly unwise' appointment of peer
The PRCA has criticised the appointment of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords by Charlotte Street Partners as a consulting partner, and urged the agency to reconsider.
SEC Newgate buys Newington outright and merges it with sister shop
SEC Newgate has increased its stake in Newington to 100 per cent and merged it with sister shop SEC Newgate UK – the first step to rebranding all its agencies SEC Newgate by the year end, excluding consumer-focused Publicasity.
Supreme Court rules for policyholders in landmark COVID-19 insurance case
Thousands of UK businesses are a step closer to receiving insurance payouts due to losses arising from pandemic restrictions after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of policyholders in a landmark case between the markets regulator and insurance industry.
WPI Strategy and former Matt Hancock spad launch healthcare research centre
WPI Strategy has teamed up with Richard Sloggett, previously a special adviser to health secretary Matt Hancock, to launch a healthcare research centre, the public affairs agency announced today.
Ex-government comms chief returns to private sector as agency founding partner
Toby Orr, former director of comms and marketing at the Department for International Trade, has joined fledgling agency Shearwater Global as a founding partner.
Richard Edelman: CEOs must reassure employees after Capitol Hill riot
Edelman posted a similar message on his blog for agency employees.
CharityComms CEO and ex-Unilever CMO in New Year Honours list
CharityComms chief executive Adeela Warley and former Unilever chief marketing and communications officer Keith Weed are among the industry figures recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list, announced this evening (30 December).
Oil and gas trade body names comms and external relations directors
OGUK, the representative body for the UK offshore oil and gas industry, has appointed directors for communications and external relations - new roles created following a senior departure.
'We will get through this' – hospitality PR defiant as it works toward recovery
The UK hospitality comms sector is reeling from lockdowns, revenue declines and many clients struggling to make ends meet. PRWeek caught up with agency bosses to find out about the economic impact to their businesses, redundancies, recovery and what lies ahead.
Powerscourt represents cricketer Azeem Rafiq in 'landmark' racism case
The consultancy will reunite the same team that recently represented actor Amber Heard in her court battle with Johnny Depp.
Rolls-Royce digital PR lead joins UK consultancy
The global head of digital PR at Rolls-Royce has joined The Blakeney Group as head of digital.
Pharma specialist joins Lexington’s growing health team
Lexington Communications has hired pharma and life sciences specialist Keith Small as an associate in its healthcare practice.
Lobbying firms employed by Grenfell insulation firm following deadly fire, inquiry hears
Portland and Grayling carried out lobbying work on behalf of an insulation firm that supplied materials used in the Grenfell Tower cladding, a public inquiry into the fire, which killed 72 people, heard yesterday.
Harassment, racism, unfair pay: women in public affairs reveal serious concerns
Women working in public affairs face increasing levels of sexual harassment and complain of being talked over or their ideas stolen by men, while the pandemic has also taken a toll on their mental health, a survey shown exclusively to PRWeek reveals.
Opinion and features
Most major news websites give reporters a byline, so why doesn’t the BBC?
Working in a 24/7 news environment presents an array of challenges, most notably when coverage of a story contains inaccuracies or lacks sufficient balance.
Why are lobbying and comms held in low regard? Stop shooting the messengers
Our industry has had a dazzlingly bright spotlight shone upon it in recent years.
The ‘ABC’ of public affairs predictions for the year to come
While many will be glad to see the back of 2020, it is far from clear that 2021 will be any better. But one thing is clear: there will continued political disruption and, with it, the need for public affairs advice.
PR pros offer 21 words on what they're expecting in 2021
Following a year of COVID-19 chaos, we asked PR leaders to give 21-word predictions of what they believe is in store for the profession in 2021.
Naysayers are wrong: millennials will not desert the industry because of COVID-19
What we really want is some kind of certainty about how this works out, and that is difficult when we can’t quite see the way ahead. But be in no doubt, the way ahead is emerging – and more quickly than many might imagine.
A strong campaign is like a great murder mystery – and we’re the detectives
People are often surprised I also write novels. Well, OK, just one complete novel so far… but it makes perfect sense when you think about it.
PlayStation, Kellogg's, Pernod Ricard, Co-op, TikTok… account moves that shook up PR in 2020
Electronics multinationals, hotel groups, auto giants, supermarkets and high-street retailers were among the pitches that caught the eye of PRWeek in this COVID-interrupted year.
In defence of journalists refusing to include external links in their stories
As journalists, our goals sometimes overlap with yours, but the outcome we’re trying to achieve is fundamentally different – and that's where tensions can arise.
Nine stories that rocked PR in 2020
PRWeek UK takes a look at the major news events and communications industry issues that made headlines this year.
Can Johnson learn from Biden’s pick of an all-female comms squad?
It was announced at the weekend that President-elect Joe Biden’s new White House senior comms team would be all-female, headed by Kate Bedingfield and Jen Psaki, both Obama administration veterans. They are relatively youthful and mothers of young children.
He inspired a nation - PRWeek reveals UK Communicator of the Year
Which individuals have got their message across most effectively in this strange and tumultuous year? Today, we profile the individual who tops PRWeek's UK Communicator of the Year list for 2020.
The regulator is baring its teeth: three ways financial comms should respond
Last month the financial services regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), made a bold move and threw the ban hammer at insurers’ practice of ‘price-walking’ – which means offering preferential rates to new customers.
Top (and another Top) of the Week: Scotland's period pioneer and Meghan talks about miscarriage
PRWeek shines a light on major brand, corporate, personal and campaign successes of the past week.
I’m not stupid, or lazy; I’m dyslexic, and we need more neurodiversity in PR
I’m the CEO and founder of Blurred. I’m also dyslexic and believe we need more neurodiversity in this industry.
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Senior Media Officer British Medical Association London (Central), London (Greater)
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Associate Consultant – Corporate (public affairs) Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
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Senior Consultant – Health Public Affairs (UK and International) Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
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Consultant - Health (Communications) Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
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Consultant – Digital Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
Recent public/corporate affairs people moves
Lenovo’s Torod Neptune to join Medtronic as global communications leader
Neptune has led communications at Lenovo since 2017.
Finsbury Glover Hering names regional CEOs as merger completes
New corporate comms powerhouse Finsbury Glover Hering (FGH) has completed its merger and named regional chief executives for the UK, US and Europe.
Marketing roles under threat as Coca-Cola GB eyes 100 job cuts
Coca-Cola is weeks into a consultation process as part of a restructure that could affect most of the staff in its UK marketing function, PRWeek has learned.
Movers & Shakers: British Airways, Huawei, Lululemon, Riverside Energy and more
PRWeek's weekly round-up of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Huawei splits UK corporate comms leadership as Brewster steps down
Huawei is dividing responsibility for UK corporate comms between two senior figures following the departure of UK comms director Edward Brewster, PRWeek has learned.
Prosek Partners names new London chief as Laffan takes FTSE 100 role
Fiona Laffan, London managing director of the financial marketing and comms agency, is leaving to join asset management firm Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) in a new, strengthened corporate affairs position, PRWeek has learned.