Connect Communications is a specialised PR agency in political communications. Learn the art here! Andy is Managing Partner and co-owner of Connect, a leading UK public affairs and public relations agency headquartered in London. Andy provides strategic advice and senior counsel to Connect clients on media and political strategy, issues management and crisis communications. Andy has specialist knowledge and strong networks in local government. Andy draws on his experiences as a former Member of Parliament, representing Corby and serving as a Shadow Minister, member of a Select Committee and various Bill Committees. Prior to this, Andy was Chief Executive of the LGIU, an award winning thinktank and membership body for UK local government. Andy’s other past roles include: Vice President of the Local Government Association, trustee of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Board Chair of Local Energy Ltd, a social enterprise business. Andy has also served as a councillor and local authority Cabinet Member. Andy is currently a member of the board of the Public Relations Consultants Association and is a school governor of the Kettering Buccleuch Academy. He features in the PR Week Powerbook of leading figures in public relations. He tweets at @andy_sawford The podcast is in partnership with the BCMA. The BCMA is the global industry body for branded content practitioners, run by practitioners, promoting best practice, sharing knowledge and growing the branded content industry. To know more about the BCMA, go to www.thebcma.info CoPartnered with Atharva Marcom, India's smartest PR firm. Karnvir Mundrey, the Chief Ideation Officer of Atharva Marcom, is also President of BCMA India. Reach out to them at www.atharvamarcom.com or atharvamarcom@gmail.com.