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In the latest PRWeek podcast, non-executive directors Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy explain how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times.
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.
On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt is joined by two non-executive directors – Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy – to discuss how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times, focusing on client fees, restructuring and staff redundancies.
An experienced comms professional, Clarke has held senior roles at Weber Shandwick and Grayling, and now runs her own consultancy, Alison Clarke Consulting. Michael Murphy has also held top leadership roles at Grayling and Weber Shandwick and now advises We. Communications, Lodestone and Action Global.
In this episode, the pair chat about when an agency should consider increasing its fees, how to approach the topic with clients, and explain how to stop working with a client without jeopardising the relationship or their agency’s reputation.
Clarke also warned that PR agencies must avoid a ‘race to the bottom’ in relation to client fees.
The two comms professionals discuss when an agency leader should consider restructuring a team, and what frameworks to follow. They also offer advice on how best to handle redundancies and what factors the leadership team should consider.
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James Wright, global chairman of the Havas PR Network, global CEO of Havas Red, and Group CEO Havas ANZ, talks about business at the group in the latest PRWeek podcast.
James Wright speaks to PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt in the latest episode of Beyond the Noise.
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.
In the episode, Wright discusses business at the PR network and talks about Havas’ new office in Manchester, as well as the current recruitment market in PR.
Wright gives an update on which specialisms are faring the strongest for Havas and its agencies, and where there has been strong growth this year.
He speaks about B Lab revoking Havas’ B Corp status and discusses the impact on both staff and clients.
New business is also examined, and the chief delves into agency/client relationships and says clients must ‘take some responsibility’ to avoid ghosting and poor pitching behaviour.
In addition, Wright gives his take on AI technology, the Omnicom/IPG deal, and shares his predictions for 2026.
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What do the winners of the PRWeek UK Awards 2025 tell us about the big trends in the sector? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.
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.
In today’s episode, PRWeek journalists Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) pick out some of the major lessons from the flagship awards night, which took place on Wednesday (15 October).
The trio discuss what the winning campaigns tell us about the state of purpose campaigns in 2025, and about how PR agencies have been expanding the breadth of work they are undertaking.
The journalists look at how innovation – especially around AI – and creative investment are big themes among the winning agencies this year.
More generally, they reflect on a positive mood about the health of the industry among attendees, albeit with some caveats.
Separately, the team pay tribute to this year’s PRWeek UK Hall of Fame inductee: John Waples of FTI Consulting.
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What more can comms professionals do to help stem growing antisemitism? And why aren’t more speaking out? PRWeek UK’s latest podcast looks at the issues.
Joining a special edition of Beyond the Noise are three agency leaders who are Jewish: David Fraser, founder of Ready10 and Ready Media Group; Mandy Sharp, CEO of Tin Man Communications; and Barry Frankfurt, MD of Creative & Commercial.
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.
Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests this week discuss their experiences of antisemitism in recent years and reflect on how the fatal attack on a synagogue in Greater Manchester on 2 October has put the issue into sharper focus.
They talk about how the industry has responded to the attacks, including a “deafening silence”and a lack of “empathy” from some, which point to wider problems.
The founders offer advice to other people in comms about how to support their Jewish colleagues and peers.
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PR’s pay gaps, and its DEI efforts in general, are under the spotlight in PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.
It follows the publication this week of the latest Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us, which sees agencies reveal their gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
Click here to read the PRWeek Pay Gaps Report
Our guests are People Like Us co-founder Sheeraz Gulsher and the bosses of two agencies that took part in the Pay Gaps Report: Heather Blundell, UK CEO at Grayling, and Pam Scobbie, co-founder and CCO of John Doe Group.
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.
Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, the guests give their take on the overall findings of the ground-breaking report. This includes some stiff criticism of the lack of participation among the UK’s biggest PR agencies.
They discuss why gender and ethnicity pay gaps might still exist and scrutise the industry’s efforts to close them.
Blundell and Scobbie give examples of some of the work they have done to promote diversity, equity and inclusion at their agencies. And the guests offer advice to PR firms that want to make progress in these areas.
As PRWeek earlier reported, the Grayling and John Doe bosses criticised the recent pattern of female leaders at UK comms agencies being replaced by men.
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The latest Beyond the Noise podcast looks at diversity and inclusion for black PR and communications professionals in the industry.
In this episode, guests have an open conversation about diversity in the industry as UK Black History Month (October) begins.
Joining PRWeek’s reporter Elizabeth Wiredu are Kamiqua Lake, founder and chief executive of Coldr; Ronke Lawal, PR and communications consultant at Ariatu Public Relations; and Michael Bartley, practice director and head of cybersecurity, business & technology at Brands2Life.
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.
Topics include career progression, mentorship, and the steps needed to build a truly inclusive environment for black PR professionals.
Looking at recent campaign controversies, the group also discuss what more the industry can do to prevent failings on diversity and inclusion, particularly in creative roles.
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Alex Perry, head of growth at The Romans, and Yvonne Maher, chief growth officer for EMEA at Cognito, are the guests on this week’s Beyond the Noise podcast.
How can a UK-based PR agency successfully expand its operations across the globe? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast delves into the topic, looking at the reasons for opening more offices, and which regions are currently booming.
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.
Interviewed by PRWeek UK’s deputy news editor, Evie Barrett, our guests share anecdotes from the growth stories of their own agencies, offering advice for agency bosses who may be considering opening international offices.
They discuss the challenges of ensuring your business has a cohesive brand identity worldwide, as well as how to find the right fit when it comes to regional leadership.
Perry also reveals what’s next on the cards for The Romans’ international growth plans.
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Social media experts with experience at LADbible and Great British Memes are the guests on PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.
How can brands show that they’re culturally-led on social media, without crossing a line or seeming too corporate?
PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast delves into the topic, hearing from George Bacon, founder of GBM Group, and Maya Orr, founder of Big Name on Campus (BNOC).
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.
Bacon has built a network of over 15 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, on pages such as GreatBritishMemes and Thatgirlpage. GBM Group’s meme pages have partnered with brands including Uber Eats, Jaffa Cakes, Persil, Warburtons and Bumble on ‘lo-fi’ social media ad partnerships.
Meanwhile, ex-LADbible and Lidl marcomms pro Orr now runs a ‘values-led’ influencer agency, BNOC, which aims to connect brands with influencers whose work is rooted in purpose.
Speaking to PRWeek’s deputy news editor, Evie Barrett, the pair discuss the most common mistakes they see PR and marketing teams make when trying to help brands seem relatable online.
Bacon and Orr share how a business should balance the risks and rewards of an active social media presence, from jumping on big trends to actively participating in comment sections.
The duo also give their views on whether there is still a place for more polished, traditional campaigns.
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How can PR pros support a colleague diagnosed with cancer? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode discusses this important topic. Our guest this week is Emily Luscombe, who is a partner at sustainability consulting firm ERM, where she leads the strategic communications specialism. She joins PRWeek’s Siobhan Holt (UK deputy editor).
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.
On this week’s podcast, Luscombe discusses her 2022 cancer diagnosis and talks about her experiences.
In the podcast, she explains how businesses and colleagues can better support cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses.
Luscombe candidly talks about her diagnosis, how she informed her management and colleagues, and how she handled the mental and physical aspects.
She offers her advice to those who may be going through a similar situation, and explains how business and the PR industry as a whole can better support cancer patients or those caring for someone going through treatment.
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Party conference season is almost upon us – and this week’s episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast looks at why public affairs and comms professionals should get involved.
Joining PRWeek UK editor John Harrington are Nick Williams, executive chair of international and public affairs at Burson London; and Katherine Morgan, a partner at DGA Group who leads the London public affairs team and is head of Europe public affairs.
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.
Our guests this week discuss why party conferences are important for public affairs and PR professionals, how they have evolved over recent years, and their expectations for the 2025 conference season.
They give their take on Reform UK’s conference on 5 and 6 September, which is expected to generate great interest amid a surge in support for the Nigel Farage-led party.
The opposite is expected to be true for the Conservative conference – although our guests explain why it’s still important to attend.
Williams and Morgan talk about their agencies’ plans for the different conferences. And they offer advice for newcomers about how to make the most of the ‘Glastonbury of the political calendar’.
The duo also offer their take on this week’s comms reshuffle at Downing Street, which has seen the return to No. 10 of Portland Communications founder Tim Allan.
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What are the biggest opportunities for PR to influence AI search results? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast delves into the topic.
Our guests this week are Ashley Wallace Jones, vice president of integrated marketing at PAN Communications; and Paul Stollery, co-founder and creative director at Hard Numbers.
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.
On this week’s episode, the guests discuss Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) – the next iteration of SEO, hailed by some as a “goldmine” for PR.
Interviewed by PRWeek UK’s deputy news editor Evie Barrett, the pair share their predictions for AI-search optimisation’s impact on the PR industry in years to come, and how those who haven’t yet started working in GEO can begin to do so.
They also discuss PR’s use of AI more broadly, explaining how the industry could currently be in an “AI hype cycle”.
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PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast looks at the global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market and the big trends comms professionals should know about.
Our guests both work in M&A for major consultancies: Oliver Mann, a partner in Kekst CNC’s London office, and Finlay Donaldson, associate partner at H/Advisors Maitland. They join PRWeek journalists Siobhan Holt and John Harrington this week.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or on your favourite platform.
Our guests examine how the global M&A market has changed throughout 2025, especially in response to President Trump’s tariffs and other geopolitical shifts.
They discuss how important M&A work is at their agencies, how this has changed over the past couple of years, and whether they plan to add extra services to serve clients who are looking at deals.
PR’s relationship with investor relations and the appetite for stock market flotations and private equity sales are also put under the microscope. And the comms professionals offer their predictions for M&A for the rest of the year.
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How can PR pros work better with journalists? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode finds out.
Our guest this week is Steph Spyro, deputy political editor and environment editor at the Daily Express, who joins PRWeek’s John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (deputy news editor).
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.
On this week’s podcast, the journalists discuss how their roles have changed in recent years, including the decline of print and the impact of artificial intelligence.
They talk about what they like, and don’t like, about how comms pros handle media relations in 2025. Topics covered include how they like to be contacted; the importance of speedy responses and subject-area expertise; the use of embargoes; and how AI is being used.
The trio offer their top tips for PR professionals to work well with journalists. They also give predictions for the future of the media.
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Esteemed entertainment PR figures Alan Edwards and Richard Dawes are the guests on this week’s Beyond the Noise podcast.
This week, PRWeek sits down with Alan Edwards, founder of Outside Organisation – who has handled PR for David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson and The Spice Girls – as well as Richard Dawes, managing director and co-founder of DawBell, who works with artists such as Oasis, Dua Lipa and Elton John.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
Speaking to PRWeek UK editor-in-chief Danny Rogers and deputy news editor Evie Barrett, the duo discuss 2025’s live music boom – covering highlights such as the Oasis reunion tour and Glastonbury.
They weigh up the comms opportunities and risks of music festivals, discussing the plethora of crises that have hit the headlines in recent weeks, and give their take on whether controversy can be considered a positive opportunity from a PR perspective in the current climate.
Other topics discussed include the mounting pressure on musicians to take political and environmental stances, and how brands can authentically form partnerships with artists at live music events.
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Sarah Waddington, the new chief executive of the PRCA, discusses her plans for the trade body in the latest episode of PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast. Waddington speaks to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington after moving to the chief executive role earlier this month, following six months as interim CEO.
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.
Waddington talks about the background to her involvement in the PRCA and how the trade body has fared in the recent “challenging market”. This includes how membership has shifted, with agencies that left in 2022 returning to the fold.
The CEO discusses her plans for the organisation, including introducing a professional management standards scheme, ‘pushing out’ more beyond London, producing an updated Public Affairs Code, and promoting DEI in the industry.
She discusses plans to help members adapt further to the AI age – and reveals whether she’s an AI pessimist or optimist. Waddington also gives her take on the general state of client/agency relationships and how the PRCA could help. And she updates on how members are coping with fees.
As PRWeek earlier reported, Waddington said the PRCA is conducting a review of its global operations that could result in partnerships with other professional associations or a withdrawal from some regions. She also gave details of recent redundancies at the trade body.
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Ahead of the UEFA women’s Euros final between England and Spain, PRWeek speaks to Lisa Parfitt, former managing director of Engine Sport, who is now co-founder of The Space Between, a creative marketing agency specialising in sport and entertainment. Parfitt is also a director at Women in Football, an organisation that is driving gender equality in the game.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
Speaking to PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt, Parfitt chats about the brand campaigns that have stood out to her during this year’s tournament. She also offers her analysis of the trends, such as purpose-led work.
Separately, she discusses online hate in sport and how organisations such as Women in Football and The FA are challenging discrimination, as well as sharing her views on the future of anti-racism gestures like taking a knee before matches.
In the episode, Parfitt explains how an evolving media strategy can build consistent momentum between tournaments, as well as which of the Lionesses could be ‘influencers to watch’, and what the lessons are for comms professionals looking ahead to tournaments such the men’s FIFA World Cup 2026.
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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.
Our guest is Jack Storry, head of corporate at Boldspace and author of the first Reputation Hits and Misses of the Week column – PRWeek’s new series examining who has handled their reputation adeptly or poorly in the past seven days.
Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and deputy news editor Evie Barrett, Storry looks at how the Co-op has handled the aftermath of the recent damaging cyber-attack. In particular, he commends the comms of Co-op chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq, who appeared on the BBC Breakfast sofa last week.
Separately, the trio discuss how the Coca-Cola Company deftly swerved a potential clash with President Trump.
Less positively, they also look at the comms handling of last week’s widely reported story about a girl being excluded from her school’s ‘Culture Day’ for wearing a Union Jack dress and wanting to speak about her pride at being British.
Meanwhile, we ask whether data company Astronomer got its comms right after its CEO and chief people officer were caught together on ‘kiss cam’ at a Coldplay concert – a major talking point in recent days.
We also ask: are brands ever right to ‘newsjack’ such incidents?
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PRWeek’s first Transparency Report has got a lot of people talking this week. The report gives a star rating to every agency in the PRWeek UK Top 150 based on the level of disclosure about parental leave policies, whether they are living wage employers, and also gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
Joining the podcast are Katie Eborall, head of north for Grayling, and a member of the Women in PR committee; and Sheeraz Gulsher, co-founder of People Like Us, the networking and campaign group for minority ethnic marcomms and media professionals that works with PRWeek on the Pay Gap Report.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, the guests discuss whether they are surprised at the results of the Transparency Report, which saw 25 agencies receive the top four-star rating and 30 receive zero stars.
They talk about why it’s important to be transparent as a comms business, with a focus on business success - research by PRWeek found the 25 four-star agencies strongly outperformed the Top 150 as a whole in the 2024 calendar year.
The duo also speak about the reputational issues for agencies that choose not to disclose the information.
Separately, our guests dig into some of the findings around parental leave policies and Living Wage payments and ask: is the sector doing enough?
This autumn will see the sixth iteration of the Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us. Click here for more information and to take part.
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What’s it like making the move from agency-side to an in-house role? That’s the topic of PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode.
This week, we hear from two leading in-house communications professionals about their experiences moving from agency to in-house roles.
Our guests are Alice Jenkins-Bruce, director of communications and content at Sky, and Lindsay Landi, head of PR and communications at Samsung UK.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
Speaking to PRWeek’s reporter, Elizabeth Wiredu, and UK editor John Harrington, Jenkins-Bruce and Landi explain why they switched to in-house roles, what surprised them most about the transition, and how they now approach client relationships and pitches.
They also discuss whether they approach measurement and ROI differently, the skills and perspectives they have gained and developed by working in-house, and what advice they would offer to someone considering the transition.
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Transparency - around salaries and parental leave policies at PR agencies - is the theme of PRWeek’s latest podcast.
PRWeek UK editor John Harrington and deputy editor Siobhan Holt are joined by Elena Lewis, data editor at PRWeek and sister title Campaign, to look at the big trends based on recent research.
Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.
The team discusses a new study by PRWeek that found only around one in four of the UK’s biggest PR agencies post salaries on their job ads.
They look at separate, newly-released research by PRWeek, as part of the UK Top 150 Consultancies project, into the proportion of agencies that have disclosed whether they pay the Living Wage or the London Living Wage.
The Top 150 questionnaire also asked agencies to declare their parental leave policies - the trio discuss how many did, and examine some of the big trends in the policies.
On the topic of transparency, UK PR agencies can submit their data for the upcoming Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us - click here for more information.
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