Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers and acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins, mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2025.

Andrew is the lead consultant PR, social, content and influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.

Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates. 

Before we start, the final entry deadline for The PRmoment Awards is 23rd January.

Also, check out the speaker programme for our latest PR Masterclass: The Intersection of PR and GEO. It’s another stellar line-up.

Here's a summary of what Andrew and PRmoment discussed:

Andrew’s summary of the PR pitch scene in 2025

“A tricky year for many agencies - stagnant economy, long lead times, rising costs, slow decision making, short in client demands and move from retainers to projects.

Trading has been challenging but moving in top 2026 with cautious optimism.

But. A bit of a tale of 2 agencies. On one side - agencies taking initiative - embracing AI into workflow, refreshing proposition, energetic, sharpening their brand and their offering. On the other, agencies standing still, leaning on past reputation and senior expertise without moving forward. These are the ones finding it tough - complaining about pipeline and ghosting. The ones that have adapted are picking up major wins - the industry feels split between the modern agencies and the ones getting left behind.

PR has a huge opportunity. Attention grabbing is more important than ever. The role of earned media role in this is more important than ever. PR can and should be at the centre of conversations. GEO provides a massive opp both in terms of search visibility and rep management.”

Here’s our round up of the biggest PR pitch wins of 2025:

JANUARY

Oxfam – Hope & Glory

National Lottery Operator (Allwyn Group) - M&C Saatchi

Budweiser brewing Group – Hanover

Government Digital Service- Four

M&A

Stagwell acquire Unicepta

Stagwell acquire Create Group

FEBRUARY

PITCHES

LinkedIn – Ketchum

Nomad Foods – Burson

Raddison – W

M&A

Publicis acquire BR Media Group

MARCH

PITCHES

Papa Johns – The Romans

Uber Boats – PC Agency

MGM+ – Academy

Capgemini – Fleishman Hillard

M&A

Touch Associates acquired by Impact XM/Riverside

Publicis acquires Lotame

The Hoffman Agency acquires CCGroup

APRIL

PITCHES

Heineken UK – Blurred

Tik Tok – Ready10

Tesco – Pretty Green and Tin Man

Plaidis Global (McVities Jaffa Cakes. Jacobs Cream Crackers, Mini Cheddars, Twiglets) – The Romans

Michael Page – Words+Pixels

M&A

WPP acquire Infosum

Brave Bison acquire The Fifth

MAY

PITCHES

Peoples Postcode Lottery – Smarts

Western Digital – Harvard

IP Office – Lansons team Farner

Waitrose – The Heard

M&A

Stakked acquire Radioactive

Publicis acquire Capitv8

M+C Saatchi – Dune 23

JUNE

PITCHES

Mars global snacking and pet care – Weber Shandwick Collective

Pladis – Headland

Asda – Smarts

Just Eat – Earnies

TK Maxx – Burson

M&A

Inkling merges with Eight&Four

Brave Bison acquire Mark Ritson MiniMBA

JULY/AUG

PITCHES

Cop30 – Edelman

Tokyo – Weber Shandwick

Lidl- Brands2Life

Innocent – Tin Man and Pretty Green

LEGO – Smarts

M&A

Real Chemistry acquire Greater Than One

MSQ acquire Precious Media and Wooshi

Teneo sells minority stake to LGT Capital Partners

FGS Global acquire Edmonds Elder

SWNS Media Group acquire Creatorville

SEPT

Pitches

Singapore Tourist Board - Splendid

Rangemaster - Stakked

Butlins - Popcorn

Hey Dude - Words+Pixels

Youngs Seafoods - Brazen

Nationwide Building Society, Popeyes, Ogi and DEBRA - Folk

M&A

Team Lewis acquire Instil Partners

M+C Saatchi acquire Womens Sports Group

FGS acquire Taplin, Downs & Young

OCT

Pitches

Vinted – Axe+Saw

Airbus – MHP Group

Formula E – M+C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment

Tomme Tippee- The Romans

Co-Op – Speed Communications

M&A

Headland acquire Bladonmore

Golley Slater - EOT

Next 15 merges 5 companies to form new B2B marcomms firm Pretzl

NOV

PITCHES

Warbutons - Burson

Samsung - Ogilvy

BMW Group - Kindred

Primark - The Romans

M&A

Omnicom closes Interpublic acquisition

VCCP merge Good Relations, Harvard and TeamSpirit to create VCCP Roar

Markettiers MBO

DEC

PITCHES

Carling appoint Ready 10

Lloyds Bank - Blurred

Puma and Doritos - The Romans

KFC - Here Be Dragons - Consumer PR

M&A

Havas - acquire Bearded Kitten

Right Formula Group acquire Crunch Communications