Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in October 2024.

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 launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.

Before we start, check out the programme for our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum. It’s on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London. Face-to-face tickets are expected to sell out, so if you want to come along, don’t hang about.

Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.

1.30 mins Andrews run down of this months biggest pitch wins

“It’s decent, the budget has created some uncertainty…its picked up a little slowed than I had expected post the summer but there's plenty going on.”

Formula E hires Soapbox – Soapbox also look after Matchroom Boxing, Pro Darts Corporation, Under Armour, AJ, Luke Littner and Eddie Hearn.

Primark hire Weber Shandwick to support global trust and reputation projects. Primark also work with Edelman in the UK and Ireland on corporate in and Citypress in the UK on corporate.

Asos hires The Earnies for consumer comms.

Typhoo also hire The Earnies

G- Shock hire Kingdom Collective –

National Energy System Operator (NESO) – Britain’s new energy body responsible for planning Britain's electricity and gas networks – appoint Brands2Life to deliver brand strategy and Eulogy to create a national advertising campaign.

Bafta film awards hire DDA

Pooch (healthy premium dog food company) & Mutt hire Munch

Dave's Hot Chicken hire Cut The bull

Epson, the global tech company hire Kindred on an ESG brief for internal and external audiences.

Ena Athletics, the premium performance sportswear brand hire Brand Nation

San Miguel hire MSL –

XIX Vodka hire Sunny Side Up.

Honda hire Exposure

Monopoly Lifesized hire One Green Bean.

21 mins Andrew talks us through this month's biggest PR M&A deals.

“There’s been a lot of people trying to get things through because of the budget”

Auspicious Group – A new creative services agency is formed via the acquisition of 2 film companies. Studio Yes and Blue Chalk Media. 3 businesses already have 40FTEs and $7m revenue.

Run by Rachel Pendered, co-founder of Media Zoo who will be co-CEO alongside Barnaby Cook co-founder of Casual Films and Mark Killik also previously from Media Zoo.

Helios Global Group (healthcare comms) gets backing from Telemos Capital (PE).

Berkeley Communications acquire Danebury Research – a PR survey company.

Blue Communications acquire Saltwater Stone.