PR News June 2026

Talacom receives Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for commitment to Armed Forces in the workplace

Oxfordshire-based international PR consultancy Talacom has become one of only a small handful of PR agencies to ever receive the UK Government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS) Silver Award, formally recognising the agency’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme from the Ministry of Defence, encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Talacom, a company which is owned by its employees, has developed strong relationships with the Armed Forces community through its communications work on behalf of the National Memorial Arboretum and the Royal British Legion. These Armed Forces charities have been cornerstone clients since the business was founded in 2007 and this experience has helped shape Talacom’s internal approach to supporting members of the Armed Forces community within its workforce.

“Since our founding almost two decades ago, we have provided support to Armed Forces charities, delivering coordinated media and storytelling campaigns that reach millions of people,” explains Andrew Baud, Chief Executive Officer of Talacom. “Over this time, we have gained a deep understanding of the unique skills, commitments and challenges at the heart of service life, allowing us to create internal policies and practices that emphasise flexibility and fairness for anyone in the Armed Forces community, from Reservists to cadets, veterans to military spouses”.

Talacom signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2023 and previously held the DERS Bronze Award. Senior members of the Talacom team have also attended defence employers’ briefings facilitated by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for the South East (SERFCA) to gain a deeper appreciation of the skills and adaptability Reservists bring to both military and civilian life.

The citation for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver award recognises that “Talacom is a strategic communications and public relations agency that has demonstrated a sustained and meaningful commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community. Alongside inclusive employment policies, the organisation uses its professional expertise to amplify Armed Forces voices and promote wider understanding of service life”.

Image caption: Talacom’s Chris Rowland attends a defence employers’ briefing at RAF Benson with the Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association for the South East (SERFCA) 

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Grant Thornton UK appoints Red Consultancy as retained PR agency

Professional services firm Grant Thornton UK has appointed Red Consultancy as its retained PR agency in the UK.

Working alongside Grant Thornton UK's well-established communications team, Red will support the firm’s press office and develop and deliver high-impact campaigns that amplify Grant Thornton’s distinctive voice in the market, showcasing the firm’s growth, investment in talent, commitment to client experience through digital innovation and commercial expertise.

Jodie Promod, director of communications at Grant Thornton UK, said: “Red Consultancy has a strong track record in creative corporate communications and their fresh approach to campaigning immediately stood out. Just as importantly, there was a strong sense of alignment with our team and culture from the outset, which made them feel like a natural fit. We’re excited to see how their ideas, strategic creativity and collaborative approach will support our continued growth.”

This latest win further strengthens Red's corporate credentials, adding to an established portfolio of clients spanning technology, financial services, aviation, property and FMCG.

The account will be led by Ben Lovett, managing director, Corporate & Technology at Red Consultancy, who added: "Grant Thornton UK is a dynamic and ambitious advisor undertaking an exciting transformation journey that is set to challenge convention right across the UK professional services sector. Its commitment to growth, innovation and delivering meaningful value for clients makes for a hugely compelling story. We're thrilled to be partnering with the business to elevate its profile and support its continued evolution.” 

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Marriott Communications relaunches as advisory-led model

Sunderland-based Marriott Communications has announced a major strategic repositioning, reflecting the changing role communications plays within modern organisations.

The firm, founded by Samuel Marriott-Dowding, has launched a new advisory-led structure centred around three core disciplines: Strategy, Influence, and Reputation.

The move follows a period of international growth and increasing demand from organisations seeking support with stakeholder engagement, reputation management, public affairs, executive positioning, and strategic decision-making.

Founder and CEO, Samuel Marriott-Dowding, said: "The world has changed and organisations are facing increasingly complex environments. They are dealing with geopolitical issues, stakeholder expectations, reputation challenges, public scrutiny, organisational change, and growing competition. This repositioning reflects both the work we are already delivering and where we believe the future of the communications profession is heading."

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Signal AI MCP launches

Signal AI today announced the launch of Signal AI MCP — a connector that makes Signal AI’s full suite of AI-native intelligence capabilities readily available to AI agents and large language model (LLM) applications.

Signal AI MCP is one of the first enterprise intelligence solutions to expose individual analytical building blocks directly to AI agents, enabling organisations to build trusted, board-ready analysis workflows without manual data export or intermediary steps.

As enterprise teams accelerate their adoption of agentic AI workflows, the quality of underlying intelligence is a critical bottleneck to more accurate and trusted results. Generic search results and keyword-based data sources feed agents with noise rather than priority signals, producing costly outputs that cannot be trusted at the executive level. 

Signal AI MCP solves this by putting Signal’s AI-native intelligence, built on the world’s most comprehensive content set with best-in-class entity detection, sentiment analysis, and proprietary risk analytics, directly at the point of analysis.

“Enterprise AI agents are only as good as the intelligence they run on,” said David Benigson, CEO of Signal AI. “Most are working with generic data that was never built for the precision and trust that reputation and risk management demands. Signal AI MCP changes that. Your agent now has access to the same AI-native intelligence our platform has always delivered, directly, at the point of analysis. This is how everyone will use data in the future.”

Unlike competing approaches that route agent requests through a single black-box endpoint, Signal AI MCP exposes Signal AI’s core capabilities as individual tools that AI agents can call, orchestrate, and combine, giving intelligence teams the flexibility to design custom workflows and enrich analysis with third-party data sources.

“The organisations building serious agentic AI workflows are quickly discovering that the data layer is where they win or lose,” said Wiktor Szary, Product Director at Signal AI. “Signal AI MCP gives those teams Signal AI-quality intelligence, the entity detection, risk analytics, and narrative understanding that took us years to build, accessible at the point of analysis.”

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Cognito appoints Rhys Merrett as director to strengthen fintech offering

Cognito has appointed Rhys Merrett as director to strengthen its fintech practice.

Merrett will work with a global team of finance and technology specialists operating across four continents to deliver international communication campaigns. 

Merrett joins from The PHA Group, where he spent four years as head of tech PR, running accounts across B2B technology, fintech and financial services, from payments infrastructure, neobanks, Web3 and investment platforms.

His experience spans fintech's breadth: early-stage ventures and firms with global footprints. He joins at a moment of momentum, as UK fintech investment rose 32% year-on-year in the first quarter, with projected full-year funding of $7.5bn. More than 4,400 fintech firms are now active in the UK, nearly tripling in a decade.

Brian Norris, managing director at Cognito, said: "Rhys brings exactly the kind of experience and sector fluency our customers need. He knows the sector: the clients, the journalists, the story. I’m happy to have him on the team.”

Rhys Merrett said: "I’m here to make Cognito the defining name in global fintech PR. We have the consultants and expertise to answer the challenges facing fintech from GEO to strategic comms through to media relations. We’re ready to build on our existing strong relationships to help the best of fintech accelerate reach and growth."

The appointment follows Brian Norris joining as managing director of Cognito's UK office and Simon Evans joining as head of financial services in London.

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Britain sees AI closing the door on young workers - but isn’t asking who gets locked out

As graduate vacancies fall to their lowest level in years, two-thirds (66%) of working-age UK adults believe AI will reduce entry-level job opportunities for young people, with just 5% expecting it to create more roles, according to new research conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Taylor Bennett Foundation.

That view is even more pronounced among the people closest to the transition: 84% of full-time students expect AI to mean fewer entry-level roles — the highest of any group surveyed. The findings suggest those about to enter the labour market are the most convinced the door is closing on them.

When asked which groups of young people would be most affected by AI, 6% identified those from ethnic minority backgrounds — the lowest figure of any group listed. Disabled young people were named by 12% of respondents, neurodivergent young people by 14%, young people from low-income households by 21%, and those aiming for administrative or clerical roles by 31%.

Koray Camgöz, CEO of the Taylor Bennett Foundation said:

“Two-thirds of the public can see that AI is about to reduce entry-level jobs. What they haven’t seen yet is who will be hit hardest. AI won’t create new inequalities at work. It will widen the disparities that already exist.“

“Entry-level roles are the front door to a professional career. When that door starts to close, the people who already face the steepest climb — and that includes ethnically diverse young people — get pushed furthest back. Without intentional action from employers, the gaps that have always existed at the start of people’s careers will simply get wider.”

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Paying off debt and renting without stress: how Millennials and Gen Z are rewriting Britain’s money milestones

More than half of Millennial and Gen Z adults in the UK (54%) believe traditional financial goals, such as buying a first home or marrying by a certain age, no longer resonate with their lives. Meanwhile, almost six in 10 UK adults aged 18-45 (59%) believe home ownership is inaccessible for their generation today and a further 45% see themselves renting for the foreseeable future.   

A new report by Citypress found that Millennial and Gen Z adults are disengaged with traditional measures of financial success. The findings were developed in partnership with Censuswide, following a survey of 2,000 people aged between 18-45.

In light of wider economic and political pressures, just over half of respondents (52%) believe traditional money goals are no longer realistic. The report finds a generational shift in how financial success is defined. Instead, a new set of money milestones is emerging – from paying off a credit card, to funding a career break or building a three-month rainy-day fund.  

As a result, the research found 40% of 18-45 year old's believe financial services brands like banks, pensions providers or insurers are increasingly ‘missing the mark’ and failing to connect with Millennials and Gen Z in their current circumstances.

 Joey Ng, Head of Financial Services at Citypress, said: “For many younger adults, traditional markers of financial success are simply out of reach. Buying a home by 30, retiring at 65 or feeling ‘sorted’ by a certain age are no longer relevant financial milestones. 

“But young people aren’t giving up on ambition. Financial success just looks different when you’re navigating higher housing costs, later life stages, mounting student debt and rising cost of everyday life."

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Beko appoints Speed to lead UK Communications

Beko, the home appliance manufacturer, has appointed Speed Communications to lead its UK communications programme, spanning both consumer brand PR and a significant trade and corporate communications remit.

A subsidiary of Beko Europe, Beko UK & Ireland generates over £1bn in annual revenue. Its portfolio spans six of the industry’s leading brands – Beko, Hotpoint, Whirlpool, Indesit, Leisure and Blomberg – which together account for around a third of all large appliances sold in the UK.

The account will be led by Rebecca Broomfield, Ddirector of consumer, and Clare Cooper, director of business & corporate, with Speed delivering an integrated communications programme designed to strengthen Beko’s position across both consumer and trade audiences.

On the consumer side, the agency will manage a world-class press office, increase brand consideration across the full portfolio, and deliver compelling brand stories to stand out in the home appliance market.

Speed will also lead a fully-integrated, always-on trade and corporate communications programme designed to position Beko as the authoritative voice in the UK home appliance sector.

Kelly Pepworth, Managing Director at Speed Communications, said: 

“We are thrilled to be working with Beko – an innovative, fast-growing brand who are globally recognised for their commitment to sustainability. Together, we’ll be shaping creative, high-impact PR campaigns that drive awareness and strengthen their reputation, positioning them at the heart of homes across the UK. They have big ambitions and so do we, it’s going to be a brilliant partnership.”

Vijay Bhardwaj, Marketing Director at Beko UK & Ireland, said:

“Speed demonstrated a strong understanding of our brand, our values and our ambitions for the UK market. Their creative thinking, strategic approach and expertise in both consumer and B2B communications made them the standout choice. We’re looking forward to working together to deliver impactful campaigns that celebrate Beko and all that we stand for."

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SourceCode launches inflection, an AI-Powered foresight service

SourceCode Communications has launched SourceCode Inflection, an AI-powered foresight and strategic intelligence service designed to help organisations anticipate change, identify emerging opportunities, and proactively navigate brand, business and reputational risk.

Developed in partnership with foresight consultancy Next Up, the offering combines AI-powered signal detection, simulation modeling and expert strategic consultancy to help organisations understand the external forces most likely to disrupt industries, reshape customer behavior and challenge business growth in the years ahead.

The service goes beyond traditional trend monitoring by combining continuous horizon scanning with AI-driven simulation capabilities that model how emerging signals, trends and external drivers may evolve over time. By analysing potential outcomes, interdependencies and downstream impacts, SourceCode Inflection helps organisations prioritise the developments most likely to materially affect their business, market position and reputation.

Rather than operating as a standalone data platform, SourceCode Inflection combines machine intelligence with hands-on consultancy from Next Up’s foresight specialists and SourceCode’s communications experts, translating complex future scenarios into actionable recommendations for communications, marketing, reputation management and commercial strategy.

“Organisations today don’t just need more information, they need a clearer understanding of which changes will actually matter,” said Giles Peddy, EVP, UK & Europe, SourceCode Communications. “SourceCode Inflection combines Next Up’s foresight and simulation expertise with SourceCode’s strategic communications experience to help clients identify the signals most likely to drive disruption, understand their potential impact, and act before competitors do.”

Powered by Next Up’s proprietary combination of AI signal scanning and simulation methodologies, the service continuously analyses global datasets, including news, patents, policy developments, research and cultural shifts, to identify emerging patterns and model how they could shape industries, markets and stakeholder expectations over time.

“Most organisations can identify trends after they emerge. The real challenge is understanding which signals will create meaningful change, how those shifts could play out over time, and what actions leaders should take in response,” said Josh McBain, CEO, Next Up. “By combining AI-powered scanning, simulation modeling and hands-on strategic consultancy, we’re helping businesses move from reactive decision-making to proactive strategy.”

Through bespoke signal radar reporting, scenario analysis and ongoing advisory, SourceCode Inflection helps organisations stay ahead of emerging risks, uncover new opportunities for innovation and growth, and make smarter strategic decisions in an increasingly unpredictable landscape.

The launch builds on SourceCode’s continued investment in AI and technology, complementing solutions including Demand Cloud, Amplify, Brand Guardian and the Impact Dashboard, creating an integrated ecosystem spanning foresight, activation, reputation management and measurement.

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Four new clients in four weeks for The Digital Voice PR agency

Specialist B2B PR and amplification agency for the adtech and technology marketing sector, The Digital Voice, has been appointed as the agency of record for four leading industry players.

The Digital Voice specialises in helping adtech and martech companies articulate complex technologies, build thought leadership, and secure media coverage in a rapidly evolving regulatory and competitive landscape. The agency is also the publisher of Adtech Juice, providing an ‘adtech uni’ educational website as an industry resource.

Its new clients include Brave Browser & Search Engine, quality assurance platform adnomaly, AI decisioning and revenue optimisation technology for sell side media Assertive Yield, and non-profit AI content transparency initiative OpenAttribution.

Andy Squire, UK Lead for Brave Ads, said: “Brave Ads is at a critical moment in its history as it cements its place in the UK as a leading partner for independent, incremental paid search. We wanted to support this development by engaging a PR agency we felt real synergy with, both in terms of market positioning and culture. The Digital Voice was an obvious fit and, while we’re global business, we were keen to partner with a specialist cemented within the UK and EMEA.”

The Digital Voice has also expanded its remit with its longest-standing client partner impact.com, adding support for the partnership management platform’s operations in France and Spain, alongside its established UK and US work.

The four new client wins were won over a four-week period. “All our client partners lead the field in adtech and martech, and to add four more exceptional ones makes us incredibly proud,” said Julia Linehan, CEO and founder of The Digital Voice™.

The company operates a specialist-led model: a global team of 32 experts across press, content, events, social, multimedia, marketing and awards.

“Combined with our deepened partnership with impact.com – now across four major markets – this marks an exciting new phase of growth for our 32-strong team at The Digital Voice. We look forward to delivering high-impact B2B PR amplification that elevates our new partners’ profiles and drives meaningful industry conversations,” added Linehan.

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Joe Public wins minus 196 brief

Joe Public will be working with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I to lead a new trade PR brief for its Minus 196 brand, a popular Japanese ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverage.  

Minus 196 gets its name from its signature Freeze Crush Technology™, where whole fruits are frozen with liquid nitrogen at -196°C, crushed into a powder, and infused with vodka, soda, and shochu. 

The agency impressed with an insight-led integrated approach, designed to drive stronger commercial momentum with UK retail customers and shoppers. 

Joe Public’s remit will focus on building retailer advocacy and shopper demand simultaneously, with an earned-first strategy that connects culture, consumer behaviour and retail relevance. The agency’s creative platform will feature across trade PR, as well as spanning shopper marketing, media, social and OOH, in collaboration with Minus 196’s wider agency roster. 

Amy Searle, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Joe Public PR, said:
“When we received the brief, we were immediately energised by the opportunity to work with a brand that already owns such a distinctive cultural space, and has built genuine momentum in the UK market. What excited us the most was the opportunity to translate that existing cultural heat into an earned-first trade campaign... across the wider disciplines of shopper, media, social and OOH."

Aoife McGuigan, Head of Category Expansion at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, added: “Joe Public immediately understood the scale of the opportunity for Minus 196 and presented a response that felt both strategic and creatively ambitious. Their thinking combined cultural insight with clear commercial understanding, and they brought a level of integration and channel thinking that really stood out.

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Four new clients in four weeks for The Digital Voice PR agency

The Digital Voice, has been appointed as the agency of record for four leading industry players.

Its new clients include Brave Browser & Search Engine, quality assurance platform adnomaly, AI decisioning and revenue optimisation technology for sell side media Assertive Yield, and non-profit AI content transparency initiative OpenAttribution.

Andy Squire, UK Lead for Brave Ads, said: “Brave Ads is at a critical moment in its history as it cements its place in the UK as a leading partner for independent, incremental paid search. We wanted to support this development by engaging a PR agency we felt real synergy with, both in terms of market positioning and culture. The Digital Voice was an obvious fit and, while we’re global business, we were keen to partner with a specialist cemented within the UK and EMEA.”

The Digital Voice has also expanded its remit with its longest-standing client partner impact.com, adding support for the partnership management platform’s operations in France and Spain, alongside its established UK and US work.

The four new client wins were won over a four-week period. “All our client partners lead the field in adtech and martech, and to add four more exceptional ones makes us incredibly proud,” said Julia Linehan, CEO and founder of The Digital Voice™.

The company operates a specialist-led model: a global team of 32 experts across press, content, events, social, multimedia, marketing and awards.

“Combined with our deepened partnership with impact.com – now across four major markets – this marks an exciting new phase of growth for our 32-strong team at The Digital Voice. We look forward to delivering high-impact B2B PR amplification that elevates our new partners’ profiles and drives meaningful industry conversations,” added Linehan.

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Tigerbond and Owendale launch partnership to help clients turn ai capability into commercial growth

Tigerbond, has announced a new partnership with Owendale Advisory, a specialist AI transformation consultancy, designed to help organisations turn artificial intelligence into meaningful commercial growth.

Bringing together Owendale’s expertise in AI strategy with Tigerbond’s strengths in communications, reputation and digital marketing, the partnership will aim to help clients bridge the growing gap between AI capability and business impact.

While many organisations are experimenting with AI tools and technologies, few have a clear strategy for using AI to strengthen brands, businesses and reputations. The partnership aims to address that challenge by helping leaders move beyond experimentation to unlock real commercial impact with a human-centred approach.

The accelerating rise of AI continues to redefine the workforce, with *97% of executives expressing urgency in adopting AI in operations. This new partnership is focused on the integration of AI into marketing and communications through targeted workshops, audits and training. The partnership will also focus on navigating the rise of Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), helping brands improve how they are surfaced, understood and cited across AI-powered search and discovery platforms.

Laurna Woods, CEO of Tigerbond, said: “Organisations across every sector are experimenting with AI, but many are struggling to connect those capabilities to real brand impact. This partnership with Owendale is about closing that gap. 

“We’re asked every week about what we should do now with AI that will help not only with future discovery but brand growth, so we’re joining up the dots to give clients a framework that separates fact from fiction and into real takeaways that can be implemented today.” 

Gary Crawford, Co-Founder of Owendale, said: “AI is not just changing how organisations operate. It is changing how markets move, how customers discover brands, and how businesses create trust and competitive advantage. At Owendale, our role is to help leaders cut through the noise, understand where AI is creating real strategic shifts, and build practical roadmaps for action. Partnering with Tigerbond allows us to connect that intelligence and transformation thinking directly to brand, reputation and growth, helping clients move beyond experimentation and respond with clarity, confidence and commercial intent.” 

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City AM's Christian May, Alys Denby and Steve Dinneen urge PR to turn its back on AI slop

Vote in our poorly designed, entirely unrepresentative snap poll: Have you ever sent AI produced content (aka slop) to a journalist?

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Lynn Louca joins Sprint Partners as partner

Sprint Partners has announced the appointment of Lynn Louca as partner, leading the consultancy's marketing and new business offer for agencies and brands. In this role, she will oversee marketing, new business and lead generation services, while supporting brand clients with strategic communications planning and capability building.

Louca joins from WPP's Clarion Communications, where over a 14-year career she rose to managing partner and head of growth, delivering consecutive years of double-digit growth, a 75% average pitch conversion rate. She also led Aldi's consumer communications programme for more than a decade.

Lynn Louca said: "I'm looking forward to helping agencies unlock smarter, faster growth, whether that's sharpening how they pitch, building a steadier pipeline or getting the right team around them, and helping brands build more effective, high-performing marketing strategies and agency partnerships."

Louca's appointment will enable Founder and CEO James Thomlinson to focus on strategic business advisory and AI transformation services, working with agency and brand founders, CEOs, CMOs and senior leadership teams to drive growth, operational efficiency and commercial impact.

James Thomlinson, founder and CEO, Sprint Partners, said: "Lynn is one of the standout growth leaders in our industry, a rare blend of strategic thinking, commercial sharpness and relentless drive. I'm genuinely excited to welcome her to the business.

Her appointment is the fourth hire for Sprint Partners, joining Muhsin Hussain as AI and Automation Consultant, and Callum Phelps and Sarisha Ganesan as Marketing Executives.

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HaysMac strengthens media and marketing team with Gary De Souza

HaysMac, the accountancy, tax and advisory firm, today announces the appointment of Gary De Souza as Director in its Media, Marketing & Advertising (MM&A) sector team.

Gary joins from Moore Kingston Smith, where he spent over a decade advising media, marketing and creative businesses across the UK. Working within a specialist media team since 2016, he has supported a broad range of clients, from entrepreneurial start-ups through to established and international groups, delivering compliance services alongside commercially focused advice. This includes supporting businesses with financial planning and strategic decision-making, such as valuations, cash flow forecasting and group reorganisations; helping them to scale sustainably and navigate increasing complexity.

His experience spans the creative industries, including independent agencies, production houses and growing media businesses, providing practical, insight-led advice tailored to each stage of the business lifecycle. He has also supported numerous international creative businesses establishing operations in the UK.

At HaysMac, Gary will play a key role in expanding the MM&A team, deepening client relationships, driving new business growth, and enhancing the firm’s offering to creative businesses in a rapidly evolving landscape.

HaysMac’s MM&A team is recognised for its deep sector expertise and long-standing client relationships, supporting organisations across the creative industries with a commercially driven, forward-thinking approach at every stage of their journey.

Speaking of his appointment, Gary, Director at HaysMac, said: "I’m excited to be joining HaysMac at such a dynamic point in its journey. The firm has built a strong reputation in the media, marketing and advertising space, underpinned by deep sector expertise and a people-first culture.

There is a clear sense of momentum and ambition across the firm, and I’m looking forward to building on this — working closely with clients to provide practical, commercially focused advice as they navigate growth and complexity in an increasingly fast-moving sector." 

Natasha Frangos, Managing Partner at HaysMac, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Gary to HaysMac. He brings a strong track record in the media, marketing and advertising sector, alongside a clear passion for supporting ambitious, entrepreneurial businesses.

Gary’s appointment forms part of our ongoing strategy to invest in high-calibre talent, enhancing the breadth and depth of technical expertise across the firm. These strategic hires are key to strengthening our sector and market-led approach and ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality, insight-driven advice to our clients.”

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The Booker Prize Foundation appoints Work & Class

Work & Class has been appointed by the Booker Prize Foundation to lead the launch of a new Booker Prizes Quick Read, All Around the World: Stories by Booker Prize Writers, a short story collection curated by Booker Prize-winner Roddy Doyle and featuring Booker and International Booker Prize nominated authors. 

Work & Class is tasked with developing a creative consumer PR campaign to generate awareness of the book and encourage more adults to read for pleasure, including audiences who may not currently see themselves as readers or who have fallen out of the habit of reading, and clearly communicating the charitable mission of the Booker Prize Foundation.

The work will focus on presenting the contributing authors and the short story format in a way that feels open, engaging and easy to step into, offering an accessible route into world-class storytelling.

The Booker Prize Foundation is a registered charity designed to inspire more people to read – and write – the world’s best fiction. 

The Booker Prizes Quick Read, which is being launched in collaboration with the Reading Agency to celebrate 20 years of Quick Reads, supports that aim by offering high-quality, engaging and accessible short form fiction, that fits around people’s lives and reading habits.

Quick Reads are short, accessible books written by popular authors and made available in communities across the UK. Unlike other short-form fiction, Quick Reads go through a rigorous review process to ensure accessibility – including testing for readability, concentration, and suitability for those building reading confidence.

Laura Burch, Founder and Managing Partner of Work & Class, said: “It is no exaggeration to say that discovering a love of reading as a child changed my life. A mobile library would visit my council estate every week while I was growing up. I’d take my chosen books home and read them from cover to cover, doing the same again week after week. Brilliant fiction opened my world right up; showing me new perspectives, new people, new ideas, and made me believe I could be anything I wanted to be. Over time, I noticed the ‘Booker Prize Shortlisted’ sticker and began to associate those books with stories I knew I would love. So, it’s my actual dream, to be working with the Booker Prize Foundation, and to be doing so on a project that’s all about widening access to great fiction.”

Gaby Wood, Chief Executive at the Booker Prize Foundation added: “Work & Class are the obvious choice for this brief, for their ability to connect with audiences who are often overlooked by traditional cultural marketing. They understand how to meet people where they are, while helping more people see themselves in great fiction. That perspective felt like a natural fit for this project, which is hugely important to the Booker Prize Foundation and of which we’re very proud."

This partnership marks the first client win for Work & Class since leaving Ready Media Group to operate independently this April, adding to their existing roster of clients, including Sky, Greenpeace, Youth Music, Mountain Warehouse, icelolly.com and Sport in Mind.

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A quadruple for Ambitious

Bristol‑based strategic communications consultancy Ambitious has closed its financial year with a series of client wins across education, financial services, mobility and the built environment, resulting in it's annual revenues breaking £2m for the first time.

Among the new partnerships, Ambitious has secured a contract with CGS a Cambridge‑based international education group operating independent schools and colleges across the UK, US, China and Malaysia.

In financial and mobility services, Ambitious was appointed following a competitive pitch to deliver a strategic communications brief for BNP Paribas Arval UK, an industry leader in full-service vehicle leasing and mobility solutions. Leasing over 200,000 vehicles in the UK.

The agency has also secured a brief with Kinrise to support the communications around the regeneration of Canon’s Wharf, the Grade II listed waterfront estate into a low‑carbon, design‑led workplace, bringing energy, culture and community back to Bristol’s Harbourside.

In addition, Ambitious has significantly expanded its relationship with Mira, the UK‑based bathroom and showering manufacturer. Initially appointed in 2025, the agency has grown its remit following successful work in the installer market, expanding into the specifier market and adding a new corporate affairs brief.

Laura Lear, Managing Director at Ambitious, said: “Over the past year we’ve been very deliberate about how we build the next phase of the agency. Achieving B Corp certification was an important milestone, sitting alongside substantial investment in AI training and capability across the business. That work has been about future‑proofing how we operate and strengthening our senior counsel and delivery, rather than chasing short‑term advantage.”

She added: “What we’re seeing now is a clear shift in the scale and complexity of briefs coming to the agency, particularly from organisations operating in more regulated or high‑scrutiny environments. These appointments reflect confidence in our people, our thinking and our track record, and in an agency that is building for the long term.”

Alongside its client wins, Ambitious has made a series of senior internal appointments to strengthen leadership and delivery capacity across the business. Liam Britnell has been promoted to Associate Director, Chloe Tonkin steps into the role of Client Services Lead and Amy Ferrier has been promoted to Head of Production; while Zoe Bagnall and Luke Allsop have both been promoted to Senior Consultant. Nomalanga Tshuma has also joined the agency as Office Manager. The moves reflect AMBITIOUS’s focus on developing talent from within as it supports increasingly complex client briefs.

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Signal AI appoints Thor Mitchell as chief product & technology officer

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Fire on the Hill and Fourth Day to merge to expand international strategic communications offer

Fire on the Hill, and Fourth Day, along with its sister company Quatrième Jour, are merging to create an international strategic communications agency with wholly owned offices in London, New York, Paris and Manchester.

The combined agency, which will operate as Fire on the Hill, will bring together Fire on the Hill’s strengths in international communications, strategic advisory and purpose-led storytelling with Fourth Day’s expertise in media relations, strategic content and multi-market campaign delivery.

The merger gives clients access to a broader senior team, deeper strategic and digital expertise and stronger international delivery. The agency will support organisations across sectors including technology, energy, manufacturing, investment and education, from high-growth startups to established global brands.

The combined business will manage an international partner network across APAC, EMEA and LATAM, enabling clients to access on-the-ground expertise across key global markets.

Chris Clarke, co-founder and managing partner, Fire on the Hill said: “Clients are facing a more complex communications environment, shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, AI disruption and declining trust. They need partners who can give senior advice, protect reputation and deliver campaigns across markets. Bringing our two agencies together gives us the scale, expertise and agility to do that.”

“Fire on the Hill and Fourth Day share the same ambition: to build an international agency with the reach clients need, alongside the senior attention and entrepreneurial energy they value”, added Sarah Mulder, co-founder and managing partner, Fire on the Hill. “Our merger gives us the opportunity to grow further by bringing together the characteristics that have made both agencies distinctive.”

A shared ambition and complementary expertise

“This is hugely exciting for our teams and our clients”, added Nikki Scrivener, director and co-founder of Fourth Day. “For me, the most rewarding part is bringing together people who share the same culture and values, while adding complementary expertise and experience - giving us an even stronger platform to do great work for our clients.” 

“It's rare to find such like-minded people with a similar international outlook” added Xanthe Vaughan Williams, director and co-founder of Fourth Day. “Fourth Day's presence in Europe and Africa is the perfect complement to Fire on the Hill's transatlantic offices."

The combined business will operate as Fire on the Hill across all regions, with a team of more than 35 full-time consultants. The founders of each business will form the leadership team of the new agency, with a focus on growth across the US and Europe, while continuing expansion in regions such as Asia Pacific. 

Fire on the Hill Ltd was founded in London in 2017 by Chris Clarke, Sarah Mulder and Nick Ward, with its New York office opening in 2022. Fourth Day was founded by Nikki Scrivener and Xanthe Vaughan Williams in 2002, with its Paris office, Quatrième Jour, opening in 2006, led by Antoine Billon. The group also has a presence based in Casablanca, serving clients in North Africa as well as France.

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New north west agency expands with senior hires

A former global internal communications lead for Dr Martens is one of two senior hires at recently-launched brand communications and experience design business, WonderMaker.

Natalia Ashton-Togher has joined the agency as client and strategy director, having recently held senior positions at Tangerine and STM AGENCY.

She brings with her more than 20 years’ experience in brand, communications and client services for businesses including Airbus, the NHS, Dr. Martens and Booking.com, delivering everything from EVP development and leadership communications to large-scale employee engagement campaigns and live experiences.

Natalia is joined by ex-journalist and PR expert, Richard Knowles, who joins as PR and content director following a three-year spell at north west law firm Napthens, which included managing the brand’s PR, internal communications, and the launch of two new podcast series.

With more than 25 years gained supporting clients including Volkswagen, WD-40, Persimmon Homes and Liverpool FC, Richard’s role will cover external and internal, written, visual and audio content.

Natalia said: “It’s a really exciting time to be joining WonderMaker, as we continue to support businesses with defining an employer value proposition, building leadership visibility, creating a standout employee event and developing a communications strategy that connects local, national and global teams."

Richard added: “As the communications age continues to shift, it’s providing businesses and teams with new variables on how best to deliver key messages that drive a measurable difference with people.

“With this comes the need for businesses to combine strategic communications, immersive experiences and integrated storytelling to create work that resonates with people and drives measurable impact.”

WonderMaker, which operates across employee experiences, brand activations, launch events as well as communications strategy, internal comms and campaigns, was launched earlier this year by former north west agency owner Lee Ashton.

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Hope&Glory co-founder James Gordon-Macintosh on Nils Leonardgate

On this PRmoment podcast we're chatting about Nils Leonardgate.

Is comparing earned media creativity and paid media creativity pointless? Normally we all have this debate when watching the annual PR/ad creative bun fight at Cannes but it's come a bit early this year following Uncommon founder Nils Leonard's latest activation of his "let's start a fight' strategy where he says: "The PR industry should be scared, not just of Uncommon but in general."

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Limitless PR launches dedicated professional services team and Manchester base

Limitless PR has launched a new professional services team and opened a new location in Manchester. It's dedicated Professional Services PR team will support firms operating across legal, financial, accountancy and corporate finance sectors.  

The team includes new associate directors Stuart Anderson and Emma Radcliffe, who will work alongside associate director Justin Strong and be supported by agency director Michael Gregory.  

Combined, the team has more than 100 years of experience, having worked for firms such as Napthens, Hill Dickinson, Keoghs, Glaisyers ETL, Clarion Wealth, Beevers and Struthers and Mathys & Squire. In addition, the team has worked for banks including Co-Operative, Yorkshire Bank, and NW Mutual, and has completed projects for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.  

The new team coincides with Limitless PR establishing a presence in Manchester, with a new base at Colony Fabrica in New Islington, which adds to its other locations in Blackburn, Lancaster and Preston.  

Michael Gregory, director at Limitless PR, said: “The launch of our dedicated professional services team is a natural next step for us as we look to expand our reach. We have a team of talented and experienced people who have built a strong track record working with organisations across legal, financial and consultancy sectors, so formalising this expertise allows us to deliver even greater value to clients. 

“At the same time, opening a base in Manchester puts us in the heart of a thriving professional services ecosystem, and it’s an exciting move that supports our long-term growth ambitions. Furthermore, bringing seasoned professionals such as Stuart and Emma, who have decades of experience, into the Limitless fold solidifies our offering in this sector.”

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Gold79 reaches net zero four years ahead of target

This World Environment Day, Leeds and London-based PR and content agency Gold79 has announced it has achieved its net zero goal four years early, marking a major milestone in the agency's commitment to responsible business and sustainable growth.

Since establishing its emissions baseline in 2023, Gold79 has reduced its total carbon footprint by 60%, from 132.1 tCO₂e to 53.0 tCO₂e. The agency's overall footprint is now 44% below where its own net zero pathway projected it would be at this stage.

Gold79's emissions have reduced at an average rate of approximately 26% per year since 2023, far exceeding the UK's long-term national rate of emissions reduction. This comes at a time when research suggests almost half of UK businesses (49%) are slowing progress on net zero, and only 36% of SMEs have formal net zero targets in place.

The agency originally set out on its net zero journey just three years ago, partnering with net zero consultancy, Flotilla to achieve net zero by 2030. Through a combination of strategic planning, operational changes and a whole-hearted focus on reducing emissions across its entire value chain, Gold79 has reached that goal significantly earlier than anticipated.

The agency has made particularly substantial progress across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, outperforming its interim targets by more than 90%.

Gold79’s net zero achievement follows a rapid period of progress for the business, which included becoming a certified B Corporation™ in 2025.

Tamarind Wilson-Flint, Co-founder and Director of Gold79, said:

"Achieving net zero years ahead of schedule is an incredible milestone for our team, and the partners we work with. It proves that ambitious environmental goals don't have to be reserved for large corporations. Sustainability is now embedded in how we operate and forms part of our wider commitment to doing business better. This latest achievement, alongside our B Corp status, proves that purpose and performance can go hand in hand.”

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Burson and H+K crisis veterans combine to launch Frith Partners

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Torque Agency Group to develop ELM Mobility’s communications strategy

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CORNERSTONE Appoints TFD as Strategic Communications Agency of Record

TFD (Think Feel Do) has been appointed by CORNERSTONE, the silicon photonics founded at the University of Southampton, to deliver a communications programme to support business development, brand awareness, and engagement. The contract was awarded following a competitive pitch process, and will see TFD deliver an integrated campaign encompassing media relations, strategic content, social media, lead generation, and industry events, targeting multiple stakeholder groups, including industry, academia, and government. 

Founded in 2014, CORNERSTONE is at the heart of the UK’s silicon photonics ecosystem. In addition to providing an open-source silicon photonics prototyping foundry, it offers dedicated startup support and funding, runs a successful schools outreach programme, and plays an instrumental role in silicon photonics and semiconductor policy engagement. With the communications programme, TFD will increase awareness of CORNERSTONE’s differentiators and full breadth of its offering, highlighting its role as the UK's leading silicon photonics hub.

Commenting on the appointment, TFD CEO and Founder, Stephanie Forrest, said: “2026 is set to be a landmark year for silicon photonics. Not only has the technology emerged as a clear solution to mitigate the energy demands of AI, it will also support a host of other critical use cases, from quantum scaling to future optical networks. Given this momentum, investment is surging and silicon photonics is increasingly featuring on the national agenda. 

“CORNERSTONE plays a pivotal role in the evolution and development of the UK’s silicon photonics’ sector, and we’re proud to partner with them to raise awareness about the important work they do at such an exciting time for the sector overall.”

“TFD’s deep tech expertise and impressive track record stood out during the pitch process, and we’re excited to partner with them to amplify our work and drive engagement across the UK ecosystem,” said Tom Carnay, Head of Business Operations at CORNERSTONE. “With silicon photonics entering a critical phase of industrial deployment, there is a significant opportunity to strengthen connections between research, industry, and end users within the UK, and we’re looking forward to working with TFD to communicate our vision to industry, academia, and government.”

The appointment adds to TFD's growing deep tech portfolio, which includes leading industry players such as Entrust and Hexagon Geosystems, and innovative startups including Aquark Technologies and Qoro. TFD is also the agency of record for The Economist Impact 5th Annual Commercialising Global Quantum event.

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SWNS Media Group rebrands to Attention Industries

SWNS Media Group today announces its rebrand to Attention Industries, marking a new chapter for the business as it builds on more than 50 years of trusted journalism and storytelling while expanding its capabilities for brands, PR teams and publishers.

Attention Industries brings together journalism, creativity, production and audience understanding to help clients not just capture attention, but turn it into measurable impact.

The group will operate under the Attention Industries masterbrand, while SWNS will continue as a core brand, maintaining its respected position in the UK news ecosystem and beyond.

Founded in Bristol in the mid-1970s, SWNS (originally South West News Service) has grown into a nationwide and international operation with offices across the UK and US, becoming one of the UK’s leading suppliers of original news stories, pictures and video to publishers. Over time, the business has evolved into a multi-specialist group supporting clients across the full content and distribution journey - from insight and storytelling to production and distribution.

Sam Barcroft, CEO, Attention Industries, said:

“Over the last 25 years, the boundaries between news, media, marketing and entertainment have fundamentally changed. Trusted journalism matters more than ever but attention now moves fluidly across publishers, creators, platforms and communities. That’s why today we’re launching Attention Industries: a modern media group built to create trusted stories, original formats and meaningful attention across today’s media landscape.”

The rebrand will roll out across digital platforms and group communications in the coming weeks. Clients and partners will continue working with the same teams and brands, with Attention Industries providing a clearer, client-facing umbrella for the group’s combined capabilities.

Group brands include SWNS, 72Point, Creatorville, OnePoll, PinPep and Oath.

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Dublin creative agency dives into offshore energy sector with latest client win

Irish creative studio, The Studio of Possible, has been appointed by offshore wind and marine survey specialist, Sulmara, to support the business’s next phase of growth through strategic positioning, brand storytelling and communications.

The partnership spans brand strategy, positioning, digital, social, live experiences and commercial communications, with the work focused on helping Sulmara evolve from a traditional survey-led narrative towards a more future-facing position centred around seabed intelligence.

Operating within the rapidly expanding offshore wind and marine infrastructure sector, Sulmara is increasingly positioning itself not simply as a business that gathers seabed data, but as a strategic intelligence partner helping clients make smarter, faster and more confident decisions across offshore energy projects.

Founded in Dublin in 2021, The Studio of Possible works at the intersection of strategy, creativity and commercial growth, helping organisations clarify their value, strengthen market positioning and communicate more effectively across digital, brand and experience-led channels.

Séamus Begley, founder and creative director at The Studio of Possible, said: “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Sulmara, a business operating at the forefront of offshore wind and marine innovation.

“We believe strategic storytelling and positioning have an important role to play in supporting the future growth of offshore wind, helping businesses not only stand out commercially, but also connect more effectively with investors, partners, talent and the wider industry.”

Miek King, Head of Global Sales at Sulmara, commented: “We were looking for a partner that could understand the complexity of our work, while also helping us communicate the bigger commercial value behind it. 

“The Studio of Possible immediately recognised that Sulmara’s role goes beyond traditional survey work and has helped us build a clearer, more future-focused narrative around seabed intelligence, innovation and the role we play in supporting smarter offshore energy decisions.”

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New Admiral insurance campaign tackling pre-existing conditions

Comms agency The Folk Group has launched a new campaign with partner Admiral Insurance to help people navigate what they need to declare when taking out travel insurance. 

The campaign is aimed at tackling a key behavioural gap where many are unclear which pre-existing medical conditions they should declare to insurers. 

Titled Something to Declare?, the campaign has launched with a mock airline safety video starring BBC’s Richie Anderson. The film forms part of an earned-first strategy, combining consumer research, the costs of treatment abroad, commentary from Admiral’s in-house experts, and practical advice from Simon Calder. 

The collaboration also saw Simon Calder and Admiral work together on a new online checklist to make declaring conditions easier for customers alongside a new email reminder service to prompt customers to declare everything, reinforcing the brand’s strategy of Always Looking Out For You. 

Simultaneous to the PR campaign, Admiral has also launched online video content activity to drive awareness and consideration of Admiral’s travel insurance products. 

Research commissioned as part of Something to Declare? found nearly six million Brits admitted to intentionally not declaring a medical condition, while 30% said they were unclear about what their policy covers.  

Sharon Flaherty, CEO of The Folk Group, said: “Rather than leading with fear, we wanted to meet people in a recognisable holiday moment and use humour to make people aware of what needs to be declared to their travel insurer. The airline safety demonstration format immediately signals travel and highlights a moment most travellers don’t pay enough attention to; mirroring the same behaviour found when taking out travel insurance policies. 

“As well as raising awareness, we knew it was important to do something that actually tackles the issue. That’s why we worked with Admiral to take steps towards simplifying the travel insurance process, creating a pre-travel checklist and plans to send more email reminders to customers who may have not declared all their medical conditions in the coming weeks.” 

Head of Brand at Admiral Insurance, Katie Dulake, said: “We understand that travel insurance can be complicated for some people, particularly when it comes to pre-existing medical conditions, and we know there’s still some uncertainty around what people need to declare and why it matters. 

“We wanted this campaign to tackle the issue in a way that felt relatable and genuinely helpful. Working with our PR partners The Folk Group, Something to Declare? was developed to stop people getting caught out, providing tools like our checklist to make the process clearer.”

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Scoop appointed as agency partner for Pins Leisure Group

Scoop, the Manchester-based brand communications agency, has been appointed as agency partner for Pins Leisure Group (King Pins and Star Pins), adding the fast-growing competitive socialising, bowling and entertainment brand to its growing portfolio of hospitality and leisure brands.

Activity will span all Pins Leisure Group sites across England and Scotland alongside regional-specific campaigns in Edinburgh and Liverpool.

The brief covers national press office, creative activations, regional media engagement and influencer strategy, including gifted and paid creator partnerships tied to the World Cup, summer season and site-specific campaigns.

King Pins and Star Pins are both part of the Professionals at Play Group and have grown rapidly since launching in Manchester in 2023, with sites now open across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The brand has worked to redefine the bowling category with an experience-led offering designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering over a dozen gaming formats including bowling, arcade, shuffle board and more. 

Tom Dellow, PR and Communications Lead at Scoop, said: “Both King Pins and Star Pins have a real opportunity to build meaningful connections across all of their regional markets, something more and more brands are looking to solve. Our approach combines regional insight with PR and influencer strategy across sites, to create campaigns that feel locally relevant while building a strong national presence.”

James Travis, Head of Brand Marketing at Pins Leisure Group, said: “King Pins and Star Pins have always been about more than bowling - and working with an agency that understands what we’re about makes all the difference for our upcoming campaigns. From supporting our very first King Pins opening in 2023 to returning with a clear view of our brand and customers across the entire estate, Scoop has consistently shown they get the brand and experience. They presented creative angles that were really fun but commercially smart, and as we grow, we need a partner who can do that with us."

The appointment follows a strong run of new business for Scoop, which has added several hospitality and leisure clients across the last 12 months, strengthening a portfolio of clients such as Popeyes® UK, Albert’s Schloss, 200 Degrees Coffee and Museum of Illusions. 

The new partnership with Pins Leisure Group also follows Tom Dellow’s promotion to PR and Communications Lead at Scoop, joining the agency’s Senior Leadership Team as it continues to scale. Bethan Clarke has also been promoted to Campaign Manager, with both set to play a key role in leading the Pins Leisure Group account and supporting Scoop’s continued growth. 

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Ranieri wins KEF UK & Germany PR retainers after competitive pitch

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Tiptree Names Orange PR & Marketing as national PR agency

Orange PR & Marketing has been appointed as the national PR agency for Tiptree following a competitive pitch process, as the iconic British brand looks to further strengthen its national consumer profile and wider brand storytelling. 

The agency will support Tiptree with strategic national PR activity spanning consumer, farming, lifestyle and food media, helping to drive awareness of the brand’s heritage, products and cultural relevance across the UK. 

Founded in 1885, Tiptree is one of Britain’s most recognisable food brands. Best known for its jams and marmalades, the brand has become synonymous with quality British preserves and is stocked across retailers, hospitality venues and foodservice locations around the world. Alongside its iconic preserves, Tiptree’s range also includes products such as tomato ketchup, sweet spreads and, most recently, nut butters as the brand continues to evolve its offering for modern consumers. Tiptree is also a LEAF-accredited farm and this year forms part of the Beacons of Excellence tour, recognising its leading sustainability practices and commitment to responsible farming.  

Orange specialises in food and drink PR, working across challenger, start-up and heritage-led brands. Its portfolio includes PerfectTed, Europe’s largest matcha brand, Cocoba, the luxury chocolate brand known for its indulgent hot chocolates and gifting ranges, as well as start-up health and wellness food and drink brands including Heylo and Betta. The agency was also recently reappointed for a third year by Fairfields Farm, the farm-to-table crisp producer known for its homegrown potatoes and sustainable farming approach.  

Liz Millin, Marketing Manager at Tiptree, said: “We were looking for an agency that understood both the strength of our heritage and the opportunity to continue evolving the brand’s national presence. Orange brought a huge amount of creativity, enthusiasm and strategic thinking throughout the pitch process, alongside a genuine understanding of the food and drink sector. We’re looking forward to working together on a number of exciting projects moving forward.” 

Megan Dorian, Founder at Orange PR & Marketing, added: “Tiptree is one of Britain’s most iconic food brands, so to be appointed following a competitive pitch process is incredibly exciting for us. As an agency, we love working with brands that have genuine heritage, loyal audiences and strong stories to tell. Tiptree already holds such a special place within British food culture and we’re looking forward to helping bring that story to life through creative campaigns, strategic media relations and culturally relevant storytelling.” 

The appointment marks another significant win for Orange PR & Marketing as the agency continues to expand its presence within the food, drink and lifestyle sectors.

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