Diversity in PR – undoubtedly
one of the most discussed areas of our business, yet the needle on our
overwhelmingly white, able and middle-class industry appears to be moving at a
glacial pace.
Often attention is focused on race, sexual orientation and gender – especially in the boardroom and on the payroll – but less so on broadening entry into PR from beyond the public-school alumni.
Casting my mind back to mid-2010, a recent graduate in post-credit crisis Britain and working two jobs to fund an unpaid PR internship, I was taken on at Richmond Towers Communications (as it was back then) on a six-week paid internship. There was promise that it was going to get better for a state school Northerner dreaming big down south – and nine years later here I am, associate director at R&T overseeing our dynamic Drinks Group.
However, despite pledges from the government, PR industry and broader business landscape things really haven’t got better in general for those looking to climb the ladder into professional life. In fact, recent research from the government’s social mobility commission is pretty damning – social mobility has been stagnant in the UK since 2014 and entry into professional jobs is still largely dependent on our parents’ careers.
We all understand the value
of diversity for creativity, innovation and experimentation – this is the
lifeblood of PR and what we as agencies sell to our clients – so why is the
industry not moving quickly enough in terms of social mobility?
Since I joined the business in 2010, I have witnessed and contributed to a culture of openness, inclusivity and diversity in terms of recruitment. We have introduced an apprenticeship scheme, hired those that skipped university altogether and pay our work experience support the London Living Wage – all in a bid to ensure we cast the net as far as possible to get the best person for the job, and the results I’ve no doubt are contributing to our industry-leading client retention and award-winning work.
But there is a still a long
way to go. The challenge to our white, able and middle-class industry remains
valid – we just need to remember that sowing seeds of all sorts across our
businesses by encouraging applications from a more diverse talent pool is a sure-fire
way to grow creativity from within.
Brand engagement agency R&T (Richmond & Towers) has been appointed by Brooklyn Brewery to oversee its social media presence in the UK. Following on from a successful year of leading UK PR for Brooklyn Brewery – which saw the launch of its new pilsner – R&T has won the brand’s… Read more
Are you ready to dive into the latest consumer behaviour trends? With the world around us continuing to evolve at pace, it’s more important than ever to keep up with what consumers are thinking, feeling and doing right now – and take a step back to consider the effect this… Read more
Get set to read up on the latest (and tastiest) goings on in the fast-evolving world of PR and social media. November has been a juicy month, so we recommend you grab yourself a snack and a cuppa (or suitable drink of choice depending on the time you’re reading this,… Read more
Richmond & Towers (R&T) has been selected by the New Zealand Lighter Wines programme to manage the trade and consumer PR launch of its Lighter Wines initiative in the UK. The project, which aims to deliver varietally expressive, full-flavoured wines with less alcohol than their conventional counterparts, continues to make inroads in the UK at a time when consumers are looking to drink less, but better across the board. The Clerkenwell-based agency will be charged with raising awareness of the natural viticultural methods used to create the wines in addition to driving fame for brands including The Doctor’s, which recently launched in Tesco, and two new own-label lighter wines in M&S. 18 leading New Zealand wine companies are taking part in the seven-year, NZ$17million (£8.7m) research and development initiative, led by New Zealand Winegrowers and co-funded by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries’ Primary Growth Partnership (PGP). The account will be handled by Richmond & Towers’ Food & Drink Team and overseen by Food & Drink Director, Simon Mowbray. Mowbray comments: “We are delighted to be supporting this ground-breaking project. With a record summer underway, it’s incredibly exciting to support the initiative as it continues to bear fruit and UK retailers recognise the potential in meeting the growing demand for lighter alcoholic wines.”
Brand engagement agency R&T (Richmond & Towers) has been appointed by Brooklyn Brewery to oversee its social media presence in the UK. Following on from a successful year of leading UK PR for Brooklyn Brewery – which saw the launch of its new pilsner – R&T has won the brand’s… Read more
Are you ready to dive into the latest consumer behaviour trends? With the world around us continuing to evolve at pace, it’s more important than ever to keep up with what consumers are thinking, feeling and doing right now – and take a step back to consider the effect this… Read more
Get set to read up on the latest (and tastiest) goings on in the fast-evolving world of PR and social media. November has been a juicy month, so we recommend you grab yourself a snack and a cuppa (or suitable drink of choice depending on the time you’re reading this,… Read more
Estrella Damm, the Mediterranean beer of Barcelona, has appointed Richmond & Towers (R&T) as its UK PR agency following a competitive pitch. The Clerkenwell-based agency will be tasked with positioning Estrella Damm as the premium Mediterranean lager of choice amongst trade and consumer audiences, increasing awareness of its authentic Mediterranean origin, and bringing its provenance and authenticity to life. R&T’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Estrella Damm. Brewed in Barcelona using 100% local and natural ingredients since 1876, Estrella Damm is one of the fastest growing brands in the ‘World Beers’ category, at a time when the segment itself is growing, and within it, Mediterranean beer brands are showing particularly strong growth. * Overseen by Deputy Managing Director, Matt de Leon, and led by Senior Account Director, James Brown, the account will be handled by a cross-agency team that brings together the skills, expertise and experience of R&T’s Food & Drink and Lifestyle divisions. The team will report jointly to Estrella Damm and Marston’s plc, who own the UK distribution rights. John Clements, Head of Commercial Marketing, Marston’s Beer Company said: “We were impressed by R&T’s experience, creativity, passion and enthusiasm. In selecting them as our communications partner, we knew we were getting a strategically minded, creative agency who we could rely on, and who would be a great fit with our own teams here at Marston’s and Estrella Damm.” Anna Ferrer Magrià, Export Brand Manager, Estrella Damm, said: “Estrella Damm is a very exceptional brand, with a unique way of doing things, and very specific messaging. It is important to us that we work with partners worldwide that understand this and can use their skills to build on the platform we’ve already created and enhance our global credibility and awareness. We’re very pleased to be welcoming R&T into our family and look forward to working with them.” R&T Deputy Managing Director, Matt de Leon concluded: “Estrella Damm is one of the world’s great brands, with true authenticity, heritage and class. It has a fantastic story to tell and we’re delighted to be working with them to tell it. Our account team has exceptional drinks and lifestyle brand experience, and we’re looking forward to helping Marston’s and Estrella Damm hit their UK volume growth targets over the coming months and years.” * Source: CGA and IRI.
Brand engagement agency R&T (Richmond & Towers) has been appointed by Brooklyn Brewery to oversee its social media presence in the UK. Following on from a successful year of leading UK PR for Brooklyn Brewery – which saw the launch of its new pilsner – R&T has won the brand’s… Read more
Are you ready to dive into the latest consumer behaviour trends? With the world around us continuing to evolve at pace, it’s more important than ever to keep up with what consumers are thinking, feeling and doing right now – and take a step back to consider the effect this… Read more
Get set to read up on the latest (and tastiest) goings on in the fast-evolving world of PR and social media. November has been a juicy month, so we recommend you grab yourself a snack and a cuppa (or suitable drink of choice depending on the time you’re reading this,… Read more