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What lies ahead for comms this year? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode takes a look.
Joining the podcast this week are Sarah Scholefield, group chief executive at Accordience, and Greg Jones, Europe CEO at Smarts.
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 offer predictions on key areas including AI, ESG, influencer marketing, the comms workforce and the PR agency model.
Scholefield and Jones discuss how client needs are likely to evolve in 2026, and speak about trends with client budgets and retainers. They also reveal how optimistic they are overall for the year ahead.
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PRWeek UK journalists pick some of the most significant stories of 2025, in the final episode of the Beyond the Noise podcast of this year.
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.
This week, John Harrington (UK editor), Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) and Eliza Wiredu (reporter) each choose two stories or events from the year with implications that are likely to be felt in 2026 and beyond.
Topics covered include:
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In the latest Beyond the Noise podcast, PRWeek UK shares advice and top tips on how to win an award in PR.
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 Melissa Clarke, senior events manager at Haymarket Media Group, who oversees several PR award schemes, including the annual PRWeek UK Awards.
Also on the podcast is experienced industry judge David Fraser, founder and managing director of PR agency Ready10. His business has won numerous PR awards, from the PRCA to the CIPR schemes – including several PRWeek UK Awards – and this year received its first Cannes Lion for its work on ‘The Meal’ campaign for McDonald’s.
In this episode, the pair chat about what it takes to win a PR award. They discuss what the judges are looking for, how to structure an award entry, and explain some of the common mistakes people can make when entering a campaign.
They also offer advice to smaller agencies entering PR competitions on a limited budget and discuss the impact of AI technology.
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How have press trips changed in recent years, and how can they be improved? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.
The latest episode of Beyond the Noise features Grace Parker, senior partner at Finn Partners, and Heather Delaney, MD and founder of tech comms specialist Gallium Ventures.
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.
This week’s podcast looks at whether press trips have increased or declined in importance in recent years, and how they have changed.
Talking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, the guests discuss whether it is more difficult now to get journalists to attend press trips.
The issue of expectations around coverage is examined, and the duo discuss how, if at all, journalists and influencers should attend the same trips.
Delaney and Parker also reveal their own press trip ‘horror stories’ and offer top tips for getting them right.
Do you have any press release horror stories or unusual moments that you would like to share with PRWeek? Comments can be published anonymously. Email john.harrington@haymarket.com.
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In the latest Beyond the Noise podcast, PRWeek chats to the nation’s PE teacher Joe Wicks and explores the state of influencer marketing, The Body Coach’s ‘Activate’ campaign, and the impact of HFSS regulation on brand campaigns.
On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt and deputy news editor Evie Barrett are joined by Joe Wicks, fitness coach, author and social media star; and Julia Bainbridge, partner at Freuds Group, who leads the health and behaviour change unit.
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, Wicks and Bainbridge, who partnered with the UK Government to create the ‘Activate’ campaign, explain how the collaboration began and share insights into the national campaign.
They examine the shifting landscape of influencer marketing, and reflect on the long-term goals and broader implications for health communications.
The guests also address Wicks’ recent ‘Killer Protein Bar’ stunt in collaboration with Channel 4, and analyse the impact of HFSS regulation on brand campaigns and partnerships.
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The latest Beyond the Noise podcast explores progression and promotions for women in the industry.
PRWeek news reporter Elizabeth Wiredu speaks with Clara Biu, head of consumer communications at Allwyn UK, and Laura Gillen, UK managing director at We. Communications, who share advice on how to get promoted.
Both Biu and Gillen, are involved in this year's Mentoring Programme from Women in PR and PRWeek.
Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.
The discussion covers career progression, mentorship, and what it takes to build an inclusive environment for women in PR.
Addressing the “penalty” many women face, such as taking time off or working reduced hours for family or personal reasons, the guests outline the tangible changes the PR industry must make to better support women through key life stages.
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What do clients really want, and not want, from agencies? That’s the focus of the latest PRWeek podcast, featuring Angela Balakrishnan, executive director of strategic communications and public affairs at the Information Commissioner's Office.
Beyond the Noise, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.
Speaking to PRWeek deputy editor Siobhan Holt, Balakrishnan offers some dos and don’ts of client pitching and advises on how to get on pitch lists in the first place.
She explains what the brief should include and when budgets should be discussed.
Elsewhere, the comms professional offers a glimpse behind the ICO’s upcoming campaigns.
Balakrishnan also speaks about cyber attacks and offers advice for comms and PR professionals on how to handle data breaches for clients.
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Christmas campaigns are under the spotlight in PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.
Our guests are Greg Double, creative director at Burson, and Lora Martyr, executive creative director at Taylor Herring and St Marks Studios.
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’s UK editor, John Harrington and deputy editor, Siobhan Holt, the guests discuss this year’s biggest Christmas campaigns, such as John Lewis, Aldi and Sainsbury’s.
The duo chat about which festive campaigns stood out to them and why; and which campaign, in their opinion, didn’t work as well.
In the episode, the pair analyse the earned media opportunities for this year’s festive films, and chat about influencers.
The two creatives also argue that the incoming restrictions on TV and online promotion of food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) present an opportunity for the PR and comms industry.
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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.
On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt is joined by two senior agency leaders – Graham Goodkind and Emily Morgan – to discuss the key factors behind agency longevity, focusing on profitability, agency culture and retention of talent.
Goodkind, former managing director of Lynne Franks PR and founder and chairman of Frank PR, is celebrating the agency’s 25th anniversary this year
Emily Morgan, managing director of operations and innovation at Red Consultancy, is also marking 25 years with the business.
In this episode, the pair chat about agencies avoiding over-reliance on major clients, how to achieve long-term profitability and the impact of AI on the PR and comms sector.
The pair also offer one piece of advice to PR agency bosses, and discuss the importance of maintaining physical and emotional well-being when running a PR agency, and how leadership attitudes shape company culture.
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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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