Gary King

This article in PRWeek UK Evie Barrett is a great leveller for leaders in our sector. NoTurningBack2020 has been championing and educating 18-25 year olds about the many and varied career paths in PR, Communications and Marketing since 2016. Our Early Careers Outreach programme is delivered by young people working across Comms & Marketing in our sector. They speak at 6th form colleges, Academies and non Russell Group universities across the UK. Their key messages are beautifully voiced in this piece by some of PR Week's 30 under 30. 1. Shine a light on the many and varied careers in our sector "I would love for people to have a deeper understanding of what it means to work in the industry,” said Natalie Phillips Marks and Spencer. Amy Moore account director, influence, Weber Shandwick “When I was at school, I didn’t even consider PR as a job option.” 2. You don't need a degree to get on 'Degrees should no longer be a barrier to entry, argues Lucy Somers, group deputy director of digital PLMR, who reflects on starting her own career and not wishing to go to university, but struggling to find comms apprenticeships. 3. The sector needs more cultural competence Tani Fatuga, Hard Numbers 📈 “It’s crucial for PR and comms professionals to develop a deeper understanding of different cultures and communities if we want to effectively communicate campaigns to a diverse target audience. 4. The sector needs more socio economic diversity Méganne Tillay account manager Byfield: “I think there is a systemic issue around privilege in relation to socioeconomic diversity in some elements of the comms industry, particularly at the larger agencies and in the City [of London]. Get in touch with NTB2020 Ambassador Early Careers Outreach team to find out what you can do to help change the face of the marketing communications sector for good. [email protected] Sarah Bishop Adrian St Clair Walcott powered by f1 Recruitment Limited Brands with Values James Hewes Avril Lee https://lnkd.in/eqhhXmGE

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Some nice coverage for our PR client The Talent Labs (Formerly The Firm) in theHRDIRECTOR on its research findings that show HR needs to step up when it comes to data and joining the dots between talent acquisition, development and management. Link in comments 👇 #HR #peopleanalytics #Talent #futureofwork #HRmarketing

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Is your PR agency's climate policy a turn off for top-talent? In 2024, our PR salary guide showed that 60% of the PR industry care if their agency works with a fossil fuel giant, Havas were stripped of their B Corp status because of their work with Shell and the UN Secretary general called for creative agencies to stop greenwashing. Based on these points alone, having no climate policy (let alone working with fossil fuel giants) is affecting your talent attraction. Check out my article on CIPR Influence to gain tips on how to boost your talent retention (and attraction) with a climate positive policy. https://lnkd.in/ewFJ2GwH

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💡 Did you download our latest 2024 Most Attractive Employers student survey in the UK report?? The survey provides insights into student preferences across various industries, highlighting the importance of employer branding and communication when attracting top talent. We also reveal emerging trends and the companies considered most attractive by future talent, offering valuable data for refining employer branding strategies. 📊 Not on the rankings list? Don't worry! With data from over 32,000 UK respondents, we can offer tailored industry and audience trends to refine your employer branding strategy. Gain invaluable insights into your target audience's preferences and stay ahead with key competitive analysis. You can download the report for free here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e9Tb-h2r #EmployerRankings #TalentInsights #FutureOfWork Universum

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PR’s ageism problem – ‘the sector is getting left behind’ How bad is the problem of ageism in PR, and how should the sector respond? Comms recruitment specialists speak frankly about an issue that risks holding the industry back. Amanda Fone, founder and chief executive of f1 Recruitment Limited highlights the issue succinctly: “Age in the workplace is the final protected characteristic to get the attention it needs, and the comms sector, with an average age of about 27 years, especially in agencies, needs to improve its ability to hire and retain multi-generational teams.” https://lnkd.in/dHpYYghm #PR #marketing #communications #recruitment #ageismintheworkplace #back2businessship

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As part of Leeds Digital Festival back in September, I hosted a webinar with Jonathan Paget asking the question, ‘are tech marketers practicing what they preach?’ This webinar came off the back of our latest research report looking at the marketing readiness of Tech and IP-led companies. One of the most interesting insights we uncovered was the number of businesses that believe they have a genuine USP. However, in our experience, this is often not the case…Find out what else we uncovered here:https://lnkd.in/eUb7xqYx

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The scope of communications is changing, and data continues to prove what we hear in the market. As CCOs and senior communicators broaden their remits, the teams they oversee increase in value to the CEO. Read more from Eleanor Hawkins on reporting structure changes in the function and why it’s important. https://lnkd.in/gag_sXKa

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*Runs to add this event to calendar* When we talk about systems needing to be dismantled to build better diversity and inclusion into the way we do business, this is exactly what we are talking about. #DEI #EthnicityPayGap

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Future proofing organisations and attracting Gen Z / Gen Alpha is something everyone talks about - creating strategies that both retain existing supporters and magnetise your organisation to a younger audience is crucial to maintaining income and establishing new activists. But I tell you something which no one thinks would work for attracting new audiences - national service. Seriously. Who is advising these people? It’s beyond parody at this point.

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🌍 Charity CMOs: Are You Truly Harnessing the Power of Purpose-Driven Marketing? 🌍 As a CMO in the charity sector, your role goes beyond conventional metrics. You’re mobilising movements in a rapidly evolving landscape. With compassion fatigue rising by 30% across the UK (source: Charity Digital 2023) 📉 and competition for attention at an all-time high 📱, the real question is: Are you building lasting connections, or merely seeking conversions? 📊 Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer reveals that over 60% of people trust mission-driven brands more than traditional institutions—especially when they communicate authentically. Here are three ways to rethink your impact and connect meaningfully: ✨ 1. Shift from Data-Driven to People-Driven Storytelling Stats show that emotional engagement—especially through storytelling—can increase donation rates by up to 50% (source: Classy.org). Real impact stories resonate. Ask yourself: Are you telling stories that evoke empathy, or simply reporting numbers? 🤝 2. Make Authenticity Your Strategy, Not Just a Tactic People give to people, not brands. Research reveals that supporters are twice as likely to donate to organisations that showcase transparency and real faces (source: CharityComms). Are you allowing your organisation’s authentic voice to come through, or are you stuck in “safe” messaging? 💻 3. Use Digital Tools to Enhance, Not Replace, the Human Element Personalisation can boost engagement by 26%, but only when paired with human-centred outreach (source: McKinsey). Real transformation comes when digital tools amplify—not replace—human connection. Are you striking that balance, or is automation diluting your impact? ✨ You’re in a unique position to lead change by sparking genuine, enduring engagement. Are you fully embracing your influence as a catalyst for lasting impact, or are you settling for short-term results? 💬 Let’s drive this conversation forward. Share your experiences, and let’s collectively elevate our sector. Together, we can inspire more than donations—we can inspire movements. 💪🌱 #CharityCMO #PurposeDrivenMarketing #NonProfitLeadership #DigitalStrategy #CharitySectorUK #MarketingTransformation

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Wondering when your social posts have the highest engagement rates? Don't miss out on our free roundtable where you'll discover why timings matter in order to maximise ROI on social platforms. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ecfgd_SZ #socialmedia #recruitmentnetwork #recruitment

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Is business development currently your biggest headache? Certainly, two recent surveys suggest this is the case for Agency Leaders. According to a report in PRmoment, research from The Pulse Business Ltd states that 63% of PR & Comms Agency CEOs are grappling with new ways to grow their businesses. And the recent BenchPress State of the Agency Nation Report (for agencies over £1m) highlights that 40% of Agency Leaders cite winning new business as their biggest challenge. Would you like to take a quick but effective diagnostic that will help you better understand how to treat this headache? My business development scorecard has been specifically designed to help agencies better understand their level of fitness when it comes to sales. By asking searching questions around: 1️⃣ Positioning 2️⃣ Process 3️⃣ Planning 4️⃣ Pitching You'll identify where your strengths and weaknesses lie across the agency. Test it on your senior team to establish if there is alignment (you might be surprised - often times there isn't!). And if it throws up suprises, I'd be happy to hop on a no-obligation call to discuss the findings. Let me know how you get on. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eZKF99kp

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🔥 Burnout Concerns Among Marketers 🔥 New research from the Chartered Institute of Marketers (CIM) reveals that 56% of marketers fear burning out. The relentless pace of the industry, coupled with mounting pressures and roll out of new technologies, has left many professionals feeling close to overwhelmed. 💰 Budget Worries 💰 But that’s not all. 59% of marketers worry that brands will cut marketing budgets due to economic pressures. As companies tighten their belts, marketing departments are bracing for potential cutbacks. 💼 Salary Stagnation 💼 Adding to the stress, a significant 18% reported that their salaries remained unchanged. Meanwhile, just over a third (36%) saw modest increases ranging from 1% to 5%. It’s a delicate balancing act for marketers as they navigate both burnout concerns and financial stability. During recent conversations many professionals seemed to have lost some of passion and enthusiasm about their roles. Surely more needs to be done to help ease the burden on marketing professionals? I’d love to hear some thought about how people remain passionate about your chosen career in a tough economy. Feel free to share your thoughts below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehn2zcy8 #Burnout #MarketingCareer #Motivation

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Generation Z, aged 18 to 25, is now making its mark in the workforce. But are they ready for the demands of work? Our new report, sponsored by Junior Achievement, delves into Talent Acquisition managers and HR leaders' perspectives on Gen Z. Curious about the strengths and weaknesses of the Gen Z workforce? Wondering how companies are approaching their recruitment and training? Explore the insights in this compelling new report, accessible for free at HROToday.com. #JuniorAchievement #HROToday #GenZ

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As the UK prepares for the general election on July 4th, we, as B2B PR and marketing professionals, must prepare for any changes a new government may bring. 🗳️ From economic policies and regulatory changes to sustainable and ethical practices, our latest blog explores the potential changes and benefits the upcoming election could usher in for B2B PR and marketing. Continue reading here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eNuiu8PZ #UKElection #B2BPR #Marketing

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The questions don't do the damage. The answers do. So Sam Donaldson, the former ABC News anchor, once famously said. And creativity and media training? The words have never really gone that well together. The issue with so much media training out there is that it's become so standardised, off the shelf, a manic cut n' paste job - and wheeled out whenever there's a crisis. However every reputational issue (good, bad or indifferent) is individual and highly nuanced - and more so given the role of social media. So it needs real creative thinking as to how you navigate it, along with intense craft and care, every time. Never any room for one size fits all.  And that's exactly the same with creative work, of course. Our new offer at Launch under Sarah Skinner is just that. Because whilst reputation is all you have, creative thinking and a cool head is just what you need. Come and talk to us. Our questions are good. And your answers will be, too. #Launch #mediatraining #reputation #creative

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Fascinating - and sad - to see the results of this survey on #MentalHealth in the #PR industry. TL;DR it's not good. Remember folks - reaching out for help is a sign of strength. There are some amazing counsellors out there who can help. In the UK, have a look at listings on BACP to find someone who meets your needs: https://lnkd.in/ersgqdDE Yes, PR and #Communications are stressful. It comes with the job and, sometimes, is the frisson of excitement that brings us to the laptop each day. But that frisson needs to be well managed. Think of it like physical fitness - many of us try to eat well, go for a walk (if not the gym) and do other things to keep us physically OK. Mental health should be no different. Supportive practices, friends and finding the right professional for a tune-up shouldn't be anything uncommon. In fact, I'd argue that these should be regular occurances to stay on top of things, before things get on top of us (which is often the only time people seek out support). Look after yourselves, people, please! https://lnkd.in/ehDwuZrW

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How can single-industry comms agencies thrive in a niche? 🤔 With over 21,000 PR agencies in the UK, competition for talent and clients is fierce. So how do independent, single-industry agencies stand out and succeed against the creative giants that do it all? In our latest podcast, we dive deep into this with Ravi Vijh, MD of Bastion – the UK’s top video games comms agency, which is on an incredible growth journey. From launching new divisions to hiring passionate people, Bastion is a shining example of how a focused approach can yield extraordinary results. 🙌 Tune in as we explore how a single-industry focus helps Bastion accelerate growth, foster diversity, and attract top talent in a competitive landscape. It's a must-listen for any agency looking to thrive in a single-industry niche! 🎙️Full episode available on Spotify - https://lnkd.in/g6uRNvWz #videogames #videogamescomms #publicrelations #pragency

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🚀 The next episode is OUT!! 🚀 In this weeks episode on 'Creating Her Way' podcast Mikhaila Warburton 🚀 interviews Sionen Adijans Creative Director from Re (M&C Saatchi Group). They take a good look into the power of negotiations around salary, working hours and promotions. If you're looking for some practical tips on any of these areas make sure you tune into today's ep, it's a good one! 🤑 #CreatingHerWay #CreativeNatives #NegotiationTips #WomenInCreative

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