Fuse - The PR, Marketing and Communications Podcast

In this episode of the PRCA Fuse podcast, Adrian speaks with Charles Lewington, founder of Hanover Communications, about the evolution and global success of the UK’s PR and public affairs industry. Drawing on CBI Economics’ Beyond Communications report, they explore how reputation became a boardroom priority, the forces behind agency growth and overseas investment, and what the future holds for professional standards, regulatory expertise and AI.

This one matters. The latest episode of PRCA Fuse looks at a report that could change how PR and public affairs are understood,valued and invested in. Beyond Communications: Understanding the economic contribution of the PR & PA sector is the first independent economic study of the UK PR and PA sector, produced by CBI Economics for the PRCA. It finds that PR and PA contribute around £7.1 billion in gross value added to the UK economy and support morethan 95,000 jobs. But the bigger point is not just the size of the sector. It’s the role PR and PA have to play now. At a time when trust is in short supply, the people whose job it is to build trust, broker understanding and help organisations navigate complexity have never been more important. In this episode, Adrian Ma speaks to Sarah Waddington, CEO of the PRCA, about why the report matters and what itcould mean for the future of the industry.

In this episode of the PRCA Fuse podcast, Adrian speaks with James Thomlinson and Lynn Louca from Sprint Partners about their new study into PRWeek’s Top 150 agencies. They explore why some agencies are achieving standout growth in a flat market, the 10 “growth accelerators” driving performance, and what agency leaders can learn about specialisation, AI, visibility, pipeline building, pitch conversion and profitability.

What does authentic PR leadership look like in a world of LinkedIn optics, brand “purpose” and social media storms? In this episode, Rachel Allison, founder of Axe + Saw, discusses her unique approach to PR and communication, emphasising authenticity and vulnerability. She shares her journey of building her agency from scratch, leveraging LinkedIn to connect with industry leaders and share her experiences. Allison addresses the industry's tendency to create manicured reputations and praises the shift towards genuine storytelling. She recounts a controversial LinkedIn post about Stormzy's McDonald's partnership, highlighting the importance of authenticity. We get into: - How Rachel launched AX&Saw with no network, no money and no safety net - The moment she realised PR boardrooms were talking “culture” without anyone who actually lived it - Why she chose to show up on LinkedIn as herself, not as a polished “PR leader” The story behind her controversial Stormzy x McDonald’ 🎙️Follow the conversation: https://www.prca.global/explore-pr/community-voices/prca-fuse/season-5 🔔 Subscribe to PRCA Fuse YouTube and follow our social content on Instagram and LinkedIn. Connect With Us | Connect with Axe + Saw LinkedIn: Adrian Ma - Fanclub PR Website: https://www.fanclubpr.com/ LinkedIn: Ike Mgbenwelu PRCA Fuse (Podcast Producer): [email protected] Disclaimer: Views expressed by the guest are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the Fuse podcast.

In this episode of the PRCA Fuse podcast, Adrian Ma speaks with Maxine Myers, Communications Manager at Imperial College London, who helped set up Imperial as one of the Media Academies. The Media Academy is a three‑month programme for BME researchers from Imperial and partner institutions such as the Francis Crick Institute and the Institute of Cancer Research. It offers training in: - Media interviews and broadcast appearances - Social media and video storytelling - Public engagement and communicating with diverse audiences - Writing opinion pieces and blogs - Public affairs and policy – including how to get research in front of decision‑makers Since launching, the Academy has: - Trained over 130 researchers - Supported graduates to appear in 700+ national, international and industry media pieces - Seen participants present at the House of Lords - Helped secure funding for life‑saving research, from sickle cell care to rapid HIV diagnostics in sub‑Saharan Africa Connect: Website: Maxine Myers LinkedIn: nMaxine Myers LinkedIn: Adrian Ma - Fanclub PR Website: https://www.fanclubpr.com/ LinkedIn: Ike Mgbenwelu PRCA Fuse (Podcast Producer): [email protected] Disclaimer: Views expressed by the guest are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the Fuse podcast.