Better Business Outcomes

Sarah and Stephen Waddington review some of the big issues in management and public relations over the past 12 months and look forward to 2025.

They discuss:

• The Omnicom-Interpublic merger creates the largest marketing and public relations group. This will create opportunities for independent agencies as the merged entity focuses on cost efficiencies rather than innovation.
  
  
• AI in PR is overhyped. We need to see harder evidence of efficiency and effectiveness gains and better consideration of risk issues. There will be a back-to-basics focus on authentic communication and human relationships in 2025.
  
  
• Despite 2024's challenging economic climate, with many organisations still managing post-pandemic effects, there is greater certainty around areas of risk, and encouraging signs for the public relations sector moving forwards.
  
  
• Notable management and public relations failures in 2024 include the Grenfell Tower and Post Office crises. Reputation was prioritised over victims in both cases.
  
  
• Successful campaigns included the Northumberland National Park's response to the Sycamore Gap tree felling and Led by Donkeys’ activist work to highlight children’s deaths in Gaza.
  
  
• Looking ahead to 2025, key focus areas include employee wellbeing, organisational culture and the ongoing challenge of establishing public relations' value within management structures.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

In this episode, Stephen Waddington discusses the measurement and performance management of public relations with Johna Burke, CEO, AMEC.

They discuss:

• How data helps practitioners prove their value to senior leaders and gain credibility and influence in management.
  
  
• The importance of reliable, ethically sourced data, ensuring that data is properly vetted to maintain trust and integrity.
  
  
• How to use real-time data to manage the performance and effectiveness of public relations campaigns.
  
  
• How the AMEC framework helps link public relations work to business goals and helps understand outputs, outtakes, and outcomes.
  
  
• Why is comparing media coverage to advertising value equivalent (AVE) outdated and unhelpful?

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

In this episode, hosts Sarah and Stephen Waddington cover key industry topics and share insights from recent events in management, public relations and communications.

They discuss:

• Creative challenges in leadership and how to stay motivated as a director, including using practical tools such as the wheel of life.
• The latest Wadds Inc. research report for NewsWhip which explores the digital transformation of the communication function and the use of technology in corporate communications.
• A recent Co-op and DEMOS event that explored how social mobility drives innovation and business growth in the UK. It’s aligned with the vision of Socially Mobile.
• CommsHero in Leeds featuring sessions on internal communications and sustainability and a powerful talk by Socially Mobile graduate Karl Connor.
• UK government research that sets out the impact of late payments on SMEs and potential solutions.
• A new PRCA report called Pitch Forward which concludes that the pitch process is broken and recommends greater transparency in the client-agency relationship and sales process.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

On this episode of Better Business Outcomes, Sarah Waddington CBE from Wadds Inc. welcomes Nathalie Agnew, Managing Director of Muckle Media. 

They discuss:

- Scotland as a buzzing, competitive PR hub delivering outcomes for global brands

- Acquisitions and the need to consider cultural and values alignment, new capabilities, complementary offers and team footprint according to client need and the ambition for the business

- The challenges and benefits of introducing a four-day week, Muckle’s resulting working patterns and the role of tech

- Imperfection in the journey to growth

- Talent as the engine to a business and the importance of creating a culture of trust and empowerment, with strong communication at the core

- The IoD offering a network of like-minded business owners and as a source of professional development around company direction

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

Sarah and Stephen Waddington talk about the key themes from PRAXIS in Pune, India, and key media stories.

• Public relations practice is not currently part of the debate about AI within society. The PRCA says that needs to change and that it intends to lead the way
• Culture, community and creativity was the topic of PRAXIS, one of the largest public relations conferences that takes place in India each year
• The abuse of power and influence within the creative industries continues to silence victims. Better governance is needed and compromise agreements should have little to no role in practice
• Labour has faced criticism for its lack of vision. It’s also under attack for gifts-in-kind. The optics are poor for a government that promised integrity
• We’ve various projects underway focused on technology within practice, alignment with management, and agency growth and resilience. Give us a shout if you’d like our support and advice too.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

Sarah and Stephen Waddington return with your favourite management communications and public relations podcast.

 ·      Socially Mobile, the not-for-profit PR school aimed at changing the leadership demographic of the industry, has launched a '25 for 2025' fundraising scheme. We’re looking for 25 leaders to donate £750 to help ensure we’re sustainable in 2025.

·      Both Sarah and Stephen spoke at the PRCA conference in London this week. It explored a range of issues facing practitioners from the challenging economy to diversity and from artificial intelligence to changing media consumption.

·      We knew the shift from traditional print and television news sources to digital was well underway, but digital has become the dominant source of news consumption for the first time, according to Ofcom data.

·      According to the CIPR State of the Profession report, practitioners are underpaid and working harder than ever but claim that management increasingly recognises their value. This may be wishful thinking.

·      Sarah is heading to India to speak at PRAXIS about the role of public relations as a force for good and the change practitioners can make to society through activist interventions such as the Asian Communication Network and People Like Us.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

On this episode of Better Business Outcomes, Sarah Waddington CBE from Wadds Inc. welcomes Clive Ormerod, CEO of Les Mills International. 

They discuss:

 ·      Les Mills International’s mission to create a fitter planet.

·      Its new partnership with Adidas and how it is helping Les Mills to scale and also reach Gen Z.

·      Making diversity, equity and inclusion a mindset and a culture. 

·      The biggest challenges and opportunities facing the wellbeing and fitness industries right now.

·      How to keep mentally and physically well during this time of sustained political and economic turbulence. 

·      Belief and radical optimism as a route to Better Business Outcomes.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

On this episode of Better Business Outcomes, Stephen Waddington from Wadds Inc. welcomes Emma Thwaites, Corporate Affairs Director, Open Data Institute.

They discuss:

• How open data leads to better insights, decision making, innovation and societal impact
  
  
• Using open data to tell stories: ODI fuel poverty and food poverty data projects
  
  
• How organisations can build a data culture and best practice data infrastructure
  
  
• The impact of open data on the banking industry and improving access to sporting infrastructure
  
  
• How risk and experimentation based on data leads to better business outcomes

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

On this episode of Better Business Outcomes, Stephen Waddington from Wadds Inc. welcomes Caroline Marrows, Head of News at Citizens Advice.

They discuss:

·       The role and origin of Citizens Advice in supporting people with issues related to legal, debt, consumer, and housing

·       Managing demand for services from the public, and insight from the media while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and quality outcomes

·       Navigating a complex stakeholder environment and speaking truth to power for those without power

·       The benefit of strong leadership communication and engagement in leading public and policy debate

·       How focussing on outcomes leads to better business outcomes and supports planning and decision making.

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media

On this episode of Better Business Outcomes, Stephen Waddington from Wadds Inc. welcomes Lee Edwards, Professor of Strategic Communications and Public Engagement in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE.
 
 They discuss:

·       Whether public relations is a force for good or a means for organisations to corrupt the public conversation?

·       Environmental, Societal and Governance concerns as a mean of greenwashing but also a way of building a better society

·       The impact of research on mental health and how to avoid becoming frustrated

·       Small events and communities as a bridge between public relations theory and practice and a means of learning

·       The power dynamic in public relations and its impact on issues related to diversity

Presented by Sarah Waddington and Stephen Waddington

For more information visit https://www.wadds.co.uk/
With thanks to our production partners at What Goes On Media