Are companies really retreating from ESG, or is the discipline evolving? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.

Joining the latest episode of Beyond the Noise are Sarita Shah, senior vice-president at Weber Shandwick; and Sarah Ogden, chief client officer for Europe at Zeno 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 assess how companies’ approaches to ESG [environmental, social, and governance] policies really changed in 2025 amid the so-called ‘retreat from ESG’ in the second Trump presidency.

This includes looking at regional differences between America, Europe and elsewhere, and asking whether it is ‘performative’ ESG that has been curbed.

The role of comms in ESG, and how comms departments are embedding the skills, are also discussed. The duo examine major changes so far this year – and predict what lies ahead. They also question whether the ESG acronym will survive in the future, and discuss whether comms should ‘own’ the genre.

Shah and Ogden begin the podcast by looking at the biggest lessons from the World Economic Forum in Davos – and how the industry should adapt to the ‘new world order’.

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How are PR agencies handling their finances? PRWeek UK’s latest podcast takes a look, following the release of the groundbreaking Companies House Files.

Joining PRWeek’s John Harrington and Elena Lewis on Beyond the Noise this week is Esther Carder, partner at the accountancy firm Moore Kingston Smith.

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.

PRWeek’s Companies House Files, which launched last week, gives readers exclusive insights into major trends across a range of topics, all drawn from data accessed via Companies House.

This podcast episode asks important questions based on key findings revealed so far. These include:

• How acutely are agencies feeling the pressure on wage costs, and how has this changed in recent years?
• What is happening to agency headcounts?
• Are profits under greater pressure, and if so, why?
• What is happening to agency tax bills?
• Why has pay for agency bosses dipped?

Carder also discusses her biggest concerns for agency finances in the period ahead, and offers advice on staying on top of the challenges.

Stay tuned to prweek.co.uk over the coming months for more insights from the Companies House Files.

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What do freelancers want from PR employers? – PRWeek podcast

PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode asks what freelancers want from PR employers.

Joining the podcast this week are two experienced freelance PR professionals, Karolina Throssell and Kate Lam.

Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.

Speaking to PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt, the guests discuss what made them switch to freelance work, what skills you need to be a successful freelancer, and how they find regular work in the comms and PR industry.

The pair also chat about payment structures, and what a great client/freelancer relationship looks like, as well as their top tips to improve it.

Finally, the two freelancers chat about how to combat loneliness and offer tips to any PR or comms professional considering going solo.

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PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast episode takes a closer look at recruitment trends in 2026.

Joining the podcast this week, from specialist comms and PR recruitment agencies, are Rohan Shah, co-founder of Reuben Sinclair, and Christabel Hosking, a recruitment consultant at Latte.

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 deputy editor Siobhan Holt, the guests discuss the latest recruitment trends, including hiring across different job levels, salary trends and what benefits staff are looking for from PR employers. 

Shah and Hosking chat about the impact of AI on the recruitment industry, as well as the technology’s impact on job roles within PR, such as account executives. 

The duo also offer predictions on which job titles they think will be extinct in the PR industry in five years’ time.

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What’s the secret to getting comms and messaging right around food in the post-HFSS world? PRWeek’s Beyond the Noise podcast takes a look.

Our guests this week are comms and food expert Mallika Basu, a strategy adviser at Blurred and author of the book, 'In Good Taste: What Shapes What We Eat and Drink – And Why It Matters'; and Harvey Choat, MD of food and drink PR agency Nexus.

Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.

The government’s 'unhealthy food' ad ban, via the HFSS (high fat, sugar and salt) regulations that came into force on 5 January, prohibits any online advertising of HFSS foods and limits TV ads to after 9pm.

Speaking to PRWeek journalists John Harrington and Evie Barrett, our guests discuss what impact the ban has had to date and how clients are reacting.

They look at how food brands can build genuine loyalty under the new rules, how influencer marketing is likely to change, and how brands can grow organic engagement.

Basu and Choat examine wider issues of food and communications, particularly around the promotion of healthy foods. They ask, among other things, what has happened to Veganuary - and what's the future of food stunts?

The duo also discuss some of their favourite food comms campaigns of recent times.

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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:

• Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG and what it means for the PR agencies
• Opportunities of AI search
• AI job cuts
• WPP’s four-day office mandate
• Unilever’s eyebrow-raising influencer investment
• Continuing gender and ethnicity pay gaps

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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 [email protected].

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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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