Earlier this year, at our annual company gathering, the team decided it would be fun to play Traitors.  The Director with the darkest hair was picked to be Claudia and envelopes were handed out at the start to all staff, telling them whether they were ‘faithful’ or ‘traitors’. 

The idea of playing Traitors, I am told, is an HR nightmare.  From a company perspective, you want activities which bring people together not set them against each other.  But we didn’t consider this point before downloading instructions from Chat GPT and forging ahead. I was sitting opposite a close colleague when the envelopes arrived, and we immediately spotted strange behaviour amongst the remaining team. The game was an easy conversation starter for colleagues who didn’t know each other so well as we gossiped about our top suspects.

The meet-up was over several days and had a packed itinerary.  The Traitors set up a secret WhatsApp group and plotted who to kill each day, in between paddle boarding or zip lining.  Instead of awkward moments during and after dinner, each evening was filled with lively team discussions as we decided which colleague to ‘banish’.  We couldn’t wait to get to breakfast to find out who’d been murdered.

And guess who was the traitor who made it to the end? My close colleague who was sitting opposite me when the envelopes arrived.  She was a perfect Cat Burns and, like a complete idiot, I defended her innocence to the end, to everyone’s delight when she revealed her true traitor status.  I now have new-found respect for her ability to keep calm under pressure, and she’d have a great side hustle as a poker player.

So, if you’re thinking of playing Traitors at your office party, go for it! The game provided a unifying theme through our meet-up, much hilarity, and everyone got to know each other really well.  Be prepared to see  a different side to people you thought you knew, and watch out for the quiet ones.

Creative communications agency Muckle Media has appointed Jodie Baynes as its first head of agency marketing, as it seeks to continue to grow the work it delivers for major brands in the UK and overseas.

With more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing and business development roles, Jodie will play a key role in driving forward the agency’s marketing strategy, strengthening brand visibility, and supporting its mission to help clients solve now and shape what’s next.

Joining in Muckle Media’s newly created role of Head of Marketing, Jodie previously held senior marketing roles at Whitespace and Dentsu. Her extensive experience driving culture, engagement and growth aligns with Muckle’s value-led approach.

Jacquelyn Whyte, creative director, said: “At Muckle Media we’re ambitious and driven by the belief that bright ideas create lasting impact. Jodie brings a fresh perspective and proven expertise that will be instrumental in building on our reputation for creative excellence and strategic impact, as we continue to elevate and strengthen our brand, while delivering great results for our clients.”

Jodie Baynes added: “Muckle Media’s culture, and mission to solve now and shape what’s next resonates strongly with me, and I look forward to driving marketing that both amplifies our story and supports our clients’ ambitions for the future.

“Part of what I love about elevating an agencies marketing effort is shining a spotlight on the work and people behind the brand, that are doing incredible work with a great range of clients.

“My vision is to contribute to Muckle’s future sustainable growth by raising the profile of our values driven approach for our clients, our people and our partners and our planet.”

This appointment is the latest milestone for Muckle Media, which acquired 100% of Spey’s shares last year, making it a fully owned subsidiary and appointed Mike Alexander as account director for new business earlier this year. Muckle Media is shortlisted for the PR Week Best Agency Outside London Award for the second year running this year, with the results revealed in London in October.

When I got picked for an internship at Muckle Media through Queen Margaret University’s version of speed dating (but make it interviews), I was honestly a bit shocked, but also excited to dive in.

Fast forward a year and I’m still here! What started as a month internship turned into a full-time trainee role. I never expected to land a “big girl” job right out of uni, especially coming from the Scottish Borders, but the team saw potential in me, and I decided to take the leap.

Looking back, I’ve realised I never really gave myself the time to appreciate how far I’ve come. I switched my degree a month before it started (goodbye Psychology, hello PR and Marketing), juggled hospitality shifts and uni deadlines, and worried about what my future would look like. Now here I am, working in PR and writing this from my kitchen table at home in the Borders –  due to our flexible working model – wild.

What I’ve learned at Muckle:

PR is a team sport
From brainstorms to client calls, media sell-ins to campaign launches – nothing happens in isolation. I’ve learned how valuable it is to bounce ideas off your team, lean on each other during tight turnaround and celebrate the wins, whether big or small, together.

Confidence grows quietly
It’s not just about presenting in meetings or owning a media list. It’s also about speaking up more, trusting your instincts and realising your voice matters!

Nobody has it all figured out
I used to think I had to get everything right the first time. Spoiler: I didn’t. At Muckle, I’ve seen firsthand that learning on the job, asking questions and being curious is way more valuable than pretending you’ve got all the answers.

Growth isn’t always obvious
Some wins come in headlines while others come in small quiet moments like leading a task you used to shy away from or finally cracking a media pitch. It all counts.

One of the biggest things that’s made this year so special is the culture at Muckle. Everyone is genuinely supportive, no matter what they’re working on, or where they’re based. Whether it’s in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Forres or beyond, the team feels connected and you never feel like you’re on your own.

Even with working at home, there’s still that day-to-day energy that makes you feel like you’re part of something. Whether it’s quick check-ins, someone offering to help you on a pitch, or team days that bring everyone together in person, the support never drops. And it’s not just all work chat either – there’s always space for the fun stuff too (like deep dives into everyone’s celebrity crush, book recs, or hot takes on what’s trending that week).

Before joining Muckle, I thought I had a solid idea of what PR was (I mean, my degree literally had it in the title). But the day-to-day has been way more varied, fast paced and exciting than I imagined. One minute you’re writing a press release, the next you’re pulling together a shoot brief, or chatting to a journalist.

It’s been a year of learning, growing and laughing – a lot. I’ve learned that imposter syndrome doesn’t go away, but a good team makes it easier to silence. I’ve learned how to ask better questions, how to pitch smarter stories, and how to back myself a bit more.

There’s still plenty to learn but I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Muckle Media and Spey are once again celebrating after winning a trio of awards at The Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards 2025, including a gold, a silver and a bronze in what was a highly competitive night with some exceptional campaigns.

As the vibrant marketing community in Scotland came together, it was a night of celebrating enlightened thinking, innovation, and creativity.

A Vehicle for Change Taking Galloway Cheddar and FareShare UK on a Scottish Road Trip, Spey’s community-based campaign that saw over 90,000 meals donated across Scotland secured the gold award for brand experience. Also in brand experience, ‘Oh No Blu didn’t: A Perfect Pantomime Partnership’ came silver, with Muckle Media engineering Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow’s sponsorship of the King’s Theatre pantomime.

The Royal Highland Show must go on, an integrated campaign delivered by Muckle Media and our agency friends at Lane and Lane Media for RHASS secured bronze in the hotly contested Tourism, Leisure, Culture & Sport category.

In total Spey and Muckle Media were shortlisted for seven awards, with our client entries for Essential Edinburgh and the Loch Ness Centre also shortlisted in the chairman’s SME awards list.

Nathalie Agnew, founder and Managing Director of Muckle Media, said: “The Marketing Society Star awards are the pinnacle of the Scottish creative and marketing sector and we are beyond pleased with our performance. Just for us and our clients to be shortlisted nine times across such competitive categories was a big win for us and to bring home a gold, silver and bronze really was the cherry on the top. This years theme ‘steal the limelight’ really came to life on the night and we were delighted to be front and centre on stage with Spey and Galloway.”

When I applied for an internship with Muckle Media, I expected to gain experience in media relations and campaign planning. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I’d feel like part of something meaningful or how much I’d grow both personally and professionally during my time here.

As a master’s student in Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Queen Margaret University, I came equipped with plenty of theory under my belt. But being part of a dynamic, fast-paced agency taught me that no amount of classroom learning can fully prepare you for the thrill of a live campaign or the buzz of securing media coverage for a client.

To say I was nervous on my first day would be an understatement, but the team at Muckle Media made me feel welcome straight away, throwing me into projects with real impact, but never without guidance. I supported everything from researching influencers and writing press releases, drafting media pitches, and contributing to campaign brainstorms. These tasks weren’t just given to me to tick a box, but were real opportunities to contribute meaningfully.

The Muckle Media culture is genuinely supportive. I felt encouraged to ask questions, try new things, and reflect on what I’d learned each day. There’s a real sense that everyone, from interns to directors, is valued and heard. And in a field like communications, that kind of internal alignment makes all the difference.  

This internship showed me that PR is the right career choice for me. It’s the perfect mix of strategy and creativity, and when done right, it makes a real difference. I’ve gained skills I’ll carry into every future role, and I’m grateful to Muckle Media for showing me what smart, values-led public relations really looks like.

My time at Muckle Media didn’t just unlock new potential but helped me realise that I already had it. I just needed the right environment to bring it to life.

We’re still riding high after taking home five golds at last week’s PRCA DARE Awards Scotland. From purpose-driven projects to powerful storytelling, it was a night that recognised bold thinking, big ideas and the brilliant people behind them. 

Rising Star of the Year – Olivia Messina 

A standout moment was our very own Olivia Messina being named Rising Star of the Year. Since joining Muckle Media from New York in 2022, Olivia has carved out a name for herself in our food, drink and hospitality division, ‘Taste’.  

In under three years, she’s risen from Senior Account Executive to Account Director, leading creative experiential campaigns and headline-grabbing restaurant launches across Scotland. 

Low Budget Campaign – The Loch Ness Centre: The Quest for Nessie 

Turns out, going smaller was the key to going global.  

To mark the 90th anniversary of Sir Edward Mountain’s iconic surface watch for Nessie, we launched The Quest 2.0, a modern take on monster hunting with a twist. 

While the brief encouraged us to think big, our insight told us to also go small — and using state of the art equipment we captured incredible images of ‘micro-monsters’ in the famous loch. The result – global press coverage, sold-out tours, and smashed sales targets for the newly refurbished attraction. 

Diversity, Inclusion & Purpose – Spey x Galloway Cheddar 

Our Spey team picked up gold for a powerful, community-led campaign with Galloway Cheddar and FareShare UK. 

The Galloway Gathering Project tackled food insecurity and social isolation by hosting ten pop-up food truck events across Scotland, each serving up cheesy goodness with the option for customers to donate a meal to someone in need.  

Add in MasterChef winner Gary Maclean dishing out mac and cheese at FareShare hubs, and a strong media push, and the result was a campaign that not only raised awareness but delivered meaningful impact. 

Team Culture & Community Award 

We’re incredibly proud to have been recognised for our team culture and community, it’s crucial to us that we’ve built an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive. Our inclusion on the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2024 list and ranking at #41 in the small business category is proof that happy teams do great work.

Large Consultancy of the Year 

Being named Large Consultancy of the Year capped off a dream night.

With major new business wins including the Orkney Island Games, Dean Banks Group, Popeyes, The Royal Highland Show, and Graham’s Family Dairy, alongside continued partnerships with iconic brands like Continuum Attractions, Barrhead Travel, and The Old Course Hotel, we’ve solidified our place in the UK’s PR landscape. And it all comes back to our team’s talent, creativity and commitment. 

Here’s to pushing boundaries, telling better stories, and always thinking bigger, or sometimes, smaller, when it counts! 

I sometimes wonder – has conversation become a lost art?

In a world where emails, WhatsApps, Teams calls and DMs dominate our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook, and perhaps forget, the power of a proper, face-to-face natter. But for me, conversation is everything. It’s one of the reasons I love working in PR – I love people! I love hearing their stories, understanding what makes them tick and finding the golden nuggets that bring their brand to life.

Being a great communicator isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ in PR – it can be the secret ingredient. Whether it’s chatting with clients, catching up with journalists, or collaborating with suppliers, good communication builds stronger relationships, creates better opportunities and ultimately, leads to bigger wins for everyone.

Not everyone is a natural-born communicator, but great communication isn’t about being the loudest in the room – it’s about being personable, memorable and bringing a little warmth into every interaction. It’s about finding your own style – whether that’s dry wit, playful sarcasm, high-energy enthusiasm or a calm and considered approach.

So, what makes a great communicator?

Active listening
Truly listening (not just waiting for your turn to speak!) makes all the difference. Paying attention to people’s stories, their interests, and their challenges. Remember the little things, how their daughter’s new job is going or how their weekend trip was. Make a tracker if you need to, but a thoughtful follow-up can turn a conversation into a real connection.

Confidence & friendliness
A warm, approachable attitude goes a long way. People want to talk to people who make them feel at ease and who they can trust. Having a genuine interest in others – whether it’s their brand, their article, their editor’s opinion – shows that you care. Speaking and writing with confidence boosts credibility and strengthens these relationships. And empathy, showing you care makes you approachable, and who doesn’t love a friendly face in a fast-paced industry!

Curiosity is key
Some of the best PR stories come from asking the right questions. Many clients don’t realise they’re sitting on storytelling gold – it’s just ‘normal’ to them! Being inquisitive, digging deeper and uncovering those hidden gems can turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Be proactive
PR is still a people – first industry. While digital communication is great, there is something that can be said for an in-person meeting, coffee catch ups with journalists or the buzz of an event. In the rapidly changing media landscape, one thing that remains constant is people need people.

At the end of the day, PR isn’t just about press releases and strategies – it’s about relationships. So, smile, be yourself and start a conversation. You never know where it might lead!

For any restaurateur, breaking into a new market is thrilling – whether it’s your very first venue or the latest addition to your restaurant empire, there’s a world of possibility with a whole new audience of potential customers at your doorstep, hungry for their next best meal.

But it takes more than flipping the sign to open to bring those eager diners through the door. And if those first few weeks don’t start strong, recovery can be near impossible.

On our Taste team, working with chefs and restaurants to make a memorable debut in a new region is (quite literally) our bread & butter, and across Scotland.

A strong, localised communication strategy ensures that your brand resonates with the local community. Even for brands with a massive global PR engine, partnering with a local agency can make all the difference, offering expertise, established media relationships, and a deep understanding of regional dining trends.