How flexible working can positively reimagine our 9-5

In the same week President Trump signed an executive order forcing all federal workers to stop working remotely (or they will be fired, bar a few exemptions), Ex-Asda boss, Lord Rose claimed that “working from home is not proper work” and that in doing so we’re setting the county back 20 years when it comes to working practices,  productivity and people’s well-being. BBC’s Panorama posed the question: Should we all still be working at home?

As these well-known names hit the headlines, we hosted a very timely event in partnership with PR Mums at our Muckle Media HQ in a mission to crack some of the nuances around flexible working and discuss home working policies that many of us currently find ourselves navigating. We wanted to find out how ‘work where you like’ policies really work, if flexibility helps teams thrive and how we can rethink the traditional 9-5 to create a culture that works for all. 

At Muckle, everyone in our team is afforded the same flexible working benefits, whether you’re a mum, dad, a 20-something-fresh-out-of-university-grad, or a pup-parent. That means there’s the option of working from home or in the office as little or as often as you wish* (*as long as client commitments are fulfilled), and for over a year we’ve been implementing a four-day working week.

So, is working from home really hindering our nation’s economic progress and happiness, or should all employers face up to the fact that employers are pro-flexible working and that’s not going to change?

In a bid to dissect some of the highlights discussed at our The Agency Debate – How flexible working works for us event, here’s my seven takeaways (yes, one for each day of the week, depending when your flexible working time lands!). Thanks to our wonderful panel of industry experts who joined us and each shared their experiences of flexi-working which have helped to influence the below –  Rachel Watson, Head of Health Marketing, Scottish Government, Keira Hodge, Marketing Consultant, Denholm Associates, Nikki Slowey, Director & Co-Founder, Flexibility Works and Nathalie Agnew, Founder and MD of Muckle Media.

1. The energy of being together is still really important

Breaking up your week with set office days can offer a very welcomed change to staring at a screen in your home office set-up and can stave off that digital fatigue we can all feel from time-to-time. View those ‘office days’ as a welcome opportunity for team collaboration, idea creation and quite possibly days when you’re not going to be able to send quite as many emails or get through your to-do list as quickly, but, in exchange, you’ll benefit from genuine and worthwhile human connections and ideas that you might not have otherwise had if working in silo at home for client campaigns.

 
2. Check-ins and Teams chats offer a positive boost for culture and clients

Just like in the real 9-5 world, to thrive as a team and future proof business, client retention and pipelines, when a team is dispersed and working from home, regular online check-ins are a must. Without them, not only can those who are working entirely from home, or those spending less time in the office, feel out of the loop but they can also begin to feel disconnected from the work at hand, the people and the culture. Whether it’s via Skype, Teams, Slack or Messenger, regular team catch-ups ensure targets are being met, client expectations are being considered, and results are being driven forward and continually improved on. 

3. Boundary setting for the win

In an effort to forge your own successful flexible working pattern, it’s essential to set boundaries. When the lines between work and home space are blurred, or you’re contracted to do less hours than colleagues as part of your flexible working approach, it could make this harder, especially as fewer hours should mean a more balanced volume of work to reflect your working day. Be realistic about what’s possible and say no if you’re unable to do something. Honouring your work time and non-working time is what supports a positive flexi-working experience to ensure it’s an effective and enjoyable process for all involved.   

4. Organisations shouldn’t fear change

Organisations shouldn’t wait to be told what to do, whether that’s from Government or otherwise. We heard how 78% of people want to work flexibly and that flexible working and culture come before salary for many, so it really is a topic area that can’t be ignored by employers. The 9-5 model was created to optimise productivity and efficiency but it’s been claimed that flexible working creates a more productive, loyal workforce. Businesses should adopt an approach that works for them and those who work for them. Consulting staff and regular reviews on what’s working and what’s not can help businesses to find their flexi-path.

5. You don’t need to be present (in person) to be promoted

Whether you’re behind a desk in your company’s head office, pinging an email on your phone while running for a train as you make your way to a school pick-up, flipping open your laptop on a sunny beach, or negotiating supplier costs while taking your dog for a walk during the working day, as long as your job is being done and being done well, promotions should be recognised where deserved.

6. Could more job shares be transformative?

In days gone by job shares were traditionally associated with part-time working mums. We heard of examples of mums, dads and cross-gender job shares that are proving a roaring success. Having another team member who is doing your job to bounce ideas off, while benefiting from flexi-hours to fit around your personal life, could be the dream for many. As the saying goes, “two heads are better than one”! 

7. This is the start of an exciting generational change

One of our audience members shared his experience of working with his wife flexibly to care for their daughter. They both work from home and look after their little one as they juggle work pressures and domestic chores. His hope is that when his daughter is older, flexible working won’t be a discussion point any longer but will be engrained in our working culture. A cultural shift in how we all live, and work is a once in a generation opportunity. We have an exciting chance to permanently change the status quote. Let’s make it happen.

We’re by no means flexible working experts but always open to conversations about how Muckle’s approach to flexible working supports our values and culture. Drop us a line or give us a call.

If you’d like to chat flexi-working and PR, then we’re definitely your people! Whether it’s a one-off campaign, long-term project or you’re looking to navigate commentary and thought leadership to share your voice with media, we’d love to chat – you can email us at [email protected] or call us on 0131 228 9713.

Brands in 2024 have wrestled with shifting social media dynamics, a huge change in the political landscape and further technological and AI advancements. Some of these key trends are set to continue to shape the industry and the way we work in 2025, so here is some insight from Muckle Media’s corporate communications specialists: a glimpse into what we think the key moments and trends will be in the coming year.

Scotland’s crossroads, countdown to the 2026 Scottish Election
Although the next Scottish election isn’t until 2026, Scotland’s major political parties will start to compile manifestos from the summer of 2025. Corporate brands need to get ahead of the curve by building relationships with political and policy influencers whilst establishing clear policy positions and calls to action. Moving into 2026, companies operating in Scotland, or with vested interests here, will also need to prepare for heightened political discourse, being mindful of the potential pitfalls and reputational risks of having a strong political voice. Transparent, well-crafted communication strategies will be essential as brands navigate conversations around key election campaign issues including independence, economic policy and the cost of living, public services, energy transition and climate change and devolution. Balancing neutrality while engaging authentically will be critical. Don’t forget the golden rule, criticise the policy, not the party. 

The great X-odus, where the flock is heading next
Twitter, now X, continues to see a significant decline in user trust and activity, prompting brands to seek more stable alternatives. Concerns about content moderation, changes in user experience and political stances associated with Elon Musk’s ownership are largely to blame for this shift. Platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon are emerging as viable options, offering better moderation and a renewed sense of community. For brands and PR professionals, this change demands agility, an experiential approach and a reevaluation of how to engage audiences across multiple platforms while ensuring consistent messaging. Our recommendation is to prioritise quality over quantity, choose the platform(s) that work best for you and that your audience prefers, and do them well. 

B2B’s influencer revolution
Traditionally a more common tactic for B2C brands, influencer marketing is gaining traction in the B2B space. Businesses are increasingly recognising the value of industry thought leaders and niche content creators to drive credibility and engagement. In 2025, we’ll see more B2B brands leveraging influencers to enhance trust, share expertise and humanise communications, particularly on professional platforms like LinkedIn. 

Communications in command, why PR deserves a seat in the C-suite
The role of communications in the C-suite is more prominent than ever. Whilst many brands are feeling the pinch due to ongoing cost pressures, now is not the time to skimp on communications expertise. With crises emerging faster and brand reputation at a premium, having a dedicated communications leader as part of strategic decision-making is no longer optional. This trend reflects a growing understanding of how integrated, proactive PR can support business objectives, from managing stakeholder expectations to driving cultural alignment.  

Bridging action and ambition with realistic sustainability 
While sustainability unsurprisingly remains a top priority, in 2025 we expect to see a shift toward more pragmatic approaches and greater discussion around the barriers companies face in achieving net zero ambitions. Roadblocks such as supply chain challenges, regulatory hurdles and economic pressures necessitate transparency and open discussion about realistic solutions. Consumers and stakeholders are demanding measurable results rather than ambitious yet vague commitments. PR can play a key role in communicating with stakeholders about what they want to see from businesses and in crafting narratives that acknowledge challenges while highlighting actionable progress.

inclusion and strategic priorities 
Partisan polarisation on the topic of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) initiatives has seen commitments stagnate in certain sectors, with corporates even opting to roll back on existing policies. It’s clear organisations have started to reassess their strategies, however in some cases brands are merely ditching lofty social goals in favour of policies aligned more closely with business priorities. PR teams will need to navigate this delicate terrain, balancing genuine inclusivity with shifting external pressures and growing conservative activism. Expect nuanced storytelling that emphasises sustainable, culture-embedded ED&I practices. 

Unlocking potential through AI
The rise of artificial intelligence continues to reshape PR workflows, from content creation to data analysis. However, with these benefits come significant risks, including ethical concerns and the potential for misinformation. In 2025, successful brands will be those who not only harness AI’s potential but also communicate its limitations and ensure its use aligns with ethical guidelines with effective internal governance frameworks to boot.

Summary 
2025 is shaping up to be another transformative year for corporate PR, marked by shifts in politics, platform usage and the role brands play in the wider social landscape. By being attuned to these trends and preparing for the opportunities and implications they provide, businesses can navigate this complexity with confidence and authenticity.

The future is always uncertain, but one thing is clear: effective, adaptive communication remains at the heart of every successful organisation.

General elections, an Olympics, Taylor Swift continuing her world domination. It’s fair to say A LOT has happened this year. In a world where AI can create deepfake videos in seconds, PR has never been so important, with media coverage still the number one trusted source for getting our news.

As we say goodbye to 2024, and look to 2025, here are five reflections on why PR should be on the top of your marketing Christmas list, and how to take it to the next level:

If you’re worried about budgets, PR can be far more cost effective than advertising

And yes it can have just as big as an impact, like when we got people queuing for a record-breaking 18.5 hours to be the first to try Popeyes in Scotland, making it the longest queue time of any Popeyes opening: https://mucklemedia.co.uk/Case-Studies/popeyes/

It has the opportunity to go worldwide

Don’t believe us? See how we got the world talking about Loch Ness: https://mucklemedia.co.uk/delivering-press-coverage-on-a-global-scale/

When done strategically, it has the opportunity to show up outside of traditional PR channels

Like when we got pet influencers talking about how they were celebrating Halloween with Bella + Duke, in our influencer-first campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/DB1Af5Lo9NE/?hl=en&img_index=5

A picture paints a thousand words

You want to take your story to the next level? A creative photo can often say more than any press release. Like when commuters found scarves on dog statues around Edinburgh for the launch of Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home’s Winter Appeal https://www.instagram.com/p/DB8vCsPIJYa/?hl=en&img_index=1

Lockdown is in the past. Events are back

Despite an ever-increasing digital world, people want to experience things IRL. We helped Rio Steakhouse launch their very first VIP Wine Masterclass, combining the restaurant’s Brazilian Churrascso style dining with six selected wines from the world-famous Zuccardi Valle de Eco Winery: https://www.instagram.com/p/DByxfvZskZR/?img_index=1  

If you want to hear how we can help elevate your PR in 2025, get in touch.

We caught up with our Head of Digital, Chris MacRae to understand how he ensures our clients not only stand out online but thrive in the digital landscape, reaching the right audience with impact and precision. 

What does your role involve, Chris?

In my role as Head of Digital, I primarily oversee social media activity both for our clients and own brands (Muckle, Spey and Taste). Day-to-day this mainly includes social media strategy, content creation, Google Ads, SEO and Google Analytics.

What are some common misconceptions that clients or brands have when it comes to social media?

When it comes to social, people often misunderstand metrics such as followers – that is, how many you should have and the importance of this. What will be much more important in 2025 is building tight knit, engaged communities that believe in your product and actively engage with your content.

People see social media a bit like a shop window – shouting loudly at everyone who walks by. While it’s true that social gives you a platform to speak to thousands of people at once, it’s often forgotten that social media is a one-to-one interaction, not a one-to-many interaction. I recommend moving on from the ‘shop window’ perspective and instead, imagine you’re speaking directly to a customer that’s walked in your door. Your focus should be on building a human connection with users and treating them with the same respect and patience as you would in real life.

Finally, it’s best not to get too hung up on the frequency of your posts and instead focus on the quality and consistency of your content.

What are some social media best practices?

Organisation is key. When we build a social strategy, we always look several months ahead. This means having a well-planned out social media calendar, but don’t forget to allow some flexibility for reactive or trending content.

It’s also important to consider the platforms you’re using and why. Think about the pros and cons of each, as not every platform out there will be perfect for your brand, and you don’t necessarily have to show up on all of them. While Tik Tok and LinkedIn provide strong platforms for brands, they serve very different purposes.

How do you make sure that you and the team keep on top of trends?

We have a robust social listening process in place. We’re also all frequent users of social media so can make sure we’re keeping on top of the type of content that’s out there and the type of content that’s working well.

Something I encourage anybody to do, especially if they have a role in content creation or strategy, is to scroll social media with a purpose. Think about every post that you see and ask yourself why these posts have been successful. Most of the posts we’re fed nowadays is viral content from accounts we don’t even follow, so if you want the same success for your business think forensically about what these posts are doing right. How did they grab your attention in the first few seconds? Why did you stick around in the middle? Did they end with an emotional pay-off? All things to consider when consuming other people’s content.

There’s a trend happening now that we’re calling the death of the follower. Followers are nowhere near as important as they were five years ago because most often, content appears on our feed not because we follow an account, but because the algorithm thinks we’ll be interested in it. By working to understand the algorithm, you can begin looking at content from a completely different perspective.

What is your advice to brands or companies that want to jump on a trend?  

Some brands have successfully jumped onto trends and done so in an ironic way, like museums and art galleries who hopped onto Gen Z trends and adapted in a really clever and self-aware way. However, the general rule is that if you’re seeing a trend on a viral post, it’s usually already too late. Customers are savvy and can tell when you’re making inauthentic content just to try to be trendy.

Instead, why not try to create the next trend? Think about the features that make certain pieces of content successful, turn that into formula and build on it with a twist for your own business or your own brand.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

From following brands that are doing social really well. Duolingo are fantastic at what they do, for example. In many ways, they create content that is nothing to do with learning a language. They’ve built a social brand around the Duolingo bird and comedy has become their entire formula.

Brands like Ryanair, Aldi and Lidl are also brilliant at taking the comedic route. They play on their perceived flaws and turn them into positives, doubling down instead of pretending to be something they aren’t. Authenticity is key and will always be appreciated by users.

How do you get somebody to like and trust your brand?

You need to show up and you need to show up consistently. The more human you can make your brand feel, the more successful it will be. At the end of the day, it’s called social media for a reason. We log on to engage with other human beings, so stay far away from the corporate and salesy content, because – frankly – nobody cares.

Get involved in conversations, engage with customers on their own posts, connect with other similar business accounts and respond efficiently to those asking questions.

What top three things would you recommend to a new client coming to you for advice on how to manage their socials?

1. Carry out a social audit and competitor analysis so you can analyse what is working well (and not so well) for you and competitors.
2. Don’t be afraid to try things and fail. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for social media and some types of content will work for one brand and not another.
3. Make sure that any content posted aligns with, and incorporates, your brand’s values. Customers will resonate with authenticity and consistency much more.
4. One final one, because three is hard! Don’t let social media exist in a silo. It may be the very first aspect of your business that people will ever see, but it has to align with all other aspects of your business – and that includes the experience people have when they use your product or visit your venue. For example, if your social tone-of-voice presents one way, but your day-to-day staff act oppositely, something has to change, because somewhere down the line you’re breaking customer expectations.

Is AI a help or hindrance when it comes to social media?

AI is very much here to stay. It’s 100% going to change the world in the next few years and in ways that are hard for us to even predict.

For the time being, I’d say AI is best used to enhance the knowledge and expertise that you have already. It can be a fantastic brainstorming partner to flesh out ideas, for example.

No matter how good AI gets, people are always going to want to deal with human beings and, and until it comes to the stage where we can’t tell the difference between AI content and human content, that will always be the case.

Having unique thoughts; how we construct creative ideas and execute them is what makes us special and that’s also what makes your business or your brand special. We don’t ever want to lose that.

What are some big social trends we should look out for?

I think we’re going to see a lot more in-house ‘influencer’ content created by businesses, whereby individuals and employees build their personal brands to highlight their expertise. The traditional influencer model is getting tired and overused, so I can see 2025 being a year to encourage core staff members and employees to share their thoughts and advice across business social platforms. It’s all about showing that your business has thought leaders in your field and being proud that these are the people who make your brand different from all the others. I also think having fewer faceless businesses can only be a good thing.

Have you seen anything recently in social media that’s caught your eye?

This year’s Coca-Cola Christmas Ad – made entirely by AI – was brilliant. There’s been a lot of discussion and to be honest, a lot of outrage about it. I think Coca-Cola was willing to sacrifice on quality this year to instead create chatter and debate. We see a very similar Coca-Cola ad launched every year and, frankly, doing the same again would have been a non-story. This way, they’ve cut above the Christmas noise and created a huge PR story out of it. And don’t get me started on how Jaguar achieved something very similar…

Contact Chris and our Digital Team for advice on your digital strategy or to chat about an upcoming project: [email protected]

The benefit of a bigger team means more skills, more talent and more ideas! As part of Muckle Media’s acquisition of Spey, Designer and Art Director, Patrick Jordan, has joined Muckle’s Head of Studio, Jill McPherson to bolster our studio capabilities.

Here we speak to Jill and Patrick to hear more about their creative backgrounds, what most inspires them and how they bring creatives to life for our clients.

Q: Tell us about your design experience 

Jill: I have over 15 years’ experience as a graphic designer, working in creative roles both in-house as part of marketing teams and in integrated full-service design agencies.

My diverse experience across a variety of sectors, including food and drink, sport and leisure, education, not-for-profit and public sector, helps me to easily adapt my style for different brand identities, target audiences and digital and print platforms.

Patrick: After college I built up my credentials as a freelancer working across the public, private and third sectors before joining Spey to lead on the development of creative for top-tier brands. I still design, but I now get much more involved with campaign development and art direction.

Q: What’s a typical day like for you?

Jill: Being a designer at a Muckle is all about variety and creativity. One day, I might be sketching out ideas for a new brand identity or developing visual guidelines, and the next, I’m deep into creating layouts for an impact report or designing advertisements. I work closely with the wider team, and even the clients themselves – to bring our bright ideas to life.

There’s always a mix of brainstorming, designing, and refining, with deadlines keeping me on my toes. It’s a fast-paced, ever-changing role, with a mix of creativity and problem-solving, no two days are ever the same and I absolutely love that!

Patrick: Some days I can be out on a shoot, some days picking through budget trackers and tenders and others so deeply immersed in InDesign that the outside world may as well have disappeared. I’m not sure this job comes with typical.

Q: What design elements can you support clients with?

Jill:. We can bring your ideas to life whether your design project is large or small. From logo design, brand guidelines and visual identity, marketing collateral or visuals to support your digital presence, we can support brand development to ensure a strong, recognisable, and effective brand presence. We regularly design using existing brand guidelines, but can create new ones and design for a variety of platforms, including print (annual reports, signage, promotional materials) and digital assets (adverts, social assets, web assets).

Patrick: I’ve worked on new and refreshed identities, documents large and small, social content, packaging and merch as well as digital and print OOH. I’m also a dab hand at planning and directing shoots, fixing things in Photoshop and can stitch together a video with simple motion graphics.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Jill: Some of my biggest sources of inspiration come away from art, music, the everyday, my friends, fellow creatives and taking photographs of things I like. I’m always on the lookout for new and diverse sources of inspiration, so I can keep my creativity flowing to develop fresh and innovative ideas. I think it’s important to keep an open mind and to look for inspiration in unexpected places.

Patrick: Inspiration hits me when it hits me, so I just try to keep my eyes and mind open, maintain a curious mindset and try [a lot] of different ideas.

Any big trends we should be watching out for?

Jill: As environmental concerns grow, sustainability in design will become more even prominent. Designers will focus on eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient processes, and designs that promote sustainability and social responsibility. As certified B-Corp we fully support this and commit to improving our environmental performance across all our business processes and try to encourage our business partners and those in the wider community to help support this effort.

Patrick: Styles now come and go so quickly it has never been more important to stick to the basics whatever is trending: understand the problem you’re trying to solve then communicate your solution clearly and consistently. This is how we separate our clients’ signal from the noise.

The Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards, which recognise established and emerging women business leaders from across Scotland, are awards that are close to our hearts here at Muckle Media after the agency took home the ‘Growth Business of the Year’ accolade at last year’s awards.

Last night, we had the honour of attending the 2024 awards at the voco Grand Central Hotel in  Glasgow, where we acted as the sponsor for the Purpose Led Business Award. As Scotland’s first PR agency to become a B-Corp, it’s an award category that we’re passionate about.

With a shortlist of outstanding companies that demonstrate a clear purpose and huge impact in their respective sectors, each nominee was truly deserving of the award. We extend our congratulations to all included in the line-up – egg, Fairlie Curved, Flexibility Works, MoneyMatiX Ltd, Stitch the Gap CIC, Studio Lutalica – and are thrilled for the award winner, MoneyMatix, which took home the coveted award!

Last night’s awards were a true testament to the truly talented women-led businesses trailblazing Scotland and beyond. Adding to the glitzy evening which saw ten fantastic businesses receive awards was a keynote speech delivered by President of TechUK Sheila Flavell.

Our MD and Founder of Muckle Media accepted last year’s award and presented this year’s Purpose Led Business Award, Nathalie Agnew, said: “As Scotland’s first PR agency to become a B-Corp we were thrilled to sponsor the Purpose Led Business of the Year Award and the winner was truly deserving, demonstrating a clear purpose and huge impact in their sector. The Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the success of female entrepreneurs across Scotland and highlight the continuing gaps in support for the different needs of female business owners. WES does a great job in campaigning for more support, which in turn leads to better economic outcomes.”

Muckle Media has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Advertising, Media & Marketing by Great Place To Work® UK in the 2024 small and medium category.

To determine the Best Workplaces™ list, Great Place To Work® UK administered their research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based Advertising, Media & Marketing employees.

The surveys, which were anonymous, asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

The award comes as Muckle Media has also become a regional winner in the People and Work category in the British Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year awards. The category recognises business that have shown a commitment to recruiting, training and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce, which has led to an improvement in business performance. Demonstrating how diversity and inclusion is prioritised and plays a pivotal role in its culture is also a contributing factor.

Muckle Media is a dynamic communications agency that realises bright ideas, both for clients and for the future of the PR and communications industry. Offering public relations, digital marketing, crisis communications, events management, design and media training, to name a few, it recently acquired 100% of fellow B-Corp, Spey’s shares, making it a fully owned subsidiary. The deal, which grows the collective team at the two agencies to over 35 people, is a further step in Muckle Media’s ambitious growth plans, following the successful acquisition and integration of food, drink and hospitality communications brand, Taste Communications, in 2022, and award-winning PR agency Platform PR in 2015. 

Nathalie Agnew, MD and Founder of Muckle Media, said: “We’re really proud to have been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Advertising, Media & Marketing in the 2024 shortlist, especially as the acknowledgement is a direct result of the feedback given by our very own team.

“Leaving the world in a better place each day at a time is something we pride ourselves in, not just in achieving the very best for our clients but in championing the happiness of our team to ensure we create a positive, supportive and encouraging work environment. It’s a delight to see the culture and ethos we consistently strive for recognised.”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said: “Advertising, media and marketing cover a dynamic sector heavily influenced by rapidly changing consumer behaviours and emerging tech. Leaders at the UK’s Best Workplaces acknowledge that there will always be parts of one’s job which will cause stress, and which cannot be changed – such as the fast-paced landscape of certain industries. As such, these organisations champion a multi-faceted wellbeing strategy which is integrated within their company culture and everyday ways of working. From mental health and psychological safety to job design and fulfilment at work – these organisations have implemented effective, holistic strategies able to target all dimensions of employees’ wellbeing, leading to a healthier, more engaged workforce. Congratulations Muckle Media for creating a truly ‘great’ workplace.”

This summer I joined the team at Muckle Media for a 4-week internship through
the UNLOCKED programme created by the John Doe group.

Coming from a completely different background in healthcare and after almost a
year on maternity leave, I think nervous was an understatement but from the
minute I joined, the team at Muckle made me feel right at home.

I have learned so much from everyone about the work a PR agency does, it’s
been fascinating to see all the different strands of marketing work together to
bring a campaign to life and truly no two days have been the same.

I’ve had the opportunity to join brainstorming meetings for clients, brush up on
creating media lists, press releases and sell-ins. I’ve learned how to monitor the
results of those for clients and create coverage reports.

The Muckle team have kindly spent the time to teach me the various aspects of
working in a PR team from social media to design and building media relations.
It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience working here and the team are very
eager to help, and have, very patiently, answered my many questions. I will
leave not only with the knowledge I’ve gained from my time here but also more
confident in my ability to continue on to a career in PR.

I’m very grateful to both the Unlocked programme and everyone in the Muckle
Media offices for the experience and time spent here. It has definitely set me up
well for the future.

Interested in joining us on our ever-growing journey? Head to our careers page to
find out more about what we have to offer.