Are you ready for 2025…? Taking corporate communications to the next level

Are you ready for 2025…? Taking corporate communications to the next level

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.

Is PR on your marketing Christmas list? 

Is PR on your marketing Christmas list? 

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.

Social media shop windows, best practice and trends

Social media shop windows, best practice and trends

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]

Did you know that we have a design studio? 

Did you know that we have a design studio? 

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.

 

Muckle Media sponsors Purpose Led Business category at Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 

Muckle Media sponsors Purpose Led Business category at Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 

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!

MoneyMatix offers a unique blend of practical financial tools, immersive educational programs, and engaging multimedia resources to transform your relationship with money.

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 recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Advertising, Media & Marketing™

Muckle Media recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Advertising, Media & Marketing™

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.”

UNLOCKing new potential – My internship at Muckle Media

UNLOCKing new potential – My internship at Muckle Media

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.

Muckle Media’s marketing stars align at The Marketing Society Scotland’s Awards 2024

Muckle Media’s marketing stars align at The Marketing Society Scotland’s Awards 2024

We celebrated four award wins at this year’s Marketing Society Scotland’s Star Awards, taking home three gold wins for our work with Popeyes in the Communications Category for PR, Sector Category for Retail & Hospitality and our very own Managing Director Nathalie Agnew FCIPR took home Inspirational Agency Leader of the Year.

 

Putting the ‘aye’ in Popeyes, the Taste team – our specialist hospitality division, stopped traffic and broke global brand sales records when launching the brand’s first Scottish restaurant in Barrhead.

 

People queued for a record-breaking 18.5 hours, with influencer posts reaching over 1.3 million views across Instagram and TikTok and 82 pieces of press coverage.

 

Taking home silver in the Communications Category for PR was our client, the Loch Ness Centre for its legendary PR campaign, Nessie or Nonsense which saw us launch the largest ever search for Nessie, The Quest. Our Inverness-based team know that Nessie is more relevant to an international audience than a local one, so our campaign strategy had to focus on dialling up the Loch Ness Monster story for wider UK and international audiences.

 

Over a four-week period, we generated over 2,300 pieces of coverage for The Quest with media secured across the globe.

 

Our Loch Ness Centre client team were also honoured with the Chairman’s Award for Small to Medium Enterprise.

 

Nathalie Agnew, founder and Managing Director of Muckle Media, said:  “We love creating campaigns that help our clients achieve their goals, and it’s wonderful to have our hard work recognised by industry peers. Working with Popeyes and the Loch Ness Centre achieved mass brand awareness and showcased the impact of PR on business growth. I’m immensely proud of the Muckle team for their creativity and hard work. Winning four awards at the Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards is a huge honor, and I thank the judges, our clients, and the Muckle team for making it possible.”

Read more about our award-winning work here.

Muckle Media acquires Spey

Muckle Media acquires Spey

Scotland’s first two PR agencies to certify as B-Corps are coming together, after Muckle Media acquired 100% of 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.

At the recent PRCA DARE Scotland Awards, Muckle Media was named best large agency and Spey was named best medium agency, so it is fitting that the two brands are coming together. Spey was set up in Speyside to deliver PR balancing profit with purpose, contributing in particular to the local community by creating jobs where there were not before. In March, Spey launched the first ever tracking tool to measure the climate impact of PR activity.

Muckle and Spey will both continue to operate separately, with client teams across consumer, corporate, spirits, hospitality and tourism continuing to serve existing clients and win new business.

 Jennifer Robertson, owner and founding partner of Spey, said: “After almost a decade growing Spey, I think it is a good time for a new chapter in my career and life. It has been a privilege to build the agency working with the very best colleagues and to serve clients from every corner of the globe, with whom I have had the honour of a lifetime to work with.

“I have been thinking for some time about what I want to do with the next stage of my career, while juggling the joy and challenges of being a mother to young children and continuing to contribute to the organisations and industries that I am passionate about.

“In Nathalie, who hails from the Highlands and whose company is also a member of the B-Corp community, there is clear shared values and purpose, running a successful agency with a presence across rural and urban Scotland.

“I leave the company in great health with a highly talented team across our offices in Speyside and Edinburgh, working with the finest group of clients. I wish Nathalie and the now much bigger team the very best in this next exciting step of their journey.”

 

Nathalie Agnew, managing director and founder of Muckle Media, said: “Jennifer has done a fantastic job at growing a values-led, strategic communications agency, very closely aligned to the values at Muckle Media. From Muckle Media’s first office in the Highlands of Scotland, to our now Edinburgh based HQ, we have been on similar journeys, and both focused on delivering the best strategic and creative work for brands that we love, with consideration for more than just shareholder profit.

“I’m excited to continue to build upon Spey’s success, working closely with the skilled team to deliver long term results that deliver business impact. We look forward to investing further in the team and brand and building upon successes to date.”

Spey doubled its client base in 2023, with new clients including the world’s most awarded single malt, Glenfiddich; Scotland’s number one food brand, Graham’s Family Dairy; engineering company Briggs of Burton; the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros and Rudd Spirits; and Europe’s longest established solar company, AES Solar.

Robertson will exit the business following a brief handover. Muckle Media was advised by Mark Probert at Cactus and Hybrid Legal and Spey Media was advised by AAB and Ennova Law.

Muckle Media gets a taste for the finer things in life with appointment by chef Dean Banks

Muckle Media gets a taste for the finer things in life with appointment by chef Dean Banks

Creative PR agency, Muckle Media, has been appointed by restaurateur Dean Banks to support with the PR of his restaurants and premium spirits on a retained basis.

Five years after competing on the BBC show, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Dean Banks now operates a hugely successful restaurant group in Scotland, including the historic fine dining restaurant, the Pompadour at The Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh.

Muckle Media’s specialist hospitality division, Taste, will be working on a PR and influencer brief for all seven restaurants, as well as Chef Banks’ premium spirits brands, Lunun Gin and Mond Vodka.

The acquisition of food and drink PR agency Taste Communications has seen the agency win a number of hospitality clients over the past few months including the opening of Popeyes in Scotland, Rio Brazilian Steakhouse and Turtle Bay.

 Taste at Muckle Media Director, Linsay Brown said; “Dean Banks has carved out a unique space within the Scottish food scene, built on years of culinary experience. By working together we’re not only hoping to shine a spotlight on the Dean Banks Group but also the man behind the kitchen.”

Dean Banks, chef & restaurant founder added; “I am very excited to work with Taste at Muckle Media as I have been looking for a PR company for the past two years and have found it hard to find a company that can help with my entire group’s offering. With such an amazing track record and the diversity of Taste at Muckle Media, it fits perfectly with the diversity of my own group. I really look forward to creating a long-term relationship with the team.”

Edinburgh PR agency hosts careers day for aspiring communication professionals 

Edinburgh PR agency hosts careers day for aspiring communication professionals 

Edinburgh PR agency hosts careers day for aspiring communication professionals 

Muckle Media, the Edinburgh-based creative communications agency, hosted its first ‘Bright Careers. Realised.’ day for over 30 aspiring PR professionals in its Edinburgh office. The initiative was launched to help kickstart the careers of emerging talent looking to get into the industry.  

Aspiring PR and communications professionals considering making their start, or switching into, a career within the industry joined Muckle Media for an action-packed day of workshops, talks and interactive sessions to provide insight into the realities of whats involved in the industry.  

Sessions were taken by Nathalie Agnew, founder and managing director; Chris Batchelor, director (client service); Linsay Brown, director (people and culture); and Jacquelyn Whyte, director (creativity and business development) covering a number of topics including an introduction to PR, a session on media relations, as well as an opportunity to develop and present creative ideas in pitch teams.  

The day was open to anyone with an interest in a career in the industry and provided the opportunity to meet and network with the wider Muckle Media team, have a CV reviewed by one of Muckle Media’s experts and spend time with like-minded individuals and peers.
 

Linsay Brown, Muckle Media’s director of people and culture, said: “We had a great day delivering our first Bright Careers. Realised. event, taking 30 budding comms professionals through what it’s like to work in the world of PR and creative communications. There was such a buzz throughout the day as our team shared their experience and expertise with the room, with a wealth of insightful conversations, creative ideas and lots of new connections made. We are passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to discover a career in PR and comms and help them kickstart their career, we look forward to hosting more events like this in the future.” 

With a strong focus on employer brand and ongoing development into its “Bright Ideas. Realised.” strategic planning framework, Muckle Media is firmly earning its position as one of Scotland’s top creative communications agencies with a specialism in earned media and influencer relations. 

Iain Valentine Appointed as Non-Executive Chair of Muckle Media

Iain Valentine Appointed as Non-Executive Chair of Muckle Media

Iain Valentine Appointed as Non-Executive Chair of Muckle Media

Muckle Media, the creative communications agency, has appointed Iain Valentine as its first Non-Executive Chair. With a wealth of experience in leading award-winning digital, creative, and brand agencies, Iain brings over 25 years of strategic leadership and agency growth to Muckle Media, the first Scottish PR Agency to achieve B-Corp certification. Iain’s appointment follows the recent promotion of Muckle Media’s former creative lead, Jacquelyn Whyte, to director responsible for creative thinking and business development.

 

Iain spent 17 years as Creative Director, co-owner and Managing Partner of Edinburgh creative digital agency Whitespace (now Dentsu Creative). Iain has a proven track record of growth, leading an MBO followed by external acquisition and integration into global network Dentsu. In 2020, Iain took the position of CEO at Isobar UK– Dentsu’s global digital experience and transformation agency, responsible for over 400 people and £24m in revenue. Most recently, Valentine held a leadership and transformation role as Group Managing Director of Dentsu Creative before stepping down in 2022 to pursue a portfolio career.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Iain said: “I am incredibly excited to take on this new role as part of the progressive and dynamic leadership at Muckle Media. The team’s alignment to B-Corp certification and depth of commitment to its people and culture align with my own beliefs and are key to success in a modern agency.”

 

As Non-Executive Chair, Iain will play a pivotal role in guiding Muckle Media’s leadership team’s strategic direction, leveraging his extensive experience and industry insights to support the agency’s ambitious growth plans.

 

Founder and Managing Director of Muckle Media, Nathalie Agnew, welcomed Iain’s appointment, stating, “We are really looking forward to working with Iain as we continue to grow an exciting, impactful and creative agency that helps leave the world in a better place. Iain’s impressive track record leading the growth of Whitespace means he has overcome many of the challenges facing agencies and also identified and worked through many of the opportunities for growth, so his insights will be invaluable. Iain’s approach to agency advisory services is well aligned against our values and I look forward to working with him as we continue to sustainably grow the business.”

 

Iain’s appointment as Non-Executive Chair signifies an exciting new chapter for Muckle Media, as the agency continues to solidify its position as a leading force in the creative communications industry in Scotland and beyond.

 

Muckle Media’s leadership team, who will work closely with Iain, is made up of Nathalie Agnew, founder and managing director; Chris Batchelor, director (client service); Linsay Brown, director (people and culture) and Jacquelyn Whyte, director (creativity and business development).

 

With a strong focus on employer brand and ongoing development into its “Bright Ideas. Realised.” strategic planning framework, Muckle Media is firmly earning its position as one of Scotland’s top creative communications agencies with a specialism in earned media and influencer relations. It works with brands including the Scottish Government, The National Trust for Scotland and Bella & Duke pet food.