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By JOHN JOHNSTON
Hello and welcome to London Influence, also not going to hand over my WhatsApps to the Cabinet Office. Tips, gossip, state secrets and coffee requests @johnjohnstonmi or [email protected] | View in your browser
SNEAK PEEK
— Influence goes behind the scenes on an eye-opening new report on diversity in PR and comms.
— The scandal-hit CBI unveils a survival plan — and asks members to back it.
— Labour has Scottish industry in its sights as it tries to get serious on biz engagement.
TALKING SHOP
DIVERSITY DRIVE: A new report lays bare the experience of men of color in the PR and comms world — and it ain’t pretty.
More than a clever title: Behind The Mask, from the PRCA’s Race & Ethnicity Equity Board, spoke to black, asian and mixed-heritage men working at varying levels of seniority in the sector who reported similar problems when it came to finding jobs or getting ahead. Influence sat down with the group’s vice-chair Emmanuel Ofosu-Appiah to comb through the findings, which were produced in conjunction with pollsters Opinium.
Part of the problem: Is that many ethnically-diverse men in PR and comms feel getting ahead in the sector requires blending in with their colleagues — adopting posher accents, changing their hairstyle, or hiding aspects of their heritage. It’s something Ofosu-Appiah admits was part of his own career journey.
He said: “When I was looking for PR jobs I was actually considering changing my name,” he says. “It’s a very common name in Ghana, it’s a common name in the Ghanaian football team, but when I started applying for roles I thought about altering it to make it more English just so my CV would be seen.”
Grim reading: The report details what is essentially a vicious cycle — with some men saying they change their posture in the office to portray confidence, while others feel they have to work against stereotypes “including assumptions that men that look like them are ‘aggressive’ or ‘overconfident’.”
Unsurprisingly: This can have long-term psychological impacts — while also making it harder to have serious conversations about changing the culture.
Status quo: “It’s the easiest thing for people to do,” Ofosu-Appiah says. “They feel like once they amend their true identity, once they alter it, they fit into what is the status quo — but I think they industry needs to be open to accepting people for who they are.”
Self policing: Combine that with a reports of tougher scrutiny and a disparity in promotion and pay rates, and Ofosu-Appiah says it’s unsurprising that many ethnically-diverse men are unwilling to put their head above the parapet.
He adds: “People are thinking that if they do speak up it’s going to affect their relationship with their line manager, so people are shying away from being honest about their experiences … Early in my own career I was hesitant to speak up because I thought I’d be seen as a troublemaker. But I’m that passionate about it I was willing to risk it.”
Nepo babies: Without daddy’s boardroom connections, and a still-limited number of diversity schemes, the report finds building even basic connections can be challenging — with many networking opportunities taking place in environments that are uncomfortable for PR and comms pros from non-white backgrounds.
Both barrels: “I’ve been part of lots of different kinds of corporate networking events, and they are often pastimes I’ve never considered doing,” he said. “Things like shooting, and I’m not saying I do it every weekend, but it’s come across as quite a common thing that happens in the corporate world and is something someone from other groups probably wouldn’t have come across.”
Glimmer of hope: Ofosu-Appiah, now an associate director at Edelman Smithfield, stresses that things have improved in the 10 years since he started in the industry. More diversity programs have started, mentorship schemes are on the rise, and Ofosu-Appiah says the support of industry groups like the PRCA has helped give a voice to those who have often been overlooked.
Pull your weight: “There are definitely agencies and people in teams doing a good job, trying to be an advocate for diversity,” he says. “But it’s just a case of making sure everyone is pulling their weight and taking those steps to make our industry more diverse.”
QUICK HITS
CBI DETAILS SHAKE-UP: The CBI unveiled plans for an overhaul after a series of scandals left the major business lobby group fighting for survival.
Reminder: The proposals — outlined Wednesday — come after the group suspended its public-facing activities and after both Whitehall and Labour cut ties over several serious sexual misconduct claims. They include an allegation of rape which is currently being investigated by the City of London police.
So what’s the plan? An overhaul of the CBI board. The launch of a new committee to focus on human resources and culture. And a plan for re-engaging with government.
Plus: The CBI will also be searching for a new president, with incumbent Brian McBride (who publicly beefed with ex director general Tony Danker) stepping down in January 2024. That’s earlier than originally planned.
What’s next? The change prospectus was released to the CBI’s remaining members on Wednesday, who will now have a chance to vote on whether to accept or reject the proposals — with the result set to be announced at an extraordinary general meeting next week.
Giving it the hard sell: Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI’s new director general said the plans would deliver “radical and rapid changes” that would put the group “well on the road to recovery”.
And: Speaking to my colleague Eleni Courea, the CBI’s chief campaign director Syma Cullasy-Aldridge said the scale of the changes should not be “underestimated” and stressed that there is a lot of “decisive and concrete action” being taken.
But is it enough? Cullasy-Aldridge said she hoped people would see the “extent of the reflection … and the action that we are taking.”
She added: “We have listened to members, we have listened to staff. We have worked tirelessly to have this deep look at our culture and our purpose and to enact change that we need.” More from Eleni here.
Gulp: Sky reports that the group has hired lawyers to prepare for a potential insolvency filing should the plans fail to get support.
NEW BLOOD: PR and comms industry group the PRCA announced that current deputy director general Renna Markson is being promoted to managing director as part of a wider shake-up of the trade body’s leadership team.
First up: Markson will be the PRCA’s first managing director, with the post created following the completion of an independent governance review that proposed significant changes to how the group is run.
Big gig: Markson, who has been leading the PRCA since the death of director general Francis Ingham, will be charged with running the day-to-day operations and will report to the incoming CEO.
LABOUR’S LOBBYING CRACKDOWN: Former ministers could be banned from taking part in any kind of lobbying activity for five years after leaving their role under the next Labour government.
Penalty: The new measures, revealed by the FT, would also see the pretty-toothless ACOBA revolving watchdog given beefed-up powers, including the ability to fine those who breach the rules.
Wait and see: Labour has already made a song and dance about “cleaning up Westminster” but a party source tells the FT the proposals are on a draft list still to be considered by the party’s national policy forum.
BREAKING THE GREED LIMIT: Four MPs have been ordered to pay back hundreds of pounds in driving fines they claimed on expenses, according to an investigation by the Independent.
They include: Energy minister and whip Amanda Solloway, fellow Tory MPs Simon Hoare and Bim Afolami as well as SNP MP Dave Doogan.
Speed trap: Solloway claimed for a fixed penalty notice in 2020, Doogan expensed a £160 fine in January 2022, Afolmai got paid for two £80 fines in December 2021 and accelerator enthusiast Simon Hoare racked up four £80 fines which he claimed for in November 2019.
It comes after: Home Secretary Suella Braverman dodged an ethics probe over her own heavy-footed escapades.
It goes without saying: Using taxpayer funds to pay off driving fines is explicitly against MP spending rules.
But obviously: Both Afolami and Solloway blamed assorted admin errors for the claims and said they had now paid back the cash.
Oopsie: Expenses body IPSA admitted its own part in the snafu, saying it had paid some of the claims in error and is now updating its process to stop it happening again.
REVOLVING DOOR LATEST: Former hack-turned Onward boss Seb Payne has put himself forward as a Tory candidate for the Selby and Ainsty seat.
Quelle surprise: Chronic Whitehall watchers won’t be overly shocked by the news given whispers about Payne’s political ambitions have been swirling for several years — despite his previous staunch denials to journalists who questioned him about it.
No Payne, no gain: The leading wonk has been shortlisted for the seat currently held by outgoing Nigel Adams — with current poll projections showing he’d be likely to enter the Commons if he can win the nomination.
BUSINESS FOCUS
MCLABOUR: As well as keeping ScotRail in profit with frequent visits, Labour has more in store for business in Scotland as the party continues to eye up big electoral gains north of the border.
Proper plan: Shadow Business Secretary Jonny Reynolds is leading the latest charge with a big speech set for next week’s Scottish Council for Development and Industry forum before joining up with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar for a Q&A reception with bosses and public affairs bigwigs.
Aye’s on the prize: It’s all part of the opposition’s plan to develop a real policy portfolio in Scotland that goes deeper than photo ops.
And that tallies: With recent polling that shows while the party continues to do well with Scottish voters, punters want it to have a distinctive offering that helps address the country’s unique policy challenges.
Message received: A Labour official said the party is now making a “conscious effort” to replicate the progress they’ve made down South, but were being mindful not to take the support for granted.
They added: “We cannot overstate how vital Scotland is for our economic plans and obviously the electoral picture there is optimistic, but we are taking the same approach. This isn’t about positioning but getting the party in the best place to deliver for Scotland.”
Golden opportunity: Party insiders feel the recent woes hitting the SNP have given the party a rare chance to win support among a Scottish firms feeling buffeted between Brexit and the independence debate.
A Scottish Labour source said: “However bad the business community feels in the rest of the U.K. about how it’s been treated by the Tories over Brexit, they feel twice as bad in Scotland because they feel abandoned on two fronts.”
Long time coming: The plan is the culmination of two years of work on what party insiders call an “integrated engagement approach” — building on both Sarwar’s previous business chops and the outreach program already in full swing in Westminster.
Reading between the lines: Labour teams on both sides of the border have faced an uphill battle to rebuild trust with business after Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Leonard left relationships in a precarious state.
Integration nations: “We’re doing successfully what we’ve not done in the past, delivering that level of integration across Westminster and Holyrood,” the Scottish Labour source said. “If we’re being true to our promise to push power out of Whitehall and around the country, that’s the approach we need.”
They added: “It’s about indicating to Scottish voters and Scottish businesses that a commitment to Scottish prosperity is at the heart of what a Labour government would do.”
ON THE MOVE
Claire Ainsley is joining WPI Strategy as a senior adviser following a previous stint as Keir Starmer’s executive director of policy.
Joshan Parmar joined PricedOut as their new director of outreach.
Joe Dharampal-Hornby is starting as head of public affairs at the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association.
Ekta Gohil is taking up a new role as political advisor to the Conservatives on London Councils following a stint as Michael Gove’s political agent.
Sam Winter is taking up a new role as external affairs manager for UK & Ireland at Mondelēz International.
Matt Detzler has been promoted to account director at property PR agency Redwood Consulting.
Millie Martin is taking up a new gig as policy lead at the Department for Business and Trade.
Melisa Tourt Unal is starting as a public affairs account executive at 89up.
Jobs jobs jobs: College Green Group are hiring for a new account executive … Reform are looking for a senior researcher with a focus on education … Good Faith Partnership are on the hunt for a director of communications … Kanda Consulting are looking for an account executive … The Trussell Trust are hiring a public affairs officer … Bridgehead Group have an opening for a senior political and media consultant … The University of Exeter wants a senior policy advisoe … and APCO Worldwide are on the hunt for an associate consultant in public affairs.
Event Horizon: It’s summer party season, and the CIPR has a pre-recess bash set for June 21 at the Institute for Government. Grab your tickets here.
Thanks: To editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster for the sharp edits. And to the production team for the usual magic.
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John Johnston
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