The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer is a reminder that trust isn’t disappearing — it’s retreating. People are pulling inward, relying more on their local circles and less on national institutions or traditional authorities. For businesses, this isn’t a crisis so much as a recalibration.

For years, the "Visibility Game" was simple: hire a PR agency, land a few mentions in traditional glossies, and watch the traffic flow. But as we move into 2026, that game is being rewritten by two massive forces: the collapse of the traditional newsroom and the rise of AI-mediated discovery.

ESG has become a familiar framework for businesses striving to operate responsibly — and not before time. Our planet, our communities and our future workforce increasingly expect organisations to act with care, integrity, and long-term thinking.
After more than 25 years working in communications and reputation across global brands, SMEs, charities, and purpose-led teams, I’ve learned something simple but often overlooked:
Reputation — the human response to how a business behaves — is the thread that holds all of this together.

Work hasn’t stopped over summer as I continue to rebuild and re-orient. It’s been a varied and energising summer, brushing off older skills, learning new ones, and staying close to the developments in AI.

We’ve recently helped bring a bold idea to life — one shaped by strategic thinking, deep expertise, and a real understanding of what makes industry audiences tune in and stay.

No noise. No fluff. Just solid, practical advice and joined-up execution.

The exciting process of an oyster turning a piece of grit into a pearl, provides rich inspiration for hospitality businesses. We’ve recently undertaken a restaurant brand refresh, working with our friends at Subversion: Studio, and the client’s business has increased significantly – up by over 25% vs last year. We take no credit for the incredible food, wine, and service. Nor have we done the hard labour of achieving positive reviews and happy customers night after night. We simply listened to the owners, experienced their service, food and brand philosophy, and created a brand and brand narrative to match that ambition.

I’ve always encouraged trial of any new media platform before advising clients to engage. With more time on my hands last year, I started my own Substack newsletter - not just to understand the platform better, but to talk with authority about its benefits and pitfalls. Here's my idiot's guide to Substack - hope it's useful!

Delighted to have run a session for an inspiring group of brands as part of the #Amazon Sustainability Accelerator programme this week. Chuffed to have been selected as an expert to talk about how PR can support business growth and engagement.

In recent months, I’ve undertaken several exciting projects reinforcing a commitment to working with local businesses to improve their performance. Recently, supported by Darren Howe from Subversion Studio, I was hired by Graze Tapas ~ Wine, a charming Mediterranean and Spanish inspired Tapas restaurant nestled in the heart of Newquay, close to the harbour and Fistral Beach.

I often think it’s tough on those of us working with media for clients, when in the current climate, a consistent and stark piece of advice is to stop consuming the news! This leaves me as an openly addicted news consumer, in conflict, especially when it comes to providing advice for others starting out in our industry.

Two wonderful things happened in my world over the past week or so, resulting in a surge of optimism and energy. This coincided with the arrival of British Summer Time, providing the encouragement and coaxing I needed to emerge from winter hibernation and become proactive again. Funny how the world turns, and how small acts and actions can lead you to the right place at the right time.

We are nearing the end of March, the B Corp month to celebrate it, drive greater awareness of its purpose, values, and importance and to remind many what it’s all about!
(https://bcorporation.uk/act-and-learn/campaigns/b-corp-month-2025/)

I’ve been working in PR for over 30 years and I am still staggered almost weekly, by people working in marketing or leading businesses who don’t fully understand what PR is and how it can impact a business. Perhaps more importantly it’s that they confine PR & Comms to media and influencer work or crisis and issue management, and still only think about it as a bolt-on or an independent function.

I was lucky to attend a brilliant morning session run by @Falmouth University in conjunction with @The Turing Institute and @Catapult Digital. I've commented on this before – and saw it in action yet again at this key training session – the business community in Cornwall is totally ‘on it.’

Breaking bad news to someone in your team is a skill few are ever trained in, and yet it's one of the most important, impactful, and potentially damaging experiences in a person's career if done badly.

Navigating the Modern Business Landscape: Challenges & Opportunities for Leaders

Even before US election night, uncertainty and volatility around the world was placing greater responsibility (and opportunity) on business to continue to step up and lead, innovate and drive the critical changes needed for a more positive future. It seems with the change in US leadership that this is more important again.

We are delighted to join the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and to begin to put our experience in consumer brands and purpose driven organisations to work for the benefit of the vibrant business community here.

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