The Academy is our twelve-month structured graduate training programme designed to equip graduates entering the industry with the skills, knowledge and experience required to become a successful and fully thriving public relations Client Executive.
The programme is based in our London office and offers the opportunity to work across our four pillars – Capital Markets, Corporate, Digital and Sustainability, and a wide variety of sectors & clients within these four pillars including Consumer, Retail, Food & Beverage, Energy & Natural Resources, Property, Financial & Professional Services, Fintech and Not for Profit.
Our One Team. Diverse Thinking ethos is our cultural glue that we believe sets us apart in the industry. It enables us to build the very best blended account team for our clients and means you’ll get to work alongside experienced and valued colleagues across our office locations.
Our flat structure ensures everyone has a real sense of ownership and autonomy across the business, including our Client Executives. We regularly celebrate individual and collective achievements at our Monday morning meetings or Thursday 'shout out's' and are immensely proud of the work we deliver.
As a close-knit team, we enjoy spending time together and our social committee are always busy planning our next team social – whether it’s a trip to a theatre or museum, battling each other at bowling or crazy golf, competing in a pub quiz or getting together for Thursday drinks, we ensure there’s always something for everyone.
What will the programme involve?
Our Client Executives are the eyes and ears of our accounts and provide fundamental support across their portfolios. During the programme, you’ll learn how to become a successful Client Exec through a mixture of internal and external training and by managing and implementing much of the essential day-to-day client activity.
Whilst no two days are ever the same, key responsibilities include;
- Client Service – understanding the world in which your client operate, supporting day-to-day implementation of client communication programmes and campaigns, learning how quoted companies’ financial and reporting calendars are organised and distributing announcements to key audiences, analysts and press.
- Learning how the City operates with opportunities to support on high profile transactions including M&A and IPOs.
- Writing – learning how to write engaging and effective business communications such as press releases, articles and blogs.
- Media Monitoring – learning how the media operates, building relationships with journalists, picking up on relevant press topics and the implications for our clients, setting up press meetings/briefings for clients and creating media lists.
- New Business Research – supporting new business efforts by participating in research, information gathering and market intelligence.
What will growth and development look like?
Following a comprehensive onboarding process, during which you’ll have plenty of opportunity to learn more about the agency and our collaborative culture, get to know our brilliant team and become familiar with our systems, you’ll be allocated a varied client portfolio and start to work closely alongside our experienced client account teams.
Throughout the programme you’ll benefit from extensive internal and external training and quickly start to engage with clients across your portfolio. As you’ll be joining as part of a wider cohort, you’ll also get the opportunity to build relationships with other graduates joining the business.
Our career reviews take place twice a year and ensure everyone has a career development plan in place which is individually driven but supported by line managers and the wider business.
Continuous feedback is encouraged to expediate personal growth and our competency framework helps our teams to understand the skills and behaviours required for progression, whether that’s laterally or vertically.
Alongside your line manager and onboarding buddy, you’ll also benefit from having an experienced mentor, who will support your growth and development in partnership with your manager.
When does the programme start?
We are currently looking for graduates to join us in September 2024.
Candidate profile
We are looking for applicants who;
- Have a strong interest and desire to work in communications and PR
- Have a strong interest in business media and follow the daily news stories.
- Enjoy writing and are able to demonstrate their writing ability
- Have a meticulous eye for detail
- Thrive in a busy, fast-paced environment with the ability to successfully multitask and remain calm under pressure
- Enjoy research and analysis
- Have a proactive, can-do & flexible attitude