Region’s PR sector sees 20% growth

There has been a 20% growth in PR businesses in the South West since the start of last year, reflecting a nationwide increase in communications businesses.

Data collated by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) shows almost 650 of the UK’s 15,220 active PR and communication companies – around 4% – are based in the South West’s eight core cities.

Bristol was recently named in PR Week’s Recruitment Report as a hotspot of recruitment activity in the South West, behind only Manchester and Leeds in terms of recruitment postings outside of London.

Kelly Pepworth, chair at PRCA South West and MD at Speed Communications, said: “The PR sector has consistently demonstrated its resilience and continues to build after a challenging few years during the pandemic.

“The growth in the region is reflective of the increased value of PR as a channel due to its ability to pivot quickly in response to the fast changing social, economic and political landscape.”

The Top 5 PR agencies in the South West – Camargue Group, Greenhouse Communications, Speed Communications, Meeting Place and Wonderland Communications – achieved a combined revenue of more than £26m in 2023, a 6% increase on the previous year.

The UK public relations and communications industry is worth £16.7bn and all predictors show it is poised for robust growth through 2025, driven by increasing budgets and the demand for integration of digital and traditional PR strategies.