How to hire PR professionals and agencies

The CIPR has launched the Client Advisor Service to guide businesses through the process of hiring public relations support. Whether it’s for in-house PR staff or external PR agencies and independent practitioners, the new Service will connect businesses with experienced CIPR Client Advisors.

The Advisors are all Chartered PR Professionals and will help businesses identify their needs and provide a range of support from preparing job descriptions and briefs to joining interviews and pitch panels.

The Service will be launched at MHP Communications on 24 January, where CIPR President, Emma Leech, will set out her vision for the CIPR in 2019. You can register to attend online.

The CIPR has also launched two new guides, designed to further support businesses looking to recruit PR staff or hire the right PR agency.

In-house roles
Recruiting for public relations roles offers information and advice for individuals and businesses seeking to recruit for PR roles. It covers the whole hiring process from common job titles and typical salaries by both role and experience, to shortlisting and making an offer.

The guide is also a valuable tool for anyone applying for PR roles, as it’s the ultimate guide to what’s required.

PR agencies and independent practitioners
The second guide, A guide to selecting PR agencies and independent practitioners, explains what services you can expect to receive from external PRs, how to define what you need and how to select the right people.

The guide provides detailed case studies for different areas of PR including The McOnie Agency’s work on the Ebola outbreak for Arco – in the ‘Issues and Crisis Management’ section; Taylor Herring’s Fit Kwik campaign for Kwik Fit – in the ‘Special Events, Conferences and Meetings’ section; and MHP’s Drop the Duty campaign for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association & Scotch Whisky Association – in the ‘Government Relations and Public Affairs’ section.

Again, the guide is not only vital for businesses trying to work how to pick a PR agency, but also for the agencies and independent practitioners themselves, who can draw inspiration from the detailed selection of successful campaigns.

Emma Leech said: ‘Reputation has never been more important for businesses and yet public relations is sometimes misunderstood and undervalued by UK PLC. The Client Advisor Service, along with these new guides, aims to change that.

‘The Service takes the pain out of hiring PR support and gives businesses peace of mind when recruiting or hiring agencies. Our Client Advisors will work closely with businesses to ensure they get maximum value from their public relations function. This is an exciting and significant step forward for our industry as we continue to assert the strategic value of public relations to the business community.’

Find out more about the Client Advisor Service.