Cross-party MPs call for Government intervention to fix fast fashion

Developing sustainable fabrics, boosting fabric recycling and bringing manufacturing jobs back to the UK are some of the key recommendations put forward to the Government today in a new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, supported by environmental charity Hubbub. The report sets out how the sector could follow a more sustainable route and the role that government and consumers might play. 

Covid-19 has significantly hit the fashion industry. Supply chains have broken, sales have dropped, unsold stock has built, retail outlets have closed and companies have gone out of business.  Consumer habits have shifted and so have attitudes – the public wants to see change. 

Before the virus struck, the environmental and social impact of the industry was increasingly under public scrutiny. Fast fashion resulted in £140 million worth of clothing being sent to landfill every year in the UK. Whilst charity shop donation rates are high, 300,000 tonnes of clothing still ends up in household bins every year with around 20% of this going to landfill and 80% incinerated (EAC, ‘Fixing Fashion’). The industry’s carbon dioxide emissions were expected to rise to nearly 2.8 billion tonnes by 2030 

The 2019 House of Commons Environment Audit Select Committee report ‘Fixing Fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability’, found that textile production accounted for 20-35% of microplastics in the oceans as well as toxicity in the land and particles in the air. The government rejected certain recommendations and felt that the rest were covered, to some degree, in the 2018 Resource and Waste Strategy published 2 months prior to the Fixing Fashion report. 

 New research released today by Hubbub shows 65% of UK residents agree that the Government should urgently do more to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the environment.  

The APPG report calls for the following actions by Government:  

·       Investing in research and development to create more sustainable fabrics that have a lower environmental and social impact – backed by 66% of the public. 

·       Boosting investment in UK fabric recycling facilities to create a more circular economy – backed by 73% of the public. 

·       Supporting new start-up businesses operating more green business models – backed by 74% of the public. 

·       Investing in skills to bring more clothes manufacturing jobs back to the UK – backed by 72% of the public  

·       Supporting industry to create clearer information and labelling about the sustainability of clothes helping to educate consumers about their everyday choices and force companies to change their approach – backed by 64% of the public. 

 

Catherine West MP, chair of the APPG,  said:

“Coronavirus has exposed deep inequalities and unsustainability in the garment industry. Creating a sustainable and ethical future for the fashion industry is an important but complex challenge for government, industry and the public and what is clear is that there is an appetite for this on all sides. We must seize this moment and put these recommendations into action by pushing the government to be a global leader, helping to build a more sustainable and ethical fashion industry, both within the UK and globally”. 

The APPG report includes further recommendations for actions by the fashion industry and the survey found that consumers want to see change from industry. 65% agreed they’d be happy for fashion to ‘slow down”, ie less production of mass-produced cheap clothing in favour of good quality clothing that will last, and a third (33%) of 16-24 year olds feel constant pressure to buy new clothes. Three quarters (75%) of respondents agree that clothing companies have a responsibility to look after the people who make their products. 

The report also highlights that citizens have a crucial role in holding government and businesses to account in the post COVID-19 rebuild. 52% of those polled said they would be willing to spend a little more on clothes if they were guaranteed to be made ethically in the UK supporting British workers and 49% would be willing to spend a little more on clothes if they were guaranteed to be less impactful on the environment.  

Trewin Restorick, Founder and CEO of Hubbub, said:  

“Now is the time for government intervention to fix fast fashion and force companies to change their approach. We hope both the Government and the fashion industry will act with urgency on the recommendations of the APPG, which are backed by the UK public. As we’ve set out in our Greenprint, a more just and sustainable approach to how we dress, live, eat and travel is needed as we ‘build back better’, which builds greater long-term resilience. It’s important for all of us to play our part by making individual small changes and choosing where we spend our money.” 

Hubbub’s tips for individuals to slow their fashion consumption can be found at www.hubbub.org.uk/sustainable-fashion  

New COVID-19 tactics to rip off consumers

Access to future treatments, quick-result testing kits and government support packages are all areas that criminals are likely to exploit in the coming months, according to new intelligence published by National Trading Standards (NTS). The annual NTS Consumer Harm Report reveals how criminals are adapting to changing consumer and business needs as the coronavirus pandemic develops.

While the immediate issues exploited by criminals earlier this year involved the fraudulent sale of fake PPE, hand sanitiser and testing kits, emerging and future issues are likely to include:

  • Price gouging from profiteering traders as demand for specific products rises rapidly, such as Covid-19 treatments, instant-result Covid-19 tests or other high-demand products
  • Online fraud as more and more shoppers avoid the high street and buy online, including a rise in the use of mobile apps and social media for purchases where counterfeiters already operate
  • Legitimate government initiatives that are exploited by criminals, such as fraudsters purporting to represent government to offer business support packages, ‘copycat’ websites mimicking government schemes and the new Green Home Grant; similar initiatives have been targeted by criminals in the past
  • New websites and social media accounts offering ‘miracle cures’ including fake Covid-19 treatments, fast-turnaround testing kits or other forms of purported, non-validated products that make false claims about the virus
  • Virtual home viewings that misrepresent the property for sale or let. Property viewings by video have risen since lockdown and will rise further if future restrictions are imposed
  • Fake refund websites where companies falsely claim to offer ‘assistance’ with claiming refunds for cancelled holidays, processing insurance claims or other losses consumers may have suffered as a result of changed travel plans
  • Exploiting the vulnerable is not a new tactic – but we expect it to become more prominent as the virus encourages more people to shield, increasing loneliness and isolation.

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said:

“During the pandemic we have seen criminals trade fake PPE and hand sanitisers, and prey on vulnerable people at home. As the coronavirus pandemic develops, so too will the type of fraud, and our intelligence shows that criminals are evolving their behaviour again to rip off consumers. There is naturally significant interest in the development of a COVID-19 health product and I urge consumers to be mindful that con artists and tricksters will try to exploit the situation for their own criminal ends.

“The Trading Standards community will work with the resources available to tackle the fake treatment websites and scams as they emerge, and I call on consumers to be extra vigilant – not only for yourselves but for friends, families, neighbours and others in our communities. Report suspected criminal behaviour to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.”

Lynda Scammell, Senior Enforcement Advisor at the MHRA, said:

“It is important to bear in mind that no medicine is licensed specifically for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

“Our advice is to not buy by any products claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19 – any claiming to do so are not authorised and have not undergone regulatory approvals required for sale on the UK market, consequently we cannot guarantee their safety or quality and they may pose a danger to your health and the health of others.”

“We continue to encourage the public, and healthcare professionals, to report any posts claiming to sell these types of products to us via our Yellow Card Scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

“Always make sure you buy your medicines from a registered pharmacy or website and your medical devices from reputable retailers.”

The annual Consumer Harm Report also provides an update on the work NTS has delivered. Since NTS was established in 2014, its teams have saved consumers and businesses more than £1 billion, representing £12.64 in consumer and business detriment saved for every £1 spent.

During 2019-2020 National Trading Standards Teams:

  • secured more than £350,000 in compensation for victims
  • took 5,256,377 dangerous and non-compliant goods, with a value of £173 million, out of the supply chain
  • secured 64 convictions, with prison sentences totalling 91 years and more than £400,000 in fines
  • added a further 200,000 ‘friends’ to the Friends Against Scams campaign
  • completed landmark prosecutions for two ticket touts who were sentenced to a total of six-and-a-half years in prison
  • and ensured that the criminals behind ‘copycat’ websites that mimicked official government websites were ordered to pay back more than £6 million under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said:

“Scams and profiteering schemes are despicable at any time, but particularly so if they seek to exploit the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Scammers are master opportunists, and it is shocking to see the new ways in which they are targeting vulnerable people.

“I would urge consumers to take extra care at this time, and to contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service if they feel they might be looking at a scam.”

CTSI Chief Executive, Leon Livermore, said:

“I am appalled and shocked to see the lengths criminals went to defraud the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. UK consumer protection has however risen to the challenge, and I applaud the excellent work of National Trading Standards over the past year.

“Statistics, showing that £173 million worth of dangerous goods were removed from supply chains, highlights the vital role that consumer protection plays. I am proud that consumer protection authorities, and in particular National Trading Standards have risen to the occasion during a period of unprecedented crisis.

“Although the vast majority of British businesses have behaved admirably, sadly a few have attempted to use the situation to their advantage and engage in price gouging.

“CTSI is pleased to support and amplify the excellent work undertaken by NTS and encourage the public to join their excellent Friends Against Scams scheme.

“While we are all working against mounting pressures, consumer protection authorities will continue to work hard, protecting the public in the most difficult circumstances and I am confident that the coming year will bring further news of success.”

HRH The Prince of Wales opens community fridge at Dumfries House

HRH The Prince of Wales today opened the Community Fridge Network’s 100th fridge at Dumfries House to help bring together the local community of East Ayrshire to tackle food waste.

The Community Fridge Network, run by environmental charity Hubbub, supports community fridges across the UK to share good food from local businesses and individuals that would have otherwise gone to waste. Run by local volunteers, the fridges also provide a positive social space for local residents to learn more about food, sustainable eating, growing your own and eating on a budget.

Many of the fridges have provided a lifeline to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, adapting their offering to support the most vulnerable and families hit particularly hard financially.

The Prince’s Foundation, whose headquarters is at Dumfries House, has set up the fridge to benefit local residents around the former mining communities of Auchinleck and Cumnock. Regular collections of surplus food from local retailers will be organised and food will also be donated from the estate’s Coach House Cafe, Kauffman Education Gardens and The Belling Hospitality Training Centre.

Thousands of school children visit Dumfries House estate every year to take part in hands-on food, farming and horticulture workshops run by The Prince’s Foundation which highlight the provenance of food and importance of sustainable practices. Those managing the community fridge plan to run similar sessions for local residents on how to grow your own fruit and veg, in addition to cooking workshops, and health and wellbeing sessions.

Food waste remains a huge issue in the UK, with £13 billion of edible food thrown away from our homes every year and a further £3 billion of food wasted by the hospitality and food service sector.

With the opening of the 100th community fridge, the network is redistributing an average of 975 tonnes of food surplus per year, the equivalent of approximately 1.9 million meals.

Julie McCluskie, manager of the Coach House Cafe at Dumfries House, will oversee the Dumfries House community fridge. She said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything The Prince’s Foundation does so we are delighted to officially open the 100th community fridge in partnership with Hubbub. Supporting the local community has always been a huge part of the Dumfries House ethos and we hope that the opening of this fridge will not only be of benefit to local residents but that it will also strengthen our commitment to reducing food waste.”

The first community fridge was opened in 2016 in Derbyshire and the idea has been rolled out in communities across the UK. Unlike food banks, the fridges are available for anyone to use and have given residents an opportunity to try new foods, share recipes and even cook together.

Kanahaya Alam, Community Fridge Network Manager at Hubbub, said: “We’re thrilled that HRH The Prince of Wales has officially opened a Community Fridge on Dumfries House estate. We’ve seen these projects strengthen and enrich communities across the country in community centres, schools, universities and now a country estate. Community fridges are not only tackling food waste but are providing a crucial service at what is a really difficult time for many. We’d love to see more people volunteer for their local fridge, more retailers donate food and more businesses provide sponsorship.”

Neil Ritch, Scotland Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It’s remarkable that thanks to National Lottery funding, the Community Fridge Network is providing almost 2 million meals a year from food that would have otherwise gone to waste, as well as bringing people together so they can learn more about making the most of the food we have. The pandemic has seen the Network supporting some of the most vulnerable people and families and National Lottery players can be proud that the money they have raised is funding this vital work in an exceptionally difficult time.”

The Community Fridge Network is supported by a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, and the fridge at Dumfries House is one of over 80 kindly donated by fridge manufacturer Liebherr. Retailers redistributing their surplus food across the network include Co-op, Costa, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Riverford Organic, Sainsbury’s, Spar, Tesco and Waitrose, alongside local food businesses around the country.

This week Hubbub launched a Greenprint for a Better Britain – a manifesto of policies seeking to ensure that the UK makes a sustainable recovery from COVID-19. This includes asking the Government to support ‘Community Food Hubs’ in areas of high food insecurity to improve access to healthy food.

More information on The Community Fridge Network, including a map of fridge locations and advice for those interested in setting up a community fridge can be found at www.hubbub.org.uk/the-community-fridge.

Barley Communications – making a difference

Four years ago, in April 2016, we launched a new kind of agency. One that we hoped would make a difference on issues that matter.

Since then we’ve worked with awe-inspiring organisations that share this vision. Groups and leaders who strive for a better world, proactively reducing damage to our planet. Teams who support people in vulnerable situations and improve people’s health and wellbeing. Campaigners who demand social justice.

Our new showreel chronicles some of the work we’ve delivered for these inspiring organisations.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all our amazing clients from the past four years, who all deliver life-changing work that makes a difference.

Barnardo’s x @littlebigbell Virtual Homewares Pop Up

As lockdown increases Brits’ desire to zhuzh up homes, we need to talk about fast homewares.

WATCH & SHARE THE SHORT FILM HERE

On Average: 

  • Brits spend £7.9 billion on homewares annually
  • We’re buying at least 404 Million homeware items (an average of almost 8 items per year)
  • 14.5 Million Brits bin unwanted, unbroken homewares sending reusable homewares to landfill

 

Since Lockdown:

  • 25.6 Million Brits (48% of adults) changed the look of at least one room
  • Over a third (37%) agree the look of their home has become more important since lockdown
  • Nearly a third (32%), or 17.2 Million want to zhuzh up their home more than ever before
  • Nearly a quarter (24%) bought homewares during lockdown

1-8 August 2020, Barnardo’s Retail and interiors expert Geraldine Tan @littlebigbell open the Barnardo’s x @littlebigbell Virtual Homewares Pop Up. To showcase the treasures to be found at charity shops and raise much needed funds for Barnardo’s, whilst highlighting the problem of fast homewares.

Curated by the award winning @littlebigbell (donating her time and expertise for free) the online store will sell covetable homewares donated to Barnardo’s.   All items big and small will start at just 99p and be open to bidding for one week, after which items will be sent direct to the winning bidders.

Look out for on-trend pre-loved pieces from Le Creuset, Oliver Bonas and a gorgeous vintage jade green tea set.  Special thanks go to Bombay Duck LondonCatherine Rowe designsDoodle_Moo ,Eleanor BowmerGayle Mansfield DesignsHannah CarvelKitty McCallMoi_MiliNanas of Anarchy,Particular People ,Sugar Snap StudioThe Native State  and W.A Green who have all generously donated pieces.

Geraldine Tan @littlebigbell said: “I’m super excited about the collection of homewares we have put together with Barnardo’s; there are some gorgeous pieces. I get real joy from pre-loved shopping and it’s a charity and a cause I feel very strongly about”

Our homes have arguably never been so important. As charity shops re open Barnardo’s would like to encourage Brits to shop pre loved homewares as the sustainable, affordable option.

A nationally representative survey of over 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Barnardo’s in February 2020 before lockdown, found on average Brits spend a massive £7.9 Billion on homewares annually. Shockingly a further 27% bin unwanted, unbroken homewares which would mean 14.5 million items are ending up in landfill annually, if we assume they all only bin 1 item each per year. This needs to change.

A follow-up survey for Barnardo’s conducted since lockdown in June 2020, found over a third (37%) of Brits agree the look of their home has become more important to them since lockdown and nearly a third (32%) want to zhuzh up their home more than ever before.  In fact nearly a quarter (24%) bought homewares during lockdown to update rooms.

In the survey pre lockdown over a quarter (28%) of Brits claimed to completely change the look of a room at least once a year, and 23% completely change the look of a room at least once every 1-2 years. We asked the question again in June and a massive 48% (an estimated 25 Million) have changed the look of at least one room since lockdown began. That’s almost double the amount that would usually be expected over a longer period.

Other findings from the February survey include 20% of Brits (1 in 5) agreed that they judge a person by the look of their home and possibly with this in mind 20% of those who buy homeware do so to “zhush up a room before having people over.” And by far Brits’ favourite indulgence is cushions, with 38% of people having brought at least one cushion in the last year – that’s 20.6 million of us, and only 7% of these people bought cushions from a charity shop.

Javed Khan chief executive of Barnardo’s said: “Barnardo’s is grateful to Geraldine and all involved for their generous support. The coronavirus pandemic has hit vulnerable families the hardest, with many reaching crisis point. All funds raised will go to our work supporting vulnerable children across the UK, more important now than ever.”

Shop the Barnardo’s x @littlebigbell Pop Up from 9am 1 August to Midnight 8 August, atwww.barnardoslittlebigbell.com. Support the campaign by showing what you’ve found in your local Barnardo’s using the #MyBarnardosFind or #BarnardosHomewares on Social Media.

Rise in telephone scams predicted as lockdown eases

As COVID-19 lockdown measures start to ease, National Trading Standards is predicting a rise in scam telephone calls as illegitimate call centres around the world get back to work.

To coincide with the expected surge in telephone scams, National Trading Standards is offering 700 free call blockers on a first-come-first-served basis for households looking to prevent nuisance calls.

The call blocker devices make a considerable difference to households targeted by scam and nuisance phone calls. A recent survey, which examined the impact of call blockers provided by National Trading Standards three months after installation, found that 92% of users no longer received scam or nuisance calls and 95% of users no longer felt threatened or scared by these types of calls. By using a call blocker to prevent scam and nuisance calls from reaching users in the first place, 88% of respondents felt safer in their home and 83% of people no longer worried about losing money from a scam call.

COVID-19 has provided new opportunities for telephone scammers to take advantage of members of the public. One company was found to have made over 680,000 automated scam calls over a four-week period, urging people to purchase face masks and hand sanitiser at a cost of £29.99-£49.99 by falsely claiming that the PPE was a government requirement. National Trading Standards took action to prevent further calls being made, saving consumers more than £6million.

The call blocker units supplied are the trueCall Secure call blockers – the same devices that have been used in previous National Trading Standards pilot programmes. trueCall’s latest data from its call blockers predict a sharp rise in nuisance calls as lockdown lifts. Despite telephone scams that were made during lockdown, overall the number of nuisance calls in March was 34% below expected levels and 77% below expected levels for April. However these figures are now picking up as call centres across the world re-open.

Louise Baxter, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said:

“Scam callers are relentless and often leave their intended victims feeling scared, anxious and unsafe in their own homes. Our pilot call blocker schemes have already shown the effectiveness of call blockers in protecting households from potential scams and the distress that these types of calls can cause. This technology can make a real difference to the quality of life and emotional wellbeing of people who are targeted by nuisance or scam calls.”

Members of the public who feel threatened by scam and nuisance calls can apply for a free call blocker from National Trading Standards here: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/callblocker. To minimise the need for technicians to enter people’s homes, devices available through this pilot will need to be self-installed.

Media and Data Minister John Whittingdale said:

“We are determined to end the plague of nuisance calls ruining elderly and vulnerable people’s lives. It’s fantastic to see Trading Standards help block unwanted calls as lockdown lifts.

“By providing 700 call blockers free of charge we can continue to drive down nuisance calls and reduce the emotional distress they cause.”

In a recent study about the effectiveness of call blockers, carried out in partnership with the National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work at Bournemouth University, consumers who have received a call blocker reported a significant increase in their well-being after the blocker had been installed and stopped the scam and nuisance calls. One recipient said the call blocker has had an “enormous effect…prior to the call blocker I was getting calls on a regular basis. I lost my husband and this had really helped me feel safer.” Another added: “It’s brilliant as my husband doesn’t answer scam calls anymore and he used to reply to scammers and we lost money to scams. It has all stopped now.”

Professor Keith Brown, Director, National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice at Bournemouth University, said:

“We know that criminals are very skilled and clever in the way they use persuasive language in order to win over the confidence of their victims. It can be very difficult at times to know which calls are scams and which are from genuine people so call blockers play a vital role in protecting the most vulnerable in our society. I strongly recommend them.”

Steve Smith, MD of trueCall said:

“As lockdown eases we must all stay vigilant and protect our vulnerable relatives and friends from scams. We’re proud to play our own role in helping protect households from criminals with our call blockers that stop unwelcome callers and ask unrecognised callers to identify themselves before calls are put through.”

Members of the public are also being encouraged to protect themselves, friends and neighbours against scams by joining Friends Against Scams. The initiative provides free online training to empower people to take a stand against scams. To date, nearly 500,000 people have signed up to take part in the initiative. To complete the online modules, visit www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk.

team barley communications

Vuelio | PR Spotlight on…James McCollum

Vuelio, the PR and media software company, recently spoke to our director James McCollum about current issues facing the PR industry, including lessons from lockdown, the sector’s diversity problem and how agencies should attract talent in a post-COVID era.

See the full piece below – which was originally published here.

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Taking on a new role is always going to be challenging, but especially when it comes during an international health crisis impacting businesses across the globe. James McCollum has welcomed the challenges of working through lockdown in his recent appointment to director at Barley Communications, and takes us through how the virtual agency is dealing with the current obstacles facing the PR industry and its clients and what can be learned from them.

‘I’d ask not whether the industry ‘can’, but whether it ‘needs’ to return to the way things were before…’

What are the main challenges you’ve faced taking on a new role during lockdown?
Lockdown has been a difficult time for people in ways none of us could have ever imagined.

I suppose a key consideration has been reassuring clients that I’ll continue to be someone they can contact on a day-to-day basis. There can be perceptions that a change in position can mean less time delivering their work – which is not the case for me at all. I’m a firm believer that communications leaders and practitioners need to continue operating ‘at the coal face’ if they want to provide the best advice and deliver the most effective campaigns for their clients, such is the pace of change in how people access and consume content.

What are you most looking forward to getting stuck into in your new role?
The two best things about working at Barley are firstly working with and learning from incredible people and talent, at all levels – from old hands to new kids on the block, we all have something to learn.

Secondly, it’s working with amazing clients that have a real impact on people’s lives. Our strapline is Communication That Matters – and it’s true!

In terms of my new role, I’m looking forward to supporting new and emerging talent in the business, and expanding our social purpose portfolio to deliver more meaningful campaigns that have a positive impact.

Are the Barley team working from home at the moment, and what are the plans for returning to the office?
Barley is a virtual agency that has always embraced working from home. It enables us to work with the brightest and the best who, in many cases, aren’t able to commute. In that sense, COVID-19 has been business as usual for us.

We have missed our regular meet-ups, though – our ‘B-Hives’. These are monthly opportunities for us to get together, tackle key briefs as a unit and brainstorm ideas together – as well as have a good catch-up. In the meantime, we’ve continued running creative sessions remotely, both internally, and with existing and new clients – we’ve won several new briefs in the last few months.

Having made the adjustment to remote working two years ago, my advice would be to stay connected with colleagues and clients. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or suggest a short ideas session to nail a brief. Interaction is one of the most important parts of our jobs – it’s the heartbeat of what we do – and it’s important to keep that at the core of your day-to-day.

Which pieces of tech have really been helping you work through the current crisis?
Given we work from home permanently, we haven’t needed too many changes. We’ve been using Zoom and Sharepoint for years, so no real changes in terms of software. Although, running messaging workshops via Zoom has led us to explore different features, like the breakout rooms – if you haven’t used them in lockdown quizzes yet, you’re missing out!

My main tech game-changer is hardware – I’m a sucker for multiple screens/monitors as I always have a heap of different programmes open at once, so when I moved to working from home that was top of my list of must-haves.

Do you think the industry can return to the way things were before?
I’d ask not whether the industry ‘can’, but whether it ‘needs’ to return to the way things were.

With the exception of face-to-face client meetings and pitches – which I hope return soon, as you can’t replicate the energy of strategy sessions and pitches on Zoom – I’m not convinced the industry needs to return to its pre-COVID-19 routines. Do agencies need all team members to waste time every single day on uncomfortable rush hour commutes – time which could be better spent exercising, reading, learning, or with family and friends? Do agencies need to pay office costs for a workforce that has most likely adjusted to home working? Do teams want to miss out on talent that can’t commit to 9-5, five days a week in an office?

So, I suppose the answer is no. The industry will adjust in places – but the best talent will go to the organisations that meet their needs and lifestyle.

Which particular sectors among your client base do you see making the quickest recovery post-pandemic?
Splitting by sector is tricky – there are massive differences within each. Look at the charity sector – some charities are getting massive exposure at the moment (see FareShare’s work with Marcus Rashford) while lots of others are seeing donations fall.

What we have seen is some clients strengthened and emboldened during the pandemic. One was asked by the Government to run antigen tests for COVID-19, which rapidly expanded its operation. Other clients have adapted to new roles, such as generating funds to support key workers.

The PR industry has a diversity problem – what can agencies do to create diverse teams and support BAME colleagues into higher positions?
Firstly, I know that as a white male I’m not necessarily the most appropriate spokesperson here, but it’s abundantly clear that the industry has heaps more to do and we all have a part to play. Agencies have to stop reeling out platitudes and take meaningful action.

One observation I would make is the need to move on from the obsession with media relations – for too long the industry has been run by people who honed their skills in a different age of communications, when journalists were wined and dined, and stories proudly cut out of the paper for your scrapbook. This has been reflected in the workforce – a PR industry of middle-class white people employed to engage middle-class white journalists.

We’re in a different media age now – our audiences are more diverse, and their touchpoints and media consumption more varied. In order to channel content more precisely and achieve success for clients, we need tailored insight, understanding and experience from a more diverse workforce, one that reflects the audience we need to engage. Teams that lack diversity will have incomplete strategies that will miss the mark.

What do you love most about working in the PR industry, and would you recommend this as a career?
Variety. I’m not the first and won’t be the last to say it, but it’s true. This job has taken me to places and given me experiences I’d never have imagined.

I recently chaperoned the PM and his team around a laboratory (at a 2m distance, of course). Throw in dockside warehouses with famous graffiti artists, the media centre at Gleneagles for The Ryder Cup, NHS secondments, grueling Council meetings and messaging workshops in the Middle East and it’s a pretty eclectic and rewarding mix.

I’d absolutely recommend it – if you want the unexpected, get involved!

E-asy riders deliver surplus food to vulnerable households in Milton Keynes

Helen Innes delivers food Environmental charity Hubbub launches the pilot of Food Connect today. The initiative will use fleets of electric bikes and vans to redistribute surplus food from retailers, helping to tackle increased food insecurity. Recent research from the charity found that nearly 1 in 5 people in the UK are concerned about access to free food during lockdown, such as that from food banks and community fridges.

Community fridges in Milton Keynes have been delivering food packs since the beginning of lockdown to those who are struggling to access food due to low incomes or travel restrictions, in partnership with FareShare, local NGOs and councils. The team has now been awarded a fleet of e-bikes and an electric van thanks to funding from CAF Venturesome and The National Lottery Community Fund, and Milton Keynes Council through the eCargo Bike Grant Fund3, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Energy Saving Trust. They will be used to distribute fresh food that would have otherwise gone to waste to vulnerable households across the town.

Using more environmentally-friendly transport to deliver the food supports the public’s desire to reduce air pollution. Research released recently by Hubbub found that 62% of Brits have noticed cleaner air as a result of lockdown and they would like to see this continue long-term. Electric vehicles were also found to be one of the most popular forms of transport for government investment.

Food Connect Volunteer Bike Rider Joe BulmanThe Wolverton Community Fridge in Milton Keynes was one of the first to open in the UK in 2017 and an original member of Hubbub’s Community Fridge Network of community fridges across the UK. Further fridges have opened since in Coffee Hall, Netherfield, Great Linford and West Bletchley. Whilst community fridges are open to everyone and have become hubs for sharing food education, skills, knowledge and goods, they have had to adapt to the challenges of Covid-19 and social-distancing. Many have now temporarily switched to new operations, including delivering surplus food to the doors of the most vulnerable households in their area.

Following the pilot, Hubbub’s ambition is to roll out Food Connect to other parts of country, connecting community fridges and local retailers. Businesses and organisations interested in supporting and collaborating in the next phase should visit www.foodconnect.io

Kanahaya Alam, Community Fridge Network Manager at Hubbub said: “We know from our recent State of the Nation’s Plate report that a significant number of people are concerned about accessing free food during lockdown. Yet millions of pounds worth of food is wasted every year in the UK. Community fridges already play an important part in tackling this, and our ambition is that Food Connect will help retailers distribute surplus food straight to those who need it, whilst supporting the need for cleaner air.”

Helen Innes, Project Co-ordinator for Food Connect said: “We’re pleased to be part of this effort during the pandemic to reach some of our most vulnerable residents in Milton Keynes. Even before Covid-19, getting surplus food that final mile to the community fridge was a challenge, so this fleet will have a huge impact through lockdown and beyond as we begin to reopen to the wider community.”

Richard Kennell, CEO of education charity SOFEA, which operates FareShare South Midlands, said: “Demand for FareShare’s service has skyrocketed since the coronavirus outbreak, and we’re now working tirelessly to significantly increase the amount of food we deliver each week, ensuring surplus food gets to those who need it most. Our partnership with Hubbub, the Community Fridge Network and Milton Keynes Council therefore comes at a critical time as we work together through the crisis to fight hunger and food waste whilst minimising our environmental impact.”

Cllr Jenny Marklew, Cabinet Member for Sustainability at Milton Keynes Council said: “We are committed to new and innovative ways to contribute towards our ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. E-cargo bikes are such a fantastic way to help us achieve this, meaning the council staff, social enterprises and local businesses are all able to play a part in reducing our impact on the environment.”

Holger Westphely, Acting Head of CAF Venturesome, said: “We have been supporting the growth of Hubbub with social investment for the past five years and are delighted that the previous loans have been fully repaid as a result of that growth and their success. So when they applied for a new social investment loan for Food Connect we were only too happy to support it. We are very impressed by their response to the Covid-19 crisis, developing an eco-friendly solution delivering vital supplies to vulnerable people, whilst reducing food waste. Hubbub continue to deliver projects with a high social impact and we look forward to working with them for many years.”

Tim Anderson, Head of Transport at Energy Saving Trust, said: “The Department for Transport eCargo Bike Grant Fund attracted a significant number of applications. The 18 local authorities who have successfully secured funding will purchase a total of 273 ecargo bikes and nine ecargo bike trailers, enabling more businesses to benefit from access. eCargo bikes are an attractive low carbon transport solution which offer important benefits, most impressively fuel cost savings and contributing to improved local air quality. Last mile delivery is an important area for consideration in our journey to reduce transport emissions to net zero by 2050.”

Borough Market Launches ‘Market Explorers’: Free Kid-Friendly Food Education Resource for Families

On 22nd June, London’s iconic Borough Market is launching ‘Market Explorers’, a free education resource aimed at connecting primary school children with the food they eat. With the curriculum in mind, children will be encouraged to look at how produce is grown or made, its history, preparation, cooking and how the ingredients are used in the dishes of different cultures.

Borough Market is a charitable trust and has a commitment to providing a market for public benefit and community. With school groups and children unable to currently explore, touch and taste food at the Market due to social distancing measures, the fun learning resources have been created to help parents to inspire their mini masterchefs at home during the Summer Term.

Six ‘Market Explorers’ units will be piloted initially, focusing on a different ingredient each time. The first two ingredients for children to explore are cauliflower and milk. Subsequent units and accompanying videos will be released on Mondays and Wednesdays for three weeks to support home schooling parents through to the school holidays. The free to download A5 booklets will have a range of engaging information and activities aimed at 5-8 year olds, and budding foodies can look forward to learning more about strawberries, bread, honey and tomatoes later in the month.

Parents are encouraged to sign up ahead of time to access the free educational materials, which will be available on Facebook Units, enabling social learning in a private group. Registration opens via https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketexplorers/ at 9am on Monday 15th June. Parents can join and explore at the same time, enabling them to ask questions and build a collaborative community. In line with Borough Market’s commitment to sustainability, the resources will also cover topics such as seasonality and food waste.

The programme has been produced in collaboration with children’s cookery consultants Sally Brown & Kate Morris, who have created successful CBeebies cooking shows including ‘I Can Cook’ and ‘My World Kitchen’, as well as publishing four children’s cookery books. Sally and Kate have also worked extensively with teachers, local authorities and schools to devise and deliver training courses rooted in the current curriculum.

‘Market Explorers’ links to Borough Market’s existing work with London’s primary and secondary schools. To date over 20,000 children have learned valuable growing, cooking and selling skills through the Young Marketeers initiative – culminating in special biannual sales at the Market with profits going to food waste charity FareShare.

Kate Howell Director of Communications and Development at Borough Market, said: “Borough Market is all about sharing and connecting with others through the joy of food. We want to inspire the next generation of chefs, home cooks and food lovers. We know that not all children will be back at school in June, and so we thought that parents might like a helping hand with fun activities to get children interested in different ingredients – especially as so many have been cooking at home during lockdown. Our traders share a wealth of food expertise, with many of them being primary producers who grow, rear or create the food they sell. By teaching young people where their food has come from, how to grow it and what to make with it, we hope to inspire young people to take a more sustainable approach to their food choices in the future – perhaps we might see some of them join us as traders.”

Borough Market has a longstanding commitment to sustainability and reducing waste. None of the Market’s rubbish goes to landfill, with all cardboard, paper, plastic, glass and wood being recycled and the remaining food waste going to an anaerobic digestion plant to be turned into power, fertiliser and water. In 2017, Borough Market removed all plastic bottles and installed drinking fountains around the estate and in 2019 it became the first food market in the UK to replace plastic carrier bags with a fully biodegradable alternative, made from GM-free cornstarch.

Celebrities show off their paw-fect pooches to support the Great Guide Dogs Virtual Dog Show

As dog shows across the country continue to be cancelled or postponed, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Guide Dogs is giving people the opportunity to celebrate their canine companions and their talents, by hosting their first ever virtual dog show.

A host of celebrities are supporting the event, sharing their own pictures to inspire others to get creative with their canine friends.

Ainsley Harriott, who has submitted both video and photos of his dog Bobby, said: “The charity Guide Dogs does such fantastic work all year-round supporting people with sight loss, and that work is more important than ever now. I know I’m finding lockdown hard enough, but for people with sight loss, social isolation can happen every day.

“That’s why Bobby and I are so excited to support the Great Guide Dogs Virtual Dog Show. I hope many others will join us – so get those cameras out, get snapping and get entering!”

Ainsley Harriott and his dog Bobby
Ainsley Harriott and Bobby’s entry for the ‘Best Friends’ category.

The virtual dog show is open for entries now, via the Guide Dogs’ Facebook group: . Participants can submit a photo or video into one of the 12 following categories, with two categories being released each week for six weeks:

  • Happiest Hound photo
  • Scruffiest Lockdown Dog photo
  • Best Friends photo
  • Picture Perfect photo
  • Golden Oldie photo
  • Sleeping Beauty photo
  • Waggiest Tail video
  • Doggy Divas video
  • Dog Athletics Superstar video
  • Doggy Paddle video
  • Top Trick video
  • Patient Pooches video

Plus there’s a bloopers category for those moments when filming might not entirely go to plan!

Nicola Walker and her dog Dora
Nicola Walker and Dora’s entry for the ‘Best Friend’ category.

As well as giving Brits the opportunity to show off their four-legged friends, the event is also being held to raise vital funds to support the sight loss community.

Over the next six weeks, participants will be encouraged to get their friends and family to “like” their entries and donate. From mid-July donation-based voting will take place over the semi-finals and finals, hosted on Tiltify.

Best in show will be announced in the second week of August.

Beth Marsh, Fundraising Special Projects Manager at Guide Dogs said: “As we continue life in lockdown, we wanted to give our supporters an opportunity to come together and be a part of an event, while also making a difference to others. This is our first ever virtual dog show and we are really excited to see how creative participants get with their entries.

“The welfare of our 8,000 dogs is still of utmost importance in these unprecedented times and we rely on donations to fund our work. Each of our life-changing dogs costs £13 a day to support – that’s £100,000 every single day. Voting is open to all – dog owners or not – giving everyone the chance to help us raise funds to support those in the UK living with sight loss.”

For more information please visit guidedogs.org.uk/virtual-dog-show

National Trading Standards - Coronavirus Scams

Our work during COVID-19

During COVID-19 we have been working with our clients on important issues that matter. Below is a showreel of some of the campaigns we have been working on with our clients:

 

UK Biocentre

UK Biocentre has transformed its laboratories to test swab samples for COVID-19 on an industrial scale.

Barley has been supporting UK Biocentre with communications advice, working closely with DHSC, and UK Biocentre partners to ensure the work of UK Biocentre staff and the volunteer scientists is reported accurately.

Hear more from the people who helped make this possible – click the video below.

 

Feed The Frontline

Man packing food bags for Feed The FrontlineFeed The Frontline is an initiative from new charity The Healthworkers’ Support Foundation which has been established in response to the COVID-19 crisis, delivering thousands of parcels of fresh produce to healthcare workers. Borough Market spearheaded the campaign to deliver thousands of bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to four London hospitals. Bradford St James Wholesale Market followed suit, working with Leeds Cares to deliver to hospitals in Leeds.

Barley led the media outreach programme and secured 44 pieces of coverage including BBC Radio London, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

National Trading Standards
Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about COVID-19 to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends. National Trading Standards is warning people to remain vigilant following a rise in coronavirus-related scams that seek to benefit from the public’s concern and uncertainty over COVID-19.

National Trading Standards - Coronavirus ScamsCOVID-19 scams identified include:

  • Doorstep crime
  • Online scams
  • Refund Scams
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Telephone scams
  • Donation scams
  • Loan sharks

We devised and delivered a hard-hitting media campaign for National Trading Standards to raise awareness of these COVID-19 crimes and help prevent more people being scammed.

This led to 60+ pieces of coverage, including BBC News, The Guardian, Metro, Daily Mail and The Times. This coverage has led to a seven-fold increase in new sign-ups to the scams prevention campaign Friends Against Scams and the story overall has led to 10k+ new registrants

Guide Dogs

Martin Clunes and his dogs join the Guide Dogs virtual tea partyBarley supported Guide Dogs in their bid to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest virtual tea party.

32 celebrities, including Martin Clunes, Sir Andy Murray and Dame Julie Walters supported the fundraising effort.

We developed media materials to encourage the public to join the party to help Guide Dogs break the record and donate the price of a cuppa. We delivered blanket coverage including features in the Daily Telegraph, BBC Breakfast, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sun online and Metro online, as well as an unforgettable interview with Martin Clunes in his pyjamas on Good Morning Britain.

The result was over 5,000 people posting a selfie of themselves enjoying a cup of tea on the Guide Dogs Facebook page. Many dogs made an appearance in the pictures and there were even some horses, donkeys, chickens and a hedgehog. A new world record was set, and the event raised over £43,000 in funds for Guide Dogs to continue their vital services supporting people with sight loss and their families

We’d like to thank all our clients, Barley colleagues and partners for their wonderful support.

Barley promotes ‘instrumental’ pair to director roles

Purpose-driven communications specialist Barley Communications has promoted Laura Harrison and James McCollum to director roles.

Harrison has worked with the agency since 2016 and was made head of sustainability in 2019, while McCollum joined as an associate director in 2018.

Both report directly to agency founders James Ford and Sam Williams, and will work to expand Barley’s sustainability, health, third sector and public sector client roster.

Harrison’s role will also include leading Barley’s work with environmental charity Hubbub, MIW Water Coolers and other clients, while McCollum will lead on clients including National Trading Standards, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and UK Biocentre.

James Ford, partner at Barley, said: “Laura and James have been instrumental in delivering award-winning campaigns and generating new business – colleagues, and clients alike value their curiosity and desire to learn, hard work and supportive nature.

“In the last three months, Barley has won five new clients, including a Google-funded digital skills campaign for charity Good Things Foundation – we’re proud that clients see the value in investing in purpose-driven communications and that we’re always in a position to provide the highest standards of client service.”