The Public Relations sector contributes £409 million to the South West economy and supports 7,294 full-time equivalent jobs across the region, according to a new report launched today by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).
The research names Bristol as one of the UK's most significant PR hubs outside London, alongside Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with PR activity in the city directly generating £30 million in economic value each year.
‘Beyond Communications: Understanding the economic contribution of the UK Public Relations sector’ produced by CBI Economics, is the first study of its kind to measure the true scale of the UK PR industry. Nationally, the sector contributes £7.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supports more than 95,000 jobs, with every UK region generating more than £100 million in PR-related economic value.
The findings confirm that Public Relations is not a London-centric industry. The South West's contribution reflects the broad base of agencies, consultancies and communications specialists supporting organisations across the region in areas spanning media relations, social media, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, reputation management, crisis preparedness and strategic advisory work.
The report finds that PR is a high-wage, high-productivity industry, with average salaries 18% higher than the UK average. It also highlights the broader impact of the industry:
- for every £1 generated directly by PR businesses, a further 77p is generated elsewhere in the
economy through supply chains and employee spending
- for every 100 direct PR jobs, a further 83 jobs are supported in the wider economy reflecting the sector’s role not only as an employer but also as a source of wider labour market activity
Martin Powell, Agency Head at Empica, one of the region's longest established public relations agencies, said: "The term PR is often used in a derogatory way as if it is unimportant. This report shows how vital public relations is to the economy of the South West and the huge range of work being carried out by agencies in Bristol and the wider region. If you hear a story on the broadcast media, read an article online or spot an interesting fact about a South West event, charity or business online there is almost certainly a public relations specialist behind it.
"At Empica we cover across a number of sectors from supporting the fertility sector bringing babies into the world to supporting the funeral sector dealing with end-of-life. There is no aspect of life that is not touched by PR. We welcome this new report from the PRCA that highlights how important the sector is in the Bristol region."
Kelly Pepworth, PRCA South West Regional Chair and Managing Director Speed Communications commented on the report:
“This report confirms what those of us working in the South West have known for a long time: this region is home to a thriving, high-value communications industry that competes with the very best in the country. A £409 million contribution and more than 7,000 skilled jobs is something the region should be genuinely proud of, and Bristol's recognition as one of the UK's leading PR hubs reflects the depth of talent and calibre of work that’s delivered nationally and internationally.
PRCA CEO, Sarah Waddington CBE, said: “This report is a landmark moment for our industry. It proves that Public Relations and Public Affairs are not peripheral functions, they are engines of economic value, trust and influence across the UK. At £7.1 billion and more than 95,000 jobs, our sector is making a major contribution to national prosperity, and the strength of regional hubs like Bristol shows that contribution reaches every part of the country.”
