^{Picture: New recruit Rachael Clamp (2nd left) with PA Cooperative Directors (L-R) David Lee, Neil Cuthbert and Ben McLeish.}

A SPECIALIST PR and public affairs agency has celebrated its 10th birthday by recruiting a new team member to bolster its presence in London.

David Lee is a Director of Edinburgh-based PA Cooperative, which has expanded by adding the experienced Rachael Clamp, President-elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), to its team.

Clamp joins Mr Lee and founding Directors Neil Cuthbert and Ben McLeish, in the PA Cooperative team.

PA Cooperative has also relaunched its website and branding to celebrate ten years of offering public affairs, public relations, media and event management expertise to clients across a range of business sectors.

Mr Cuthbert, who launched the business with McLeish in 2013 and specialises in public affairs and stakeholder engagement, said: “We’re delighted to have Rachael on the team. Although based in Scotland, much of our work has a UK focus and it’s great to have someone as capable and experienced as Rachael to work with clients and contacts in London.

“She not only has extensive experience (including EY and PA Consulting) and a strong track record of delivering for clients, she also takes the lead in promoting ethical political influence through the CIPR’s Lobbying for Good campaign.”

While working across a number of different sectors, PA Cooperative has developed a particular specialisation advising clients in the land and rural sector, with deep experience in the forestry industry. It has worked with forestry and wood trade body Confor for six years, providing public relations, public affairs, communications and events services.

PA Cooperative Director David Lee organised and hosted a successful conference for Confor at the QEII Centre in London in December 2022. He and Mr Cuthbert also organise regular events at Westminster, on Confor’s behalf, for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry and Tree Planting.

PA Cooperative has also worked with businesses in a range of other sectors, including food and drink, property, education and renewable energy - as well as representing the interests of Co-operatives UK in Scotland, producing reports and convening the Cross Party Group at the Scottish Parliament.

“Our cooperative status and values are very important to us,” said Mr Cuthbert. “We wanted to set out our stall from the very start as an organisation that was transparent about its work and prices - and one that wanted to work collaboratively with others.

“We have built the business successfully over a decade, using the talent and complementary skills of the team. David leads on communications and events, Ben on business strategy and management, while I lead on public affairs and engagement. We believe we are the only cooperative in Scotland offering a blended PR/PA service.

“As we move into our 10th year, it felt like the right time to refresh the branding and website and we have worked with Edinburgh-based design agency Nettl to give PA Cooperative a more modern look and feel. We’re very optimistic about the year ahead.”