Louise Nicolson

Another election means another business manifesto from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce - published today! It has been a real privilege to advise on the development of this prospectus for the next UK Government in conjunction with many of the fantastic businesses that make up AGCC's 1,300-strong membership and some great input and insight on the challenges and solutions from a range of sectors represented on AGCC's Policy Chamber. This edition covers how we can build a more conducive environment for doing business, ensure a successful transition to net zero, build a city and region we can proud of and put the right infrastructure is in place to support development, economic growth and high-quality jobs. Hopefully it provides some food for thought for all candidates from all parties as as they set out their stall over the coming weeks. #GeneralElection #policy #manifesto #economicgrowth

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People Want real Change - Sunak v Starmer: Green groups call on broadcasters to ensure climate change features in TV debates: https://lnkd.in/eqxDwp3N #elections #UK #UKelections #TVdebates #climatechange

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"Advertising is a potent tool and now is the time for us all to step up, recognising the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to get ahead of disinformation. When information is delivered in a way that resonates with the audience, it can drive positive change. We can do three things: safeguard the public against misinformation by reaching them with a positive message, reframe by communicating the benefits of climate policy, or rebut misinformation with the relevant facts. The elections and the climate crisis will not wait, and neither can we. It’s time to act now," says Harriet Kingaby at ACT Climate Labs. Excellent piece c/o Sustainability Beat looking at why it’s important for climate communicators to help combat misinformation during the upcoming political elections. Well worth a read... 👇🏻 🌱 🗳️ https://lnkd.in/ehiCNDHw

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As this is currently a tough economy for startups, I’ve been wondering how this has impacted female founders who already find it harder to raise money? My fear is - based on many of the stories I’ve heard from female founders over the years - it won’t be a pretty picture out there. Which is a depressing thought for a Monday. 🫣 However, it is good to know there are grants and support available out there, specifically for women in tech….👇🏻 #womenintech #femalefounders #diverseinvestment #vcfunding #startupfundinh

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This deal threatens Shetland's future, risking economic instability and environmental harm. Activists are concerned about the long-term impacts on local livelihoods, public services, and natural resources. It's crucial to raise awareness and demand fair treatment for Shetland's residents. #CommunityImpact #EconomicJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #Activism

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📍Launch of Our Bite-Size Keynotes Video Series: Leading with Soul 💡Is engagement an issue in your team/organisation? 💡Are valued people leaving too quickly? 💡Do mission critical projects get delayed or fail to deliver their promises? Being able to connect with and inspire people has never been more crucial in our digital-hybrid world. Many leaders find themselves grappling with the intangible aspects of team dynamics and employee engagement and often mask their lack of the key skills by condemning the whole subject as 'pink and fluffy'. In my experience of over 30 years working with the great, good, bad and ugly of culture change, the most effective leaders excel in this area. Our new programme, "Leading with Soul," is designed to address this gap, offering leaders the tools and language necessary to navigate the complexities of human emotions and motivations effectively. The series kicks off with an introductory video that delves into why mastering this softer side of leadership is essential for solving real-world business problems and achieving lasting success. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a rising manager, "Leading with Soul" is designed to help you lead more effectively, with clarity, empathy and authenticity. 👉 Watch the introductory video here: https://lnkd.in/e3A6bqFB There will be more episodes to follow... #LeadingWithSoul #LeadershipDevelopment #EmpatheticLeadership #BusinessLeadership #TeamEngagement #SoulfulLeadership #ModernWorkplace #LeadershipSkills #ExecutiveCoaching #ManagementTips

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Is business development currently your biggest headache? Certainly, two recent surveys suggest this is the case for Agency Leaders. According to a report in PRmoment, research from The Pulse Business Ltd states that 63% of PR & Comms Agency CEOs are grappling with new ways to grow their businesses. And the recent BenchPress State of the Agency Nation Report (for agencies over £1m) highlights that 40% of Agency Leaders cite winning new business as their biggest challenge. Would you like to take a quick but effective diagnostic that will help you better understand how to treat this headache? My business development scorecard has been specifically designed to help agencies better understand their level of fitness when it comes to sales. By asking searching questions around: 1️⃣ Positioning 2️⃣ Process 3️⃣ Planning 4️⃣ Pitching You'll identify where your strengths and weaknesses lie across the agency. Test it on your senior team to establish if there is alignment (you might be surprised - often times there isn't!). And if it throws up suprises, I'd be happy to hop on a no-obligation call to discuss the findings. Let me know how you get on. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eZKF99kp

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As an ex-journalist, I am exasperated by 'some' of the mainstream press. Now running a PR company working with clients across the UK's (inevitable) transition to electrical vehicles and the (inevitable) decarbonisation of the UK transport system, the sheer volume of 'anti-EV' stories emerging is staggering—and the bulk of them are simply twisting the facts and stats in order to get a negative story outcome. That in itself is nothing new in the press (and I speak from experience and lawsuits as an editor in the Middle East), nor is the inevitable consumer sentiment surf down the Gartner Curve technology slope into the trough of disillusionment. What I am really struggling with is finding a genuine reason 'why' there is so much anti-EV sentiment in the media. Resistance to change? Demographic issues with the costs of EVs? Sponsorship and PR by Big Oil or the many parties interested in preserving the use of oil as fuel? 🤷‍♂️ (ducks to avoid another lawsuit...). I am not alone in being perplexed by this situation in some parts of the mainstream media. In a very balanced and well-crafted article in The Independent by Sean O'Grady, Elon Musk is quoted as saying: "I’m not quite sure what to make of the supposed wave of “bad news” for the electric car, except to say that it does feel very much like a case study in the shortsightedness of much of the press." On the bright side, these stories do give us so much ammunition and opportunity to get our EV and power clients' points across in the more balanced media. Thanks to Sean for speaking to Jack Parsler at our client Crystal EV in that very same article. 😃 🚗 ⚡ 🔌 https://lnkd.in/evuKw3_P #crystalev #MediaBias #AntiEVNarrative #EVFactsMatter

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Looking forward to chairing this session for PLMR Genesis colleagues next week, with an expert panel discussing what may happen in the polls coming July 4th & what the East of England needs from a new administration. Sign-up details below if you want to listen in! #politics #policy #publicaffairs #eastofengland

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Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Outlines Key Priorities for the next West Midlands   As we approach the West Midlands Mayoral election on 2nd May 2024, FSB has put together a Mayoral Manifesto to help the candidates understand the challenges faced by our members across the West Midlands Combined Authority catchment area, namely; #Birmingham, #Solihull, #Coventry, #Wolverhampton, #Walsall, #Dudley and #Sandwell. This Manifesto outlines areas the Mayor could tackle to help aid small businesses and bolster inclusive growth. This year marks FSB’s 50th anniversary, having been established in 1974 to help our members succeed in business - we are a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by our members, for our members. In the #WestMidlands we are a trusted voice for small business with more than 10,000 members across the region. We aim to represent anyone and everyone running a business or with aspirations to start a business. With SMEs making up over 99.6% of the indigenous 254,640 enterprises in the West Midlands, 253,575 (99.6 per cent) are small and medium-sized enterprises and, of these, more than 84.2 per cent are sole traders and micro businesses (employing 0-9 employees), it’s easy to see that the West Midlands economy will not be able to boost productivity, tackle the climate emergency or have inclusive growth without small businesses. Small businesses are not only at the heart of the West Midlands economy, they are also at the heart of West Midlands communities. They create local jobs, grow and keep wealth within a local economy and provide vital local services. Our small businesses support communities in the good times and, as we have seen, stick around when the going is not so good. Our manifesto suggests ways that small businesses can help the Mayor create a thriving West Midlands, a successful economy and vibrant communities.   https://lnkd.in/e8ERHqh3 Linsey MIED Mike Goodall Lee Osborne Sue...Sue Tonks Hollie Whittles Rob Harrison Hemant Kalidas Ray Hickinbottom- Supporting Small Businesses Lianne Phillips FSB- Helping Small Businesses Grow Roger Poynton

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At Purpose Union, our Executive Advocacy training service, SpeechMark, has worked with over 150 political candidates on hustings strategy and public persuasion. We always emphasise the point that debates matter. Tonight sees the first debate of the election between Sunak and Starmer. I'm sharing a few thoughts about what to look out for tonight. 1/Attack v Defence Sunak's approach to previous debates suggests he is more comfortable on the attack than defending his record as PM and Chancellor. Success for Starmer means blocking attempts from Sunak to pivot and ensuring that he pins down the prime minister so he responds to questions that he'll try to avoid. 2/The Interruption Game My hunch is that Sunak will try to interrupt Starmer a lot. He'll try to stop him from getting into a flow and use interruptions to put the opposition leader on the defensive. Sunak was rightly criticised in the leadership debates for repeatedly interrupting Liz Truss. He will feel more emboldened to interrupt tonight. 3/Details vs. The Big Picture Debates can often feel as if two participants are speaking past each other. Sometimes, this is because one person goes straight into the detail while the other sticks to broader principles. Sunak has a habit of focusing on policy detail and is less adept at speaking to values and principles - and explaining the implications for the bigger picture. This presents an interesting choice for Starmer who could meet Sunak at a detailed level or focus on the bigger picture, which has the benefit of being clearer and easy to follow for those watching. 4/Energy Clash My final thought is that there could be a mismatch of energy tonight. Sunak is a fast-paced, bouncy and high-intensity debater. That can convey urgency and purpose but can also come across as unsettled and nervous. Starmer is calmer, more measured, and slower-paced. That has the advantage of looking in control. I don't expect both debaters to depart from their default speaking styles. My view is that Starmer's style will come across as reassuring to voters. Rishi's speaking style will clash somewhat with his core message of stability and calm. Do get in touch if you want more insights about public performances during this election or if you want to explore working with Purpose Union's SpeechMark practice. lewis.iwu@purposeunion.com. I also analyse techniques underpinning debate performances in Words that Win available here: https://lnkd.in/eiK3prT #debates #election #advocacy #publicspeaking https://lnkd.in/egqRGuhe

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If you are at #COMIT2024 and interested in cost and carbon reduction solutions then beeline to Josh Eadie's session on how to eliminate small power waste in buildings and site accommodation. His talk is scheduled for Thursday 23 May at 11am. (He might wear Crocs...) #CarbonReduction #Retrofit #Sustainability

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"People care about street lights and dog sh*t". That was the crude - but perennial - advice I got when campaigning on my first set of local elections many, many years ago. With our media understandably preoccupied with matters of national and global significance, it's easy to assume that these issues are at the forefront of voters' minds when they go to the polls in any election. But local elections are a different beast. National sentiment certainly plays a role - a particularly unpopular leader might drive down turnout of your base, while a foreign policy faux pas could mobilise a section of previously disengaged voters. But there are other forces at play as well. An informed electorate understands where the responsibilities of national government ends and the responsibilities of local government begin. Local services like rubbish collection, repairing pavements and tackling fly-tipping are always top of the list of grievances when you're canvassing ahead of local elections. When the results of the 2024 Local Elections are being forensically examined and the tea leaves read to predict the upcoming General Election outcome, it'll be important to remember how hyper-local dynamics have shaped the results. Ultimately, it's all street lights and dog sh*t. https://lnkd.in/e5Z-JDTb

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And so the media landscape takes another significant shift. The Evening Standard is to stop its daily newspaper production. It's one more reminder of how very different the world of news consumption is. The Standard has cited the likes of London Underground getting network coverage, and changing commuter habits. Just two factors which mean fewer and fewer people are relying on tucking a Standard under their arm and catching up on the day's headlines. News reaches us so rapidly these days - straight to the very handsets we have in our pockets most hours of our working lives. It's in this context that we as comms professionals have to continuously remind our clients of the altered dynamic when it comes to storytelling. Owned and earned content is so very powerful. Done well, delivered with authenticity, and so long as it passes the 'so what' test, it can capture your target audience with the right narrative and prompt the required action in response. It will be interesting to watch how the new ES iteration manifests and how its readership respond. Meanwhile - always be the storyteller who continues to seek your own means of transacting, and who measures the effectiveness of your efforts. #PR #media #communications https://lnkd.in/eVTqahZt

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Great work from Jasper Jolly, covering a report by Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit - with quotes from Colin Walker and New AutoMotive’ Ben Nelmes As Andy Leyland Co-founder, S C Insights (supply chain specialists) said on a recent webinar: “I wouldn’t bet the house on hybrid. Yes we are seeing an uptick in production by some automakers, but that’s simply because they don’t have the battery tech to keep up with the Chinese. For us a hybrid is like a steam ship with sails, a transition tech. Fully electric is still the direction of travel, in our view. Also, one thing people are not factoring in with hybrids is that you’re then directly exposed to two supply chains, ICE and battery, which will increase costs.” Fiona Howarth Octopus Electric Vehicles Quentin Willson FairCharge James Frith Volta Energy Technologies Rob Anstey GDI Raymond M. John Gardiner Douglas Johnson-Poensgen Circulor Luise Müller-Hofstede Ellen Carey Steve Cropley Paul Horrell Abigayle André Freda Lewis-Stempel Women Drive Electric Michelle Breffitt Stephen Cooke Asphalt Group Ltd Jacob Eden Phil McNamara Jessica Green Daniel Thole Allye Jonathan Carrier Alvin Castillo Imogen Bhogal FullyCharged.SHOW & Everything Electric Jacqui Murray Orral Nadjari https://lnkd.in/eAQbBpWE

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🚨 REVEALED 🚨 : What the local election results mean for your planning application. ...and drum roll please.... Nothing. Huh? New political administrations, new councillors, lots of briefings needed - right? No, not really. Ask yourself, are members of planning committees still going to be influenced by NIMBYs? If the answer is 'yes' to this question, then it's 'yes' to the next. Will members of planning committees be influenced by supporters? So your plan to focus on generating meaningful support is still the right one. Unless that's not your plan, in which case.... ... do you think it should be? #planning #housing #realestate

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The general election is welcome news to many. The announcement was quickly followed by the publication of NHS England’s pre-election guidance (link in comments), which reminds us of the need for NHS bodies to be politically impartial and to avoid actions that might distract from or influence any election campaign. Public consultations on proposals for service change are often contentious and politically sensitive, so it’s no surprise the guidance tells us to: - not to launch a public consultation unless it’s essential,  - stop promoting live consultations and plan to extend them once the election is over, and  - not to publish the responses to a consultation until after the election. For colleagues working on service reconfigurations these restrictions can be at the same time a welcome extension and an irksome delay in tight timelines. Planned well, the pre-election period is an ideal chance to do the background work needed to launch an involvement exercise, or to analyse and report on the findings of an exercise that’s recently finished. We've been hearing from programme managers frustrated that the election will cause a delay in finely-tuned governance timetables and asking what they can do to grab some time back. Some of those timetables have been planned in detail to make sure decisions can be made and operationalised before winter pressures start building. That's a powerful driver that can lead to the temptation to cut corners in an attempt to absorb these extra six weeks. A proper process is a transparent process and the challenge of the pre-election period is that very little can happen in public. So, just as it's important to extend consultations that have been interrupted by the election, it’s important to make sure you allow enough time to go through the proper processes once the election is over. Inflexible timetables can be kryptonite to safe process. Really interested to hear how the pre-election period has affected your service reconfiguration work. Is it welcome or an inconvenience? Image by John Mounsey via Pixabay

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📣 Calling anyone considering entering The King’s Awards for Enterprise this year. This free event is a must ⬇️ Date: 6 June 2024 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 BST Place: Live online Cost: Free Join the session to discover; 👑 How to check the eligibility criteria and meet the requirements 👑 How to select the category that best suits your business and achievements 👑 How to write an entry that scores highly with the judges PLUS exclusive case studies and insights into the latest award trends Bring your questions and there will be a Q&A session to ask me anything about the awards. This free webinar is for anyone thinking of entering the awards, have entered before and not won, or don't know if this is the right award for you. I will give you clarity on what the competition looks for in a winner and help you decide whether you fit the bill this year. Click below to sign up. ⬇️ Please note *Recordings will not be shared for this event* you will need to attend to benefit from this experience https://lnkd.in/eHGYdVWZ

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