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Opinions
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ESG doublespeak: The uncomfortable truth about ESG investing
November 2, 2022
The audience was stunned. During his presentation at an FT Moral Money event on 19 May 2022, Stuart Kirk, the head of responsible investments at HSBC Asset Management, was adamant: “Climate change is not a financial risk that we need to worry about.” Was he breaking rank or shining a light on general insincerity? Despite its surge in popularity, many suspect that ESG investing will not address our generation’s urgent challenges. Consider the battle against...
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Sunak’s Struggles: The challenges facing the new Prime Minister
October 27, 2022
A third Prime Minister in seven weeks: it’s perhaps an understatement to say that the past few months in UK politics have been unprecedented! The scale of the challenge which Sunak now faces would be a daunting prospect for any political heavyweight. Not only will he be tasked with bringing together a Conservative Party which is deeply divided amongst its many factions, but he will also have to try and steer the country through the...
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COP27 Preview: Five questions that will shape the climate summit
October 27, 2022
Michael Hartt, Senior Partner and Head of International Affairs One year after the notable progress on climate action at COP26 in Glasgow, government figures, civil society organisations, scientific experts and business leaders are now preparing to visit Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for COP27. But even with clear evidence the climate crisis is worsening, this year’s summit will open with difficult questions for attendees about whether the pace and depth of action is enough. The Egyptian...
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FleishmanHillard UK Analysis: The New Cabinet – Rishi Sunak
October 26, 2022
Charley Sambridge, account director New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has kept Jeremy Hunt as his Chancellor and appointed MPs from all wings of the Conservative Party to his top table after he pledged to build a “big tent” Cabinet to bring unity and stability to government. In a reshuffle that Downing Street claimed would provide “continuity” in “uncertain times”, Sunak reappointed almost a third of the Cabinet to the same jobs they held under Truss...
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Why now is not the time to abandon financial literacy
October 25, 2022
Caitlin Whyte, senior account manager Financial literacy is not a new term. In fact, you can trace financial education programmes at major UK banks back to 2009, while Martin Lewis spearheaded a petition to make financial literacy compulsory in schools over a decade ago (in 2011). It was eventually added to the national curriculum for secondary schools back in 2014. For many, focus on financial literacy has taken a back seat over the past couple...
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Government relations during political chaos
October 21, 2022
Adam Newman, Account Manager The Conservative Party will soon have its fifth leader since 2016. A far cry from the ‘strong and stable’ government promised back in 2017. With this, there will be a new approach to governance. From ‘Compassionate Conservativism’ under Cameron, ‘Tackling Burning Injustices’ under May, ‘Getting Brexit Done’ and ‘Levelling Up’ under Johnson, and ‘Growth, Growth, Growth’ under Truss; the country can prepare for a new agenda and new policy priorities to...
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FH Shares: Age in PR
October 14, 2022
Let me start by saying that I am aware I have all the privilege – I am a white, middle-class, man. I acknowledge the advantages that those things have given me in my life. But here’s the thing. I am over 50. For all you Millennials and Gen Zs, that makes me Gen X. To be honest, I’d been working client-side for a while, and I wasn’t expecting to move back to the agency world...
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Introducing Generation Divided – Why we need to listen to them to bridge cultural gaps
October 13, 2022
What can we learn from the culture gap, and how could it help brands authentically communicate to their ever-broadening range of customers, audiences & communities? It’s strange to think this winter feels bleaker than the two preceding it – after two COVID-restricted Christmases, we should be looking forward to a sense of normality, and perhaps finally making the most of the hybrid world we now live in. Instead, what’s facing us is a crisis affecting...
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The lady is for turning — Analysis of Conservative Party Conference and what comes next
October 11, 2022
Sophie Fischer, senior account executive The atmosphere going into this Conference was a challenging one, with the Conservative Party clearly divided over the announcements in the mini-budget and the impact this had on the economy. As a first-time Conference goer, I had little reference point for comparing conference to conference. Rather, it was a case of 'take it as I find it'. Having reflected on my time in Birmingham, I conclude that whilst I learnt...
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A review of the Conservative Party Conference: Stuck between a rock and a hard place
October 6, 2022
Conservative Party Conference Review With a new Leader and a new Monarch, the Conservative Party should be buoyant and bursting with energy – however, this was not the case in Birmingham during this year’s Conference, as the atmosphere was torrid and the air stale. It was as if the Conservative Party knew that they were clinging onto power until the next General Election, rather than celebrating the new PM’s traditional, small-c conservative fiscal outlook of...