Best Practice Committee broadly accepts Access Commission's Recommendations

London, 22nd May  - The PRCA’s Best Practice Committee and the Board of Management has today broadly accepted the 30 recommendations made by the Access Commission. Minor changes have been made, and these will now become the official PRCA recommendations.

Led by John Lehal, MD of Insight Public Affairs, the Access Commission brought together practitioners, academics, commentators and others from across the industry to examine obstacles to access in the PR industry. It focused on internships, apprenticeships, diversity, and opportunities for the disabled.

The commission received written and verbal evidence, aiming to agree a series of goals, and set out practical recommendations which PRCA members and the broader PR and communications industry can now adopt in order to widen access to the PR industry. The commission was set up in response to growing concerns about social mobility, internships, diversity and flexible working.

The official recommendations can be read here: Official Recommendations

Matt Neale, Chairman of the Best Practice Committee and Golin Harris President, commented: “The Best Practice Committee and the PRCA’s Board of Management are both satisfied that the Access Commission’s recommendations are of a high standard, and that it has presented the PRCA with clear, achievable aims over the next couple of years.”

John Lehal, Access Commission Chair, said: “The PRCA set up the independent commission as a commitment to effect lasting change, which I was happy to chair. We reported back with hard hitting recommendations that will move the industry in the right direction.

“I am therefore pleased that our recommendations have been generally accepted and I am glad to see some of our proposals on internships and apprenticeships are already being enacted.

“The onus for increasing diversity in PR is not just with the PRCA improving best practice, but with us PR consultants, who must effect lasting change by becoming best practice employers. When we look back it will be the changes consultancies have made that will reveal the true success of the Commission”.

To read the full Access Commission report please click here: Broadening Access to the PR Industry

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Tom Hawkins 

Email: tom.hawkins@prca.org.uk

Phone: 020 7233 6026

About the PRCA

Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, PR freelancers and individuals. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations.

What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities.

How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence.

Who we represent: The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world, including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. We also represent over 70 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.

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