The main areas that I cover are:

Personal finance and investments.

What was your reaction to making the shortlist?

I was genuinely surprised and felt extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to work alongside the team at AJ Bell, without whom I would certainly not have made the shortlist!

From your work so far, if you had to pick the campaign you are most proud of, what would it be, and why?

My involvement on the policy and campaign side of things usually stems directly from the PR and other content we produce to circulate in the national and trade press, therefore I don’t have a particular campaign I can tie myself to per se. However, I’ve been able to utilise my knowledge of the AJ Bell platform to find various bits of data that relate to important changes in the financial calendar, including retail investor gilt purchases increasing between 23 September (mini-Budget) and mid-October, which was picked up by the Telegraph’s in its business bulletin, and Bed and ISA statistics prior to CGT and dividend allowances changing on 6 April this year, which was picked up by the FT. Being able to identify possible angles and developing my knowledge of the financial news cycle in this way is always enjoyable.

What made you become a financial PR?

My interest in communications and the way organisations and public bodies are able to promote their ideas has always been something that I’ve been motivated to get into. I think I became even more attached to the idea of getting into PR while studying my master’s degree in politics, as the impact of political messaging has gained even greater prominence over the last few years. I was already working in financial services and wanted to develop my existing skill set and knowledge of the industry by pushing myself further and decided to go for a new challenge. My appetite for building relationships also played a part, as well as my enjoyment of the reactive and fast-paced aspects of the job. Suffice to say I haven’t looked back since joining the PR team at AJ Bell.

As a relatively new ‘rising star’ financial PR?, what were the challenges you faced in 2022?

Finding my feet at a time when the UK was undergoing such political and economic turmoil was a major challenge that only amplified the importance of clear and concise communication from my side as a financial PR. Perhaps most significantly around the mini-Budget, I had to learn while also being able to distribute accurate commentary and wrap my head around information on gilts and DB pensions as I had just under 2 months experience under my belt at that time.

Finally, if you were up for an award for any hobbies/activities outside of work, what would you be likely to win, and why?

I think perhaps ‘least likely to want things to end’. I really don’t like the end of anything (to an extent of course), I never have and I get far too nostalgic about ridiculous things too.

View the full PR shortlist.