Spotlight on….SOYO Leeds

Client: Caddick Developments

Sometimes a project comes out of the blue and it changes your perception, forces you in new directions to expand your mind and learn new skills – makes you grow in a way you hadn’t imagined and best of all brings a whole new set of people into your life who inspire and excite you. This is exactly what SOYO Leeds did for us.

What started out as a request to help with a guest list has progressed beyond what we could have envisaged. We ended up organising the launch party for said guest list to attend. We were asked to be disruptive, to create an event not usually associated with property launches. The kind of brief we love.

 SOYO Leeds is a £600million development in the heart of Leeds’ cultural quarter and so we wanted to include as many of our new neighbours as possible. We hired DJ Paul Dunphy, who then also worked at the BBC; a super cool student band from Leeds Conservatoire and ‘disrupted’ the evening with a mini flash mob of street dancers from Phoenix Dance, who took off their suits to reveal SOYO Leeds t-shirts as part of the performance. And we held the launch in The Wardrobe – a legendary bar and events space on the SOYO doorstep.

 Prior to the main event we held a press briefing - which attracted all the great Leeds media and resulted in oodles of coverage including front page of the Yorkshire Evening Post and interviews on BBC Radio Leeds.  We wrote the launch newspaper featuring interviews with local ‘Faces’ and an overview of the development – and then they asked us to stay long-term.

 Four years on and we are still pushing our creative boundaries. When the first Moda building reached topping out, we put a band on the roof to celebrate – you can see the video here. We followed this by organising a party at Leeds City College, which attracted the city’s great and good including then new West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin. We arranged extra catering from our friends at Sarto and cocktails from The Wardrobe. It was fantastic, apparently – I tested positive for COVID on the morning of the event so was banned from being anywhere near it. Again, we (the team – not me!) hosted press interviews and tours of the new buildings.

We’ve worked with LeedsBID to bring the Jurassic Trail to SOYO and put a dinosaur on the plinth in Playhouse Square. We’ve negotiated and managed sponsorship with Leeds Light Night since we started and last October brought the End to End installation to the site, inspired by the iconic Slinky, which attracted more than 2,500-3,000 people over the event’s two nights.

We organise and host regular stakeholder meetings with all our neighbours to keep them up to date with building work on site, planned activities, and we all work together on events, cross-promotion and the safety and appearance of the area.

 Our current to do list includes working with Emma Hardaker, who we recently appointed as our SOYO resident artist, on a series of projects to animate the new public space; hosting Leeds City College Graduation Art Show; a UK REiiFF celebration; presenting ideas for Phase 3 of the development; preparing for Leeds Bear Hunt; and planning for the next stakeholder meeting. In between we are constantly chatting to Leeds Playhouse and all our neighbours plus we also manage the SOYO social media channels.

The spin offs have also been great – introducing Caddick Developments to New Citizens to host The Garden Party at their City One site last year, which is returning with other events for 2023, is a highlight.

So, if you need a space activating, give us a call…

International Women's Day 2023!

Whether your dream is to become a CEO, a teacher, or a mother, the definition of success is personal to all, and we definitely benefit by being around women who are living it out already.

To be honest, it can be hard to celebrate another women’s success, instead of feeling inspired we can often feel inadequate or even jealous, I’ve been there! However, by embracing their achievements, we can let their stories become models for our own successes.

Seeing as its International Women’s Day #IWD2023, I thought it would be the perfect time to celebrate the achievements of so many women throughout the world who have inspired the SLBPR team…. Who by the way are led by a pretty kick-ass woman Sharon Brigden.

Sharon admires…

Debbie Harry, Dame Viv Westwood and Dolly Parton… “are all women who are bold, brash, and haven’t compromised who they are. They’ve also all made it in a man’s world! I

My Girl Gang… “who completely rock my world - my mum, my baby girls, Eva and Mia, my girlfriends and my SLBPR team for their constant creativity, fab ideas and ability to make me belly laugh!”

Laura’s inspirational women are:

Kris Jenner… “love her or hate her, she’s an unstoppable force. From sex tapes and socks to billionaires…. She’s a f**king fabulous businesswoman.

Paris Hilton… “She’s just an icon!”

The women who have inspired Katherine are:

Tina Turner… “is my spirit animal. The freedom she has in showing her emotions. She is smart, she is a business-woman and she is as sexy as hell! Her strength in getting up time and time again and always doing it in style, is so inspiring to me!”

Kate Moss… “she doesn’t care what you or I think, and I admire that so much. She is her, she does what she does… never complain, never explain!”

I’d like to recognise these two pretty incredible women:

Martha Graham… is the mother of modern dance and considered to be the most important dancer of the century! She moved against the grain, disregarded traditions and persevered despite seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Her approach to dance revolutionised the art form and her techniques are still taught across the world today… Yaaas Queen!

MJ Rodriguez… made history as the first transgender woman to win a Golden Globe in 2022! I loved the hit TV drama Pose… even though I unashamedly cried during most episodes! It features the largest cast of LGBTQ actors ever for a scripted series and MJ’s performance is utterly magical. She is paving the way for so many…. And I am so here for it!

By celebrating International Women’s Day we can forge a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination… there’s still work to be done team, but together we will get there.

Tori , Account Manager at SLBPR x

Use Instagram the right way

As most of you are aware there is a lot of talk around Instagram and the way that content is being displayed and recommended to us. It has been a conversation that has been going on for a while, and I am here to give my view on it as a Social Media Manager for SLBPR. 

Like it or not TikTok is influencing the way we use Instagram, and I am not surprised. Currently, TikTok has the highest social media engagements with an average usage of 26 hours a month. Why wouldn’t Instagram look to it for inspiration? Isn’t that good business practice, and what we all do with our own competitors on a regular basis?

I agree that Instagram is becoming more and more video, and less and less photos, however the insights are showing this is what we want as a user. For example, at SLBPR we can see that our clients are receiving higher engagement and visibility through a reel than they do for a still image. The argument that we want Instagram to return to what is was isn't coming through from the statistics and, honestly, I don’t blame Instagram for listening to the insights. 

What we have to remember is the popularity of Instagram, and how adapting to a changing audience is changing is key to their success, and good business practice. I feel that sometimes we forget it is a business and not doing what it does for no ROI.

The app is still the most used for consumers with 39% of consumers usinh it every single day. TikTok is not far behind though at 29%, and I predict that TikTok will close this gap over the next 6-12 months with Instagram adapting in response. 

What worries me is some of the incorrect information and attitudes I am seeing on Instagram now. An example of this is the Instagram boycott that has been encouraged for earlier this week. The idea of you as a business owner not going on Instagram all day is bonkers. What you are actually doing is allowing your competitors to dominate your audience and market. You disappear for the day, and they tap into your client base. Please don’t do this! There are so many other ways to react to something you don’t like on the app. 

So, if you aren’t Kylie Jenner (jokes!), here are some suggestions to help you with the changes and developments on Instagram: 

• You could outsource to someone like me who can do it for you (shameless plug for SLBPR!)

• You could engage in photos more than anything else on your feed. Let the insights do the talking so Instagram takes notice. If more do the same, they will have to. Mosseri isn’t afraid to backtrack, which is what we have seen this last week

• Take the time to understand social media, so that you aren’t just posting without seeing the benefit

• Did you know that scroll time has halved the last two years, but competition on the platform is triple what it was? August is a quiet month on social media. School breaks and holidays are butting into our social media plans, so use this time to up your knowledge and slow down your posting

• Use a scheduling tool, so you can take a step back from posting and instead get a week, fortnight or month scheduled in for August

Most importantly, remember why these platforms are great for business. If you do feel that you have lost your passion then please get in touch. I promise to get you excited again; get you back on track; and make it work for you .

LJ x

Social Media Manager for SLBPR 

The Incubator

Our Incubator service is a great introduction to PR, if you’re a salon, salon owner or stylist looking to raise your profile then the Incubator could be for you. The Incubator is a six month PR package in which we:

• Discuss your goals as a company, brand or individual and create a bespoke marketing plan to achieve these goals

• Provide a robust social media audit and make recommendations on how to increase your following and engagement

• We work with trade, regional and national media to make sure that you are seen and heard

• Engage with local influencers and media by inviting them into your salon to promote the salon or a specific service 

• Provide a three month review where we review your goals and coverage achieved so far 

• We can also arrange a financial review with our accountant partner who will provide a 12 week plan of what you need to be making

Over the past six months we’ve been working with incubator client Harness & Mane to raise their profile.

Harness & Mane is Europe’s only fetish salon based in Walthamstow, there’s really nothing quite like Harness & Mane. Harness & Mane is truly one of a kind, they’re unlike any other salon. You’ll see that from the minute you walk through the doors. When your passions collide usually something special happens and that’s exactly what Harness & Mane is. They’re a fetish salon. Salon owner Gunel Kelly has been in the hairdressing industry since 2005, and absolutely loves bringing your confidence and inner beauty out through your hair. Around the same time, she became involved in London’s alternative scene, being influenced by alternative fashion, music and events from this sub-culture. Together with her husband, Hughie, they realised it was a good time to merge these interests and so Harness & Mane was born.

Harness & Mane approached us with the aim of raising the profile of both Creative Director, Gunel Kelly and the salon and boy, did we do just that.

We successfully raised Gunel's profile and made her one to watch within the industry securing coverage in key trade titles including Hairdressers Journal and Creative Head as well as a slot at one of the most respected colour seminars, Colorworld UK and not to mention, their first award win with Gunel securing the top spot at The Hair Magazine Awards as well as 2 further finalist slots and a finalist place at the coveted British Hairdressing Business Awards. 

Further reviews both locally and in the trade press ensured that both Gunel and the Harness & Mane salon are ones to pay attention to. 

Over the six month period, we successfully secured a media reach of over 700,000.

‘Cannot recommend SLBPR enough. In just a few short months they have helped us win or finalise for multiple awards, gained us lots of media coverage and have proactively worked with us to raise Harness & Mane’s profile both within the industry and consumers alike. Very hands on, and always happy to give advice’

Hughie Kelly, Co-owner, Harness and Mane 

Interested to see what your future could look like as an Incubator client at SLBPR? Get in touch with us today Sharon@slbpr.co.uk

Top tips for your Instagram hashtag strategy

We are halfway through 2022 (sorry!) and we hope you already have your hashtag strategy in place, but if you don’t then we have some simple tips to help you make sure your posts are reaching the right people.

Last year Instagram announced a change in how hashtags are used. Instead of being a search tool it has become a categorisation tool, but what does that mean? Well, if we break it down then it means that social media platforms can’t be sure what your image is of, so they use other factors to determine your content and where it should show up. If you are like me and love a label machine then think of it as your image or video as the parcel and your hashtag is the label.

So, here are five top tips when it comes to hashtags:

1. Brand hashtag - Do you have a brand hashtag? If you don’t then you need one. Think of it as a filing system. But, don’t just stop there. Add a call to action to add an extra level of searchability.

2. Think about community - Is there a hashtag within the industry that you know resonates with you and your business? Think about where you could place that hashtag and why you would use it.

3. Location, Location, Location - Don’t forget where you are based. A local audience could be key to your business from a client perspective, but it could also be essential to recruitment or a way of aligning yourself with other local brands.

4. Product descriptions - Put yourself in the shoes of your consumer. What would they be searching for when they are looking for a product you offer? If you don’t know your keyword searches then consider this a reminder YOU SHOULD DO THIS - and, sorry to be the one to tell you this but it can change and you need to be regularly looking at this. Not sure how to - give us a shout!

5. Create a spreadsheet - I love a spreadsheet for all things social, but when it comes to hashtags it can be really helpful to have one that breaks down the areas above. That way a simple copy and paste job can mean you get the right hashtags placed with the right images. Bonus Tip: When you see a new one drop it straight in the list so you don’t forget it for future use.

Oh, and don’t forget the algorithm is multifaceted. Hashtags aren’t the only aspect you should be thinking about. If you aren’t sure what else you should be doing then drop us a message. I am social obsessed so if you are feeling deflated about your brand Instagram, or you feel really daunted about TikTok then I am your gal!

LJ x

SLBPR gains new clients and expands team

SLBPR are going from strength to strength with the announcement of three new client additions to their ever-expanding portfolio. As one of the UK hair & beauty industry’s most experienced and respected agencies, SLBPR has been chosen to build the presence and position the brands of Jack & The Wolfe, Cheveux Salon and G&E McIntyre.

The fiercely cool and multi award winning salon, Jack & The Wolfe has awoken the sleepy town of Lymington, as their cutting-edge approach to cut and colour draws clients from across the UK. The salon, owned by renowned stylists Jack Mead and Lydia Wolfe each with a shiny record of national and international awards, is an unstoppable force destined for greatness. Not only does it bring a slice of urban cool to the sedate seaside town, but prides itself on being warm, friendly and a welcoming experience for everyone.

Cheveux Salon delivers the latest hairdressing trends, styles, techniques, and expert advice, not only to the people of Edinburgh but to clients who travel miles to indulge in stylish luxury. The moment you walk into Cheveux, you feel relaxed. Welcomed by friendly faces and enveloped by a cocoon of gold and pampas grass. The highly trained team believe that beautiful hair must be healthy and with an abundance of knowledge can transform any look with their bespoke hair and scalp services.

It’s fair to say that G&E McIntyres is quickly building a reputation as one of the best hairdressers in Northampton, and rightly so. With many national awards under their belt, including Salon of the Year, they are famous for creating beautiful haircuts and colours alongside their impeccable customer service. The salon has enjoyed unprecedented growth since their launch in 2015, where they started their journey as two. Owners Gavin and Ella, now boast a team of nine and have developed an education programme to nurture apprentices and produce award worthy stylists.

To coincide with SLBPR’s growing portfolio their team is also expanding, with the appointment of LJ Upton, Head of Social Media and Victoria Coultas, Account Executive.

SLBPR founder/managing director, Sharon Brigden says: “We are thrilled to be building such a great team, winning new major clients and delivering exciting, innovative, disruptive campaigns. Our new salon clients represent the best of the next generation of creative hairdressers and it’s amazing to be working alongside such creative and inspiring people every day.”

Buying followers ❌

Have you ever considered buying followers for your social accounts? There are lots of accounts out there that have, and still are, but we are here to explain to you why this is a bad idea and how you can spot what we call a ‘bot actual followers’ (see what we did there?)

First and foremost buying followers is a way of growing the numbers without gaining any sort of engagement. These will be computerised accounts that have been set up for one reason only - to follow accounts. Here are five reasons why you should not buy your followers:

1. They will not engage with your account, and this means that they won’t like, share and comment on your posts.

2. Your posts won’t show up on the explore pages. This means that your posts will disappear into social space, because the social platforms won’t recognise you as genuine.

3. Metrics will be impossible to measure. Your insights are crucial to developing your social media pages, and without these being true to your audience you can’t rely on these.

4. Instagram doesn’t like you to buy followers, and it goes against their terms and conditions. It could lead to your account being limited, suspended or even banned.

5. It can destroy your credibility as an influencer, brand or business owner.

That final point is one we consider really important at SLBPR. We value the influencers we work with, and we can spot bot bought followers a mile off. To ensure we work with the right influencers and brands we look at the follower numbers in comparison to the engagement. For example, an account with 15k followers with an average post like of 52 is a cause for a concern for us as an agency. Brands want exposure with real audiences and not fake bought ones. 

That brings us on to engagement rates. This is a calculation we use regularly to establish how an account is performing, and how posts are resonating with audiences. According to Hootsuite and account under 10k should be looking to have an engagement rate of between 1% and 5%. We suggest around 1.5% is a good benchmark. We have some clients who are smashing this stat! Brooke Evans is at an incredible 4.3% and Heffy is at 2.86%. Incredible!

“Slow and steady wins the race. My top tip to grow your social organically is to be persistent, good things take time. Post regularly, engage with others as often as possible – set aside even 10 minutes a couple of times a day to be engaging with other people’s social. . It’s called social media because you need to be social, there’s no point in having a page if you’re not being active. You need to be not only posting your own content regularly but engaging with other accounts – liking or commenting on posts and sharing content to drive your followers and engagement.

As soon as you start to buy followers it takes away your engagement. If you’ve got 10k followers and only 30 likes on a post it massively impacts your engagement and your accounts credibility.

Brands are now looking to micro influencers, the Instagram accounts with a lower following but high engagement which is received both by your audience and brands.

What matters more creating great content or gaining followers? I’d always choose great content that I know my audience will engage with and continue me to be able to grow organically.” Brooke Evans, B.E Ironbridge

So, if you are considering buying some followers this year because you think it will increase your opportunities - don’t! In fact it will do the exact opposite.

Buying followers - bot the hell are you thinking?!?

If you want to find out how to grow your follower numbers organically then get in touch with us. We offer social media management, strategy and audits to help you get seen by the right people.

Flexibility for Success

Early this year I placed an ad for an account manager, stipulating they should be London based, to work from our office there.

 And then Laura C got in touch. I’ve known Laura for quite a while and have always thought very highly of her – and know that colleagues and media think the same. But she’s not based in London and has no plans to be. She’s in Edinburgh!

 I thought about it and had to question as to why I wanted someone in London – and then decided it was a silly idea and hired her – and she’s fantastic.

 Katherine and I have known each other for a zillion years and always loved working alongside each other so when the opportunity came to work collaboratively on projects, we both jumped at the chance. It’s not very conventional (but that is our strength!) – we both have our own agencies – so sometimes Katherine works for me, sometimes she hires SLBPR and then we also come as a package – pulling together over 30 years of retail expertise, events organisation, strategic comms, social media management and creative thinking skills and experience to deliver for a client or project. 

 I worked with LJ (Laura-Jane) in hair & beauty a few years ago and stayed in touch when she left. I thought she was working for another company until a random LinkedIn post highlighted her freelance status, I grabbed the chance to offer her the role of social media manager. Lucky for us she said yes! Thank you, LinkedIn!

 Now Victoria has joined the team, on the days when she’s not working for Variety, the Children’s Charity, and we have a pool of creative freelancers so we can always recruit the best people for our clients’ campaigns.

 I’m not going to talk about the flexibility around childcare and work because quite frankly no one ever asks a man about that and so why should my female staff have to justify that they can be both successful in their work and be a parent. 

Whatever our home/life status we all need flexibility, and we all work differently. At SLBPR we tend to follow a loosely traditional working week, but we often set our own hours. I’ve never been a fan of a pen-pushing culture where people compete to be first in/last out but without producing any better results than someone who works part-time.  

 I often send emails/messages late at night – usually on that train back from London but don’t expect a reply until that person is next working. Katherine often sends emails at 6am – sometimes I shock her by replying immediately! We know when to be present, and we are – whatever time or day. Mr Johnson had a habit of making important announcements at 5pm on a Friday evening during the height of the pandemic – which meant those of us on the NHBF crisis comms team had to spend the weekend juggling life as we dealt with the impact of what was said. My husband had to explain to his Mum that I really did have to leave a family Zoom because it was THAT Cabinet Office (press team) who had called me – it wasn’t the name of a bar or salon!

 As an employer for me the focus is the best person for the role and someone I, and everyone else, want on our team. People who inspire us, bring different skills and experience, have great ideas, who we can rely on, and support, to get the job done. Plus, the obvious great sense of humour and not being a dick.  

Location is no longer as important as it once was but I would like someone in Birmingham – if you know anyone!

Three Tips for Recycle Week

One small step for us, a helping hand for the planet

 Sustainability is a word we are hearing more and more. Each one of us has a role to play, we can all help to reduce the negative impact human activities have on our planet. 

 Recycling plays a significant role in sustainability and it’s something that we can all incorporate into our everyday lives. It reduces the volume of waste destined for landfills allowing the conservation of natural areas and protecting ecosystems. 

As we reach the end of Recycle Week, our Social Media Manager  LJ has jumped in to share a few positive steps you could take now and moving forward. 

1. The paper trail. In the UK, we use 9.9 million tonnes of paper each year, and we recycle around 80% of it (Source recyclingbins.co.uk). By recycling we can save oil, water and landfill space - all hugely important to our future planet. The question is how to recycle it? Well, consider using it in the garden. Tear it into small pieces and place it around your plants. Or, you could do what we do here at SLBPR and take our magazines across to our local colleges who use them for upcoming projects. 

2. Switch up your shampoo . According to National Geographic 9 million tonnes of plastic get thrown into the sea every year. That is insane!  Our clients care about the environment. ALFAPARF Milano’s new demi permanent Color Wear line packaging is made from 90% recycled paper and all of the Color Wear tubes are made from using 100% post-industrial recycled aluminium. Not to mention the team has also gone paperless.

3. The fabulously ethical Dolores & Rose have recently launched their new Blonde Brilliance bar but the entire Dolores & Rose range is free of sulphates, parabens and is cruelty free. It’s kind on the purse strings with one 50g shampoo bar lasting twice as long (up to six weeks) as a regular 250ml bottle of shampoo. They’ve also recently launched mini versions of all five shampoos, which are great for travelling, staycations or taking to the gym, they also come in a handy tin which is made out of recycled aluminium which means it won’t rust! 

We love working with clients who create products that not only produce great results for your hair and skin but they’re also good for the environment.

1. Do your research - Have you ever read the recycling labels on the products you buy? I hold my hands up to this one, but after researching how I can recycle better in our household I’ve learnt that the label is really important. Not all items you think are recyclable, and some may contain components that aren't. 

These are three simple steps that could get you started on your sustainability journey. There are so many more, but just the smallest step is a right step. 

Winner, winner...

I cannot believe that it’s over a week since TeamSLB were at Creative Head’s Most Wanted Awards, guests of clients, presenting an award and celebrating client wins. Not to mention seeing people we haven’t seen for two years - IN REAL LIFE! No wonder my head hurt a little the next day!

We love an award - well, we love an award ceremony. Actually compiling awards is a bloody hard job - but we like to think we’re pretty good at it. In 2021 we have achieved the following (so far) for our clients:

National Association Awards  - July 2021 

National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF):

GOLD WINNER - Best Membership Organisation (1-10,000)

GOLD WINNER - Best Social Media

SILVER WINNER - Best COVID Response

Salon Business Awards (Hair) - July 2021 

B.E Ironbridge WINNER - Best Local Salon

B.E. Ironbridge FINALIST - Best Green Salon

Hazel & Haydn, Birmingham FINALIST - Creative Salon

Hazel & Haydn FINALIST - Curl Specialist

Architect Hair, Leeds FINALIST  - Business Salon 

Architect Hair, FINALIST  - Ultimate Salon

Creative Head Most Wanted Awards (Hair) - September 2021

Brooke Evans, B.E Ironbridge - WINNER  - IT List Entrepreneur of the Year 

Katie Cooke, B.E Ironbridge - FINALIST- IT List Rising Star

Architect Hair - FINALIST - Best Salon Team

Hazel & Haydn - FINALIST - Best Salon Team

Verity Ollerenshaw, Routed, Leeds - FINALIST - IT List Entrepreneur of the Year

Business Insider Yorkshire Property Awards - September (29th) 2021

The Harris Partnership - FINALIST - Best Architect 

Pure Beauty Awards - September 2021

ALFAPARF Milano - Best New Hair Product

British Hairdressing Business Awards - October 2021

Hazel & Haydn - FINALIST  - Best Salon of the Year 1

Hazel & Haydn - FINALIST - Customer Service Award

Katie Cook - FINALIST - Assistant of the Year 

Heffy Wheeler, HX Hair, Rugeley - FINALIST— Social Stylist of the Year

COVID Response Awards  - November 2021

NHBF  - FINALISTS in THREE categories

Salon Awards -  January 2022

Hazel & Haydn - FINALISTS in FIVE categories

Architect Hair - FINALISTS in THREE categories 

B.E. Ironbridge - FINALISTS in THREE categories

We’re also very proud to be a sponsor of, and look after the social media for Variety Northern’s Yorkshire Property Awards, Yorkshire Resi Awards and Yorkshire Business Awards.

However, like cobblers and shoes, builders and their own houses, we struggle to find the time to do our own awards, despite having finalised and won when we have in the past. 

But having entered and looked at our sector specific awards this yea I do have a bit of a gripe. So much of the criteria is about how profitable an agency is, it’s size, showing off continued growth etc. Whilst the money is important it’s not our only driver.  

We are about the team and working on interesting projects. We often turn down potential clients who don’t fit into our portfolio or don’t share our ethics - which has made our FD cry a little bit in the past. We don’t worship at the alter of money, but we do bow down to the gods of disruption, talent, kindness and project briefs that make us do a collective WOW! 

This doesn’t mean we’re cheap either. It means that we care about flexible working and I personally really care that my team are happy, fulfilled and enthusiastic about what they do. And they generally are - I know because I talk to them, see the results they achieve and hear what clients say about them. I think I’m still in touch with pretty much everyone who’s ever been employed at SLBPR.

Next year we will enter all our sector specific awards, so if you are an expert at these and can help, pop over your fees - I could be interested!!

At last!!

Government recognises the importance of hair & beauty by creating dedicated Personal Care Sector.

After a relentless non-stop campaign by the British Beauty Council, UK Spa Association, British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology and the National Hair & Beauty Federation the government has created a new, sector specific team for hair and beauty – Personal Care - dedicated to supporting our industry.

These four key organisations have worked closely with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to overcome the challenges of the past year and, through their relentless passion, energy and dedication, have highlighted the size and scope of the personal care sector as the major UK force it is.

In a game-changing move forward, the creation of a dedicated sector team is a major milestone for UK hair, beauty and wellness, with far-reaching positive implications: raising awareness outside of the industry; allowing government to improve its understanding of this dynamic, economically valuable and highly innovative sector, and paving the way for future financial support.

Quotes from the organisations leading the change:

“When the British Beauty Council formed in 2018 there was no government representation. This government recognition cements one of the key goals of the British Beauty Council - which from its inception set out to have the beauty industry recognised at government level; creating the first working definition of the beauty industry and also commissioning an exhaustive report aimed at valuing the contribution of the beauty industry to the UK economy. Fast-forward two years and we have achieved this major milestone as an industry and look forward to shining the light on the beauty industry to further showcase and improve this amazing sector in which we all work.” – Millie Kendall MBE, CEO, British Beauty Council

"As General Manager at the UK Spa Association when this was announced I was absolutely delighted to hear the news. The creation of a designated sector team for personal care within government is a monumental moment for the industry, clearly demonstrating the newly attained credibility, reputation and valued economic contribution we have worked so hard to highlight. It's wonderful for the sector to receive the recognition it rightfully deserves and exciting for the future.” - Helena Grzesk, COO, British Beauty Council and former General Manager, UK Spa Association

“We are delighted to have secured a designated sector team within government for personal care - a huge milestone and the direct result of the dedication, passion and cooperation of the four key industry organisations and BEIS over the challenges of the past year. As one of the largest contributors to the UK Economy, our sector deserve to have a strong dedicated voice in government, something BABTAC has campaigned and worked towards for many years, and we look forward to the opportunities and credibility this will provide our industry going forward.” - Lesley Blair, CEO & Chair of BABTAC & CIBTAC

“We are delighted that BEIS is giving the sector the recognition it deserves. Our work now continues to secure urgent and vital support for hair and beauty as lockdowns and restrictions continue and we look forward to positive discussions with BEIS to secure the best possible deal for the personal care industry.” - Richard Lambert, CEO of the National Hair & Beauty Federation

Bah humbug!

2020 has thrown us so many curveballs. In fact, I think they can only adequately be described as the sort of two-handed lob that catches you out of nowhere when you’re not paying attention and leaves you winded and embarrassed. Like the whole of the UK, I am so desperate to get this year over with and welcome in 2021 that I contemplated putting up my tree in November. OK so I showed some restraint and waited until December, but you know the feels. 2020 needs to – to quote Caroline Hirons’ brilliant collab with Holy Flaps - get in the sea.

And for me, that feeling extends to the festive period. I think given all that has been thrown our way this year, it’s time to dispatch with our bloated Christmas traditions.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are certain things about Chrimbo that I absolutely love. And though I’m not one for a bandwagon, Christmas Markets man, they’re a whole different beast. I want to know what time that wagon is leaving the station, because I will be on it, nay driving it, scratching at any exposed skin under a tacky Christmas jumper and drinking a mulled wine whilst I fantasise about getting my hands on a foot-long sausage.

Oooh if only you could smell a picture

There’s your arrival at the market, as you are pummelled by a thousand different sensations at once. Your olfactory senses are serviced by the thick-hanging aromas that mingle above your head. Garlic bread with cheese so fluffy you could stuff a pillow with it; the long spicy sausages turning and spitting on the griddle; cinnamon spiced churros dipped in oily chocolate sauce; mulled wine bubbling seductively in a cauldron. The wooden toys swaying jauntily on a Christmassy wind. It is a sensory overload and I’m here for it.

The day I found out that there would be no Christmas Market in Edinburgh was the day I packed up my positivity and unboxed the reality. Without an overpriced mulled wine and a giant, mostly inedible hot dog, I knew Christmas was going to be a struggle that no amount of Bailey’s would fix. We’ve had social distancing work arounds for much of the year, but the magic of Thor’s tipi was never going to transpose for the Covid era. Don’t get me started on the lies I’ve had to tell about Santa and North Pole quarantine.

But here’s my issue. That bit between Christmas and New Year. What is it? What do you do with it? Why does it exist? It’s just a post-Christmas comedown. A crushing low exacerbated by the slight high of Christmas. A period of self-loathing, spent eating an insane amount of unnecessary leftovers and kidding yourself that a glass of Aldi fizz on the stroke of midnight is some potent transformative elixir. And if Christmas didn’t exist, then neither would that strange period. It would just become another period of disappointment and then hey presto! It’s another year!

It would definitely be cheaper. Our waistlines would thank us for it. We wouldn’t have to force a smile over the boardgames and pretend we like the in-laws. And that joy – and the mince pies - we saved could be spread throughout the year. What do you reckon? Are you with me? Or should I retreat to my mountainside cave with a bottle of Bailey’s and hibernate until 2021?

I'm sorry but I can't eat you anymore

I’m not sure about anyone else but lockdown has had a very strange effect on my diet. I don’t mean snacking throughout the day or the extra alcohol consumption (only one of which I’m guilty of) but the actual changing of taste-buds.

In the Lockdown - The Original - I completely went off eggs and avocado - which I realise will have me thrown out of the seriously beard-stroking hipster club - if I was ever a member! And not even together - separately! I haven’t been able to eat fried eggs, except on very rare occasions, since I was pregnant with my first daughter - but it’s not unusual for taste buds to change when expecting a baby. I absolutely used to love poached eggs - lovely yellow yoke oozing across toast, muffin or haddock and colcannon. But now, the idea of egg sends waves of nausea through me. 

And avocado. I was a massive fan even before the Great Avocado Explosion of 2017, when it became the law to have it added to every breakfast, regardless of whatever other ingredients it included.  Obviously, I chose the Hass variety - not wanting to be responsible for more human suffering and turf wars than cocaine production. If you’re not choosing Hass avocados you need to have a proper word with yourself and watch Rotten  - The Avocado Wars (Netflix). 

That luscious, inviting soft green fruit which used to melt on the tongue is now consigned to the “Ughh” section of my taste bud selection. How does this happen. If there are any nutritionists or scientists who can explain, I’m all ears.

Conversely, milk, which anyone who knows me will confirm I always refer to as the Devil’s Juice, has made a a very small introduction into my sometime-choice of breakfast - porridge. I have always made mine with water (I do really hate milk - apart from in cooking) but since Lockdown - The Sequel - have taken to having a splash of what I generally think is a foul-smelling liquid in my porridge - and most pleasant it is too.  (Side-note - I’m not averse to foul-smelling liquid in cooking - I present fish sauce, your honour, which is the elixir in any great Thai curry).

So I am now waiting for the next big tastebud change from this current homebound situation and hoping its not cheese, as I bloody love cheese!

BHM: Five with JoJo Kelly

If the voice behind this week’s Five with… sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the inimitable firecracker JoJo Kelly, responsible for supplying us with Capital tunes whilst we listen in the kitchen, pretending to do a home-time commute. Just me?

We posed the Leeds lass five questions.

Photo credit: Elspeth Mary Moore

What do you love most about Leeds?

What’s not to love? Leeds is and has always been my home. I love the people I meet here who tend to be on the creative side, and creativity is an imperative part of any lively city. It’s always had a vibrant nightlife and music scene, something I have always been proud of being part of, and its arts and culture on offer are second to none. You can see exhibitions, ballet, independent theatre and even West End shows. So much variety. 

Where’s your favourite place to eat?

There are so many brilliant places to eat so it’s really hard for me to select one! Me and my husband decided to become plant based at the back end of last year as a small personal step to address climate change and help save our planet, so I’ve recently discovered ‘Eat Your Greens‘,  and my new favourite vegan junk food eatery has got to be Doner Summer. The meat free kebabs there are insane. Got to give Issho a mention too. 

What’s Leeds’ hidden gem?

Leeds Market!!! I love nothing more than having a mooch about the market where you can buy literally anything from food to fabric! The independent food stalls in there are tasty and affordable. I particularly like Banh & Mee, a Vietnamese establishment with an aubergine and tofu dish to die for. 

What are your predictions for the future of Leeds?

Coronavirus has really thrown a curveball at the world and how we live our lives. My hope is that all the creatives and independent shops survive this, and that our beloved night life returns even bigger and better than before. I really miss dancing in a crowd. 

Describe Leeds in 3 words

Hopeful. Positive. Resilient. 

Follow JoJo on Facebook: @thejojokelly or tune into Capital FM weekdays at 4pm.

BHM: Five with Anthony Caton

Leeds-alum Anthony Caton tinkers with tailoring for his premium Caton Manifesto line. He’s been named one of Esquire’s best dressed men of the Middle East natch. We asked the fashion maven five questions about Leeds.

What do you love most about Leeds?

One of the things I love about Leeds is its cultural and ethnic diversity, it's the people of Leeds that give it its magic.

Where’s your favourite place to eat?

Maureen's Caribbean takeaway on Roundhay Road is one of the busiest eateries in Leeds, due to the freshness, quality and consistency that she delivers every time.  

What’s Leeds’ hidden gem?

Casa Columbiana at the Grand Arcade in Leeds city centre is not only a multilevel authentic Columbian restaurant, it also has resident Bachata, Salsa and kizomba classes and club nights.

What are your predictions for the future of Leeds

I predict that with the complications of Covid we will see lots of new independent food and drink concepts popping up in Leeds as restrictions ease.

Describe Leeds in 3 words

Vibrant, Inclusive, Homely 

See Manifestations of Grandeur at: https://www.caton-manifesto.com/

Follow Anthony on Instagram: @anthonycatonpr

BHM: Five with Rebecca Benn

All this month, we’re looking at Black History Month through a Leeds lens. 

We asked Rebecca Benn – the communications health data lead at NHS Digital and the award-winning sauce momma of The Really Nice Food Company – five questions.

What do you love most about Leeds?

I love the independent food scene here in Leeds; it’s so amazing, there’s something to suit every palette. From coffee shops to pop ups, we have some great spaces to showcase our offer and provide the opportunity to discover new cuisines.

If I’m in town, Leeds market is my go-to place to uncover hidden gems. Yummy Sushi bar and Jenny’s Jerk Kitchen are my top picks.

Where’s your favourite place to eat?

Hands down Pinche Pinche in Chapel Allerton. It’s such vibrant space and has been serving up the best Mexican food in Leeds for years. Their Guacamole is the stuff of legends, you can’t go back to supermarket mush once you tried it. 

What’s Leeds’ hidden gem?

Roundhay Park, not the main bit but the forest behind, it’s great for a trail run or a sling walk.

What are your predictions for the future of Leeds?

It’s hard to know what the future holds with us being in the middle of the pandemic. What I do see continuing is the investment in technology with big companies like Sky and Channel 4 creating jobs in the city. The only way is up. 

Describe Leeds in 3 words

Welcoming. Surprising. Home

Follow Rebecca on Twitter @reallynicefood

Black History Month: A Love Letter to Leeds

There are some places you travel where you instantly feel at home. The paths feel familiar underfoot, the air smells invitingly fragrant and you somehow seem to instinctively know your way. For me, it’s the city of Leeds. As you traverse the grey winding roads and are welcomed into her bosom, there’s the overwhelming sense of sanctuary. Every time my train snakes into the station - the canal side vistas and semi-brutalist structures interlocking on the horizon - I feel I’m coming home.

Over the years, I’ve come to know most of the folds and edges of Leeds. There’s the riotous university territory in Headingley and Hyde Park, where I frequently spent the night as a student visiting friends. The wharfs of the city where one escapes to in search of beauty and culture and fine dining. The green spaces of Temple Newsam and Roundhay Park which are nestled in suburbia.

But the place most familiar to me is Chapeltown; Potternewton Park its jewel framed by various warrens of beautiful 1880s terraces.

As a child, we ventured to Chapeltown on a weekly basis to source the ingredients my Dad could not live without: plantain and cassava, breadfruit and yams, and peppers likely to cause first degree burns to your tongue.

And every year, the August Bank Holiday was promised to Chapeltown, where the streets would be given over to the Leeds West Indian Carnival. Leeds Carnival is an institution, beloved by all. As revellers dagger and dutty whine, the bass of the rig bypasses your ears to pound soca straight into your heart. The smell of curried or jerk chicken hangs so thick you can taste it.

Leeds is a city famed for its cultural diversity and home to Europe’s longest running authentic carnival parade. It’s a city that celebrates and embraces its blend of inhabitants. It’s why we’ll be celebrating Leeds’ legacy during Black History Month.

Black History Month takes place in the month of October in the UK. It is a time to learn more about - and celebrate - the African and Caribbean diasporas and the richness they’ve added to our culture. It’s a time to raise awareness of the challenges members of the community still face. It’s a chance to put into action the words or promises you made when you posted a black square over lockdown. Because although BHM spans just 31 days, now more than ever, we need to recognise the detrimental impact of marginalisation of our black communities.

Throughout October, SLBPR will be celebrating our black heroes of Leeds through images, resources, interviews and profiles. Keep an eye out on our socials and get in touch if you would like to get involved.

#PowerofPR

What is PR?

It’s been 424 days since I left the chalky world of teaching in pursuit of happiness in the form of a PR career. And since then, I’ve been asked approximately 424 times what it is that PR people do.

And my answer, for each person that asks – which is largely my husband – is this. Everything.

For PR – like love - is all around. I’m not saying I feel it in my fingers (nor my toes for that matter), but it’s written in the wind. It’s everywhere I go. It’s on the train, and in the station. It’s on the screens increasingly attached to our palms. It’s in print and on social and broadcast. It permeates every area of life. We can try to escape it, but as the saying goes, it conquers all.

“It’s the very essence of who you are and how others perceive you – whether it’s you as a person, a company, brand, service or product. If you can’t communicate that effectively then you have nothing.”

-        Sharon Brigden Managing Director SLBPR

As our lifestyles have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, PR has become more important than ever. We have found a renewed sense of unity in community; at the start of lockdown, we were united by a common enemy. I resist the urge to place an easy joke here. As Boris Johnson pumped his fists on his podium, his rhetoric hung thick with the metaphor of war; Covid personified as a foe to be vanquished.

“It’s less about the story and more of how you tell it. Effective communicators never go in all guns blazing - there’s always a complex strategy behind everything that makes the whole thing work.”

-        Sam Johnson Account Director SLBPR

Beyond government messaging, society looked to brands to find purpose. Covid fecundated the ground for social and societal change. Our priorities shifted. And as we navigated our new territories, we found refuge in words.

“PR professionals are like the Wizard of Oz. We’re hidden behind the curtain. We’re the heart and the brains and the courage of a campaign. And occasionally we wear fancy red shoes whilst we’re doing it all.”

-        Eve ‘Good Witch Glenda’ Griggs Account Executive SLBPR

PR shapes not just people’s perceptions, but people’s experiences. Our words have power and comfort and authority. We have a huge responsibility as PR practitioners to abide by our code of ethics and our own integrity.

We are proud to work in PR. The PRCA’s findings that (82%) CEOs and CFOs from large companies view public relations as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to protecting and strengthening corporate reputation is comforting. But there’s still work to do.

“Words are our currency in PR. We deal and trade and barter with them. We count them precisely and spend them carefully. And sometimes we are richer if we hand over fewer.”

-       Teela Clayton Account Executive SLBPR

What is PR? PR – like love - is all around.

There’s no beginning, they’ll be no end. Because on PR, you can depend.

Second hand September

Eve here – PR Executive and SLBPR’s resident vintage lover.

Here’s the deal. Over lockdown I had an epiphany. A shameless spending-shaped one.

I am a lover of all things fashion – and with this I’ve developed a habit of buying things a bit too often and sometimes that are a tad expensive (sorry mum).

 However, I am a shopper with a conscience. As much as I love changing up my look, I recognise fast fashion comes with consequences. But then there’s the consequences on my bank balance; as much as I love you Paloma Wool, ya draining my funds.

So, I needed a compromise. Over the past few years I’ve often dipped my toes into the world of second hand without success. But this time there was a fire burning, an eBay shaped one. I sat for hours scrolling through listings, perfecting my search criteria in order to bring up the best items. Sometime later, offers were accepted on a 70s maxi dress made in Florence and a hand crocheted dress. Over the coming months, these purchases became rather frequent and now once again, my wardrobe would be about to burst if it had doors.

But over the past few days, whilst placing sneaky bids in the office, I’ve noticed this whole “second-hand September” campaign running across social media which instantly made my vintage senses tingle. I read up on all sorts of info and posts that people were producing – and one thing in particular got me.

“Gentrification” is thrown out there a lot – in particular towards vintage, and this rubbed me up the wrong way. I sense a lot of entitlement when it comes to second hand and vintage clothing – that it should be inexpensive just because someone else has owned or worn it – something I can’t wrap my heads around when it comes to vintage.

Now let’s get one thing straight. To me, vintage is anything 1970s or older. Nothing aggravates me more than some ugly checked shirt from the 90s being referred to as vintage when it’s no doubt the same age as me (1996 represent).  

These items, whether it’s a dress, or a suit or even a brooch, are a piece of history. Fashion now, and for a long time has been built on trends and styles of the past – they’re something to be treasured and appreciated – and this has every right to come with a price tag.

Yes, the odd time you find an absolute vintage steal, an overlooked gem lurking in the dark depths of eBay - as I sit writing this I’m currently wearing a 1960s beautiful matching knitted waistcoat and skirt which I paid the grand total of £20 for - but realistically vintage pieces are collector’s items, to be looked after and loved for more years to come.

I agree, there are Highstreet “vintage” shops putting ridiculous price tags on “vintage” Kappa sweatshirts that have no doubt been fished out of a by the kilo warehouse – but this line should not be blurred with fashion’s real past.