Independents' Day for Scottish PR consultants

ENTREPRENEURS interested in launching their own PR firms are being encouraged to attend an event in Edinburgh, Scotland, this weekend. The Institute of Public Relations (IPR) has organised Independents Day" -- a half-day workshop to help people running small PR consultancies, or those who want to be self-employed.

ENTREPRENEURS interested in launching their own PR firms are being encouraged to attend an event in Edinburgh this weekend.

The Institute of Public Relations (IPR) has organised Independents Day" -- a half-day workshop to help people running small PR consultancies, or those who want to be self-employed.

The event will take place in the Apex International Hotel in the citys Grassmarket this Saturday (June 7, 2003).

A range of speakers have been lined up to pass on top tips for solo success. They include former Shandwick PR woman Pamela Bailey, now running her own firm in Glasgow; and Vyvyan Kinross, a founder of the successful London agency Kinross and Render.

Also attending will be Sara Roberts of event sponsors Xchangeteam, an organisation which provides contract work opportunities for freelance public relations people.

Work-life balance guru Karen Carlton and a speaker from Scottish Enterprise's Small Business Gateway service will also attend.

One of the people who has already signed up for the event is Caroline Keith, based at Kessock, near Inverness.

She said: I attended Independents Day last year and found it enjoyable and informative. It gave me the confidence to set up my own business. Now Im established, Im attending this years event to find out how I can develop."

Jane Cumming, the IPR's chair in Scotland, said: The IPR is working to raise standards in the public relations industry through training, professional qualifications, education and networking.

We feel its important to support people going out on their own -- or who already work as independent practitioners. Thats why weve organised Independents Day.

Not only can people tap into experts who have been there and done that, they can also network with other self-employed people and swap notes and contact details."

Freelancing -- or working as an independent -- is nothing new within the creative industries. But the amount of people opting for self-employment is growing. The Institute of Directors estimates that by 2025, around 20 per cent of the UK working population will be freelancing or working on contract.

Emma Brierley, chief executive of freelance resourcing firm Xchangeteam, said: Theres been a huge growth in the number of people working freelance. Most companies cant afford to have large numbers of staff on their permanent payroll, so bring in freelances. Likewise, more and more people want to work on a freelance basis.

Of course working on your own doesnt suit everyone. So one of the best ways to find out if its for you is to attend something like the IPR event."

To find out more about Independents Day, log onto the IPR website at www.ipr.org.uk/scotland or call Nicola Hopkin on 0141 332 9119.

The cost to attend is 25 for IPR members and 35 for non-members. This includes a three-course lunch and speaker notes.

Issued by THE PR STORE on behalf of the Institute of Public Relations in Scotland For more information, please contact:

Adrian Mahoney, The PR Store
T: 01506 823714 M: 07967 150560

For inquiries about Xchangeteam (www.xchangeteam.com), please contact:

Emma Brierley, chief executive, Xchangeteam
T: 020 7354 0814

Sara Roberts, Xchangeteam, Scotland
T: 01877 382 919 M: 07780 995 117

Robert Minton-Taylor, public relations consultant for Xchangeteam
T: 01535 634 634; Home: 01535 630 483 Email: robert@minton-taylor.com

-----------------------------------------