LAUNCH OF PR MUMS

A pathway for former PRs to return to work after starting a family

‍Pioneering new model for a hybrid recruitment company, community hub and events platform, with overwhelming industry support.    

A pioneering new model for a hybrid recruitment company, community hub and events platform - PR Mums – will be going live July 17 2023 with the ambition to equip mothers with a practical and psychological pathway back into employment after maternity / childcare, enabling them to re-establish their pre-pregnancy career trajectory.

Helmed by Emma Padden (Founder & Managing Director) and a board of ‘Founding Mothers’ - Alexandra Heybourne (Director, Freuds), Ali Maynard-James (Managing Partner, Manifest), Bethany Pearson (Director, Grayling), Jessica Hope (CEO, Wimbart), Jo Vyvyan-Robinson (Partner, Freuds), Nicola McKelvey (Director, Freelance), Shilpa Saul (Inclusive Communications Director, The Unmistakables).   They are joined by Consultant Psychologist Dr Claire Vowell who will help drive the consultancy and training to embed better policy and culture for returning parents.

In a rare stand of solidarity from across the industry, PR Mums is supported by a roster of over 45 leading agencies including Manifest, Grayling, Freuds, The Unmistakables, Wimbart, Idea Generation, Stonebridge PR, Rankin Creative, Aduro, AKT Health, blurred, Brazen, Brick, CC Group, CIJ Group, Clarion, Clarity, Definition, Don’t Cry Wolf, Fine Lines, Finn Partners, Flint, Folk, Four, Frank, Galibier, Good Shout, Hard Numbers, Hope & Glory, Hunt & Gather, Idea Farm, Kaizo, Performance PR, Phipps, Playtime PR, Portland, Pretty Green, Ready10, RDMR, Shephard Communications, Smoking Gun, Square in the Air, Taylor Herring, The PR Network, Wild Card and 72 Point among others and growing.  

Following eighteen months of consultation and development, with the support and financial backing of industry vets Hector Proud, Rory Scott and the photographer Rankin, PR Mums was born from a need to address the myriad of gender-based inequities in the workplace resulting from parenthood. 

Leveraging the revenues from the core recruitment service, PR Mums will reinvest at least 25% of its profits into an ongoing community and events programme, designed to variously, boost confidence; open opportunities; facilitate networking; access training; initiate mentorships and update skills – with the universal ambition to help re-establish both the path and trajectory of their former career as quickly as possible. 

Further to this the Founding Mothers role will extend into advocacy and campaigning on issues that impact women in the workplace from substandard parental leave policies; cost and availability of childcare; the lack of flexible or part-time roles; issues of diminished confidence; physical dislocation and isolation; these factors (and many more) intersect to dissuade and obstruct a return to work. 

“PR Mums is not driven by a lofty and long-term vision, but instead by an immediate and urgent mission to address clear and present endemic industry challenges and to help increase number of women in senior and leadership positions. This is our first-year ambition, but we aim to expand beyond the industry and support all parents.” Comments PR Mums Founder Emma Padden.

Ali Maynard-James, UK Managing Partner, Manifest GRP adds “The UK PR sector is over 65 % female. But for far too many female PRs who choose to have a baby, when their family starts, their career stops. The harsh reality is that there is no established pathway back into employment for mothers who wish to spend longer than a year bringing up their child.  Even after a typically ‘normal’ mat leave of 6–12 months some people can feel out of the loop with diminished confidence trying to balance their career and family life.  We want to provide guidance and support.”

Sophie Diner, Managing Partner, Ready10 said “Ready10 is passionate about supporting women’s career progression, whether or not they have a family. We practice what we preach; our nine-person senior team consists of seven women, six of whom are working mums. PR Mums is a much-needed and welcome initiative and we are thrilled to be involved in helping to further drive change in the industry”

If you want to be part of the growing roster of agencies, join the community, host an event, or be a speaker we want to hear from you!  Email hello@pr-mums.com.

All Photography Copyright @rankinphoto

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