For UK investment firms, that silence is a missed opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
The ‘too risky to provide them’ thought process needs a rethink.
Geopolitics is a big part of investments – commenting during political turmoil will not damage a brand.
Investment firms spend considerable resources understanding geopolitical risk.
Analysts model scenario outcomes. Portfolio managers adjust exposures. Risk teams stress-test against tail events. This expertise is genuine and substantial. When firms don’t share any of it with the press, that knowledge stays entirely internal – useful to clients, invisible to everyone else.
The press will fill the gap regardless – investment firms are missing a golden opportunity to highlight their expertise and convictions.
The public conversation about what a geopolitical event means for markets, economies, or specific sectors gets shaped by whoever is willing to engage. Firms that stay silent concede that space by default.
There is also a straightforward matter of credibility.
An investment firm that offers clear, considered analysis during a crisis builds a reputation for intellectual genuineness. Over time, that matters – to potential clients, to competitors, and to talent who want to work somewhere that contributes meaningfully to the public discourse.
“We might get it wrong. It may damage our brand.”
This is the real issue, but it applies equally to every form of client communication. Firms already issue research notes, market outlooks, and economic forecasts to their clients and partners. The standard for press commentary isn’t certainty – it’s informed, qualified analysis.
Journalists understand that geopolitical situations are fluid. Firms can say “based on current information, the most likely market impact appears to be X, though this could change significantly if Y occurs”.
A lot of firms hide behind compliance. Compliance teams are right to flag risks, but the framing of geopolitical commentary is typically different from stock-specific recommendations.
A general view on something like “rising energy costs from a conflict might impact European equities broadly” is not the same as a specific buy or sell recommendation.
In my view, the most valuable commentaries from investment professionals tend to share certain characteristics.
The spokespeople that distinguish between short-term market reactions and longer-term structural shifts are the ones that are listened to and quoted by journalists.
One big important issue is time.
An untimely comment in a journalist’s inbox, however, is a cardinal sin for a PR. Companies need to be quick – there is no time to be dilly dallying around when planning to comment on a matter which is fast moving.
Lastly, firms also do not need to comment on everything. But they should speak when they have something substantive to add. More people may want to read it than you may think.
The UK investment industry manages a substantial share of public and private wealth. The decisions it makes, and the frameworks it uses to make them, have real consequences for millions of people. Participating thoughtfully in public discourse about the geopolitical forces that shape those decisions is not a distraction from the core business. It is part of what it means to be a serious institution in a complex world.
The reporters covering these stories are asking the right questions. Investment firms should be willing to answer them.
Robbie Lawther is an Account Director at Quill PR
The question of trust, which I wrote about in a previous blog is becoming more important by the day.
Recent analysis from two companies, Unicepta and Muck Rack, which landed in our inbox shows the extent to which external sources and narratives are driving people’s views of companies.
Unicepta found that in over 90% of its analyses1, the way in which companies are represented in AI systems is largely driven by external sources and narratives.
Similarly, Muck Rack analysed more than 1 million links from AI responses2 and found that non-paid media accounts for about 94% of links cited; the majority of which come from journalistic sources. Earned media (non-paid journalistic coverage) forms about 25% of all citations.
So naturally I wanted to ask my new best friend, ChatGPT, what it thought about all this. I asked how many of its own citations are driven by journalistic sources, and it said: “journalistic sources typically account for somewhere between ~20% and ~47% of AI citations, depending on the study, query type and methodology.”
You could surmise that this is because journalist-generated copy is trusted. Journalists – and publications’ sub-editors – are a reliable third-party voice when it comes to facts. Facts have been checked, sources verified. The element of trust is there.
This is important for any brand because people are increasingly starting to switch their search activity from traditional search engines towards AI models3 – a trend which is set to gather speed exponentially if my own search use is anything to go by. Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is usurping SEO when it comes to search.
Clearly this shift will have implications for companies who want to raise their visibility. Credible media coverage will be more important than ever if you want your company to be considered or even discovered by audiences.
Quill PR has been helping clients raise their profile via earned coverage for over a quarter of a century now, and we understand how positive media coverage can help businesses meet their objectives. The importance of this type of exposure looks set to grow exponentially over the coming months.
Chat GPT then helpfully offered me a ready-made quote I could use in my blog. Thanks friend!
“Roughly a quarter of AI-generated citations now come from journalistic sources, rising to nearly half for time-sensitive queries such as markets and regulation. For UK financial services firms, that reinforces a familiar truth: authoritative, earned media coverage isn’t just shaping reputation — it’s increasingly shaping how AI systems interpret credibility and surface information to investors.”
Emma Murphy is a Director at Quill PR
1. source UNICEPTA: GEO – Generative Engine Optimization for AI Search Visibility
2. source What Is AI Reading? December 2025 [Final]
3. source 37% of consumers start searches with AI instead of Google: Study
🏆We’re delighted to share that, for the third year in a row, Quill PR has been shortlisted for Communications & PR Agency of the Year 2026 at the upcoming Citywealth Brand and Marketing Awards.
This recognition means a great deal to our team and reflects the passion, commitment and expertise we bring to our work every day.
As always, we’re incredibly grateful to our fantastic clients – collaboration and support are at the heart of everything we do.
Thank you to Citywealth for the nomination, and congratulations to all the other nominees!
The low cost, transparency and liquidity of ETFs with the outperformance potential of an actively managed strategy, has led to a surge in their popularity amongst investors, leading some to realise the uncomfortable reality that the traditional investment trust model is under severe pressure from structural changes in the market.
Changing Landscape
Investment trusts once served a clear purpose. They provided access to illiquid markets, allowed patient capital deployment without redemption pressures, and offered a closed-end structure that made sense when macro-economic developments caused market volatility and could trigger devastating outflows from open-ended funds. But the competitive environment has fundamentally shifted.
The emergence of low-cost ETFs has altered the calculus dramatically. An investor can now buy broad beta for roughly 25 basis points, compared to 100 basis points or more for actively managed trusts. When a traditional trust runs 60-plus holdings, it essentially offers actively managed beta and beta can be bought far more cheaply elsewhere.
The mathematics are stark. A diversified portfolio might outperform by 50 to 100 basis points annually, but after fees, the net value proposition becomes questionable. Investors can achieve similar exposure through passive products with dramatically lower costs and perfect liquidity.
High conviction
This reality is forcing a fundamental reconceptualisation across the industry. Investment trusts that want to remain relevant are moving aggressively toward high conviction portfolios typically 30 to 40 names or fewer. This isn’t a marginal adjustment; it represents a complete rethinking of what active management means.
High conviction portfolios create genuine differentiation from passive alternatives, but they cut both ways. A concentrated portfolio that makes correct calls can significantly outperform. But mistakes show up clearly in returns.
There’s no hiding in a 70-name portfolio anymore. Every position matters, and this level of accountability, while uncomfortable, is what the market demands from active managers.
Structural Advantages and Disadvantages
The closed-end structure does provide one genuine advantage: trusts aren’t forced sellers during market stress. When market volatility spikes and sentiment turns negative, open-ended funds face redemptions that force managers to sell their best ideas at the worst prices. A trust structure can maintain conviction and wait for markets to stabilise.
This matters particularly with certain markets, like emerging markets, which are inherently cyclical and prone to sentiment-driven volatility. Being able to look through volatile periods without forced selling has value, though not enough to justify the structure alone.
However, this advantage comes with a significant cost: discounts to net asset value (NAV). When sentiment sours, the share price can trade significantly below underlying asset value.
This creates a dual-layer problem not only does the NAV need to perform, but the discount needs to narrow for share price returns to match. Open-ended funds don’t face this issue.
Specialisation as differentiation
Even within the investment trust universe, specialisation matters. Investment trusts with a broader universe compete primarily on manager skill and track record, directly competing with ETFs.
More focused sector trusts – whether on specific markets, regions or countries – compete on offering expertise and access that passive products don’t provide.
This creates a natural hierarchy. The more specialised and niche the focus, the stronger the case for the trust structure, assuming the manager delivers the promised expertise.
The broader and more benchmark-like the approach, the harder it becomes to justify the structure and fees against passive alternatives.
Future
For investment trusts to remain relevant in, several shifts are necessary:
To find out more about the Investment Trust sector, and the challenges it faces, check out the Missing Lever: A Blueprint Beyond Buybacks
Robbie Lawther and McKinley Sadler are Account Director and Account Manager at Quill PR.
But is this a good thing? The amount of consolidation and the array of acquirers have reshaped what “independent” means in financial planning. The question some ask is whether the FCA is doing enough to protect the very concept of independence that sits at the heart of consumer trust.
An Independent Financial Adviser must consider all retail investment products from the entire market. They’re supposed to be free from conflicts, unshackled from product provider incentives, working purely in the client’s interest. It’s a noble ideal.
But does it survive when small IFA practices are absorbed into large consolidator groups?
Advice consolidators are building scale. But some argue that sometimes this is at the cost of the client. Others ask whether firms that own advice companies be allowed to own an investment arm? Does this create a conflict of interest?
Now, the FCA would argue they’ve got this covered. Regulatory permissions remain. Supervision continues. Firms must still demonstrate independence in their investment selection processes. But a fair question is whether ‘box-ticking’ compliance is enough when the entire commercial infrastructure surrounding advice has fundamentally changed.
Consider what independence meant fifteen years ago: a small firm, perhaps two or three advisers, deeply embedded in their community, their reputation their most valuable asset.
Now compare that with a consolidator managing two hundred advisers across multiple brands. The incentive structures are different. The accountability is different. The relationship between adviser and client, mediated through corporate structures and centralised investment propositions, is fundamentally different.
The consolidators, naturally, push back. They argue they bring benefits: better technology, more robust compliance, access to institutional pricing, career progression for advisers. These aren’t trivial advantages. Small firms struggled with regulatory burden; many sold precisely because they couldn’t sustain the cost of compliance. Consolidation has, in some ways, professionalised the industry.
But professionalisation and independence aren’t synonymous. In fact, they may increasingly be in tension. As firms become larger and more sophisticated, they may develop preferred panel arrangements, centralised research functions, and house views on asset allocation. All perfectly legitimate. But each step moves further from the founding principle: one adviser, one client, whole of market.
What should the FCA do? At a minimum, greater transparency. If you’re seeing an adviser whose firm is owned by a consolidator, you should know it. The ownership structure, the commercial pressures, the extent to which investment selection is genuinely independent or guided by central direction – all of this should be front and centre in client communications.
More radically, perhaps it’s time to revisit what “independent” means in an era of consolidation. Should there be limits on the size of firms claiming independence? Should there be stricter separation between advice and centralised investment management?
The stakes are high. Independence isn’t just regulatory semantics – it’s the foundation of consumer trust in financial advice. If that trust erodes because independence becomes a convenient label rather than a lived reality, the damage could extend far beyond individual firms. The FCA has the tools. The question is whether they have the will.
Robbie Lawther is Account Director at Quill PR.
Quill PR team, 2025.
Tell us about your company, services and specialisms
We are a boutique agency specialising in media relations and strategic communications for the investment, wealth management and financial advice industry, as well as PR and investor relations for investment trusts.
Which financial services clients do you currently work with?
We only work with financial services firms and our clients range from large asset managers, wealth managers, investment trusts and investment industry bodies to smaller boutique and start-up businesses. Our asset management clients cover the gamut from private equity and real assets to listed funds covering all and every type of asset class.
Who is on your team?
We are a close-knit senior team with a variety of industry backgrounds, plus some Rising Stars (as nominated by Headlinemoney!)
What’s the best way to get in contact with your team?
Email or telephone/mobile is the easiest way to get hold of any of us. Or just pop in to our offices for a coffee.
How long does it take you to turn around requests?
We always aim to turn around requests within the deadlines we are given, even if they are within a few hours.
What kind of resources do you have at your disposal – e.g. spokespeople, case studies etc
We have some excellent fund manager, wealth manager and distribution experts who are always happy to help, diaries permitting. We can cover almost any asset class, as well as comment on tax and planning through our wealth clients. We have some real characters among our client base as well, as many of your journalist readers can probably attest to!
Tell us about any recent press campaigns you have worked on
Quill is currently working on a major investment trust campaign alongside agencies, Hub and Warhorse. Called “The Missing Lever”, the campaign looks to help investment trusts take a broader view to help shrink discounts, reduce the amount of buybacks and organically grow their company. This includes an industry-led campaign, making full use of marketing and PR to reach a wider audience of potential investors. Quill, Hub and Warhorse launched the campaign with a documentary screening featuring luminaries of the investment trust world and drinks at the London Stock Exchange in September.
Congratulations on your success at the 2025 Headlinemoney Awards! How did you feel when you were announced as PR Agency of Year?
Regrettably, I was away when the awards happened but judging by the number of excited messages I received during the evening, I would say the team were overjoyed.
Any upcoming events for the financial press in the next few months?
We will be continuing with The Missing Lever investment trust campaign and hoping to speak to as many investment trusts as we can. The first of a series of regular roundtables is starting on 14 October.
Quite a few of our clients will be hosting 2026 outlook breakfasts and lunches over the next few weeks, and our clients often host popular journalist masterclasses on more complex financial services topics which could use a little extra explanation.
We’re more than happy to arrange meetings with… CEOs, spokespeople, star managers, etc
Our clients would love to meet any journalists in the investment, wealth and advice space (and frequently do), so please do get in touch.
Do you have any upcoming stories for journalists to look out for?
2026 outlooks and, of course, the Budget! Plus, some exciting new fund launches, private equity fund closes, roundtables and lots more!
And finally, anything else you would like to bring to the attention of financial journalists?
I know many claim it, but Quill really is a one-stop shop for anything and everything investment-related, and we pride ourselves on our responsiveness and helpfulness in our dealings with journalist colleagues.
This article was originally published on HeadlineMoney.co.uk
With insights from our emerging markets-focused clients, Quill PR explores how the reported fading of American Exceptionalism is driving interest in emerging markets for diversification and where some investment managers are finding standout opportunities.
The End of American Exceptionalism
American exceptionalism is the idea that the U.S. is distinctive in its economy and financial markets compared to other nations. Because of its efficient capital markets, innovative technology sector, and the way U.S. stocks and bonds appeared to decouple from other global assets in recent decades, many investors saw the U.S. as a safe bet.
However, this changed when Donald Trump was re-elected to serve his second term as President of the U.S. The fear of potential tariffs, which was brought to life on Liberation Day, set the global markets on fire and caused the U.S. Stock Market to take a significant blow.
These events have marked, what many consider, the decline of ‘American exceptionalism’. Since then, many investors have renewed their focus to emerging markets, which trade at a significant discount to the S&P 500 index and represent less than a fifth of the market size of the S&P 500. To add to this, some investment managers have seen the weakening of the U.S. dollar in recent months to be a powerful tailwind for emerging market equities.
As Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, said at Mansion House on 15 July: “To say that the state of the global economy and the impact of tariff announcements is in the news and significant is an understatement. The shifts we have witnessed – and continue to witness – mark a generational change in the system of trade amongst nations.”
What Are Emerging Markets and Why Do They Matter?
Emerging markets are described as economies in transition from developing to developed. Some notable emerging market economies include India, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. Even China is sometimes considered an emerging market economy despite being the world’s second largest economy.
Although these countries, and many other emerging market economies, demonstrate flashes of developed-world sophistication, they still have lower income levels, less mature infrastructure, and are more prone to political and regulatory volatility than their developed counterparts. This leads to higher risk but also presents a significant upside for investors with a long-term perspective.
What makes emerging markets particularly interesting is their growth potential. It is fuelled by favourable demographics, abundant natural resources, and a growing wave of innovation thanks to the younger population present in emerging market economies.
In particular, innovation is evident in many sectors across emerging markets, but it is the technology space that stands out. Emerging markets have some of the most advanced semiconductor foundry in the world, such as the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produce leading-edge AI server processors for Nvidia, Apple, and Broadcom. It is also worth noting that many of the assemblers of these AI servers are also companies that reside in emerging market regions, such as Taiwanese manufacturer Quanta Computer and China’s Huawei.
Because emerging markets have received less attention from global investors in recent years, they’re home to many good quality companies that trade at attractive valuations and offer opportunities that are harder to come by in developed economies. Within emerging market economies, there is a strong domestic focus, rather than a global exports focus, which provides a level of protection from macroeconomic events that the developed economies don’t have. This spreads the risk in an investor’s portfolio.
The Contending Regions of Emerging Markets
Eastern Europe
Adnan El-Araby, Co-Portfolio Manager of Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities, comments: “Many people associate emerging markets (EM) primarily with Asia or Latin America. But there is also a swathe of compelling and fast-growing economies in EM CEEMEA. This reason is increasingly catching the eye of investors as its economic fundamentals steadily strengthen despite lingering political risks and fallout from the Ukraine conflict. Countries like Poland, Greece, and Turkey are defying expectations.
“Poland in particular stands out with a GDP per capita that now rivals Japan’s, and is propelled by rising incomes, the return of skilled diaspora bringing capital and expertise, and a strong export focus on the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. Poland’s banking sector’s resurgence is driven by a “higher-for-longer” interest rate environment. With floating-rate loan books and strong deposit bases, banks are enjoying wider net interest margins and high returns on equity. A political shift in late 2023 unlocked substantial EU recovery funds, which are now flowing into infrastructure, green energy, and digital transformation—boosting domestic consumption and credit demand.
“Greek banks have emerged from years of restructuring as leaner, more profitable institutions, with rising interest income, improved fee generation, and significantly reduced non-performing loans. Greece’s return to investment-grade status and its potential reclassification as a developed market have reignited foreign investor interest. With the country regaining its investment-grade status, and its banking sector significantly improved, institutions are now profitable and well-capitalised. Tourism and real estate is also booming, underpinned by ambitious development projects.
“Additionally, Turkey, long viewed as a volatile market, is showing signs of stabilisation. After years of unorthodox monetary policy, the central bank has returned to more conventional approaches, and inflation is beginning to moderate. With these factors, we can see that there are genuine investment opportunities among Turkish stocks. The country’s export-driven industries, robust tourism sector, and well-capitalised banking system are drawing investor interest.”
Middle East
Alay Patel, Co-Portfolio Manager of Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities, added: “The Middle East stands out in emerging markets with its robust outlook, underpinned by resilient economic fundamentals and relative immunity to U.S. trade tariffs. What has caught the eyes for many investors are the countries that boast of strong sovereign balance sheets, ongoing reforms, and a clear drive toward economic diversification.
“Saudi Arabia continues to lead the region’s transformation with its Vision 2030 agenda, rapidly advancing non-oil sectors through ambitious projects and tourism initiatives, although fiscal discipline remains crucial amid elevated spending and the need to manage oil price fluctuations.
“The United Arab Emirates is a regional powerhouse for economic diversification and global integration, with dynamic growth in real estate, tourism, logistics, and financial services. Dubai’s burgeoning population and Abu Dhabi’s rising influence in energy and technology further bolster the outlook, supported by a low fiscal break-even oil price. The UAE’s real estate sector has been a standout performer over the past year, reflecting a deliberate transformation of the country’s social and economic landscape. Structural reforms—such as the introduction of the Golden Visa and long-term residency programs—have made property ownership more accessible and attractive, encouraging investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals to settle long-term. This has driven a surge in population growth, particularly in Dubai, which surpassed 3.9 million residents in early 2025. The financial sector has also benefited, supported by the real estate boom and the international expansion of UAE banks.
“Meanwhile, Qatar is entering a new phase of LNG[1]-driven expansion, maintaining one of the region’s strongest fiscal positions, and investing in smart infrastructure and diversified industry. Its growing economic ties with China and India strengthen Qatar’s prospects for long-term resilience.”
China
Edmund Harriss, Director, CIO and head of Asian & Emerging Market investments at Guinness Global Investors, commented: “Within China, we believe that there is a good underlying story for the nation in the long-term, which is why we are overweight in in our Asian and EM strategies. Many market participants are still sceptical, which means that Chinese stock valuations are still low.
“Therefore, we look for companies that have been growing earnings and cash flows over the last 8 to 10 years and continue to do so. We call these ‘quality’ companies, because if they have maintained profitability during difficult conditions since 2020, they are likely to continue to do so as China’s domestic economy picks up. They are available at low valuations which incorporate very little future growth. We find them in Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary; in household goods, video games, health care, and financial services.”
How protected are these regions/countries against US tariffs and other global macro events?
Alay Patel, Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities, adds: “Protection from global macro risks like U.S. tariffs and geopolitical tensions varies across EMEA.
“Turkey has faced U.S. tariffs—particularly on metals—and continues to navigate regional tensions and currency volatility. While it’s working to diversify its economy and trade relationships, vulnerabilities remain. Poland, by contrast, benefits from EU membership, which offers collective protection through trade agreements. Its diversified industrial base and close ties to Germany’s manufacturing sector provide both insulation and exposure. Greece, though more economically fragile, also enjoys EU protections and is less reliant on U.S. exports, with its economy driven more by services, tourism, and intra-EU trade.
“In the Gulf, countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar are relatively insulated. Their vast sovereign wealth, strategic energy exports, and close ties with the U.S. offer informal protection from direct tariffs. However, they remain sensitive to oil price fluctuations and regional geopolitical dynamics.
“South Africa presents a mixed picture. It has been affected by U.S. tariffs, particularly in steel, and faces broader challenges tied to commodity dependence, domestic instability, and energy supply issues. While it maintains diverse trade relationships, it lacks the formal protections of larger economic blocs.”
Edmund Harriss, Guinness Global Investors, explains: “We observe from the initial tariff salvos that both the US and China can do significant harm to one another. Each holds negotiating cards that reflect both their scale and access to specialised products or commodities that the other needs.
“The impact of existing tariffs hurts some but by no means all businesses in China. We can see that in less specialised manufactured goods, conditions for Chinese companies exporting to the US have deteriorated, and businesses here are suffering. But over the long-term, we can see new industries, such as renewable energy equipment, EVs, batteries, industrial automation, semiconductors, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing, reach a scale that can provide growth to replace that of the defunct property sector.
“In the short term, we see the redirection of China’s export manufacturing, both of supply chains and market destinations play out; Chinese exports to the US are slowing but are more than offset by growth to the EU, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Chinese trade is growing; not to the US, but still growing overall.”
How do emerging market valuations compare to developed markets, and what does this mean for expected returns?
Alay Patel, Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities, comments: “Emerging Markets are increasingly appealing to investors seeking higher growth and stronger diversification. These economies tend to have younger populations, expanding middle classes, and faster GDP growth than their developed counterparts. Their performance often diverges from developed markets, helping to reduce overall portfolio volatility. Additionally, exposure to different currencies, political systems, and economic cycles adds a layer of resilience against global shocks.
“Emerging market assets continue to trade at a significant discount to developed markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is valued at around 13x forward earnings, compared to 22x for the S&P 500. The MSCI EMEA Index is even cheaper, at just 11x. While this valuation gap reflects the additional risks associated with emerging markets—such as political instability, regulatory opacity, and currency volatility—it also presents an opportunity for higher long-term returns. If reform momentum continues and institutional quality improves, capital flows could accelerate, narrowing the valuation gap and rewarding early investors willing to navigate short-term volatility.”
Edmund Harriss, Guinness Global Investors, adds: “In terms of valuations of China, we view the nation as a manufacturer with a scale that few can match, serving markets beyond that of the US. It has moved beyond low-cost manufacturing into specialised areas in which its unique research and development approach has translated into sector dominance such as 5G, EVs, battery technology, renewable energy, and – notably – DeepSeek. Jockeying over trade with the US creates meaningful disturbances in the short term, but we already see the response in terms of diversification of products and markets.
“Chinese stocks would be exposed if they were expensive, as uncertainty compresses valuations. But they are cheap, with valuations close to their ‘intrinsic’ levels – that is, the present value of existing cash flow generation. We are overweight China and believe that with the range of investment options, the underpinnings for sustainable growth over the next 5-10 years, and current valuations, this is a significant opportunity.”
[1] Liquefied Natural Gas
Feature image courtesy of Pexels
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Quill PR has been named PR Agency of the Year at the 2025 Headlinemoney Awards!
Image courtesy of Headlinemoney
This award is one of the most prestigious in financial journalism and communications, and we are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from such a respected institution. It reflects not only the hard work, creativity and dedication of our team but also the trust and collaboration of the journalists, editors and clients we work with every day.
The Headlinemoney Awards celebrate the best in UK financial journalism and PR, with winners selected by a panel of judges and voted for by financial journalists. To be recognised among such exceptional talent in the industry is a true honour.
A huge thank you to our fantastic clients who give us the opportunity to tell compelling stories, and to the journalists who engage with our work so thoughtfully.
We remain as committed as ever to delivering intelligent, honest and effective financial communications.
We’re excited for what’s to come next!
Currently the news is awash with untruthful exploits where misinformation, exaggeration, downright lies and cover-ups have been exposed. While the truth might have been painful or embarrassing originally, the fallout from exposed lies is always 100 times worse.
Image courtesy of Pexels
The Observer’s recent outing of the alleged untruths in the book ‘The Salt Path’ was staggering to read, and made headlines across multiple media outlets, thanks in part to the premiere of the film based on the book. The protagonists, who had built a sympathetic and loyal following of readers due to their resilience in the face of adversity, were alleged to not only be untruthful, but in the author’s case potentially criminal.
Another key story last week was the publication of the report into the Horizon Post Office scandal, which outlined some of the awful impacts the scandal had had on those involved, including the suicide of at least 13 people. This intensely sad part of this story is just the tip of an iceberg of tragedy which has affected so many, and still lingers on, with hesitation and obfuscation surrounding payouts to victims.
Again, this story started with something going wrong (at a corporate level this time), but instead of facing the embarrassment of a mistake, taking the financial hit and taking responsibility, it was decided to not only lie about the nature of the problems, but also to lay the blame at the feet of innocent people. As the report pointed out, the bosses at the Post Office “maintained the fiction that its data was always accurate.”
The price of what would have been a costly mistake several years ago is now exponentially higher, but moreover, lives have been ruined and lost.
When lies are told, or covered up, the repercussions can be terrible, financially and on people’s lives. And deservedly, reputations can be completely destroyed.
Recent exposure by the Press Gazette into fake commentators and fake case studies underlines the importance of integrity and trust in the PR and media industry too.
Reputations are hard-won and easily lost, and when all is said and done an organisation’s or an individual’s reputation is one of its key assets, with the potential to make or break. Integrity is critical.
Emma Murphy is a Director at Quill PR.
This new category for 2025 at the esteemed Fund Manager of the Year Awards recognises excellence in communications and marketing within the asset and wealth management industry – and we’re honoured to be its first ever recipient, among a very strong field of peers.
The judges commented that Quill PR “impressed the judges by providing solid evidence of the impact of its work, including communications support for major M&A deals, and multiple client endorsements.”
To have our results-driven approach and strategic impact highlighted in this way is a very proud moment for our team.
Images courtesy of Investment Week
At Quill PR, we strive to be more than just a service provider. We aim to be true partners to our clients – working closely with them to shape narratives, navigate critical moments, and build lasting reputations in an increasingly complex communications environment.
We extend our sincere thanks to our clients for placing their trust in us, and for allowing us to play a role in their continued success. Their endorsements, and the strength of those partnerships, were instrumental in this recognition.
We’re also grateful to Investment Week and the awards judges for acknowledging our work in such a meaningful way. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.