The Citywealth Brand & Marketing Awards 2026 celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations shaping how the wealth management and professional services industries communicate, engage and build trust. The event was hosted by Rebecca Jones, BBC journalist. On hand to collect the trophy was Quill Account Director, Robbie Lawther.
The judges recognised that Quill PR has built one of the strongest reputations in financial services communications.
They noted: “Specialising exclusively in wealth and asset management, the agency helps clients raise their profile, strengthen their reputation, and communicate effectively with investors, advisers and the financial media. Combining specialist expertise with deep sector relationships, Quill continues to demonstrate the value of high-quality communications in an increasingly competitive market. For its contribution to the wealth and investment industry, Quill PR receives the Gold Award.”
We are delighted to announce that Quill PR has been named Marketing & PR Partner of the Year at the Investment Week Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2026, for the second consecutive year.
Retaining this prestigious title is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication, expertise and passion of our team, as well as the trust and support of our valued clients. The award recognises excellence in communications and marketing support for the asset and wealth management industry, celebrating firms that deliver measurable impact and outstanding client service.
Over the past year, we have continued to help clients build their profiles, navigate complex market developments, support major corporate activity and engage effectively with key stakeholders across the financial services sector. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering strategic, results-driven communications that make a difference.
We would like to thank our clients for their continued partnership and confidence in our team.
We are also grateful to Investment Week and the judging panel for this recognition, and we congratulate all the winners and shortlisted firms.
Two years in a row is a milestone we are incredibly proud of and we look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.
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