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Four new APPC members
14 May 2007
APPC welcomes four new members
The APPC is delighted to welcome another four new members into its membership. This brings the total membership of the APPC to an unprecedented 47 firms with more potential members on their way. The new members are Butler Kelly Ltd, Cogitamus Ltd, Insight Public Affairs and Political Intelligence Ltd.
Butler Kelly was founded in 1998 by Chris Butler, former Conservative MP for Warrington South and special adviser in the Welsh Office, and Phil Kelly, former editor of Tribune and a Labour councillor in Islington. Its clients include rolling-stock company Angel Trains, Calor Gas, property company Mapeley, Saga, Schering-Plough and Thames Water.
Phil Kelly said “We have always supported the APPC’s Code of Conduct. It’s clear that the rights and responsibilities of professional lobbyists will come under growing scrutiny. We look forward to working with other APPC members to ensure that the industry’s contribution to democratic politics is recognised.”
Cogitamus is a new agency, founded in January 2007, with four consultants based around the UK. Both Mark Walker and Illiam Costain McCade worked within other APPC member firms until last year, Illiam having been chair of APPC in Scotland. The primary focus of Cogitamus is on public affairs – particularly in transport and environmental issues – fused with public relations counsel to deliver extended campaign reach and impact across political and consumer audiences.
Mark Walker, Director of Cogitamus, said “We are delighted to have joined the APPC as we believe that a strong, well-supported and representative body for the public affairs industry is essential not only to the maintenance of exemplary standards and best practice, but to the credibility and reach of our profession.”
Insight Public Affairs was established in January 2006 by John Lehal, a consultant with a decade’s experience of parliament and political consultancy. Since its launch, the agency has grown into a seven-strong agency. Insight’s diverse client base includes global companies, national charities and local organisations. The agency specialises in government relations, political campaigning and media relations.
John Lehal said “I am delighted that Insight Public Affairs is now a member of the APPC. Insight operates to the highest standards of propriety and good practice and we look forward to continuing to do so as a member of the APPC – the industry’s kitemark of excellence. The public affairs industry bears a responsibility to the entire political community to act within the industry’s rules – and to adhere to the spirit of those rules. That’s why the APPC is so crucial to the functioning of the public affairs industry and why I am so pleased that our application has been accepted.”
Political Intelligence was founded in 1995 and now employs over 25 consultants across its three offices in London, Madrid and Brussels. It offers a full range of public affairs services and has particular experience in the healthcare, ICT, transport, utilities and financial services sectors.
Nicholas Lansman, Group Managing Director, said “In the 12 years that we’ve been operating in the UK, Political Intelligence has always sought to offer public affairs advice based on the highest stadnards of ethical conduct. Such is the growing membership and reputation of APPC that we felt it was only appropriate to make public our full endorsement of its Code and commitment to promoting professional standards amongst the industry.”
APPC Chair, Gill Morris, said “It is brilliant that the APPC has accepted these four companies into its membership. We are well on our way to 50 members and I am very confident that my personal target will be met rather sooner than I anticipated. The APPC is clearly going from strength to strength and I could not be more pleased with the spectrum and quality of members we have on board. As always, I would urge any agency who is currently not an APPC member to consider the benefits and to come and join us.”