What do you enjoy the most about working at Spreckley?
What don’t I enjoy about working at Spreckley?
No but seriously, I love that there’s a lot of room for new ideas here. You can take an idea for a new campaign or piece of content and run with it. It feels that we’re encouraged to be proactive and on the whole our clients are generally accepting of it.
How did you hear about Spreckley and why did you want to join?
I previously worked with Lawrence at a different agency and he convinced me to join after some excessive nagging. He left to join Spreckley and proceeded to say nothing but good things about it for two and a half years.
I actually first met Richard at Lawrence’s engagement party a few years ago now and then again at the wedding. There wasn’t much work chat on either occasion though and I played hard to get for a while.
Then I heard that Spreckley were taking on some new energy clients which I have a lot of experience in from my previous role and I finally gave in.
What’s been the most exciting PR campaign you’ve worked on and why?
We recently announced the approval of a new data centre project up in Scotland and achieved coverage across a host of nationals including the BBC and The I.
It’s rare to have a project that makes such a tangible difference to the local area. And that was just announcing the planning proposal, so hopefully there is a lot more still to come from that campaign.
What was your first job?
I had a three-year stint at my local One Stop in the village where I grew up in between college and university. It was in Hartley Witney in rural Hampshire where the only skills you need to get a job are a) be younger than 50 and b) be able to lift heavy things.
It was fairly repetitive and we mainly just sold newspapers and Red Bull. Everyone should be forced to do a year in retail. Dealing with the general public is certainly a unique challenge.
If you weren’t in PR, what would you be doing instead?
I’ve always liked the idea of opening a swanky cocktail bar. I’m imagining dark oak panels, velvet sofas and a lot of smooth jazz. In reality, it’s probably a lot of long nights making little to no money. But it’s a nice thought. It would be nothing like a Simmons. The opposite of a Simmons.
I studied media and comms at university so I was probably destined to end up in PR instead.
Tell us one thing about you that surprises people?
Not to toot my own trumpet but I think I’m a pretty good cook. I’m often the designated chef at my girlfriend’s dinner parties. She’ll invite friends round and I’ll be told that I’m cooking.
I always like trying something new. I’ll often do a curry of some sort or a mushroom ragu. We’re doing a Mexican night soon. I’ve been practising my salsas recently. There’s a lot more variety in salsa than you’d think. You ask 1000 different people their salsa verde recipe and you’ll get 1000 different answers.
I also originally wanted to work in film. I spent so much money on film gear when I was at college and gave it a good go but quickly realised I had made nothing of worth and it wasn’t much of a route into the industry. Maybe there’s a still screenplay in me somewhere.
What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?
A part of me hates that this is my answer but it’s cycling. It started just as a convenient way to commute to work and has evolved into a full-blown hobby.
It’s a good way to see a lot of London. I like a walk but you can cover much further on the bike. I’m a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) but without the middle-aged part.
Who had the most influence on you growing up?
In my late teens, I’d say David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. He was very wacky and before his time.
It made me realise that you don’t have to conform to expectations to make a living. At 27 it’s not a particularly groundbreaking thought but at 18 it kind of blew my mind. He made a career of being authentically himself.
Remaining Light is one of my favourite albums.
What’s your go-to lunch on Leather Lane?
I swore when I joined Spreckley that I’d try everything along Leather Lane but I’m such a creature of habit. Now it’s always one of two spots:
Either Daddy Donkey’s Mexican grill – terrible name but great burrito bowl.
Or Maoz for falafel. I’ve tried my fair share of falafel along Leather Lane and I’d say it’s definitely the best. You can tell those guys really love falafel.
What’s something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?
My group of friends have sworn that we’ll do a big cycling trip soon. Something like London to Paris or the Hebridean Way.
Maybe even Land’s End to John o’Groats though that takes two weeks and I can’t bring myself to give up two weeks of annual leave just to spend it cycling in the rain.
Favourite quote
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” – Unknown.