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Press coverage: The rhubarb renaissance

It’s great to see our client Place UK singing the praises of the delicious and versatile rhubarb. We loved working on this wonderful article with KL Magazine.

Rhubarb is having something of a renaissance right now; from meals to air fresheners, you can find more than 30 products in the shop containing rhubarb ingredients.

And at the pulse of this resurgence is Place UK, who have been cultivating outdoor rhubarb for more than 50 years. In fact, since adding forced rhubarb production to its portfolio 15 years ago, the leading grower now produces 600 tonnes of rhubarb a year, bringing a taste of Norfolk rhubarb to plates and palettes nationwide, year-round.

So, Place UK’s head of fresh, Dan Yordanov, and senior NPD technologist, Lucy Halliday, were the perfect choice to explain to writer Ellie Senior what it takes to grow the nostalgic vegetable (yes, it’s actually a vegetable!) and their favourite sweet and savoury rhubarb recipes.

This lovely article shows that simply being open to requests for your expert knowledge and advice can lead to new media opportunities, build relationships with journalists, and, importantly, reinforce your position as an expert in your field.

You’ll find the article in KL Magazine’s March/April edition, available here: T Past Editions | KL Magazine 

Thank you to KL Magazine for giving permission to share the article.

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Pippa Lain-Smith becomes Norfolk Ambassador

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Stephanie Callen, PR Expert

Steph began her career in communications almost 20 years ago as a journalist on local newspapers in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Every day involved meeting new people and writing about a diverse mix of topics, which gave Steph a real appreciation for the issues that affect people across the region and honed her ability to build trusted relationships.

When she left journalism to pursue roles in PR, Steph took her news instincts with her and has achieved valuable media coverage for organisations from a varied range of industries, including healthcare, education, housing and animal welfare.

Steph, a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, now brings her eclectic experience to Plain Speaking PR as a freelance consultant, supporting clients with bespoke copywriting, research and media pitching.

Outside of work, Steph enjoys family days out with her young daughter, cuddles with her rescue cat Clarence, a good thriller on the telly, and the – albeit occasional – run.

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Hannah Freeman, Client Services Director

Hannah is our client services director and has been with the business since 2018. Pippa’s right-hand woman, she’s responsible for overseeing accounts, managing client agency relationships, and making sure we’re delivering a professional PR service that delivers real value, contributing to objectives and goals.

Working in PR and communications since graduating (let’s not count the years!) Hannah has worked in PR for 15+ years, mostly spent agency side, advising clients in a diverse range of sectors, spanning tourism, hospitality, B2B services, waste and recycling, public sector, retail, and charities. She completed the CIPR Diploma in 2010.

Hannah brings in-house experience too, having worked as a PR and communications officer for one of the UK’s largest social housing groups for 18 months. She gets what it’s like to be the client, understanding the challenges and demands of this role.

Outside of work, Hannah walks, lifts weights, occasionally paddleboards, tries to keep plants alive and watches Schitt’s Creek on repeat. Mum to two busy, sporty girls, she’s also their PA. In summer, an outdoor dip at Beccles Lido is her no.1 spot to enjoy time out.

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Pippa Lain-Smith, Managing Director

Pippa is the founder and managing director of Plain Speaking PR and has worked within the communications sector for more than 25 years. Having worked on both client and agency side, Pippa is passionate about her job and will talk until she’s blue in the face about the value professional PR can bring to businesses and communities.

Whilst the Plain Speaking PR agency name derives from her maiden name, Pippa is a firm believer in a plain speaking, straight-talking approach to communications, with minimal jargon and maximum results. She’s proud to have helped many organisations navigate communications surrounding complex and sensitive issues; often during times of change or crisis.

In her spare time, Pippa enjoys attempting to keep fit, writing beauty articles for regional magazines and newspapers, enjoying the best of Norfolk’s food and drink, and planning her next holiday to Greece. She also supports a number of local charities and social enterprises including Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing.

Pippa is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.