About the festival

A global community for PR and communication pros

PRFest’s mission is to help speed up the modernisation of the industry and drive up professional standards by offering opportunities to learn new skills, share our experiences and opinions and being an open and welcoming community for anyone to join and collaborate.

“By helping create more diverse practitioners in terms of people, thinking and skills, PRFest can benefit the organisations and societies in which they are involved”

PRFest started as a two-day public relations festival designed by Laura Sutherland, who runs Aura, a senior communication and business advisory, specifically focussing on sustainable business and ESG. She’s an industry ambassador, having volunteered to support the industry’s development for over 12 years, having sat on numerous committees, Councils and Boards for the CIPR and PRCA. Her view is that sharing is caring – sharing knowledge and expertise is one of the best ways to help the industry develop.

PRFest also focuses on the individual, going beyond purely learning emerging skills and discussing industry matters. PRFest practices what we preach to our own clients and organisations – focus on the individuals, their cares, worries and what is relevant to them.

Through online learning events, #PRsUnite, a monthly hangout to check-in and support each other and Laura’s mentoring and developing plan at Aura, PRFest has developed from a standalone annual event into a community of over 550 people.

Ideas please!

Some of the organisations which have attended PRFest:

  • Business Wire
  • BMA Scotland
  • Caliber
  • Campaign Collective
  • Comparethemarket.com
  • Crown Estate
  • Edinburgh College
  • VisitScotland
  • Food Standards Scotland
  • Glasgow Life
  • NSPCC
  • National Autistic Society
  • Sainsbury’s Bank
  • SEPA
  • Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group
  • Scottish Government
  • Scottish Opera
  • Scottish Renewables
  • Scottish Social Services Council
  • TEFl
  • City of Edinburgh Council
  • Shelter Scotland
  • Xplore Dundee
  • First Port
  • West of Scotland Housing Association
  • Fife Housing Group
  • RNLI
  • Festivals Edinburgh
  • East Lothian Council
  • Girl Guiding Scotland
  • NHS Health Scotland
  • Breast Cancer Now
  • University of Edinburgh
  • Aberdeenshire Council
  • People’s Postcode Lottery
  • Angus Council
  • Carnegie UK Trust
  • McDonald’s Restaurants
  • Muckle Media
  • Wave PR
  • Weber Shandwick
  • Orbit Communications
  • Sidekick PR
  • Wilkinson PR
  • Taylor Robertson
  • 3×1 Group
  • Hough Bellis
  • Grayling
  • BeWonder*
  • Press Association
  • Spey
  • University of Greenwich
  • DC Thomson
  • NFU Scotland
  • Ore Catapult
  • City Press