FIR Interview: Francis Ingham, CEO PRCA, on PR apprenticeships

PR Higher ApprenticeshipIn July 2012, the first national PR Higher Apprenticeship qualification programme in the UK was announced by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), Pearson in Practice, Edexcel and Skills CFA. It intends to create 600 apprenticeship roles within the PR industry over a three-year period.

Six months on, how has the programme progressed? In early January 2013, a significant change arose when Pearson announced its withdrawal as part of a significant shift in that company’s broad business focus. What impact will that have on the future of the programme?

Francis Ingham, Director General of the PRCA, joined FIR co-host Neville Hobson in conversation to discuss the programme, its progress since launch, examples of companies and individuals who have participated so far, and offered insight into the development of such a programme in the UK.

Francis also commented on the PRCA Intern Guidelines, recently announced, to improve industry standards in treatment of interns.

About our Conversation Partner

Francis InghamFrancis Ingham is Director General of the UK Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), and Executive Director of the International Communications Consultancy Association (ICCO). The PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR industry, which promotes all the aspects of public relations work, upholds the highest standards of excellence and acts as the industry spokesman. The ICCO is the global PR body representing 28 national associations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia.

Prior to joining the PRCA in 2007, Ingham worked in public affairs and politics, including periods at the Conservative Party and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He has also been Vice Chairman of an NHS trust, a local Councillor, a political editor of a magazine, and a director of a think tank. He is a Visiting Fellow of Westminster University, a Trustee of The Speakers’ Corner Trust and a member of the Governing Court of the City of London Public Relations Guild.

Connect with Francis on Twitter: @PRCAIngham.

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This FIR Interview is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

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