Company: City Road Communications
Finalist: PR Agency of the Year
Social: Linkedin – City Road Communications
How does it feel to be shortlisted for the 2025 Financial Promoter Awards?
We’re thrilled to be shortlisted, particularly as it’s our first time entering the awards. We’re a small team but we know that we punch above our weight. To have that recognised is very satisfying.
What does this recognition mean to you, your team, and your organisation?
With 80% of our clients operating in financial services it’s particularly pleasing to be recognised by the Financial Promoter awards. Financial services is an important part of the UK economy, and touches everyone’s lives.
Our clients do important work communicating with and serving their customers, and we’re delighted to have been recognised for our role in supporting them.
What part of your work are you most proud of?
As mentioned, we’re a small team, but we deliver results that many larger agencies don’t, including consistent media coverage in nationals and top-tier trades. Reactive PR and quantitative research are two of our key strengths and these are areas that we’re particularly proud of.
In addition, our collaborative approach to working with our clients makes for long and fruitful relationships (our oldest client has been with us for 8 years!)
What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you overcome it?
Like a lot of agencies, we’ve had our challenges over the last year – clients’ budgets have been squeezed with many marketing teams being tasked with delivering more for less. We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with our clients to navigate these challenges and ensure we’re supporting them in the best way possible.
In addition, the team has pulled together with everyone doubling down to support each other and our clients. The effort has paid off as we’re now experiencing a period of growth, with 5 new retainers and projects having kicked off in October!
How do you see marketing and communications evolving in financial services over the next few years?
Budgets are likely to continue to be squeezed meaning that teams are going to need to think carefully about where they deploy their marketing and communications budgets, and what is going to make a long-term impact to their brand recognition and reputation.
AI is of course transforming how we work and we are all going to need to continue to be adaptable to ensure strategies can evolve at pace.
If you could give one piece of advice to others entering these awards in the future, what would it be?
Take plenty of time on the entry and let multiple people input and review – more heads are better than one!
Are you excited for the gala in November? What are you most looking forward to?
We’re looking forward to a night out to reflect on our efforts and success. We’re lucky to be a small, close-knit team that genuinely enjoy spending time together, so any excuse for that is always welcome! We’re also keen to network with all the guests (yes, even the other PR agencies!)
How do you and your team celebrate success?
We recently took on a number of new clients and celebrated with a very nice meal out that culminated in a visit to Garlic & Shots in Soho. The less said about that, the better!
Are you a finalist and would like to get involved?
Please email Megan McCabe, Marketing Manager, at megan.mccabe@rhoticmedia.com.