Platinum Member Spotlight: Briscoe PR

Meet the Member: Kevin Briscoe, Managing Director of Briscoe PR

PR that builds credibility over time, backed by strategy, relationships, and a clear plan.

Founder of Network My Club, Bradley Hatchett, sat down with Kevin Briscoe, Founder and Managing Director of Briscoe PR, to talk about his journey from journalism into PR, the types of clients they work with, what PR actually is, a brilliant networking success story, and how a ‘journalistic approach’ to networking could be what you need to adopt.

Bradley: Kevin, let’s set the scene. Tell us about Briscoe PR. How did it start?

Kevin: It goes way back to 2006, so we’ve acutally got our 20th anniversary coming up this year.

Before that, I was a journalist in newspapers for 10 years, then moved into corporate comms. I was Head of Media and Corporate Comms at Hampshire Police, and then left to set up on my own.

That’s when Briscoe PR was born.

Bradley: What does Briscoe PR actually do, in plain English?

Kevin: At its heart, it’s about helping organisations tell their story and build credibility. You need strategy and a plan.

Today, having a long-term strategy and plan that takes you quarter by quarter, month by month through a year or two years is vital.

Almost like a business plan, but for your communications and PR.

Tactics have shifted massively over the years though. Ten years ago, it was heavily focused on media relations like newspapers, magazines and trade publications. Media relations is still important, and ignoring it is a mistake, but it’s not as dominant as it was.

There are so many other opportunities now, from your own website through to social channels, online publications and blogs.

Bradley: What types of clients and sectors do you work with?

Kevin: We’ve worked with a really broad range, from very large to very small, and enjoyed all of it.

Some examples include working with NATS, the air traffic control company, in the early days, as well as big engineering firms, and event with Ordnance Survey for a while.

Then over the last ten years, we’ve picked up a lot more consumer-facing work and really enjoyed that too.

We do a lot in hospitality, including supporting a group of restaurants and bars.

But it’s a real mixed bag, having worked with law firms, logistics companies, IT services, retail, and the medical sector, to name a few.

In a way, that variety goes back to my journalist background. You cover anything and everything, so learn to adapt quickly.

Bradley: What’s something people often misunderstand about PR?

Kevin: People can treat it like something you switch on and off, or like it’s only about publicity.

The reality is you need a strategy and a plan, and you need to earn credibility.

It’s not instant. It’s built over time. A bit like networking.

Bradley: And talking of networking (our favourite topic), how has networking worked for you in developing your network and building awareness?

Kevin: It’s very rare I go to a networking event and someone says, “PR, you’re exactly who I’ve been looking for, can you start now?” That just doesn’t happen.

A great example is a logistics company we started working with in March last year. I first met them over 10 years ago at an event and we talked a little about PR and social media, but if I’m honest, we stayed in touch for a bit and then not so much.

Then out of the blue, they reached out and said, “Do you remember me?”, and they’ve now become a really fantastic client for us.

That’s why I’m a big believer in talking to people, building relationships, and staying visible. You never know what might happen in the future.

Bradley: Your background is in journalism. How has that shaped the way you approach networking?

Kevin: Massively. Being a journalist teaches you to be curious, to ask good questions, and to listen properly.

You’re trained to walk into situations where you don’t know much and quickly understand what’s going on by getting people to talk.

That carries straight into networking. I don’t go into rooms thinking about what I’m going to say about myself. I go in thinking about what I want to learn about other people. If you ask the right questions and genuinely listen, conversations flow naturally.

It also takes the pressure off. You’re not trying to impress anyone, you’re just trying to understand them. That mindset makes networking far more effective and far more enjoyable.

Bradley: What’s coming up and what are you speaking to companies about more currently?

Kevin: In this day and age where everything is fast paced, I am finding myself bringing clients and prospects back to thinking long-term.

I say don’t think what you want to post or share online this week, but rather what do you want to be known for this year.

When you think like that, you content strategy becomes a lot clearer and we can work backwards from there.

Bradley: Lastly, what does Kevin look like outside of work? What’s a typical weekend?

Kevin: Sport, mainly. I’m a season ticket holder at Fratton Park and have been for as long as I can remember, through the thick and thin. Saturdays are a real release. I miss it in the summer because I love going, cheering, singing, all of that.

I’m big into cricket too. I like watching Hampshire, other counties, and England.

I do a lot with my family as well. My wife was a teacher for 40 years and she’s retired now, so we have a bit more time. I’ve also got a 22-year-old daughter who works for me in the business, so I see a lot of her.

We do quite a few things together at weekends. I’m a family man at heart, but it still has to fit around the football!

Learn more about Kevin and Briscoe PR
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