Public Affairs
Clean Energy After Starmer: Burnham's First Big Test
As Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, he faces the challenge of delivering on clean energy commitments while managing external pressures and fiscal constraints.
Insights
A new dawn for UK mining?
Critical minerals from British soil are becoming increasingly urgent in a fractured world. The UK Mining Conference in Cornwall showcased substantial mining projects advancing toward completion.
Insights
Fighting LinkedIn AI slop
AI-generated content dominates LinkedIn feeds with repetitive structures and depersonalized messaging, prompting a backlash as platforms and users seek authentic human communication.
Insights
Culture and comms: a line in the sand?
McDonald's UK CEO's defensive response about workplace culture allegations demonstrates how attempts to move past crises too quickly can backfire.
Insights
Greens. Open for Business?
The Green Party is experiencing electoral success and Zack Polanski is professionalizing the party by overhauling policies, signaling potential shifts toward business engagement.
Insights
Thirsty in India? When critical minerals shortages cut through
A Diet Coke shortage in India caused by disrupted aluminium supplies demonstrates why critical mineral supply chains matter globally and urgently.
Insights
Should you be Substacking?
Substack has emerged as a significant media platform with over 35 million monthly users, offering creators and organizations a direct channel to engaged audiences through email-based content delivery.
Insights
When the next energy shock isn't a surprise: prices, policy and instability
Middle East conflict has renewed UK vulnerability to global fossil fuel price shocks, marking the second major crisis in four years and raising questions about energy policy resilience.
Insights
Can the UK re-learn the critical importance of supply chains?
Recent Middle East events have shown how supply chain disruptions can destabilize global markets in days, highlighting the need for the UK to secure critical mineral access.
Insights
How socials can help to understand your audience
Digital communications generate crucial data for assessing organizational reputation. Social conversations on social media should form the basis of effective audience communication strategies.
Insights
Active management's AI challenge: communicating your edge
AI is fundamentally shifting the investment industry, threatening active managers' traditional justification against passive investment and creating urgent pressure to communicate genuine competitive advantages.
Insights
You need to audit your site - even if no-one reads it
Few people actually read corporate websites, but AI bots certainly do. Website audits ensure your site is optimized for both AI engines and human visitors.
Insights
Private Markets: The Trust Test
Private markets have shifted from the periphery to the centre of asset management, but communicating these opportunities to retail investors presents intensifying challenges.
Insights
Hyper-scaling Minerals in Riyadh
Cardew Group's Robin Walker attended the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, discussing critical minerals and mining amid unprecedented global demand.
Public Affairs
Rachel's Trilemma: The Autumn Budget 2025
The Chancellor delivered a pivotal Budget facing the challenge of satisfying bond markets, Labour backbenches, and voters simultaneously while raising £26 billion in taxes.
Insights
Meet them where they scroll: What can Mamdani and Polanski teach us?
Political outsiders like Zohran Mamdani and Zack Polanski are using influencer-style tactics and digital-first campaigns to reach voters where they scroll, challenging traditional political communication.
Public Affairs
'I will do what is right, not what is popular': a tale of two speeches
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Nigel Farage both signaled difficult fiscal choices ahead, with Reeves warning of a painful Budget and Farage shelving tax cut plans to fix public finances first.
Insights
How the AI browser changes (almost) everything
OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas browser represents a significant strategic challenge to Google's dominance, threatening the traditional advertising revenue model that has underpinned the internet economy.
Insights
Why Junior miners still hold the keys to future supply
Demand for critical minerals is booming, but junior miners face new challenges in raising finance to deliver future supply as the funding landscape shifts.
Insights
How gaming has shaped today's media consumption habits
Gaming platforms like Twitch and Discord have transformed media consumption, shifting audiences away from traditional journalism toward influencer-generated content and decentralized communities.
Insights
Why every business needs a cyber crisis communications plan
Recent cyber attacks on major UK businesses highlight the escalating threat landscape. Hackers now use aggressive media tactics to amplify reputational damage, making crisis communications planning essential.
Public Affairs
Sun, speeches and snake oil: lessons from Labour in Liverpool
The Cardew Public Affairs team shares key takeaways from Labour Conference in Liverpool, including Starmer's strengthened position and Reform UK emerging as the primary electoral threat.
Insights
What can a comms professional learn from a government in chaos?
Government communications teams operate in constant firefighting mode, but chaos presents an opportunity to shape narratives and public perception if you cut through noise effectively.
Insights
How to communicate the concept of "Super Universities"
The launch of the first "Super University" in South East England reflects challenges UK universities face in communicating mergers amid financial pressures and stakeholder concerns.
Insights
From SEO to GEO: Why media matters in the age of AI
Search engine optimization is giving way to Generative Engine Optimization as AI systems become central to how information is discovered. Premium media coverage now determines how AI describes companies to users.
Insights
Anglo-Teck off to Canada but London's market still sees hope for miners
Teck Resources and Anglo American have agreed to merge, creating a $50 billion mining company headquartered in Vancouver, marking another shift away from London's dominance in the sector.
Public Affairs
Lets try that reset again
PM Keir Starmer reshuffles his Cabinet following Deputy PM Angela Rayner's resignation over a damning Standards Commissioner report on her tax affairs.
Insights
Burning questions: Clean Energy Policy for Autumn 2025
As Parliament returns, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband faces key priorities including renewable energy auctions, rising energy costs, and reforming electricity market arrangements to achieve Clean Power targets.
Insights
Can Polanski's 'Eco-Populism' reshape the British left?
Zack Polanski was elected Green Party leader with 85% of the vote, signaling a shift toward 'Eco-Populism' that could reshape leftist politics in Britain and challenge traditional party alignments.
Insights
The continued rise of AI search and how organisations can prepare
Google's AI Overviews are reshaping search behavior, pushing external links down the page and reducing click-through rates. Organizations must adapt their digital strategies to maintain visibility in this evolving landscape.
Insights
Mamdani talks the talk and walks the walk (digitally)
Zohran Mamdani's victory over Andrew Cuomo in the New York Mayoral Democratic primary demonstrates how targeted digital strategies, social media engagement, and direct audience connection can overcome traditional polling predictions.
Insights
With media in decline, what can you do to get your messages out?
Traditional media engagement is declining rapidly while news consumption fragments across platforms and video formats. Companies must build their own digital channels to reach audiences directly.
Insights
Sea shanties and mineral security
Robin Walker attends the UK Mining Conference in Cornwall, where record numbers gather to discuss the renaissance of Cornish mining and critical mineral supply chains for the West.
Public Affairs
Hey Big Spender?
The UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the first three-year Spending Review since 2021, setting the government's spending envelope and political priorities before the next election.
Insights
Lights, camera, action: is video the way forward for comms?
Video content is experiencing explosive growth across social platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Companies and leaders are increasingly using video to communicate directly with investors, customers, and employees.
Public Affairs
Six votes that will shake up British politics
Reform UK's six-vote victory in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election is the narrowest ever. The results suggest significant shifts in British politics as Reform gains ground.
Insights
Moving the pieces in a global game of chess
The US-Ukraine minerals pact highlights critical minerals' growing importance globally and presents opportunities for London as the world competes for these essential resources.
Insights
Three things to consider about Google's AI-driven search
Google's AI Overview in search results decreases clicks to websites by over a third, contrary to their claims. Companies must adapt their content strategies and SEO practices.
Insights
Can a Clean Power Vision give energy security?
The UK government's clean power vision aims to achieve energy security through low-carbon electricity generation. Progress has been made in system planning, investment, and supply chain development since July 2024.
Insights
Reforming the local election playbook
Local campaign offices are filled with leaflets and canvassers during election season. New data shows Reform UK relies heavily on social media advertising, particularly Facebook, outweighing traditional doorstep campaigning.
Public Affairs
Relief, but the uncertainty is just beginning
The UK secured a 10% tariff rate from President Trump, viewed as relief compared to higher rates for other nations, though significant uncertainty remains about future trade relationships.
Insights
UK Universities' International dilemma
A Sunday Times investigation revealed a multi-million pound scandal involving franchised institutions recruiting international students for courses that never occurred while claiming taxpayer funding.
Politics
Ditching Development
Labour's decision to cut development spending by half has generated minimal political opposition, marking a stark shift from previous cross-party consensus on international aid.
Public Affairs
You should have never started it
President Trump's comments about Ukraine and his administration's foreign policy stance are creating significant uncertainty for British politics and the Western alliance.
Insights
DeepSeek – five talking points to make you sound informed
DeepSeek, an AI tool developed at a fraction of the cost of competitors, has disrupted markets and raised geopolitical concerns due to its Chinese origins.
Insights
What's in store for healthcare in 2025?
Industry observers anticipate M&A activity will drive healthcare investment following the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, with approximately $20 billion in deals announced this year.
Public Affairs
Will the real Opposition please stand up?
The Government faces challenges with stalled growth and bond market turbulence, while the Conservative Opposition struggles to capitalize on Labour's difficulties amid rising Reform UK support.
Insights
How to fuel AI
AI development requires significant energy and critical minerals. The UK faces challenges in domestic production and global competition, particularly from China.
Insights
Are you following the thread from the bird to the butterfly?
Social media platforms are experiencing significant shifts as users migrate between networks. X/Twitter faces declining users and revenue while alternatives like Bluesky gain momentum.
Insights
Plan for change ... or change of plan?
Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled his 'Plan for Change' at Pinewood Studios, introducing six milestones to be achieved by Parliament's end, aiming to reset Labour's narrative amid polling challenges.
Insights
The Budget: Rachel's Tightrope Act
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first Budget with significant tax rises and spending increases while attempting to avoid deterring economic growth and inward investment.
Public Affairs
Party Conference Blues ... Reds and Yellows
Sue Gray's departure as Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff concludes an unprecedented party conference season marked by distinct fortunes for Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives.
Insights
How can universities make their tuition fees case to MPs?
Higher education is becoming a hot political topic with tuition fees set to rise above £10,000. The sector struggles to make its case in Parliament's Commons chamber.
Insights
Labour's Energy Policy: Seven things we now know
At Labour Party Conference, energy dominated discussions. Twelve weeks into government, clean energy is the most developed policy area with major initiatives underway.
Insights
A New Era for Investment Trusts
The Treasury and FCA have announced a temporary exemption of investment trusts from EU assimilated law requirements, planning to replace retail disclosure rules with a new framework soon.
Insights
10 things we've learnt from Labour's first 25 days
An analysis of Labour's initial 25 days in government, examining key insights about Keir Starmer's administration's priorities, decision-making, and strategic positioning.
Insights
Like and subscribe
Digital disruption has transformed media and created new opportunities for corporate communications strategies through owned digital platforms and subscriber models.
Insights
The future of search in the age of AI
Google's AI tool Gemini is transforming search from content discovery to AI-driven interpretation, delivering summaries scraped from unattributed sources.
Insights
10 things we've learnt from Thursday night...
Analysis of UK local election results showing Labour heading for power, Reform hurting Conservatives, and Lib Dems achieving their strongest performance in 30 years.
Insights
When looking to raise money, your story is everything
Raising money as a biotech startup requires more than just a strong asset. According to angel investors, storytelling and clear communication about your technology's market opportunity are crucial to success.
Insights
Is Rishi on the right track?
After Liz Truss's downfall, Rishi Sunak faced Conservative Conference with Labour's poll lead seemingly insurmountable and an election year approaching.
Insights
Goodwill Hunting
Jeremy Hunt delivered an assured Autumn Statement featuring a 2% national insurance cut and capital investment measures for business, though the economic position remains dire.
Insights
Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle
Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle marks a move to the centre ground and a serious attempt to stamp his authority on his Government for the last year of Parliament.
Insights
Sea change
Rishi Sunak faces polling deficits and by-election losses reminiscent of political realignments that occur once every 30 years, suggesting difficult times ahead for the Conservative Party.
Insights
Glitter, Growth and Grey Belts
Labour's conference in Liverpool demonstrated strong party discipline and unity, with leadership winning all votes while focusing on economic growth, business partnerships, and regional devolution.
Insights
Mais Reeves Be Ready?
Rachel Reeves delivered the Mais Lecture at Bayes Business School, outlining Labour's economic strategy centered on growth and public service reform through 'Securonomics'.
Insights
The Budget: Rabbit Hunting
Jeremy Hunt delivered the final Spring Budget before the General Election, focusing on short-term election strategy rather than long-term growth measures.
Insights
What's the value of your drug? It's all in the communication
Cell and gene therapies for rare diseases offer potential cures but come with high costs. Communicating value to payors and governments is essential for justifying pricing.
Insights
Decoding AI: The Dangers of Algorithmic Bias
AI models trained on human-developed datasets inherit inherent biases, creating algorithmic bias concerns across healthcare, hiring, and advertising that demand careful oversight.