Jo Leatham PR

Jo Leatham PR I help businesses find the right words to
create headlines and share news with the people that matter

Don’t worry if you missed this week, our next one will be here soon! A relaxed PR coffee morning for small business owne...
18/09/2026

Don’t worry if you missed this week, our next one will be here soon! A relaxed PR coffee morning for small business owners. Bring your questions, chat over coffee, and leave inspired to pitch to journalists.

📅 Mon 19th October
🕰️ 10:00am – 11:30am
📍NatWest Accelerator, Innovation Centre, Innovation Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DG
🚗 Free parking available on site

If you’re curious about PR but not sure where to start: This free, relaxed PR Coffee Morning is designed specifically for small business owners in Yorkshire who want to understand how PR works, and how it could work for your business.

Bring your questions, grab a proper brew (or decent coffee ☕), and leave with practical ideas, expert insight, and greater confidence to start pitching journalists and getting your business featured in the press.

This isn’t about glossy theory or hard selling, it’s about real conversations, honest advice, and making PR feel accessible and achievable.

What to expect ✶ A warm, informal welcome with coffee and introductions, no‑question‑is‑too‑small conversations about PR; practical advice you can actually act on. Insights into how journalists work and what makes a story land, and encouragement and confidence to start pitching your business.

We keep these sessions small, supportive and practical, so everyone has the opportunity to ask questions and get value. The event is free so grab your ticket on Eventbrite before they run out!

And, it's never too early for a Christmas Tree 🎄

Do you run a small business in Yorkshire?Then these relaxed in-person PR Coffee Morning meet-ups are for you. Bring your...
14/09/2026

Do you run a small business in Yorkshire?

Then these relaxed in-person PR Coffee Morning meet-ups are for you. Bring your questions about PR and stay for a brew and a chat. Leave with bags of ideas, expert advice, inspiration and encouragement ✪

You’ll also have increased confidence to start pitching journalists to get your business featured in newspapers and magazines. Hosted by Linda Harrison and Jo Leatham.

✪ Meet other local business owners.
✪ Have real conversations over a proper brew or decent coffee).
✪ Find out how PR works - and how it can work for your business.
✪ Free to attend - just buy a tea/coffee/drink.

Tickets are available now on Eventbrite ○

This week, my PR consultancy took me somewhere I didn’t expect to be working: the library!The Wi-Fi at home had stopped ...
10/09/2026

This week, my PR consultancy took me somewhere I didn’t expect to be working: the library!

The Wi-Fi at home had stopped working, so I packed my laptop and headed there, only to realise much of my job involves talking.

Cue whispering during client calls and trying to have creative conversations without getting shushed, not exactly the glamorous side of consultancy, and quite frustrating. It’s alarming how much technology we depend on, isn’t it?

But a reminder of something important about PR: You can’t afford to stay silent about your business ➤

People need to know what you do, who you help, what makes you different, the results you achieve, and that you actually exist.

Talking about your expertise, your experience, your clients, your opinions, and your wins isn’t showing off, it’s marketing. If you don’t tell people what you do, they will never know.

So yes, I was quiet in the library, which was the biggest challenge this week.

But when it comes to promoting your business and everything PR ➤ Don’t whisper; be visible.

It's Friday, let's celebrate ✪What’s been your biggest PR win so far this year?Over the course of this year, Linda Harri...
04/09/2026

It's Friday, let's celebrate ✪

What’s been your biggest PR win so far this year?

Over the course of this year, Linda Harrison and I have had the pleasure of welcoming so many brilliant businesses to our PR coffee meet-ups and meet-the-media events.

We’ve talked PR, we’ve shared ideas. and answered questions. We’ve discussed how to turn the stories already sitting within a business into something the media might actually want to talk about, and, most importantly, I’ve seen businesses take those conversations away and put them into action.

So today, I’d love to turn the question back to you! If you’ve attended one of our PR coffee meet-ups, what has been your best PR win or result this year?

Perhaps you secured your first piece of coverage, perhaps you landed an interview, appeared on the radio, had your story featured in a publication you’ve always wanted to be in, or finally found the confidence to start pitching your own stories.

Perhaps one small PR opportunity led to something much bigger, I’d love to hear about it. Not just because it’s lovely to celebrate your successes, but because sharing what worked can inspire another business owner to realise that PR really is accessible to them too.

So, if you’ve used something we discussed at a PR coffee meet-up and it helped you achieve a result, let me know ➤

Let’s celebrate the stories, the coverage and the businesses ✰✪✰✪✰・・・•・・

Hello to a new season of PR 🍂I love September, there’s something about the change of season that makes you pause, reset ...
02/09/2026

Hello to a new season of PR 🍂

I love September, there’s something about the change of season that makes you pause, reset and look ahead. After a summer of sunshine, slower days(not many) and a little time to recharge, I’m ready to get back to doing what I love most, finding and sharing the stories that matter.

For my clients, the next few months are about putting their businesses, people, expertise and achievements in front of the right audiences. Great PR isn’t just about getting your name in the press; it’s about having something worth saying, knowing why it matters, and finding the story that will make people stop, read, and remember.

From new launches and business milestones to expert commentary, founder stories and everything in between, I’m looking forward to another busy season of creating opportunities, building relationships with the media and telling brilliant stories.

Are you looking ahead, are you ready for the new term or are you hoping for an Indian Summer?

season stories

PR strategy, but make it Leeds ➤I visited the wonderful Leeds Dock this week for a PR strategy session with a new client...
28/08/2026

PR strategy, but make it Leeds ➤

I visited the wonderful Leeds Dock this week for a PR strategy session with a new client, and I couldn’t think of a better place to get the creative juices flowing.

There’s something about getting out of the office, finding a good coffee and having a proper conversation about a business, its story and where we want to take it.

Leeds Dock has certainly changed since my days working nearby as part of the marketing team at Homes England. What was once an industrial dock is now a brilliant mix of creative businesses, digital companies, homes, restaurants, culture and plenty of inspiration.

Public relations takes me all over Yorkshire and across the UK, which I love. New places, new businesses and new stories to tell.

No two days are ever quite the same, have you left your desk this week?

There’s something rather special about being reminded why you fell in love with your industry in the first place.It was ...
27/08/2026

There’s something rather special about being reminded why you fell in love with your industry in the first place.

It was an honour to be invited as the PR expert for York Fashion Week at ‘The Creative Exchange’, and to reunite with founder Nicky Hayer and co-founder Mark Bewick, who tirelessly fly the flag for the city's creative industry.

It was also brilliant to meet some of the incredibly passionate and talented designers who are shaping the future of the industry.

And then I found myself answering a question from a recent graduate about what it’s really like to work in PR.

“I’ve worked in the industry for 30 years and still love every moment.”

And I genuinely mean it, 30 years of stories, people, creativity, media, campaigns, challenges and opportunities and I still feel incredibly lucky to call PR my career.

Here’s to the next generation of creative talent finding something they love just as much.



YFW • York Fashion Week • PR Consultancy • Creative Careers

I love busting a few myths! My average day consists of much more than writing press releases, although it’s one of my fa...
21/08/2026

I love busting a few myths! My average day consists of much more than writing press releases, although it’s one of my favourite parts. The myth that PR is just about press releases is easy to demystify.

Behind-the-scenes work can tell a different story, which I think is true for all businesses. One of the biggest parts of PR is something that often happens long before a story ever appears in the media, and that’s media relations.

It’s about knowing what makes a story worth telling, finding the right angle and, importantly, knowing which journalist is actually going to want to hear about it. I find that a big part of my role is helping businesses find the story within what they do every day.

That can mean:

✰ Writing a press release that actually gives a journalist a reason to pick up the phone
✰ Finding opportunities for expert comment and opinion pieces
✰ Pitching ideas for features and securing those coveted double-page spreads
✰ Turning business successes into compelling case studies
✰ Developing regular columns and thought leadership opportunities
✰ Organising photo calls, press trips and product reviews
✰ Preparing clients for interviews and acting as a spokesperson when needed
✰ Creating media briefings so everyone knows what to say and why
✰ Identifying award opportunities and helping businesses tell their story to judges
✰ Exploring product placement, competitions and other creative ways to generate coverage

Fundamentally, It’s always about asking the right questions, and that’s just the start of the conversation!

I’d love to know what people assume your day consists of!

How are we almost at the end of August? We have just a few weeks left before the new work term starts. Have you kept up ...
19/08/2026

How are we almost at the end of August? We have just a few weeks left before the new work term starts. Have you kept up with sharing your story over the summer months, or do you feel that you have let things slip a little?

It’s easy to do; the summer season can be quite a juggle for so many reasons. The end of August is the perfect time to start thinking about your PR, though,
as we head towards September, you will need to look ahead to what is often the busiest part of the year, as we all know. I am taking some time to plan this week, hence the coffee!

Have you thought about what you might like to focus on for your Autumn/Winter campaigns?

I won’t mention how many Saturdays there are before Christmas; however, PR space tends to get busy in the following weeks. We know great PR takes planning, so start thinking about how you would like to get the most from next season to finish the year in the best position you can be in.

If you would like some help, I would love to chat ✰✪✶

Sometimes the best business decisions happen away from the desk, would you agree? I have been working from a rather diff...
13/08/2026

Sometimes the best business decisions happen away from the desk, would you agree? I have been working from a rather different office, with this view this week, while my son takes part in a Yorkshire Under 13s Golf observation day Sandburn Hall Hall it reminded me exactly why I run my own PR consultancy.

It’s not just about securing coverage, writing press releases or getting businesses in front of journalists.
It’s about creating a business that gives you the flexibility to be there for the moments that matter, the school events, the sports days, the opportunities you don’t want to miss, and yes, sometimes it means answering emails with a golf course ⛳️ in the background!

I’m incredibly passionate about helping businesses tell their stories, build their profile and get noticed through effective PR, but I’m equally passionate about building a business around life, rather than putting life around the business.

Because ultimately, what’s the point of building a successful business if it doesn’t give you the freedom to enjoy the things that matter most?

That’s my why, I would love to hear yours, and don’t worry I am still available, depending on the view to chat all things PR, when you are ready ✶✪✰➤・∙・・

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