Category Archives: British

Following two years of strong growth, Manchester-based Sway PR has signed a new business development partnership with leading business development consultant Simon Edmondson, who will represent the company across the North West.

Simon’s role will be to identify and introduce companies that are looking to grow, develop new markets, launch new products, or realise their exit strategy – to raise their profile and credibility in the media.

Simon has been a key member of the Manchester business community for many years. Having operated in many successful businesses, he has now established a networking portfolio across the region designed to bring businesses together, collaborate and grow.

Simon is also a seasoned business leader and passionate advocate for small enterprises, currently serving as the Regional Chair for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in the North West. In this role he represents regional businesses across the UK and internationally.

About joining the Sway PR team, Sway PR founder Mark Hayward said; “Simon is a key and established member of the business community in Manchester, where he champions SMEs from the region on a national and international stage, but also brings them together in an invaluable support network designed to promote mutual growth.

“He was therefore the perfect choice to work with us to help continue our growth plans as Sway expands across both the B2B and consumer markets.”

The inclusion of Simon onto the team comes three months after Sway’s latest hire and a raft of client wins including a new project for campaigner Esther Ghey, Sapio Sciences, Mark3 International, Rapier Systems, Sensolus, and Blue Door Productions.

About his new role at Sway PR, Simon Edmondson said; “This is an exciting time for Sway as a business, and I’m honoured to be invited to join the team as a business development consultant to help realise its vision and growth ambitions.

“Having known Mark and seen the work Sway has done over the last decade, I know the company has consistently added huge amounts of value to its many clients. They really are media relations machines.”

Sway PR is looking to accelerate its growth in Q4 of 2025 with a particular focus on leveraging its media network in the life sciences and fashion sectors. For more information, visit www.swaypr.co

To find out more about working with the team at Sway PR, click here and drop us a note.

The Sway PR team today took on the big issues facing the biotech and pharma industries including Trump’s proposed NIH cuts which has the potential to slow the progress of rare disease development.

The story covers a Maryland family’s fight to cure their daughter’s rare disease, H-ABC, faces new hurdles amid proposed cuts to medical research.

Elouise Sloan, 19, has lived with the degenerative brain disorder since childhood, requiring constant care. Her parents, Michele and Britt Sloan, have become advocates and fundraisers.

Funding remains a major obstacle. Our client, Dan Williams, CEO of SynaptixBio, is developing a gene-silencing treatment for H-ABC

In the interview he talked about the investment landscape which has slowed significantly.

The company is seeking $24 million to begin clinical trials next year. Dan partly attributes the decline in biotech funding to recent U.S. political shifts.

The administration’s proposed $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget has sparked criticism, with experts warning that such reductions threaten research and patient safety.

Check out Dan Williams, the CEO of SynaptixBio on the NBC news below:

Read the full story here Trump’s proposed cuts cause concern about rare disease research – NBC4 Washington

Having grown by 33 percent in six months, Sway PR has recruited Andrew Peacock, an experienced account manager, to support the B2B team.

Off the back of a string of new business wins and company growth, Manchester-based Sway PR has appointed Andrew Peacock as account manager to support and develop its growing number of B2B clients.  

In the past six months, Sway has been appointed by Conscious Travel, DMAC, Capture 1, Blue Door Productions, Rapier Systems and Mark 3 International to deliver on a range of campaigns and communications initiatives. 

Beyond direct client wins, Sway has also expanded its client portfolio by developing partnerships with marketing and complementary agencies.  

Sway PR founder, Mark Hayward, said: “2025 is a very important year for Sway. With more B2B clients than ever before, we’re in a great position to continue growing the business in a sustainable way. 

“Andrew has a wealth of experience in B2B communications and will be a real asset to the company. With a larger team than ever before, we’re now perfectly positioned to develop our business and service new and existing clients with the quality media relations work for which Sway PR is known.” 

Andrew has over five years’ public relation experience, working with clients across a diverse range of industries including legal services, building product manufacturing, and financial technology. Based in Wakefield, Andrew will also help expand Sway’s client base into West Yorkshire and the surrounding area.  

Andrew adds: “I’m very excited to be joining the Sway PR team. It supports a diverse selection of clients, each with a fascinating story to tell. Sway’s innovative approach to both client and colleague satisfaction is truly unique and I’m looking forward to helping the company grow in the months and years to come.”

To find out more about working with the team at Sway PR, click here and drop us a note.

By Mark Hayward

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend time with two impressive young people from the EY Foundation programme. As the founder of Sway PR, a Manchester-based agency focused on media relations for various B2B and consumer clients, I can so easily get swept along with the long list of jobs and tasks I am responsible for on a daily basis. But this experience reminded me that some of the most fulfilling work happens outside of my daily responsibilities when we help those who come after us.

The young people I spoke with all came from a background where they have not always had the support they need to fulfil their potential and where options felt limited.

What I found were personable, curious young people who wanted to create a better life for themselves. I could see their potential and that what they needed was guidance and support, something the EY Foundation was offering them.

I was there to help give them feedback on how to present their ideas and experiences in a way that would stand out in an interview.

It was a pleasure to sit down with them, listen, and provide some (hopefully useful) feedback. Helping them recognise their strengths and frame their experience made me realise how impactful it is when someone simply takes the time to listen, support, and encourage.

At Sway PR, we take pride in crafting standout stories and helping our clients get noticed. But the ability to tell a story, to communicate effectively, begins with confidence. It starts with someone believing in you, asking the right questions, and showing you how to express yourself. That’s why giving back isn’t just a nice thing to do; for me it’s essential.

Supporting the next generation isn’t about charity, it’s about leaving a legacy. We were all once trying to figure out how to navigate the working world, often unsure of our place or if our voices mattered. I had mentors who shared their time with me and encouraged me to think bigger. Their generosity shaped the businessman I am today, and now I feel it is my responsibility to give back.

When we provide young people with real-world insights and honest conversations, we help close the confidence gap. We give them a better chance of achieving their goals, not just dreaming about them. It’s easy to think that talent will rise on its own, but without opportunity, it often does not. Initiatives like the EY Foundation create vital connections between potential and possibility. It’s up to all of us who have had that support, and built a career, to help others, one conversation at a time.

I left yesterday’s session feeling inspired and hopeful. The next generation has so much to contribute. They don’t need us to hand them success, they just need us to open doors, provide guidance, and believe in their abilities. Giving back doesn’t have to require much effort. But it can mean everything.

Let’s keep the door open behind us. Let’s make space at the table. Let’s show the next generation that they belong, that they have value. let us help them share their stories with the world.

We truly value our team and this year ran a survey into satisfaction around a number of key business areas. We are delighted with all the incredible feedback and thank every member of our amazing team for all their hard work and efforts in delivering world class results for our clients.

Full report is available here, but here are some of the highlights!

Gender:

Sway PR does not recruit based on gender, with HR and senior team members assessing candidates based on competency and cultural fit. We ended 2024 with an even gender split – adding another female team member in 2025.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Although we have invited people from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds to interview, the team is White British, or White British with dual nationality. 100% of the team is heterosexual.

We have members of the team with diagnosed neurodiversity and mental illness including ADHD and Bipolar. As a business, we have systems and processes to support our entire team.

Age:

Our team ranges in age from 25 to 66 years, with an average age of 43.75 years old.

Satisfaction:

When surveyed, 100% of the team said they were “very satisfied” with their experience working with the company and the recognition they get for their work.

The wellbeing of our staff is key, guiding policies around flexibility, working hours, working location, events, training and support.

Culture:

Sway has worked hard to foster an open, supportive and inclusive culture. When asked 100% of employees were “very satisfied” with the company culture.

Work hard, play harder:

When asked, 100% of the staff at Sway PR said that the company supports flexible working arrangements effectively, saying they were “very satisfied” with their ability to balance work and personal life.

If you want to find out more about working with Sway PR, please get in touch.