When I started working at Holyrood, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I thought I’d be helping MSPs with press releases or supporting events. What I didn’t expect (although I probably should have) was how quickly working in politics makes you think about what matters to you. You’re surrounded by people who care deeply about specific issues every day, and before long, you find yourself asking: what do I want to fight for? 

For me, that answer came while working on the Housing portfolio for the Scottish Conservatives. Reporting on Scotland’s housing crisis – the growing shortage of homes and the thousands of children without a permanent one – stuck with me long after I’d left the office and gone home to Fife. I remember one morning in particular, preparing for a ministerial statement, looking through statistics on temporary accommodation. Many of the people behind those numbers lived in towns I knew well. Suddenly, the crisis felt very close to home. Just telling people about the problem wasn’t enough anymore; I wanted to be part of the solution. 

That’s what brought me to Building Relations PR. Moving from the public sector to agency life was a big change, and one I didn’t take lightly. But I wanted to work more directly with the people on the ground, like our developers, planners and housing groups who are doing the day-to-day work of building better homes. Especially now, when it feels like their voices are needed more than ever. 

In doing so, I’ve learned what’s really slowing things down, whether that’s planning delays, lack of funding or changing priorities in government. But I’ve also seen how hard our clients are working to make progress. Developers, housing associations, planners – all of them are coming up with new ideas, finding ways to keep projects moving and doing their best to build the homes people need. 

And that’s where we come in. At Building Relations PR, we help them get their message across. We write press releases, speak to journalists, set up meetings with decision-makers and prepare clients for tough conversations. We help them explain what they’re doing and why it matters, and make sure the people in power are listening. It’s not just about raising awareness; it’s about opening doors and starting conversations that can lead to real change. 

Things won’t change overnight, but they can change and we can help. The people building our homes, navigating the planning system and delivering projects have a huge amount of insight to offer, and it’s important their voices are part of the discussion. Policymakers are making tough decisions every day, and we can play a role in making sure those decisions are informed by what’s really happening on the ground. That’s where we come in, helping to bridge the gap between those shaping policy and those delivering the solutions. That’s what I want to keep working towards: honest, practical progress, built on collaboration and shared understanding between everyone responsible for making our housing system work. That’s what I want to fight for. 

If you’re interested in learning more about how we support our clients with public affairs, visit our services page or please get in touch at pr@building-relations.co.uk.