WPR Pledges to Make 30 Positive Impacts at 30

Birmingham-based agency WPR celebrates 30 years of business in 2022 and is marking the milestone with a pledge to make 30 positive impacts during the year.

Covering five core themes – planet, people, community, society and future – WPR has identified areas where the agency can take action to drive positive change.

Reducing the business’s impact on the environment is a major focus and will see WPR become a carbon-neutral workforce and plastic-neutral workplace by the end of the year.

Seeking positive ways to support the community, WPR will be partnering with the Ladywood Community Project, an organisation based near WPR’s Edgbaston office that works with families on low incomes and in hardship, and with charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, which supports children with life-threatening illnesses.

A commitment to making society fairer and more inclusive will begin with meaningful action to build a team that is truly representative of all sections of society, while initiatives to support mental health and wellbeing are among the steps being taken to help WPR people live positive, fulfilled and happy lives at work and at home.

WPR managing director Jane Ainsworth said: “We’re proud of everything WPR has achieved over the past three decades. But we all agreed that our 30th year is a time to look forwards not back.

“The challenges facing the planet and society are so vast it can be overwhelming, as an individual or a single organisation, to know how to make a difference. But inertia accomplishes nothing. So, we are going to begin by making changes – some big, some small – where we can have a positive impact.

“By taking steps to reduce our negative impact on the environment and to support and champion our people, society and local community, we want 2022 to be the start of an exciting journey that sees WPR move into the next 30 years stronger than ever.”

Founded in 1992 by Julia Willoughby, WPR was established with a vision of creating the best national communications in the heart of the country. Jane Ainsworth joined the agency as a graduate and has been managing director since 2007. In 2015, a management buyout saw Jane become the majority shareholder, securing the agency’s independent status for the future.

Today WPR is one of the UK’s most award-winning consumer and B2B PR and social media agencies, with specialisms spanning paid media, search and graphic design.