A new public relations agency has been launched to serve boutique and mid-market professional and financial services firms nationwide. Established this month, Alpha Public Relations is owned and managed by the Manchester-based former journalist and marketer Stuart Anderson.

Announcing the launch, Stuart said, “As a specialist in professional and financial services, Alpha offers an in-depth understanding of the sectors in which it operates. This means we can identify the best opportunities for clients and always provide journalists with relevant, original and engaging content.”

Immediately prior to founding Alpha Public Relations, Stuart spent five years as head of marketing and communications at Cheshire-based Clarion Wealth Planning Limited, a firm of Chartered Financial Planners that specialises in the affairs of successful business owners, former business owners and their families. He carried out the same role in parallel at its sister company, the discretionary investment manager Clarion Investment Management Limited.

Before moving into marketing he enjoyed a successful career as a business and finance journalist. This included stints as editor of the financial services magazines Pensions Age and Continuity Insurance and Risk, and the business title EN the Magazine for Entrepreneurs.

Stuart said, “I have worked client-side, as a journalist and, at the beginning of my career, in PR consultancy, so I really understand what makes everyone involved tick. My background in business and financial services journalism and marketing also means clients won’t need to spend large amounts of their time and money teaching their PR consultant what they do for a living.

“I know the difference between an MBO, an MBI and a BIMBO, have a passing acquaintance with the Inheritance Tax 14-year trap and can even have a decent stab at a definition of amortisation. More importantly, I know why my clients’ clients should care about these things, and how to explain the relevant issues in terms the public understands and enjoys reading.”

As well as being a full-service public relations agency Alpha is able to provide detailed marketing consultancy to ensure clients’ communications activities are all carried out in pursuit of coherent strategic objectives. Where necessary it will engage and coordinate best-of-breed teams of specialist firms and independent practitioners to deliver all elements of a marketing plan.