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News Releases 2007

Daran Hill becomes Chair of Public Affairs Cymru (October 2007)

Political Lobbyists in Wales have elected a new Public Affairs Cymru Executive Committee and have set out a new programme of work for the forthcoming year (11th October 2007). Daran Hill, Principal Consultant and Managing Director of Positif Politics, has been elected as Chair for 2007-08. He said: "I am delighted that PAC members have chosen me to take the organisation forward. We have achieved much in our first year, but there are still great challenges of public perception and a lack of understanding of the public affairs industry. PAC will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping and promoting public affairs in Wales over the next year. The lobbying of politicians and governmental institutions is an important activity. It occurs in all free and democratic societies, and is indeed a fundamental democratic right. Lobbyists act as a bridge between policy makers and wider civil society. It ensures that politicians and civil servants are aware of the needs, desires and interests of particular groups of people or organisations."

Public Affairs Cymru (PAC) is a fast-growing representative organisation that has developed a reputation as a high-quality networking and education organisation for those involved in public affairs in Wales since its inception 12 months ago.PAC was set up in October 2006 as an umbrella group for lobbyists to raise standards and enhance the reputation of public affairs here in Wales. Its mission is to act as a bridge between policy makers, wider civil society and public affairs professionals. Future events planned by PAC include a Gala Dinner on Tuesday 20th November 2007, Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay. This is the first event of its kind for both PAC and the Pierhead.

The other members of the Public Affairs Cymru Executive for 2007-08 are: Darren Hughes (General Medical Council); Philippa Ford (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy); Kate Lewis (Morgan Allen Moore); Sara Jones (Environment Agency Wales); Llio Penri (StrataMatrix); Alun Gruffudd (Citizens Advice Cymru); Joe Ferris (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Wales); and Claire Bottomley (Mind Cymru).

 

Election Package ends on a high for Positif Politics (May 2007)

Positif Politics have concluded their National Assembly information service for this month's National Assembly elections on a high. 'Election 2007' was a subscription website is designed to help organisations understand what the 2007 Assembly Election has meant for them. It contained information on the candidates, constituencies and the party manifestos. Crucially it also provides user friendly comment on the big issues as they develop.

The website can be found at: Assembly Election Information Service 2007.

The website was developed with the support of Positif Politics' technology partners, The Pollen Shop. It was aimed at any organisation that is effected by the work of the National Assembly for Wales. It was structured to allow both political anoraks and casual observers to draw out data and get a clear and authoritative picture of the big issues for the next Assembly election. In total it had almost 40 subscribers, including the British Medical Association Cymru Wales, Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, Royal Mail Group, Cancer Research UK and the Citizen Advice Bureau.

The Election Package has concluded on the day that Rhodri Morgan has been appointed as First Minister in a minority Labour government (May 25th). By coincidence, on this same date Positif Politics hosted a day long seminar with legal firm Geldards to deconstruct the election. Featuring expert opinion and analysis, it was attended by over 60 representatives of the business community and voluntary sector and provided a great and informative sign off to Positif Politics' Election Package.

Daran Hill said, Positif Politics said: "We have succeeded in delivering something that both the public affairs expert and someone with little knowledge of the Assembly has wanted to use. Positif Politics is all about demystifying politics and through this product we have helped get people to start thinking about the real benefits devolution can deliver for their organisations. It has been an unqualified success."

 

Positif Politics joins prestigious trade organisation APPC (March 2007)

On Monday 5th March 2007, Positif Politics Ltd was accepted into membership of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC). The Management Committee of the APPC approved the application for membership of Positif Politics, one of Wales' leading public affairs agencies, which celebrates the anniversary of its foundation this month.

Positif Politics was set up in March 2006 by two experienced Welsh public affairs consultants, Daran Hill and Llyr Roberts. It offers a range of services including consultancy, monitoring, research, and training, and its unique Election 2007 website is seen as a ground-breaking approach to explaining the Assembly Elections. Positif Politics' client base is expanding quickly and the company recently added RNIB Cymru and Merck Serono to its list of clients.

Responding to the news of APPC membership, Daran Hill, Managing Director of Positif Politics, said: "I am delighted that Positif Politics has been accepted into membership of APPC, which remains the gold standard in public affairs. We have applied so soon after our creation because we want to play a proactive role in setting standards that apply not just in London but in Cardiff too. As the only wholly Wales-based company to receive APPC membership we hope to establish a pattern of excellence that others will follow. We also look forward to working with existing APPC members with a base in Wales - Morgan Allen Moore, Grayling and StrataMatrix - to ensure lobbyists here respect the highest ethical standards, which will help raise the status and value of the public affairs profession."

On behalf of the APPC, Chair Gill Morris welcomed Positif Politics and another agency to membership: "These two new companies have been formed by consultants who have previously worked within the APPC Code of Conduct and their early decision to join demonstrates the value of the Code. I could not be more pleased with the current trend and, as always, I would urge others consider the benefits and to join us.”

The APPC has three main roles:

Daran Hill is also a founder and Executive member of Public Affairs Cymru, the new umbrella group for public affairs professionals in Wales.

Health, Well-being and Social Care Advocacy Day (March 2007)

Next Wednesday (March 28th 2007), the National Assembly for Wales will be the scene of the largest mass lobby in its eight year history.

Fifty Seven organisations are coming together to lobby AMs and Assembly candidates in a day-long event being held in the old National Assembly building.

Then Milling area has been booked along with Committee Rooms 20-23 (the old Committee corridor). The event will run from 11am to 3pm. Each participating organisation has been given stand space to draw attention to their issues and make their case direct to Wales' key polticians.

The full list of participating organisations is as follows:

The purpose of the event is to: rovide an opportunity for organisations to present their manifestos or campaigning asks to Assembly Members and candidates; and enable networking and opinion sharing between aligned organisations. The event has been sponsored by the Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, on a non-party political basis; and organisational support has been provided by the Presiding Officer's staff.

The Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Advocacy Day is being facilitated by public affairs agency Positif Politics. We were approached in November 2006 by some of the key players in the health and social care sector who had pulled together a similar event back in 2003. At that time only 10 organisations participated, but it was recognised there was significant potential in maximising the "reach" of such an event. Virtually all of these 10 "core" organisations are signed up again, along with a wide range of new bodies (some quite small).

Invitations to attend have been issued to all sitting AMs and, with the help of the main political parties in Wales, to a large number of candidates too. We are hopeful of a strong turn-out from all of Wales' main political parties.

National Assembly for Wales holds largest ever mass lobby (March 2007)

Today (Wed 28th March) an amazing 57 organisations will be working together in the National Assembly to put Health, Well-being and Social Care at the top of the political agenda. The Health, Well-being and Social Care Advocacy Day is being held in the old building of the National Assembly and will allow a range of professional and voluntary organisations, large and small, to take their concerns and issues direct to politicians.

All Assembly Members and a range of Assembly candidates have been invited, with over 40 confirmed attendees. The event has been organised with the support of the Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, who will speak to open proceedings and welcome the organisations, with the lobby being held on the day the Assembly sits for the last time before the election recess.

The event will be held in four rooms in the old Assembly building, with each organisation having stall space and a chance to present their message. In addition, five organisations will be launching policy documents or manifestos during the event. These are: College of Occupational Therapists; RNID Cymru; Help the Hospices; Mind Cymru; Citizens Advice Cymru; and the British Dietetic Association.

Philippa Ford, policy officer for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in Wales said: "This event gives Assembly members and candidates a superb opportunity to discuss issues which will come up on the doorsteps during the election campaign. Charities, voluntary organisations and professions from across the spectrum of health, social care and wellbeing have a wealth of expertise to offer and what we are seeing today is a piece of political history. I'm very proud to be a part of it."

Jayne Isaac from NCH, who will represent children's organisations at the Advocacy Day, said: "This event is an ideal opportunity for the national children's organisations to raise their concerns about the status and wellbeing of children and young people in Wales. We will be able to make recommendations to a wide range of people who may have an influence on the next government of Wales."

Many organisations are travelling from far afield to be represented at the Advocacy Day. Emyr Owen, from the British Association of Social Workers, is travelling down from near Pwllheli to participate. He said: "This is a unique occasion and a fantastic chance to meet other groups, so that we can work together to make sure we have a strong voice as Wales prepares for elections on May 3rd."

The event has been organised on behalf of participants by public affairs agency Positif Politics.

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