Diary of an Insurance PR: Full Circle’s Matt Beasley

Monday 

It’s a more hectic Monday morning than usual, with a hunt for a missing tie and shoe as my two boys get ready to go back to school after the half-term break. 

School run done, I make my train which is surprisingly on time; inbox cleared, two press releases and client social posts all sorted before Clapham Junction. 

Good start to the week. Scrap that, Waterloo & City line is down. Typical. Reroute via Moorgate and the Northern Line, arrive at the office in Fashion Street grumpier than usual. 

Cup of tea and breath. Now focus; with the Airmic and Managing General Agents’ Association conferences on the horizon, I make them the main focus for today. My colleague Sophie’s birthday too, must remember to send a card. 

Tuesday 

GCSE Physics today for my eldest, the thought of which reminds me of my old physics teacher’s creeping death questioning routine, going round stupefied faces before the inevitable “Tell me, er, Beasley…” accompanied by chuckles from the back of the class and a question which might as well have been in Greek. 

Snapping back to this morning’s issue, ‘Yondr’ pouch is missing. 

Tube strike day so second cup of tea and commute to the kitchen table. 

It’s a meeting heavy day, five client ones and two with the rest of the Full Circle team. 

Final prep for tomorrow’s big client announcement, which is going out under embargo. 

Some nervous refreshing of news sites, but all the journalists have stuck to it. Looking even further ahead, attention turns to clients’ messaging for this autumn’s Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous. 

The working day is officially over, but during one of my boy’s football training, I sit in Marble Hill Park and finalise a presentation for a new client pitch tomorrow. 

Also learn that Southampton aren’t going to sack their manager, so make a mental note to expect more ‘spy-gate’ bants in the office tomorrow. 

Wednesday

Early start as it’s Geography and Maths today, get my usual seat on the train at Strawberry Hill and ponder what my other son will forget today and where he gets it from. 

Arrive at the office, Sophie asks about her card – damn it. 

Yesterday’s big announcement embargo passes and bingo, we’re across the insurance trade press. God I love my job sometimes. 

Back down from that brief high and we’re writing a book and magazine for one of our international clients, so the first two calls of the day are on that, followed by a client meeting. 

Lunch is at Enoteca de Luca with another client, where we discuss what the second half of the year will be focused on, but no time for dessert as the new client pitch is imminent. 

I find their office, which can be a challenge with my sense of direction, exchange a few WhatsApps with a journalist on the way, who’s on to a story. I’ll need to fix that when I get back. 

Pitch done, back to Fashion Street and a quiet off the record chat setting the journalist straight on the way. End the day with an interview with a client on the West coast of the US so it’s a late finish. 

Thursday

It’s History today and Elizabeth I, and my son is, remarkably, actually looking forward to it. 

Fishing for my steering lock at the station and I find my youngest’s phone still on the back seat. 

Another tube strike day so I’m walking from London Bridge, which, I try to convince myself is great as the exercise will do me some good and I’ll enjoy the change. I don’t.

Only two meetings today, this is helpful. A catch-up day. 

We’ve been asked to support a client at their annual conference in Istanbul so finalising the PR plan for that is first on the to do list. 

I reluctantly turn down lunch at Quaglino’s. Anyone who knows me knows I like my food – but it’s too far without the tube and my colleague Ant Gould is, rather selfishly I think, away hosting a conference in Nottingham; and, of course, this afternoon’s meeting is too important. 

A quick wander to Pret will have to suffice. I’m a sucker for their Lasagne soup. Meeting done and the rest of the afternoon is filled with writing, another press release and an award entry planning call.  

Friday

English Language is this morning’s torment. My youngest goes to school in his PE kit, as I return from the school run I notice some of his class mates sporting their school uniforms. I’m pretty sure he’s in the right this time. 

Working from home today, I know my Brandformula colleagues will be checking in endless deliveries of Airmic collateral, think I’ll leave them to it. 

Quick cup of tea and out go two press releases before a couple more client calls. It’s Deliveroo Friday and somehow a Big Mac appears. Don’t judge me.

The afternoon brings an industry award entry draft, a client call on Airmic and then the end of week team call. 

It’s our weekly ritual to talk through every client, what’s happening with each, plans, gaps, who’s having fun over the weekend and how next week’s diaries are shaping up. Looks like it’ll be another busy one.