Poole PR practitioner is youngest person to achieve globally- recognised status

Leila Willingham, business and account manager at LLPR, sets the bar for the next generation of PR professionals, becoming the youngest person ever to achieve globallyrecognised Chartered PR Practitioner status.

Sandbanks-based PR and communications agency, Liz Lean PR (LLPR), is celebrating professional excellence among its team as Leila Willingham becomes the youngest person ever to gain chartership status with the PR industry’s global professional body, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Leila joined the agency as an account executive in 2017, having completed sixth form studies in Poole. Since then, she has undertaken a series of on and off the job training including the PRCA Foundation Certificate, the CIPR Professional Diploma and most recently gaining chartership status with the CIPR, demonstrating her excellence in the profession.

Lindsay Dunlop, CIPR corporate development associate, said: “Through her role as business and account manager at LLPR, Leila has demonstrated an intrinsic talent within the industry. At the age of 23, she is the youngest CIPR member ever to gain chartership status.

“This achievement is trailblazing for younger PR practitioners, demonstrating that upholding the highest professional standards in PR isn’t exclusive to those with extensive years of experience. As an organisation, we are committed to a future in which Chart. PR status is the minimum expected of a senior PR professional. Leila’s success promotes the standards of practice and professional conduct that we demand of all PR practitioners and sets the expectation for new professionals joining the industry.”

Leila completed her chartership assessment in October 2022, having just celebrated her fifth anniversary with the company. In that time, Leila has developed her skills as a successful PR practitioner and business leader, having been instrumental in achieving key successes for clients and winning new business for the agency.

Leila said: “Receiving the news that I am the youngest person ever to achieve chartership with the CIPR extends the pride and success I feel having gained accreditation last month. I hope that this achievement demonstrates that age has only ever been a number and that young people should absolutely be encouraged to go after their ambitions and have confidence in the skills and knowledge they can bring to the sector.”

Leila Willingham, LLPR www.lizleanpr.co.uk

Strategic Solutions completes hat-trick of award wins

Strategic Solutions Financial Planners is celebrating a trio of recent award wins from leading financial bodies over the last month.

The chartered financial advisers, based in Bournemouth, was named Investment Adviser of the Year by Moneyfacts. The team was delighted to have retained the award for the second consecutive year.

Strategic Solutions then went on to win Money Marketing Charity Champion of the Year, a highly competitive award that recognises how the company has been actively making advice accessible to all of society and for their community involvement. The company has a strong association with the local community, and this was their first financial community award win.

Strategic Solutions’ third award was for small- to medium-sized firm of the year at the MoneyAge awards, making a hat-trick of wins for the firm in less than a month.

Nathan Harris, partner at Strategic Solutions said: “We could not be prouder to receive three separate awards within such a short time frame. These multi-award wins not only prove that our industry recognises the quality of our advisers but is validation for the tremendous hard work and dedication that our team are giving to their clients.”