Another PR agency has made significant cutbacks in Scotland amid a downturn in client spending and rising costs.
Smarts has made a number of Glasgow staff redundant and has withdrawn from some client work, but denied it had closed its office in the city. It is the second PR agency in Scotland to announce staff layoffs in the past week.
A spokesman said: “Due to a lack of visibility on committed client spend in Scotland and the challenge of absorbing costs within the agency in a tough and competitive climate for creative services, we have had to make some team members in Scotland redundant and to withdraw from some client work. We still have a team and an office in Glasgow.
“The need to make redundancies is hugely regrettable and we are doing everything we can to support our valued colleagues and our loyal clients impacted by this decision.”
The agency has other offices in London, New York, Amsterdam, Belfast and it was not known if they are affected by cuts.
Its clients include Asda, Johnnie Walker whisky, Road Safety Scotland, Openreach and the rock group Snow Patrol.
Among its campaigns was the launch of Couture Expression, the inaugural limited-edition release from the Johnnie Walker Vault, co-created by Johnnie Walker master blender, Dr Emma Walker, and the French couture designer, Olivier Rousteing.
The cutbacks follow last week’s news, also revealed exclusively by Daily Business, that Edinburgh-based Halogen Communications has appointed liquidators.
It was set up by former Tory MP and government minister Raymond Robertson and ex-civil servant John Crawford.
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