Founded by a Green Issues alumnus, Peter Elms, in 2016, Alpaca does planning PR but seems to have a specialism in environmental projects such as wind farms and the like.

Consultants who worked with Tom: Peter Elms (Founder and MD)

They’re big but ‘for various reasons’ (exact quote) they did not want to pitch to me. Byeeeeeee. But hats off to Stephen Pomeroy and Andrew Howard the founders. But the boys sold out last year to the management team, led by the chief bean counter.

Consultants who started with Tom. Krystian Groom, James Birds here

Antony (stet) Calvert stood against Ed (Strictly) Balls in the 2010 General Election memorable slogan: ‘Balls out for tenner’. As well as planning PR, with . He also runs the secretariat for a dozen APPGs (All Party Parliamentary Groups) – including the ‘Bees and Pollinators’ APPG. The APPGs have been controversial with stories of some MPs staying back to enjoy some local pleasures.

Consultants who started with Tom. Antony Calvert

Another old-timer and it has recently become a sort of cooperative with employees owning 50% of the business. Besides planning, they have a wide range of other PR offerings.

Consultants who started with Tom. Will Scawn (Director)

They have been around forever and Liam Herbert is their chief executive. Chelgate refuses to disclose its clients as required by the PRCA’s Code of Practice. But Liam is also a member as an individual and chairs the Public Affairs Board that is responsible for maintaining the PRCA’s Code for Lobbyists which includes naming your clients. Funny old world.

This is the rump of Curtin&Co (RIP) which went into administration in 2020 with debts of £750,000 two years after I sold it as a going concern. Nick Stanton (former Lib Dem leader of Southwark), Paul Harvey (Leader of Basingstoke and Deane) Steve Carey (Lib Dem from Hillingdon) as well as the accountant Mike Cox remain. They had a messy unfair dismissal case which was reported in the trade press as ‘Curtin&Co found guilty of discriminating against former employee on maternity leave’. Chess is sometimes referred to as PawnHub.

Consultants who started with Tom. All of the above plus David Shetcliffe and Helen Barrett.

This company specialises in fairly in-depth consultation and does a lot of work with local authorities.

This is headed up by Nick Dines, a former Tory councillor in Enfield. A team of about ten, it also has a design section.

A broad-based public affairs company which used to do a lot of work with trade unions and still includes Unison among its clients but has broadened its base and has a sizeable property division.

Consultants who started with Tom. Sarah King (Partner and Director – also a Southwark Labour Councillor). Paul Church (Director – a former Westminster councillor) also worked with Tom.

Headed up by Nick Kilby, who started his career in theatre but has also sat as a councillor in Kingston. He is also a Director of a print and design company called (checks notes) Rubber Duckie. Who am I to comment? Chris Roberts, former Labour Leader of Greenwich, is the Deputy Chairman. Solid outfit.

Founded just five years ago, it is now a company with more than 20 people led by Rob Allaway who worked for the now-defunct GKA for 20 years.

Consultants who started with Tom. Pavitar Mann (director and also a Labour Councillor in Slough)

Heading up by Nick Keable, who has been around a long time and was the former MD of PPS (now folded into SEC Newgate). A bit shy about who their consultants are.

This stands for Emotionally Intelligent Communications and has a good client list. It also has an impressive array of consultants, some of which seem to be freelance.

Consultants who started with Tom. James Garland and Chris Brown.

Founded by Rachel Carson, who started as a researcher with Lord Hanningfield. Based in Warwickshire with a strong design capability.

Consultants who started with Tom. Rachel Carson and Chris Brown (same guy).

No jokes about doing anything for a couple of quid, this south-west London consultancy was founded by Wyn Evans after he left Lexington. They have links to design and film-making companies.

This is a huge group of 300 people and with a big presence in the Middle East. As well as property they also offer general PR, media relations and advertising. They bravely show their fees on their webpage, if you can penetrate it.

As it says on the tin, public and private infrastructure is what they’re about.

Consultants who started with Tom. Robbie Laird.

One of the big multinationals where planning is but a small part of the total range of services. When Green Issues went bust a couple of years after I left in 2008, the remains were picked up by College Hill, which was then gobbled up by Instinctif.

Consultants who started with Tom. Kelly Edwards (Managing Partner) and Katie Gabriel (Account Director).

This company was started up by Karen Alcock five years ago and it’s grown like topsy with some 50 people on the books. She had two spells at Four Communications and was MD of Public Affairs before setting up Kanda – which must have delighted Nan Williams, Four’s CEO. Karen was also a Cabinet member of the ruling Labour Party on Hackney Council. So it just goes to show that socialism works.

Consultants who started with Tom. Alex Wright (Director) and Mark Harrison (Account Director).

A smallish niche operator that has been around for more than 20 years and which specialises – as the name says – in consultation. Founded by Nick Brown.

Another of the old timers (since 1999) that has grown organically. As it says on the tin, London is their focus and they’ve done some really big projects. Johnny Popper and Robert Gordon Clark are the main guys.

Consultants who started with Tom. Ellie Tucker

A new start-up founded by Ally Kennedy (ex-BECG and Infrastructure Matters) in 2023. A solid operator.

Founded by Ian Thorn (now a Wiltshire councillor), after he left Green Issues in 2007, it is now a substantial company with more than 30 people. Has a big graphic design capability.

Consultants who started with Tom. Ian Thorn (Chairman and a Wiltshire Councillor) and Jack Brentnall (Senior Account Manager).

Founded by Kevin Craig, PLMR now has a substantial planning practice since it took over Snapdragon, founded by Rebekah Paczek (great operator), now at Earls Court Development Company.

Co-founded by Paul Demoldenberg, who has been a Labour councillor in Westminster for more than 30 years. He was due to step down last year but let his name go forward (paper candidate) in an almost unwinnable ward. He won and now sits on the Cabinet.

A broad-based communications company that has been around for a while and did a lot of ‘corporate’ work and reputation management as well as stakeholder engagement. Gabriel Abulafia (ex-Green Issues, Lexington and LCA) heads this side of the business.

Consultants who started with Tom. Gabriel Abulafia (Director)

Questà è una società… oops sorry, I’ve slipped into Italian as the CEO of the holding company, Fiorenzo Tagliabue, hails from il Belpaese and he has been buying media companies like a WAG at the sales. It is now a global company with offices in the Americas, Australia and the UK. He has acquired (checks notes) Bellenden, run by Mark Glover (former Southwark councillor - Labour) and then he picked up PPS (one of the early players run by Stephen Byfield – who is now building crematoria – I’ve booked a place) and then Newgate and then Redleaf. I’m lost. They’re big and getting bigger.

Consultants who started with Tom. David Scane (Director).

This smallish outfit was Founded by David McFarlane, a former West Oxfordshire Tory councillor until 2019 and mate of David Cameron’s (aka Dracula), who gave him an MBE. David M thought he might get David C’s seat after he decided to pursue other interests following Brexit, but the good folk of West Oxfordshire thought otherwise and selected Robert Courts, whose Dad, Ian, is the Leader of Solihull. Small world.

Consultants who started with Tom. David McFarlane (MD)

Peter PR Bingle is truly a legend in his lunchtime and the classier London restaurants (where the Maitre d’s all tip their hats as he walks through the door) are his front office. He wines and dines clients (73 of them), potential clients and politicians of all hues. Peter John, former Labour leader of Southwark, is the Chairman and the two seem to rub along nicely.

The main man here is Henry Lamprecht who was a cabinet member when the Tories controlled Enfield but underwent a Pauline conversion on his way to North London and is now a devout Starmerite. Interesting business model with a raft of consultants from all the major parties.

Consultants who started with Tom. Henry Lamprecht (MD)

They were formerly known as Indigo, but after a sting operation by The Daily Telegraph in 2013 it changed to its current name. MD Richard Patient has been around for a while but there are no other staff mentioned on the website.