London strategic communications agency Inflect Partners and Manchester-based devolution specialist agency DevoConnect have merged.
The merger combines the talents and capabilities of some of the most senior and leading UK public affairs and communications professionals, and forges together the success of the premier ‘devo’ public affairs agency, DevoConnect, with the strategic capability of Inflect.
The new agency combines decades of experience working in Westminster with a team of devolution experts, providing insight, intelligence and understanding of the increasingly complex network of relationships that organisations need to navigate to engage with policy-making locally, regionally and nationally.
The agency will operate as one team from its London and Manchester offices, and is supported by a wider network of associates with sector, regional and devolved expertise.
Emily Wallace, MD of Inflect said: “We founded Inflect to help businesses respond to the challenges of the future. The trend is clear, future policies and decisions will not be shaped, informed and influenced by Westminster alone. When our national priority is building strong regional economies to drive UK growth, we are delighted to be building our business by adding the expertise of the UK’s leading ‘devo’ agency.”
DevoConnect founder Gill Morris added: “The merger provides an unprecedented opportunity to further my commitment to building a stronger “voice” for English towns, cities and regions. I am so proud of the success that DevoConnect has achieved over the past 6 years creating consensus, building collaboration and making change happen.
“With the promise of wider and deeper devolution to come, the DevoInflect brand will give us the capacity and capability to do even more to influence and shape the devolved landscape and future policy. I am so excited to be working with Emily (again) and Harry and, most of all, that I will have more time to champion devolution and helping to grow this unique agency.”
Inflect founders Wallace and Harry Shackleton will lead the day-to-day management and growth and development of the business. DevoConnect founder Morris will become the executive chair of the newly merged agency.
DevoConnect’s unique focus on shaping the debate and on the importance of devolution in tackling inter and intra-regional disparities will continue under the ‘devo’ of the DevoInflect branding.
