A Northern founder has gone viral after walking out of a meeting with a London PR agency after they suggested he soften his accent.
26-year-old Ollie Skinner, founder of London-based private members’ club Balearic LDN, shared the encounter on LinkedIn, where his post quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion about regional identity in professional settings.
The 26-year-old entrepreneur from Harrogate wrote: “I’ve just had a meeting with a PR company (who shall remain nameless) about a possible collab / activation for one of our concepts. It started off really well until they advised me that I should tone down my northern accent and try to speak differently.”
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But, instead of taking advice, proud Northerner Ollie had other ideas. “No thanks,” he said and proceeded to leave the meeting and walk out.
“I was very close to telling them to F**K off but had to remain semi-professional,” he posted.
As he departed, he delivered a characteristically northern sign-off: “CHEERS LOVE.”
The young entrepreneur went on to say how his northern accent has never held him back. “In my northern accent, I’ve looked after rockstars, royalty and everything in between,” he wrote. “Last month our amazing business was featured in The Times and Vogue, and they all loved the fact I was from the north.”
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“I’m proud to be from Harrogate in Yorkshire, and I will always be my authentic self.”
If the PR firm’s goal was to make Skinner more marketable, their advice backfired spectacularly after his post went viral generating hundreds of interactions and more than 200 comments in less than 24 hours. Many were quick to celebrate their own regional accents – and congratulate Ollie for sticking true to his.
“Good on you Ollie from one Yorkshireman to another,” wrote Darren Needham, of The Ark Media Agency.
Journalist and PR consultant Jill Kelly wrote: “I’m from the ‘Boro and I’m loud and proud with my Northern twang!”
Georgia Colgrave, events and marketing manager, reserved her criticism for the PR company in question. “Other than it being just plain rude, I also find companies that think this way boooooring and antiquated & I def wouldn’t want to party with them,” she wrote.
Camille Merrells, VP at KWT Global, was among the dozens to point out that the comment wasn’t just rude, but plain wrong. “Absolutely insane advice,” she wrote. “Any PR worth speaking to will tell you that authenticity in style, manner and message will ALWAYS result in more impact.”
Balearic LDN is a private members’ club based in London. In his original post, Ollie said: “Unlike normal or more traditional private members clubs our club Balearic LDN selects its members based on their character and personality, people you’d like to have dinner and party with, not just how they speak, todays meeting really emphasised one of the reason why I launched our club! If you live in London, check us out.”
A 2023 Sutton Trust report found that 62% of elite UK roles – including PR, finance, and media – are dominated by privately educated professionals, most of whom speak with southern English accents. Meanwhile, northern and working-class voices remain underrepresented, often facing subtle (and not-so-subtle) pressure to conform.
