Bellenden Public Affairs

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

Bellenden Public Affairs is a UK lobbying firm with offices in London and Edinburgh.

It was set up in 2006 by lobbyist Mark Glover, a Labour councillor in the London borough of Southwark and specialised in lobbying for developers to gain planning permission, particularly in London.

It is now part of Newgate Communications.

Activity

Lobbying for education industry players

Bellenden has a dedicated education and skills sector team that has lobbied on 'all aspects of education and skills policy': assessment, accountability, training provision, leadership, funding and community engagement.^[1]

It says it not only know where education policy conversations will go, 'but also how to influence its direction of travel.'

Its clients in the education sector comprise of: education and training providers; exam boards; education charities; and software developers. They have included: 1994 Group, the Academies Enterprise Trust, the Access Project, ASCL, AQA, the Bridge Group, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), City University London, Ellucian, GKN, the Manufacturing Technologies Association and the Sector Skills Council.

Bellenden Local also helps schools and universities with local planning issues.

Education industry expertise

Bellenden associate, John Lakin is described as an 'education management expert', having worked in the education sector for over 30 years, including as an adviser to the UK government. He was the partner leading education consulting for PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he also led its wider public policy, research and economics capability. He has also advised the UK government, national agencies, universities, colleges and local authorities. He has also worked for the World Bank, the European Commission and the Hong Kong Government. Recent clients of Lakin's include Universities UK (for a review of shared services within universities), BIS (for national evaluation of RDAs), and the Department for Education (for a review of Academies and Building Schools for the Future. He has also represented business interests on Business in the Community and on other education business partnership bodies.^[2]

Bellenden's education consultant is Natasha Graham, Associate Director, Public Affairs.

Lobbying in Scotland

Bellenden's Edinburgh office claims to 'help businesses navigate Scottish politics'. The coming 2016 election in Scotland, and more devolution, mean 'there has never been a more critical time to keep abreast of the changing political landscape in Scotland, policy threats and opportunities, and how all this could impact upon your business', says Bellenden.

Its services include: policy analysis and formation; stakeholder mapping and engagement programmes; political intelligence; reputation management; strategic counsel and advocacy; campaign planning and delivery; thought leadership; party conference programmes and parliamentary monitoring. It sees its job 'to look ahead, alert you to issues that might impact your business and help you represent your interest with MSPs, the Scottish Government, wider stakeholders and the media.'

The Scotland office also helps deliver planning approval, by: helping clients 'understand the local area they are seeking to develop in, which is crucial when seeking planning consent, including the key political influencers and decision makers, how the local planning authority operates, the dynamics of the local community and who to engage with and when.' It will then work with the client to get support for the development through: political engagement, community consultation, support generation, media management, reputation management, project advocacy and web and social media positioning.'

One of the Edinburgh office's key clients, CALA, is a development firm planning to build 80 plus new flats on the site of Edinburgh's historic Donaldson's school, a plan that has drawn firm opposition from the local community. Bellenden, a 'UK wide specialist in securing planning consent' ^[3] , is well versed in the use of public consultation to dispel any potential opposition to the designs of their clients.

Bellenden's Edinburgh office is led by Emma Megaughin, who has worked in the Scottish Parliament; and includes Caroline Henderson, previously of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Scottish Parliament.

Bellenden provides lobbying services (as of August 2015) to, among others, the Scottish Government on the ISLES project ('Irish Scottish Links on Energy Study').

People

Mark Glover, Chief Executive. Mark's political experience has included spells on the Liberal Democrat Federal Executive and setting up the Reformer Magazine, chaired by Charles Kennedy MP. He joined the Labour Party in 1995 and has been a Labour councillor in Southwark since 2002. He is current Chair of the Labour Group and has been shadow spokesperson for performance and communications. Mark is also on the Board of Groundwork Southwark and is a member of the CIPR.^[4]
Phil Briscoe, Managing Director. Has worked in politics and communications for more than 25 years, specialising in property, planning, energy and regeneration. He also served four years as a Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, before stepping down in 2010, and has been a candidate for the Greater London Assembly. ^[5]
Nikki da Costa. A former Special Adviser and FTSE 100 Head of UK Government Relations, joined Bellenden in 2010. ^[5] In March 2015 it was announced da Costa would be departing her role as managing director to set up her own training and mentoring business, but will continue to provide consultancy services at Bellenden one day per week.^[6]
Greg Rosen, Had spells working in government, as a senior strategist in Whitehall, and as Head of Media Strategy for the London Development Agency. Is a political columnist for the Scotsman and the Guardian, is a Consultant-Director at the Fabian Society and is Chair of the Labour History Group, a former Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society, media adviser to the Co-operative Party and Visiting Fellow in Politics at Goldsmiths, London 2008-2011. Has worked for Bellenden since 2006. ^[5]

In October 2011 PRWeek reported Bellenden had recruited the following six people:

Kris Verle associate director (public affairs) (ex-the Whitehouse Consultancy)
Sophie Fernandes account manager (public affairs) - has rejoined from the Institute of Directors
Annie Powell - account executive (public policy) - ex-law firm Travers Smith
Clare Phillips - account manager and Wales office head (ex-aide to Alan Pugh AM)
John Lakin - associate (an education sector specialist who is ex-PricewaterhouseCoopers) ^[7]

Former employees

Michael Dixon - senior account exec in Scotland, former Parliamentary Assistant to Nicola Sturgeon MSP; now with MHP.

March 2016-May 2016

December 2015-February 2016

September 2015 - November 2015

June 2015 - August 2015

March 2015 - May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Clients

This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

Lobbying clients listed include

UK register of consultant lobbyists

The register of consultant lobbyists documents those clients on behalf of whom Bellenden has met with government ministers. The firm's listings since 2015/2016 are as follows:

April - June 2016

Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) | Pup Aid | Swan Housing Association Limited ^[17]

January - March 2016

October - December 2015

British Wind Partnerships | Independent Renewable Energy Generators Group | Licensed Taxi Drivers Association | National Accident Helpline | Renewable Energy Systems

July - September 2015

April - June 2015

January - March 2015

March 2016-May 2016

December 2015-February 2016

September 2015 - November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Airvolution, Aldwyck Housing Group, All Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (Scotts, Corporation of London, Royal Horticultural Society, Institute of Horticulture and Horticultural Trades Association), Ansell Harman Enterprises Ltd, AQA, Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations, Association of School and College Leaders, Banks Group, Barratt Developments plc, Berkeley First, Braeburn Estates Limited Partnership, British Land, CALA Homes, Canary Wharf Group plc, Cano Ltd, Care UK, Chartered Management Institute, City University London, Cory Environmental Ltd, County Councils Network, Crisis Prevention Institute, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, DSN Limited, East 7, EDI, Electrical Safety First, Element Power, Ellucian, Enforcement Regulatory Group, ESB, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Horticultural Trades Association, Housing and Care 21, Independent Renewable Energy Generators Group (RES, Infinis, Fred Olsen, Banks Group, REG, Broadview Energy, Infinergy, Infinis, International Association of Horticultural Producers, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Landsvirkjun, Leeds and Partners, Legal & General Ltd, Liberata, Lightwood Strategic Limited, Miller Developments, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, Ocean Outdoors, Park Properties Development, Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies, Peabody, PEFC International, PEFC UK, Pup Aid, Qatari Diar, REG Windpower, RES, Royal Horticultural Society, Sager Group, Serco, SIGOMA, Stark Invest, Student Costello, Student Living Kingston Limited, Swan Housing Group, Vergnet SA, Visa Europe, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc, Wildstone. ^[16]

2013

Independent Renewable Energy Generators Group (RES, Infinis, Fred Olsen, Banks Group, REG, Broadview Energy) | Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies - an Associate All Party Parliamentary Group. 2Co Energy Ltd; Alkane Energy plc; Alstom Power Systems; AMEC plc; APX-ENDEX; Babcock International Plc; Baringa Partners LLP; BG Group; Bosch Thermotechnology; BP plc; British Managment Data Foundation; British Sugar plc; Centrica plc; CMS Cameron McKenna; ConocoPhillips UK Ltd; Cornwall Energy Assocs; Corona Energy Ltd; Costain Group plc; Doosan Power Systems; Drax Power Ltd; E.ON UK; EDF Energy; Elexon Ltd; Enertek Int. Ltd; Ernst & Young LLP; ESBI Contracting Ltd; ExxonMobil Group (Esso); Fluor; GEI; Herbert Smith Solicitors; Hess Corporation; Hothouse Technologies Ltd; IBM Uk Ltd; Igas Energy plc; ITM Power plc; Jersey Electricity plc; KBR Energy & Chemicals; Lane Clark & Peacock LLP; Local Waste Solutions; NaREC; National Grid; Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd; Nuclear Liabilities Fund Ltd; Oliver Wyman; Power Efficiency Ltd; PwC LLP; Ravenheat Manufacturing Ltd; Red Solar Ltd; Rothschild; RWE npower plc; Scottish Power; Alfa Energy; Candu Energy^[23] Serco Defence, Science and Nuclear |Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies | Scottish Power Renewables Canary Wharf plc | Timber Trade Federation | Horticultural Trades Association | | The Royal Parks | ‘Greening the Games’ | All Party Parliamentary China Group | All Party Parliamentary Vietnam Group

2011

Lobbying clients listed in 2011 include: Ash Contracting | All Party Parliamentary Vietnam Group | All Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (consisting of Corporation of London, Horticultural Trades Association, Royal Horticultural Society, Horticulture Week, The Royal Parks - Bellenden provides secretariat ^[24]) | Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners | Association of School and College Leaders | Ben Bailey Homes | Barratt Developments Plc | Canary Wharf Group Plc | Cambridge Assessment | Chartered Management Institute | Cory/Wheelabrator | The Bond Group | Construction Products Association | East 7 (Aldwyck, Circle Anglia, Flagship Housing Group, Bedfordshire Pilgrims, Borwell Housing) TheCityUK | Tribal Plc | Vestas Wind Systems A/S ^[25]

2013-14

Associate Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies - Bellenden is registered as group secretariat from November 2012. ^[27] ^[28]

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

In January 2015, Nick Clegg criticised LEP's who turn to lobbying agencies, using Hertfordshire LEP hiring Bellenden on a year-long contract for £80,592.59 as an example. He said his door is 'always open to LEPs' and other ministers speak to LEPs all the time and questioned why they need to pay consultants to do what MPs offer for free. Conservative MP, Stephen McPartland, called for an investigation in to how taxpayers' money was spent, who it paid and the meeting that were held, adding that it should be in the public domain. A number of other LEPs are understood to be employing lobbying agencies.^[29]

Contacts

Website:www.bellenden.co.uk

London office: Level 4, Lafone House, The Leathermarket, 11/13 Weston Street, London, SE1 3ER

Edinbugh office: 16 Forth Street Edinburgh EH1 3LH

References

↑ Education sector, Bellenden Public Affairs website, accessed August 2014
↑ Associates profiles, Bellenden website, accessed August 2015
↑ Holyrood Exposed: A Guide to Lobbying in Scotlandsquarespace.com, 12 October 2015, accessed 12 October 2015
↑ Bellenden website, accessed Feb 2009
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 [1], accessed September 2014
↑ Rod Muir Bellenden public affairs chief quits Public Affairs News, 13 March 2015, accessed 15 April 2015.
↑ People Moves, October 2011
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Bellenden Limited, APPC, accessed 15 June 2016
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Bellenden staff, Register 1st December 2015-28th February 2016, APPC, accessed 8 April 2016
↑ Bellenden Public Affairs client list Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016
↑ Bellenden Public Affairs client list Jun-Aug15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016
↑ Bellenden Public Affairs client list Mar-May15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 APPC Register for 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015, accessed 3 June 2015.
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 APPC Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014, accessed 15 January 2015.
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 APPC Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014, accessed 16 October 2014.
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 APPC APPC Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, accessed September 2014.
↑ 'Bellenden PA profile 2016', Register of consultant lobbyists, accessed 20 July 2016
↑ Bellenden profile 2016, Register of consultant lobbyists, accessed 29 April 2016
↑ Bellenden Public Affairs profile 2015, UK Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 9 February 2016
↑ Bellenden client list, Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016
↑ Bellenden Limited clients, Jun-Aug15, APPC.org, accessed 4 February 2016
↑ Bellenden Limited Mar-May15, APPC.org, accessed 4 February 2016
↑ Register.... APPC, 4 October 2013
↑ House of Commons Register of All-Party Groups: as at 30 September 2010
↑ APPC Register 1 March to 31 May 2011
↑ Bellenden website, accessed Feb 2009
↑ APPC Register Entry for 1 Sep 2012 to 30 Nov 2012 - group is incorrectly listed by APPC as 'Energy Services'
↑ House of Commons Register Of All-Party Groups [as at 14 March 2013], Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies (an Associate Parliamentary Group), acc 1 May 2013
↑ David Singleton Clegg hits out at lobbying contract Public Affairs News, 30 January 2015, accessed 9 February 2015

Back to Lobbying Portal

[1] Education sector, Bellenden Public Affairs website, accessed August 2014

[2] Associates profiles, Bellenden website, accessed August 2015

[3] Holyrood Exposed: A Guide to Lobbying in Scotlandsquarespace.com, 12 October 2015, accessed 12 October 2015

[4] Bellenden website, accessed Feb 2009

[ML-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 [1], accessed September 2014

[6] Rod Muir Bellenden public affairs chief quits Public Affairs News, 13 March 2015, accessed 15 April 2015.

[7] People Moves, October 2011

[Mar16-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Bellenden Limited, APPC, accessed 15 June 2016

[Dec15-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Bellenden staff, Register 1st December 2015-28th February 2016, APPC, accessed 8 April 2016

[10] Bellenden Public Affairs client list Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016

[11] Bellenden Public Affairs client list Jun-Aug15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016

[12] Bellenden Public Affairs client list Mar-May15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016

[Dec14-13] 13.0 ^13.1 APPC Register for 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015, accessed 3 June 2015.

[sept-14] 14.0 ^14.1 APPC Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014, accessed 15 January 2015.

[June-15] 15.0 ^15.1 APPC Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014, accessed 16 October 2014.

[MP-16] 16.0 ^16.1 APPC APPC Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, accessed September 2014.

[17] 'Bellenden PA profile 2016', Register of consultant lobbyists, accessed 20 July 2016

[18] Bellenden profile 2016, Register of consultant lobbyists, accessed 29 April 2016

[19] Bellenden Public Affairs profile 2015, UK Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 9 February 2016

[20] Bellenden client list, Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 9 February 2016

[21] Bellenden Limited clients, Jun-Aug15, APPC.org, accessed 4 February 2016

[22] Bellenden Limited Mar-May15, APPC.org, accessed 4 February 2016

[23] Register.... APPC, 4 October 2013

[24] House of Commons Register of All-Party Groups: as at 30 September 2010

[25] APPC Register 1 March to 31 May 2011

[26] Bellenden website, accessed Feb 2009

[27] APPC Register Entry for 1 Sep 2012 to 30 Nov 2012 - group is incorrectly listed by APPC as 'Energy Services'

[28] House of Commons Register Of All-Party Groups [as at 14 March 2013], Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies (an Associate Parliamentary Group), acc 1 May 2013

[29] David Singleton Clegg hits out at lobbying contract Public Affairs News, 30 January 2015, accessed 9 February 2015

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Bellenden Public Affairs

Contents

Activity

Lobbying for education industry players

Education industry expertise

Lobbying in Scotland

People

Former employees

March 2016-May 2016

December 2015-February 2016

September 2015 - November 2015

June 2015 - August 2015

March 2015 - May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Clients

UK register of consultant lobbyists

April - June 2016

January - March 2016

October - December 2015

July - September 2015

April - June 2015

January - March 2015

March 2016-May 2016

December 2015-February 2016

September 2015 - November 2015

June 2015-August 2015

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

2013

2011

2013-14

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Contacts

References

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