PR Trio Spin-off into Orbit

Three well-known PR practitioners have spun off from an Edinburgh-based agency to create their own company, specialising in both public relations and public affairs.

Orbit Communications has been set up by Alex Orr, Alex Bruce and James Tout – who were all previously at Indigo PR.

The new agency says its specialisms include energy, professional services, construction, skills and the planning process.

The managing director is Orr, who, among other things, led an award-winning campaign introducing the smoking ban in Scotland. 

Director, Alex Bruce, has worked previously as a senior political policy adviser in the European Parliament and as head of government relations for Vauxhall Motors. 

Director James Tout worked for the Scottish Government’s communications department before moving into PR and public affairs consultancy. Five years ago, he was the City Council correspondent at the Aberdeen Evening Express. 

In a statement issued by Orbit, Orr is quoted, saying: “Although there’s a lively PR and public affairs scene in Scotland already, we feel we’ve got an exceptional range of skills and experience to offer clients something truly unique.

“We’re equally comfortable running a hard-hitting media campaign as briefing politicians in Holyrood, Westminster or Brussels or guiding major developments through the planning process.

“So that means we can offer our clients a totally integrated service that cuts across the artificial barriers some firms put up between their PR, public affairs and community engagement offerings.”