Joining Quantum as a graduate
Starting anything new can be scary, and starting your first job as a graduate can be terrifying.
I graduated in 2022 and quickly applied for an account executive position with Quantum Communications.
After an interview process that focused more on my approach than on my experience, I was delighted to receive a job offer and eagerly accepted.
But within a week I was doubting my own abilities and wondering if the Quantum team would like me.
In hindsight, I feel silly thinking that but at the time it was all down to nerves and a completely natural reaction to have.
As this was my first professional job, I wanted to make a positive impression – but not knowing the public affairs and Quantum work environment, I thought being more formal was best.
A pace that worked for me
I bought myself a cheap black suit jacket and black shoes for my first day.
Feeling a bit overdressed meeting a couple of my colleagues for the first time, I was quickly put at ease with how nice they were. I have worn that jacket a handful of times since.
Chloë was eager to teach me the ways of public affairs at a pace that worked for me and helped me to make the most of tools like Asana to make sure my workload was manageable.
I was also told not to be disheartened about Alan’s ‘red pen of doom’.
At the time, I remember thinking I’ll be on top of every task and would barely see Alan’s red pen. I was naïve to think I would be on top of all my tasks 100% of the time, but I was also wrong to assume the team would dump a load of work on me and create a sink or swim environment.
For the first couple of months, with almost every task I did the team was willing to talk me through them to double and triple check everything while providing feedback.
I remember finding the concept of monitoring reports daunting; now I can be quite protective of how they should be done to my high standard.
Three PMs and a new head of state
Within my first three months at Quantum, there were three different prime ministers, a new head of state, and a lettuce.
And yet, during this busy schedule of political unrest I never felt anyone at Quantum expected too much of me.
And if I was ever given something I did not know how to do, I was always comfortable with asking someone from the team for some help.
Nobody judged me for not knowing, or ever got annoyed at me asking for help.
After my first year at Quantum, I was writing letters to ministers, drafting the occasional press release, regularly keeping clients up-to-date with political events, attending parliament for events, and I was given full trust in organising a site visit for a Cabinet Secretary to meet one of our clients.
Treated as an equal
Quantum has allowed me to grow my skills and confidence in the field of public affairs.
I started feeling intimidated about updating a spreadsheet to now confidentially arranging and attending ministerial visits for our clients.
The team is talented and experienced, but treat you as an equal and want to learn from you as much as you want to learn from them.
We work with a wide range of clients, across a variety of sectors – from food and drink to renewable energy, tech and debt advice.
Since joining in 2022 I have felt a sense of pride being a part of Quantum growing as an agency as well as improving individually and the exciting opportunities that come with it.
Quantum is seeking to hire a new account executive – find out more and how to apply here: https://quantumcommunications.co.uk/account-executive/
From MSP visits to birthday celebrations: our work with Sistema Scotland
Sistema Scotland is a remarkable charity dedicated to transforming the lives of young people through the power of music and nurturing relationships.
The charity’s Big Noise model has been independently evaluated by the experts at the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) since 2013, and a wide range of positive impacts have been evidenced. These professionally-assured evaluations show that Sistema’s respectful and empowering support has helped children reach their full potential, improved their confidence, mental health and wellbeing, and supported them to go on to a positive destination after leaving school.
Having the opportunity to work alongside Sistema Scotland has brought the team at Quantum immense joy and pride over the past eight months, and we’ve had the honour of witnessing the positive impact the charity has on communities across Scotland.
During this time, we’ve had the privilege of supporting Sistema in various initiatives and events that have created meaningful connections with MSPs, MPs and councillors.
We were delighted to assist in organising a visit by the First Minister to Big Noise Douglas’s fifth birthday celebration in Dundee, which was a powerful platform to further raise awareness of the charity and celebrate the achievements of the project. It also generated positive media coverage in The Courier and TFN.
Other highlights include facilitating visits with MSPs to Big Noise centres, with Pam Duncan-Glancy visiting Big Noise Govanhill in May to see first-hand the transformative effects of the programme on the lives of young people.
We’ve also worked closely with Sistema to prepare for individual birthday events at each of the Big Noise centres, providing participants, their families, and local communities with an opportunity to celebrate the work and achievements of programmes. These celebrations also give young people a platform to showcase their talents and achievements.
In June, Quantum helped to organise a tour the Scottish Parliament for a group of young people from five Big Noise programmes, which was led by Michael Marra MSP. This experience allowed the young people to explore the heart of Scottish democracy, fostering a sense of empowerment and engagement with the political process. We also facilitated a committee room meeting and briefing with MSPs, giving the young people of Sistema an opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly with our elected politicians.
Finally, we were thrilled to support Sistema in organising its 15th birthday celebration concert in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament. The event was sponsored by Gordon MacDonald MSP, and the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Christina McKelvie MSP, spoke on behalf of the Scottish Government. This special event showcased the incredible talent and achievements of Sistema’s young participants, captivating the audience and demonstrating the transformative impact of Big Noise.
Through our collective efforts, we have successfully provided MSPs with a direct connection to the young people and community members who are impacted by Sistema Scotland’s programmes. By facilitating this connection, we ensure MSPs can see and hear first-hand the positive impact these programmes have on children, young people and families across Scotland. The opportunity to merge the Quantum Communications team’s expertise in public affairs, media engagement, and events management, with the inspiring work of the amazing team at Sistema shows the power of collaboration and the impact we can have for our clients.
MSPs from all political parties have actively engaged with Sistema’s programme, their young people and initiatives – which we know has been a rewarding experience and has led to their increased understanding, support and advocacy for Sistema’s work.
With Quantum’s ongoing support, Sistema will continue to demonstrate the transformative impact and lasting difference it is making to the lives of young people across Scotland.
Justice policy returns to the political agenda
From the hit crime shows on TV to the drama of a real-life court case, there is an insatiable appetite for all aspects of the justice system.
However, when it comes to public policy, it hasn’t always been at the top of the agenda in the Scottish Parliament.
In recent years, too often it has been overlooked amid the endless focus on the constitution or the various crises in the health service.
But that is now changing, with a raft of major reforms on the way.
Last month, the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill passed its final parliamentary hurdle, which means courts will be required to specifically consider the physical and psychological safety of victims when making decisions on bail.
Coming soon is the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill, which the Scottish Government believes will strengthen public confidence in policing.
This will require the police to have a code of ethics, with the outcomes of misconduct hearings published online and police officers no longer able to resign to avoid disciplinary proceedings.
And, most controversially, the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill has been laid before parliament.
If passed by MSPs, this will abolish the ‘not proven’ verdict, reduce the normal jury size in a criminal trial from 15 to 12, and pilot judge-only trials for rape cases.
A host of other reforms are also included, such as a new victims and witnesses commissioner, the creation of a sexual offences court, and requirements relating to trauma-informed practice.
The proposals are at the centre of an ongoing debate between the legal profession and campaigners, and there will be extensive scrutiny at Holyrood as the Bill starts its journey to the statute books.
And it’s not just the government that is prioritising justice reform; the Scottish Conservatives in particular have a host of fresh ideas.
Jamie Greene has put forward proposed legislation to increase the rights of victims and his collaborative approach in parliament has been widely acknowledged.
His unceremonious sacking as justice spokesperson by leader Douglas Ross will diminish his presence in the justice debate, although few understand the topic better than his successor, Russell Findlay.
In other policy areas, Tory MSP Pam Gosal is attempting to improve support for domestic abuse victims, Green MSP Gillian Mackay is leading the charge to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics, and the Scottish Government has put forward the idea of decriminalising personal drug use (although this has already been rejected by the UK Government).
With the parliamentary term approaching the halfway point, it is notable that nearly every political party has given increased priority to justice matters (although Scottish Labour has work to do in this area).
Whatever views people have on the specific reforms proposed, the fact that justice reform is such a hot topic at Holyrood is to be welcomed.
The media is also finding more space to cover the issues as well, with coverage about a second independence referendum on the wane as the prospect of another vote decreases.
Seasoned political reporters cheerfully observe that they are now writing about a wider range of policy issues, just as they were in the early years of devolution.
With a new First Minister, a new justice secretary, and a new chief constable on the way, the justice landscape is ready for reform.
This article first appeared in 1919 Magazine.
Read more about justice developments in Scotland by clicking here
Fresh start or reheat?
On the SNP leadership campaign trail, Humza Yousaf was billed as the ‘continuity candidate’ by party top brass.
In the days that followed his appointment as Scotland’s new First Minister, the leadership he closely tied himself to has been marred in controversy over party finances, high profile arrests and a certain luxury campervan.
The return from Easter recess marked the opportunity for Yousaf to put his own stamp on Scotland’s highest public office, but after 16 years in government, the real challenge is finding new soil to till.
Yousaf’s optimistically titled ‘New leadership – a fresh start’ policy paper focuses on the key themes of equality, opportunity and community.
Read MoreShowcasing your work in Parliament
We were delighted to be back in the Scottish Parliament recently supporting one of our clients with an exhibition stand. Exhibition stands and other MSP-sponsored events in Holyrood are a great way to engage directly with MSPs and parliamentary staff from all political parties.
They provide your charity, organisation or company with the opportunity to raise awareness of your work and discuss key issues.
Read More
A bit more about us
Since it’s a bit quieter during the Easter break, I thought I’d tell you a bit more about the team at Quantum.
It happens to be National Pet Day which seems a fitting time to reveal that behind the ex-political editors and government director of comms, we are a team catering to the whims of a variety of pets. Mainly cats, but some dogs, lockdown chickens, rabbits and don’t ask about the bearded dragon.
We’ve worked for Cats Protection, supporting them to hold a parliamentary event at Holyrood. It helped that the team have quite a few cats – Ziggy, Gizmo, Frasier & Niles and Nancy Kitford.
Read More
Green Day net zero plans fail to impress: clean tech seeks greater UK support
So much for a green technology big bang.
The UK Government’s latest net zero plans, released on ‘Green Day’ have disappointed experts who see them as inadequate for boosting energy security and reducing harmful emissions.
While some see the “Powering Up Britain” strategy as a significant shift towards energy security and sustainability, others feel that the package fails to offer anything new and lacks the necessary fiscal firepower to attract investment in the renewable and clean energy sector.
Read MoreSix challenges the new First Minister must overcome
As the dust settles on a frenetic first week, the new First Minister needs to take a breath and consider the main issues he needs to tackle head on. Six spring immediately to mind:
Read MoreAll Change? What Humza Yousaf’s cabinet tells us
After a gruelling party leadership campaign, First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced his new cabinet.
He says his government is poised to deliver a radical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda. But is there trouble ahead for Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘continuity’ candidate?
At initial glance, this cabinet is a major breakthrough – led by Scotland’s first minority ethnic, Muslim First Minister, Yousaf’s cabinet is made up of a majority of women and half are under 40.
Read MoreTracking the changing political landscape
OPINION polls in the UK tell a tale of two governments.
Both in their fourth term of office, both under fresh leadership, and both some distance from their main rivals.
But while the Tories find themselves someway behind across the UK, in Scotland the SNP enjoys a comfortable lead of around ten points in most polls; a quite remarkable feat after nearly 16 years in office.
The resilience of the party means that a teenager who becomes eligible to vote this May will have known nothing but SNP government since the day they were born.
After the extraordinary success of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon at the ballot box, this week’s election of Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s First Minister heralds a new era in Scottish politics.
The question now being asked by political observers is how long this SNP dominance will last?
