Royal Sun Alliance seeks agency to advise on British and EU laws

The firm has held informal chemistry meetings ahead of a pitch process for the £15,000 per month retained brief, with submissions due in by 2 March.

RSA has launched the search because it wants a team that either has offices in both London and Brussels, or can cover both areas by working with a sister agency.

RSA’s group external comms director Louise Shield explained that the company was facing increasing ‘synergies’ between law makers at home and abroad.

‘We want to have an agency that can co-ordinate both European and UK legislation,’ she said.

Until now, RSA is believed to have been working with Lexington Communications in London and Kreab Gavin Anderson in Europe.

Shield pointed to recent regulation concerning whiplash relating to the motoring industry, as well as the Test-Achats case – in which the European Court of Justice ruled insurers cannot charge differently based on gender as examples of the growing reach of legislation.

‘During the past few years, we are seeing more and more legislation coming out of Brussels and London, so this move makes sense,’ Shield said, adding that so far the brief had attracted ‘quite a lot of interest’.

The agency would be reporting to group head of public affairs Pauliina Murphy, who joined RSA midway through last year alongside public affairs manager Tori Henderson.

The brief is purely for public affairs and would require the successful agency to monitor the regulatory agenda, manage legislative and policy change, and identify opportunities for engagement.

The pitch process will involve two rounds, with about eight agencies initially invited to take part.

The brief also includes giving ad hoc advice in Edinburgh, with the budget taking into account work at party conferences.

RSA currently employs about 22,000 people, serving 17 million customers across 130 countries.

This article was first published on prweek.com