Professional Standards

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Professional Standards

Upholding professional standards and ethics

Maintaining the highest ethical standards is the cornerstone of our profession. Our Code of Conduct and Public Affairs Code provide clear guidelines to ensure accountability, transparency, and integrity across all areas of public relations and communications. Through our robust complaints process, we uphold these standards and address any breaches promptly.

Additionally, our Public Affairs Register promotes openness and accountability in lobbying activities, reinforcing trust within the industry and with the public. These frameworks collectively support a professional and principled approach, ensuring that our members and the broader industry operate with excellence and responsibility.

PRCA is proud of its members' strong commitment to the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. All members sign up to the PRCA Code of Conduct. Members working in public affairs are also automatically covered by the Public Affairs Code and must be listed in the Public Affairs Register. You can consult all these documents here.

If you believe that a PRCA members is in breach of the Codes, and wish to raise a complaint, please follow the guidance in the Complaints Procedure.

Code of Conduct

All PRCA members must comply with this professional code

View code
Public Affairs Code

PRCA members who practise public affairs agree to abide by this code

View code
Complaints Procedure

This sets out how complaints against all PRCA members are made, managed, and considered

View the procedure

PRCA Public Affairs Register

All PRCA members who conduct public affairs must be listed in the register, which is published to provide complete transparency.

View and search the Public Affairs Register

PRCA Client Consultancy Partnership Charter

The Client-Consultancy Partnership Charter sets out principles to help clients and their public relations advisers work together as effectively and productively as possible. 

The Charter was updated in 2024 and includes a section on good practice on the use of AI.

View the Charter
A diverse group of professionals engaged in a discussion within a modern office setting.

PRCA Standards Committee

The purpose of the PRCA Standards Committee is to:

  • Determine the Codes of Conduct
  • Determine the procedure, whereby any complaints under the Codes of Conduct are to be investigated
  • Decide upon any such complaints and impose, where appropriate, any sanction

A majority of members, including the chair, must be from outside the industry.

PRCA Standards Committee members are:

  • Iain Christie - Chair, Independent 
  • Carol Westrop - Independent
  • Paul Thorogood - Independent
  • Jonathan Curtis - Chair, PR and Communications Board
  • Emily Fermor - Chair, Public Affairs Board
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