O'Leary Public Relations

O'Leary Public Relations is a boutique consultancy based in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, operating from offices at 57 Calton Road, EH8 8FJ. Founded in 2025, the agency is the result of owner Paul O'Leary's return to hands-on consulting after a 25-year career building and successfully selling Represent, a well-established communications firm. The Edinburgh market is home to a mix of public sector bodies, financial services, and growing tech and life sciences companies, all of which face increasingly complex reputational and operational communications challenges. O'Leary Public Relations positions itself as a strategic partner for senior executives who need clarity, direction, and actionable plans in high-stakes situations.

What O'Leary Public Relations Does

O'Leary Public Relations focuses on providing senior-level strategic counsel rather than long-term retainer-based work. The agency is designed for fixed-term contracts—full or part-time—where the principal brings over three decades of experience to bear on specific, often high-risk communications challenges. The approach is to define the strategy, create a clear roadmap, and then support internal teams in implementation. Core capabilities include crisis management, media engagement, issues planning and training, and internal communications. The agency also handles corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, digital engagement, and copywriting and production for communications materials. Services span media relations, event PR, product launches, and communication planning, always with a focus on navigating complex stakeholder landscapes.

Expertise and Service Offerings

Drawing on extensive experience across sectors, O'Leary Public Relations brings a practical, no-nonsense style to each engagement. The agency is particularly adept at diagnosing communications breakdowns and designing roadmaps to restore trust and alignment. Typical services include:

• Crisis management and issues planning
• Media relations and media training
• Internal communications and change communications
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy
• Copywriting, production, and content creation
• Digital engagement and social media strategy
• Event PR and product launch support
• Communication planning and strategic counsel

Each engagement is led directly by Paul O'Leary, ensuring clients receive senior-level thinking and experience without the overhead of a larger agency structure. This model is particularly effective for organisations undergoing restructuring, facing a reputational threat, or preparing for a major announcement or launch.

Who O'Leary Public Relations Serves

O'Leary Public Relations is best suited for senior executives—CEOs, communications directors, and heads of corporate affairs—who need temporary, high-level support to navigate a specific challenge or opportunity. The agency works well with organisations in sectors such as financial services, professional services, public sector, and technology, where complex stakeholder dynamics and regulatory scrutiny are common. Clients are typically based in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, though the consultancy's experience spans national and international contexts. The agency is also a good fit for companies that have an internal communications team but lack the bandwidth or specialist expertise to handle a crisis, a major change programme, or a strategic communications refresh.

For organisations seeking a seasoned consultant to steer them through a difficult period, define a clear communications strategy, or provide hands-on support without a long-term commitment, O'Leary Public Relations offers a practical, experienced, and results-oriented option. The agency's strength lies in its ability to quickly assess a situation, create a realistic plan, and give clients the confidence and tools to execute effectively.