Joe Richardson, account manager at Partners PR, is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as the p.ublished group of newspapers gives him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

As an Account Manager at Partners PR, no two days are ever quite the same. My mornings usually begin with the school run, and if I’m working from home that day, it’s straight back for porridge, coffee, and a quick check of emails before planning out the day ahead.

At 9:30 every morning, we jump on a team call. Mondays are all about setting priorities and aligning on the week’s workload, but from Tuesday to Friday, it’s more of a half-hour watercooler catch-up. These chats cover everything and anything, but they’re a great way to stay connected. After that, it is down to work. This can involve writing an in-depth feature article or opinion piece for a client, planning social media campaigns, liaising with designers or meeting with clients to plan the next stage of a campaign.

What makes your company special?

The people. We’re a team of seven, and while we’re all very different, we each live and breathe our company values: collaboration, clarity, and curiosity.

We’re 100% real with each other, no egos, no facades. We laugh with each other until our sides hurt, but we always have each other’s backs. There is a real family feel to the business, and when there’s work to be done, we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

Be honest and say what you mean. Clarity isn’t just one of our values; it’s essential in business. Within our team, being open and truthful keeps us all on the same page and helps us to grow together. And with clients, that level of transparency is why they trust us.

Do you dress up or down for work?

I always dress for whatever the day has in store. If I’m working from home, comfort is key, but if I’m heading into the office or meeting a client, I’ll always opt for something a bit smarter.

What piece of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Trust your instincts and take every opportunity that comes your way. As humans, it’s easy to say no to things that push us outside our comfort zone, but more often than not, it’s those very opportunities that lead to something bigger and better.

What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?

Last year, for our Christmas party, we did something a bit different, a food tour of York with Ben from York on a Fork. I absolutely loved it! It combined my passion for food with a fun team day where we could all relax, laugh, and (let’s be honest) eat a lot.

From classic fish and chips to Japanese noodles, gin tasting, and handmade chocolate, we tried so many amazing dishes and discovered some real hidden gems around the city. It was the perfect mix of food, fun, and team bonding.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

If I can, I’ll always opt to travel by train as it means I can stay online and enjoy some uninterrupted time to focus and get work done. But if the train’s not an option, I’ll jump in the car and drive.

When seeing a local client, going networking or heading into the office, I will jump on my bike and cycle there.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

I love to go mountain biking through Dalby Forest. It’s very scenic, and being out in the fresh air gives me a chance to switch off, think and enjoy a little ‘me time.’

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire, and what dish do you recommend?

At the moment, my favourite place to eat is a place called Skosh in York. It’s a small plates restaurant that changes the menu all the time, so you always get to try something different. My favourite dish from there would be the hen’s egg, but the oyster or curried pigeon skewers have been firm favourites.

What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you’re away?
Aside from the people, Yorkshire is home, and when I’m away, I miss that relaxed, familiar feeling. There’s always something happening here, too, so you’re never short of things to do or places to explore.


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