Royal Mile office creates Edinburgh platform for Aspect’s growth

Aspect: The Strategic Communication Experts has chosen Edinburgh’s Royal Mile for its first office outside Aberdeen as it continues to grow its team of strategic communication, marketing, digital and external affairs professionals, following a move last year to larger company headquarters in Aberdeen.

The new office, in the heart of the Scottish Capital, also provides a base to extend the firm’s government and stakeholder relations proposition in Holyrood and Westminster, under the leadership of recently appointed Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Director, Peter Smyth.

Close to the Scottish Parliament, the Scotland Office and Edinburgh City Chambers, the office at 166 High Street provides flexible working and meeting space to support existing clients and future growth in issue-rich sectors from technology, life sciences and the natural economy, to energy, infrastructure and net zero.

Peter, who joined the Aspect leadership team in June 2023, is former Public Affairs Director at an award-winning independent communications company, with two decades of experience in public affairs, political intelligence and media relations in multiple sectors from commercial real estate and higher education to conservation and the natural economy.

Reporting to Founder and CEO Andrew McCallum, Peter sits on the Aspect Leadership Team working with Yvonne McCallum, Company Director, Jenny Adams, Marketing Director, Leona Minellas, Communication Director, and Ewan Duthie, Digital Director to develop and grow the firm’s integrated consultancy offering.

Aspect is poised to announce five further hires in Edinburgh and Aberdeen in the coming weeks, adding to its 60-strong team of employees and trusted associates, with recruitment continuing across the team over the next 12-months as the firm’s client portfolio diversifies and grows in Scotland, the UK and globally.

Andrew McCallum, Founder and CEO said:

“Establishing an office in Edinburgh is a major milestone in Aspect’s growth journey and a proud moment for our talented team, who are the driving force behind our continued success which will see a 50% increase in year-on-year top line growth in 2023.

“I’m delighted to welcome Peter Smyth to our fast-growing team, whose rich experience and fierce intellect will not only enhance our public affairs and stakeholder engagement offering but also strengthen our position as trusted advisors to our diverse and much valued clients.

“2024 is set to be another busy and exciting year for Aspect, when we’ll continue to focus on delivering great results for our clients, investing in the development of our people, and extending our reach into new sectors and geographical markets.

Peter Smyth, Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Director said:

“As organisations try to understand and get to grips with the rapid economic, political and regulatory change happening around them, there is clear demand for public affairs services that integrate seamlessly with complementary strategic communication disciplines.

“That’s what Aspect does exceptionally well, and it has been brilliant to join Andrew, Yvonne, Jenny, Leona and Ewan to develop and extend our client offering in compelling new ways that make the most of the incredibly diverse skillsets across our team.

“Our Edinburgh base provides the opportunity to take that offering further still, serving new and existing clients in Scotland, across the UK and internationally. With high-spec facilities and unmatched connectivity in the heart of the historic Royal Mile, it’s a brilliant place to come and work as we embark on the next phase of Aspect’s growth.”