Talking Classics With Hannah Burgess

Hannah Burgess is the owner of Hannah Burgess PR. She spends a large part of her life around cars and she is extremely knowledgeable about all things automotive.

Hannah was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to sit down with us and answer some of the questions we had for her.

For those who don’t know, what is Hannah Burgess PR?

Hannah Burgess PR, or HBPR in short, is an automotive public relations agency based in London, UK. When I started in 2020, I was a one-(wo)man band – hence calling the agency after my name (I promise I’m not that egoistic!) and now we’re a five-person team.

HBPR operates as an extension of any team in the automotive industry and beyond. The beating heart of the agency is the core press office function, which includes creating content for companies as well as building and managing relationships with the media – it’s what’s kept the wheels turning since day one, and after years of working in the industry, I’m quite proud of the “little black book of contacts” we’ve built that HBPR and its clients now have access to.

However, it’s not just press office support. As the agency has developed over the past couple of years, I’m pleased to say that we [HBPR] have managed to extend the offering to our clients, and now also provide corporate branding and strategy, media insights, social media content creation, event booking and support, and much more, both on a project or a retainer agreement basis. We’re simply a small team that’s driven by passion, fuelled – quite literally – by years of experience, and focused on achieving the best results.

What led to the creation of the business?

I would say there are two main factors that played a role in the creation of HBPR. First of all, I believed there was space to create a transparent and adaptable agency within the automotive industry. HBPR is now known to be very honest and straightforward with its clients and that is something I purposefully wanted to achieve. We say it how it is because that ultimately is the most productive and effective way to achieve success, and why our clients trust us to make the right decisions for them. However, I suppose that I started the agency by accident – or perhaps a lucky turn of fate is a more apt way to describe it. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was based in the USA and working full-time for Czinger Vehicles (you may have seen its car at Goodwood Festival of Speed), using my experience to build a brand, gain presence with PR and launch the company and the first car – the 21C – to an international audience at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show.

Well, we all know what happened next, and this was the second factor that spurred me to create HBPR. Due to the (inter)national lockdown in 2020, the automotive industry, and especially the classic car sector, changed drastically. Events, get-togethers, photoshoots, and interviews are all fundamental parts of PR, and with all those aspects changing, becoming virtual, or being put on hold altogether, I found that my role at Czinger would also be coming to an end. Following a tough virtual goodbye to the team in the States, I took some time to re-evaluate and really think about what my next steps would be, what I wanted out of my future, and how to put my experience to good use. Alongside some key industry figures supporting me – I started HBPR. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, my passionate better half, Roddy Macleod, and my peer and all-round commercial anchor, Jens Sverdrup.

Anyway, back then, mid-2020 is when I really committed to putting all my energy and time into building something for myself. More than two years later, the couch that I used to call my office has now turned into a beautiful open space in Battersea overlooking the Thames that I share alongside my team. Looking back, it’s been an amazing learning curve, the best decision of my life so far, and the making of me personally. I’m not perfect, nobody is, but working with an amazing team and a hugely supportive raft of clients, I often stand back and feel immensely grateful and appreciative of the HBPR journey.

What’s your favourite thing about what you do?

It sounds corny, but I feel very fortunate that I enjoy the work that I do on a daily basis. Not every day is filled with exotica and exuberant launches, some days are tough, as is every job of course, but if you’d have told teenage me that this is what she’d be doing when she ‘grew up’ then I think she’d have a good laugh!

My love for everything automotive and PR related hasn’t altered after working more than ten years in the industries and I don’t ever see that changing. I think that’s what happens when your hobby and passion become the building blocks of your career, however, it does mean that choosing one favourite element of what I do is a difficult challenge.

One of my favourite aspects of the job is supporting brands in their growth and getting them in front of the right audiences to get the word out about their amazing projects. That part of the job is still as rewarding to me now as it was at the very beginning. I still get excited whenever a story HBPR wrote gets picked up by renowned publications, whether it happens organically or because we’ve sold it in, it simply never gets old. Before I sound too much like a commercial, I’d like to re-explain that there are obviously good and bad days on the job, however, that’s simply just life and the reward I get from my work always overrules the negatives.

You obviously have a passion for cars – where does this come from?

My whole family has a passion for cars, so being born into that environment propelled me to explore and head in the same direction. Attending many car events from a young age and meeting so many like-minded petrolheads further solidified my passion – I even started an automotive blog when I was still studying to obtain a business degree at Bournemouth University! An agency discovered me through that same blog and offered me a position shortly after graduating. You never know if something is going to be the right fit for you until you try it, so when I entered the automotive industry for the first time from a career perspective I was pleasantly surprised to feel right at home. So as much as I have my family to thank for the introduction, I don’t believe that the passion would still be there so strongly if it wasn’t for a genuine interest and love for cars.

Being so involved in the world of cars, are there any classic cars that catch your eye?

Oh, what a question. It changes daily. However, I’m a huge Porsche obsessive. Every time a 912 or 911 E/S drives past me, or I see one at a car meet, I always turn my head or try and stop drooling over them. Looking at them on Car & Classic (and other amazing websites – feels a bit like brand dropping on the BBC here) is a huge time sucker.

So other than the unobtanium (for me) sixties Porsches, I think I’d quite like to own an early Lotus Elan. There’s something a bit Emma Peel about my classic car dream, isn’t there, but hey it’s the truth! Or potentially, if we’re looking at more modern, youngtimer classics, then I’d quite like an E36 M3. It’s the car from ‘my’ era and I think it’d be fun to own alongside my S202 C43 AMG. Or, I have a bit of a hankering for an RS2 at the moment… But maybe that’s the Porsche fan coming out again, and the imaginary money…!

How do you think the car world is going to change in the future?

It’s changing every day and it’s amazing to see – many say the next ten years will shape the automotive industry more than the past 100 years ever did. However, what’s undeniable is the push for electric vehicles, which has been so strong and has created a noticeable shift within the industry. I reckon the trend will certainly continue to grow in the foreseeable future, however, as more knowledge and data comes out, I think we will see other key developments grow alongside EVs.

As an example, synthetic fuels have the potential to offer a great solution to lowering the harmful emissions from the automotive industry with potentially an easier implementation process than the extensive infrastructure required to keep EVs running, and still support the classic car industry, too.

Another example is the introduction of subscription-based access to vehicle features. More and more car brands will likely start to include this in their sales model which can play a large role in the after-market value of a car, therefore increasing the lifespan of the vehicle and making it more sustainable for the planet. The car world is an exciting place to operate in as there’s always new technology coming out, and changes in regulations and consumer behaviour happening – it keeps you on your toes and forces you to keep an eye on the future.

Do you think there is still a place for classic cars in your predicted future?

Of course. The most sustainable car is the one that’s already been built – especially with the possibility of introducing synthetic fuels, making them even kinder on the planet than any other type of vehicle.

So, yes, in my opinion, classic cars will always have a place in this world. There are obviously different categories within the classic car industry, but especially the unique and top-of-the-line classics will always be desirable collectables as they are only becoming rarer as time goes on. Let’s not forget that a lot of classics also hold sentimental value that is personal to the owner – you can compare it to a family heirloom. The beauty of owning a classic car is that you own a piece of history, are able to decide its future, and become part of a tight-knit community that shares the passion with you. There simply aren’t many ‘commodities’ that have the same charm, which is why I think classic cars are not going anywhere anytime soon.

What’s next for Hannah Burgess PR?

We’ve recently taken aboard some really interesting new clients that we’re very excited to work with, so the next few months will certainly be busy. Expansion is definitely on the cards, and as we get busier, this is just more inevitable. I’d like to see the agency grow at a steady pace and gradually add more enthusiastic members to the team, but still aiming to stay relatively small; I’m talking maybe a maximum of 15 employees. I think the magic in what we do is offering highly personalised services to our clients and creating a familial-yet-professional feel for whomever we work with. That can easily get lost if the company grows too quickly or too big.

In terms of projects, my dream is to have one of the big OEMs in the business as a client. It’s been incredible to see that dream turn into a real possibility, and hopefully soon, it will be even more incredible to see the dream turn into a reality.

How can people find out more about Hannah Burgess PR?

Our website is probably the best place for people to find out more, but I also suggest following our LinkedIn page if you’re interested in staying informed on the latest projects we’re working on and being kept aware of any positions that might be open at the company. Lastly, the HBPR team is only an email or phone call away so in case there are any questions or aligned interests, feel free to contact us through those channels. Sounds corny, but I mean it. If I can give any advice on working in the industry, or provide insight on the launch or advertisement of a brand through PR, I’m around and happy to help.

Website: https://hannahburgesspr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hannah-burgess-pr/

Email: hannah@hannahburgesspr.com

Phone: +44 (0) 020 7126 8402

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