The Publicist Team

Select a member of the team for a short biography

Peter Troy is a politically aware individual with a background firmly rooted in the UK's small businesses community. He has been self employed since 1985 and is well aware of the rough and tumble of business life.

For a number of years Peter has conducted business as a publicist specialising in raising a positive profile of individually privately owned businesses in the UK Media. He has acted for a number of non-profit organisations. Peter is a supplier of political comment, prediction, analysis to overseas media agencies and research organisations.

For 10 years he was an activist and recruiter with the Federation of Small Businesses in the North East, the UK’s largest member based business organisation. Peter is a member of the Warriors Chapter of the International Business Organisation BNI that meets weekly in Hartlepool.

Peter's areas of expertise are small business issues, the working of UK National and local government, the constitution of the UK, British and European Political History, Britain’s membership of the European Union and British media issues. Peter has organised and Chaired a number of high profile business and political events in recent years.

Peter regularly contributes to the North of England newspapers and other political journals articles of a business/political nature. He is a frequent supplier of media assistance to charities and can often be heard on radio stations throughout the UK. Peter has worked as a volunteer with the Prince's Trust since 2003 and is always keen to promote the interests of small businesses.

Diane Ellis started working life while at college at what can only be described as the model for Are You Being Served; I still cannot watch the reruns without putting the name to the characters. From there to Advertising and then a move around the country back to Middlesbrough, a rather long leave of ‘work’ absence, I blame this on three sons. Although I must admit they did not take up all my time and I managed to spend time with Riding for the Disabled and my constant passion of politics and studying History.

The years since have been interesting to say the least and my work has taken me to many and varied companies both multi nationals and SMEs. I must admit that start-ups have been a favourite job for me.

Throughout the years I have been involved in many things, a Council Member for Business for Sterling, Vice Chairman of North Yorkshire FSB, and Branch chairman of the Dales Branch of the FSB; always with the needs of small businesses to the fore.

Although here at The Publicist we do not do Advertising it is in a way a coming back to the beginning – I’m still cutting out cuttings from the newspapers and if my old boss, Mike Smith ever reads this, then yes to the gin bottle.

For many years I have written articles, done radio interviews on the areas in which I have been involved now all that experience has come together and again used for the benefit of clients.

Claire Blenkinsop recently joined Peter Troy – The Publicist as Operations Co-ordinator, in his rapidly expanding publicity business.

Based from their new office in Sedgefield, Claire and Peter ensure local business people increase their profile and credibility, using newspapers and radio broadcasting.

Following a maternity break, Claire joins the business after a 10 year computing career.

She left Teesside University with a degree in Software Engineering, but has brought her transferable skills and personality to the publicity market.

Primarily, her role is to develop new business opportunities referred mainly from the BNI - Business Network International as well as ensuring media, clients, events and locations are co-ordinated. She is another example of how increasingly more people are changing their profession, part way through their career.

One of her recent claims to fame was successfully climbing Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, on a 7 day expedition.

John Blackett was born and educated in South West Durham.

John has a wide range of experience and sound business knowledge as a result of an employment history which includes;

Army service as an intelligence analyst/linguist
Several senior positions in local government finance & administration
A variety of roles in banking, consumer finance, commercial debt recovery and private investigation.

In addition, as a self-employed businessman he has run an e-commerce business, an outsourcing consultancy and has been involved in writing publicity material, training programmes, technical manuals and business reports for corporate publications and clients.

He has also supplied material to national, regional, and local news media on a commercial freelance basis and on a voluntary basis for the various charitable organisations in which he has been involved.

Tony Baker, former BBC presenter and political correspondent is linked to Peter Troy - The Publicist as a sub-contractor producing the Fat Minute films.

Tony is widely respected within the broadcasting industry as a journalist with an understanding of business issues.

Tony is often consulted by broadcasting professionals across the globe on news and current affairs items.