Upfront PR is a new UK PR consultancy founded by two former journalists with over 40 years’ combined experience. We came together to form Upfront PR because we want to do PR differently. We will help you take the shortcut to get you the media exposure you need. No lofty promises, just targeted placements with people and titles we already know.
We would be happy to explain what makes us different to you in person.
Matthew started his career on local newspapers in 2002. He worked for CityAM, CNBC, the Daily Mail, Channel4 News and the BBC.
Among some of the stories he covered as a journalist were the 2010 and 2015 general elections, the Co-op Bank scandal, the Panama Papers, the VW Emissions scandal, the Grenfell Tower disaster, Brexit, the Scottish Referendum, and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. He also interviewed Prime Minister Gordon Brown and reported on the formation of the coalition government in 2010.
Matthew moved into public relations in 2017 and learnt what works and what doesn’t. Having worked for a number of agencies he moved in-house, first for the Civil Aviation Authority during the Thomas Cook collapse, which saw the largest repatriation of UK citizens since the Second World War.
He then joined the Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association (PIMFA), the trade association for wealth managers and financial advisers in 2020.
His PR campaigns include:
Updating Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), to encourage more savers to invest, which led to the Chancellor’s announcement in the 2025 Budget to restrict cash savings in ISAs to £12,000
Getting the Online Safety Act to protect the public from online fraud and ensuring that search engines and social media websites took greater responsibility for advertisements and user generated content that appeared on their websites
Better access to financial advice for the public. This led the FCA to review the advice guidance boundary, which has directly informed the Pensions Bill 2025 currently progressing through Parliament
Email Matthew: matthew@upfrontpr.co.uk
Howard spent 17 years as a business journalist and news editor at four top news brands: the BBC, The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Bloomberg and The Independent.
Howard started work at the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008 and has written about many big stories since, including Brexit, the European sovereign debt crisis and the rise and fall of many household names, including BHS, Woolworths and Thomas Cook.
He has covered every Budget since the start of his career and has a background in reporting on banks, insurers, asset managers and retail.
At The Telegraph he specialised in reporting on defence companies and car makers and at The Independent he helped relaunch the outlet’s business and energy coverage.
As well as writing, he spent three years as a producer at the BBC on the Today programme and World Service. His radio documentary and equity release mortgages was shortlisted for a Wincott, Britain’s top business journalism award.
Having worked across print, online, radio and documentaries, he understands what journalists and editors want and, just as importantly, when they want it.
Spotting a gap in the market for smaller businesses wanting quick and cost-effective coverage, he set up Upfront PR with his former BBC colleague Matthew West.
Email Howard: howard@upfrontpr.co.uk