Former Grayling associate director Helen Bell has joined specialist PR agency Greenhouse to head its Bristol office.
Helen, pictured, who was also head of PR & media for Bristol 2015 Ltd – the company behind the city’s year as European Green Capital – arrives at Greenhouse as it continues to expand and strengthen its position as one of the UK’s leading ethical PR agency.
It has been named Green PR Agency of the Year for two years running and last month was awarded B Corp certification, joining an exclusive global group of businesses striving for a more inclusive economy. 
Helen will help to develop the team at Greenhouse, which works exclusively with entrepreneurs and organisations committed to social and environmental change, and lead key campaigns including the launch of the hotly anticipated current account from client Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos Bank, due to be unveiled next month.
Helen said: “Greenhouse is in a great position, with a committed team, a fantastic client portfolio and a wonderful waterside office in the heart of Bristol. The recent B Corp accreditation is the icing on the cake.
“I’m thrilled to be joining at such a pivotal time in the agency’s 10-year history and using my Green Capital experience to grow our regional networks and ensure Bristol stays firmly on the map as the UK’s greenest city.”
During her 15-year career in PR Helen has worked for a range of environmental clients. Most recently she ran the regional PR campaign for Marks & Spencer’s ground-breaking Plan A initiative, due to celebrate its 10th anniversary later this year.
One of the highlights was delivering the #SparkSomethingGood campaign in Bristol with Neighbourly, the city-based social platform that connects companies that want to make a difference with community projects.
It coincided with Big Green Week 2016 when M&S staff and customers supported 24 local initiatives in just seven days, notching up a staggering 3,154 volunteering hours, fuelled by 942 cups of tea.
Prior to that, Helen spent 18 months as head of PR & media at Bristol 2015 Ltd – the organisation established to deliver Bristol’s year as the UK’s first European Green Capital – giving her an unparalleled insight to the incredibly diverse range of organisations in the city focused on social and environmental change. 
Helen will be utilising those networks to build the agency’s Bristol-based client portfolio as well as forging new connections in the conservation sector, an area she feels passionate about.
“Promoting Bristol’s momentous Green Capital year was an incredible experience and one that I’ll never forget,” she said.
“My personal highlight has to be the Bristol Whales, an awe-inspiring life-size sculpture of two whales swimming in a sea of single use plastic bottles, which was installed in Millennium Square during the summer of 2015.”
The whales were designed and built by Bristol-based modelmaking firm Cod Steaks from willow harvested in Somerset. They are now sited at the Avon Wildlife Trust’s Bennett’s Patch & White’s Paddock nature reserve near the Portway, pictured above.
Greenhouse founder Anna Guyer said: “Helen is an experienced communications professional and has consulted clients from M&S, on their Plan A strategy and roll out across the country, to Defra on climate change communications, not to mention the many hundreds of organisations that were involved in Bristol’s year as European Green Capital 2015.
“We are very excited that Helen has joined us and we look forward to developing and supporting more clients based in Bristol.”
Pictured below: The Greenhouse PR team, with Helen Bell front row right. Photo ©Barbara Evripidou2017
