We’re excited to announce the next stage of Kanda’s growth, with a new permanent presence in the Midlands and an office at 2 Chamberlain Square, in the heart of Birmingham.
As one of the UK’s leading communications and public affairs consultancies, we advise businesses and organisations on navigating complex political, stakeholder and reputational challenges, with particular expertise in property, development and infrastructure. We’re now bringing that experience to the Midlands, with our new Birmingham office adding to our presence in Cambridge and London – allowing us to combine our national expertise with genuine regional knowledge and relationships on-the-ground in Birmingham.
The Midlands is a fascinating area for development, with some real hotspots for growth across the West and East Midlands Combined Authorities. From our office in Birmingham, we’ll be working with the areas and councils leading the way for the ‘good growth in every postcode’ pursued by the Andy Burnham administration.
The Midlands has a significant opportunity to turn its strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and health and life sciences into new investment, jobs and places. From Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and the Coventry and Warwick Gigapark to the East Midlands Freeport and Investment Zone, major opportunities are emerging to connect research, industry and regeneration. Alongside these sit the essential tasks of delivering more homes, revitalising town and city centres, and improving the transport connections that link people to opportunity.
Realising that potential means addressing difficult delivery challenges: making brownfield development viable, securing power and supporting infrastructure, meeting skills needs and building public confidence in change. Successful projects will need to demonstrate how investment translates into benefits that communities can see and share, from affordable homes and accessible jobs to better local services.
With devolved powers and regional growth plans shaping investment priorities, understanding the relationship between government, mayors, councils, investors and communities is increasingly important. Kanda will help clients navigate that landscape, align their proposals with local ambitions and build the relationships and support needed to move projects forward.
Our Midlands offer will be led by Directors Allan Andrews and Luke Tatton, who between them bring decades of experience across West Midlands politics, local government, planning, public affairs and the built environment.
Allan spent seven years as Senior Adviser to former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and 13 years as a Coventry city councillor, including serving on the Planning Committee. Luke began his career working in politics and on political campaigns across the West Midlands before establishing himself a leading built environment public affairs adviser, working on some of the country’s most significant development and regeneration projects.
Together with Kanda’s wider team, they will provide clients across the region with an integrated offer spanning public affairs, political intelligence, planning communications, stakeholder and community engagement, strategic communications, media and reputation.
Karen Alcock, CEO of Kanda, said:
“Kanda has grown rapidly since our merger with Concilio, both in the strength of our team and the cross-party strategic support we can provide our clients. Establishing a dedicated Midlands practice is the natural next step, but this is about more than extending our footprint. We see the Midlands playing a central role in the next phase of the UK’s growth, and we want to be close to the businesses and organisations making that happen.”
“Successful growth means understanding the political and public context, making the right decisions early and building confidence among the people affected. Our Midlands practice combines genuine regional insight with the strength of Kanda’s wider team to help clients do exactly that.”
Nick Dines, Managing Director of Kanda, said:
“With Allan Andrews joining Luke Tatton to lead our Midlands practice, we are building a strong team with deep knowledge of the region, cementing ourselves as the most active consultancy in the industry. Backed by specialists from across Kanda and our experience in regeneration, logistics, life sciences and other growth sectors, the team can support clients throughout the life of a project.”
“Bringing our combined intelligence, communications, engagement, design and public affairs teams together gives clients a clearer view of the landscape around them. It helps them identify opportunities and risks earlier, make better decisions, build support and keep complex projects moving.”
The Midlands is entering an exciting period of growth and change, and we want to be part of it – supporting the developers, investors, businesses and organisations shaping the region’s future.
We’re in Birmingham. Come and say hello.
📍 2 Chamberlain Square, Birmingham