Formerly business editor at Business Live, covering the Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News, Tom Houghton has joined PR and content agency No Brainer

Former Liverpool Echo business journalist Tom Houghton is one of three new starters at PR, SEO and content marketing agency No Brainer.

Tom joins No Brainer as senior news and content manager. Joining him is new account director Victoria Attwood, formerly of digital marketing agency Cedarwood Digital and 18-year-old Ella Howatson who is the business’s first apprentice.

While at the Echo as business reporter Tom was promoted to become North West business editor at Business Live, which encompassed both the Echo and sister title the Manchester Evening News.

Victoria brings more than eight years’ experience to the role and will help drive Warrington-based No Brainer’s digital PR offering. Ella Howatson will work towards a QA Digital Marketing qualification.

The appointments come just a couple of weeks after the agency was awarded the North West’s ‘PR Consultancy of the Year’ by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). It has also been named in Prolific North’s Top 50 PR agencies.

No Brainer co-founder and managing director, Gary Jenkins said: “Victoria’s extensive knowledge of digital PR, SEO, and content marketing paired with Tom’s keen eye for a story make for the perfect additions to our growing team.

“We’re so proud to have Victoria and Tom join us, and to be attracting this calibre of professionals who want to work alongside us and grow with us. I’m confident they’ll both bring something special to the agency.

“Being in a position to invest in young talent such as Ella is really rewarding too, and she is relishing the opportunity to forge a new career with us, rolling up her sleeves and doing an amazing job so far.”