A PR professional is the youngest person ever to gain chartership status with the industry’s professional body.

Leila Willingham, of Sandbanks-based Liz Lean PR (LLPR), achieved the accreditation with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) aged 23, after five years with the business.

Lindsay Dunlop, CIPR corporate development associate, said: “This achievement is trailblazing for younger PR practitioners, demonstrating that upholding the highest professional standards in PR isn’t exclusive to those with extensive years of experience.

“As an organisation, we are committed to a future in which Chart.PR status is the minimum expected of a senior PR professional. Leila’s success promotes the standards of practice and professional conduct that we demand of all PR practitioners and sets the expectation for new professionals joining the industry.”

Leila Willingham, daughter of founder Leila Willingham, led the agency’s creation of youth insight arm Digipigz, which works to support and connect young talent with industry. She has played a key role in seeking to evolve the agency’s culture to balance wellbeing with professional and academic progression.

She said: “Receiving the news that I am the youngest person ever to achieve Chartership with the CIPR extends the pride and success I feel having gained accreditation last month. I hope that this achievement demonstrates that age has only ever been a number and that young people should absolutely be encouraged to go after their ambitions and have confidence in the skills and knowledge they can bring to the sector.

“We operate in such a fast-paced and ever-evolving industry, committing to lifelong learning and daily attention to how our industry is changing is required of all practitioners at any stage of their career. Gaining professional qualifications within the sector and striving for chartership status isn’t just personally rewarding but also helps to solidify PR’s place on the top table. Progressing the industry and demonstrating the important role of communications in business is something that all practitioners can be doing; whether they are on day 1 or day 1000 of their fruitful PR career.”

The achievement means the agency is overseen by a fully chartered leadership team.

Belinda Rastall, Senior Business and Account Director at LLPR, and Managing Director, Liz Willingham, have also both achieved Chartership status in recent years. Leila’s recent success means that the agency and its portfolio of clients are now overseen by a fully Chartered leadership team.

The agency has represented brands such as Nuffield Health, Pukka Pads, Royal Caribbean International, Sarah Raven, Rick Stein, Paultons Park, Odeon and Weird Fish.