Tom Holder
@tomholder.bsky.social
Head of Communications for the BRC. Lives in Rotherhithe, #SE16. Interested in politics, retail, dogs, and board games. Views my own.
Today I was deeply disappointed to discover that the King's head comms person, Tobyn Andreae, has the job title "Communications Secretary to the Royal Household", and not simply "King Comm"
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Today I was deeply disappointed to discover that the King's head comms person, Tobyn Andreae, has the job title "Communications Secretary to the Royal Household", and not simply "King Comm"
It's like a child who's a fussy eater and the mum has to bring special snacks for the journey.
As part of the red-carpet treatment, Saudi officials arranged for a fully operational mobile McDonald’s unit to accompany President Trump during his stay.
According to local reports, the unit was set up near the Saudi Royal Court.
According to local reports, the unit was set up near the Saudi Royal Court.
October 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
It's like a child who's a fussy eater and the mum has to bring special snacks for the journey.
I simply don't believe this:
"77% of Gen Z have brought a parent to a job interview"
Can any Gen Z on BlueSky confirm/deny this is true (in their own experience)
fortune.com/2025/08/14/g...
"77% of Gen Z have brought a parent to a job interview"
Can any Gen Z on BlueSky confirm/deny this is true (in their own experience)
fortune.com/2025/08/14/g...
77% of Gen Z job seekers have brought a parent to an interview—they're even getting them to negotiate pay rises and take their hiring tests | Fortune
Gen Z job seekers are pulling up an extra chair for their Gen X and boomer parents—not just for job interviews, but also to help write resumes, negotiate salaries, and solve workplace conflicts.
fortune.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I simply don't believe this:
"77% of Gen Z have brought a parent to a job interview"
Can any Gen Z on BlueSky confirm/deny this is true (in their own experience)
fortune.com/2025/08/14/g...
"77% of Gen Z have brought a parent to a job interview"
Can any Gen Z on BlueSky confirm/deny this is true (in their own experience)
fortune.com/2025/08/14/g...
Great advert for folding bikes. Maybe @bromptonbicycle.bsky.social or another brand needs a run a "The safest bike is the one next to you" campaign.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bike thefts at stations 'decriminalised'
The British Transport Police will not investigate many categories of bicycle theft, the BBC learns.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Great advert for folding bikes. Maybe @bromptonbicycle.bsky.social or another brand needs a run a "The safest bike is the one next to you" campaign.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Dave, did you write the copy for the new parchment paper product"
"Yup"
"Did you get weird about birds again?"
"..."
"Yup"
"Did you get weird about birds again?"
"..."
September 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
"Dave, did you write the copy for the new parchment paper product"
"Yup"
"Did you get weird about birds again?"
"..."
"Yup"
"Did you get weird about birds again?"
"..."
Today, at the local time travel shop
September 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Today, at the local time travel shop
When drawn this way, you can see clearly the huge loss of retail jobs in the past 7 years.
Retail has lost almost 400,000 jobs in the last decade. And business rates are at the centre of the problem.
Retail has lost almost 400,000 jobs in the last decade. And business rates are at the centre of the problem.
September 16, 2025 at 11:44 AM
When drawn this way, you can see clearly the huge loss of retail jobs in the past 7 years.
Retail has lost almost 400,000 jobs in the last decade. And business rates are at the centre of the problem.
Retail has lost almost 400,000 jobs in the last decade. And business rates are at the centre of the problem.
Trump could rebrand it the "Department of Peow Peow Peow", and I still wouldn't be surprised.
September 5, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Trump could rebrand it the "Department of Peow Peow Peow", and I still wouldn't be surprised.
Despite my passport having nine months to run before expiry, I was blocked from flying to Sweden at the airport gate because my passport issue date is over 10 years ago. I guess another one of those sunny uplands of Brexit....
For anyone with an old passport, check the issue date
For anyone with an old passport, check the issue date
August 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Despite my passport having nine months to run before expiry, I was blocked from flying to Sweden at the airport gate because my passport issue date is over 10 years ago. I guess another one of those sunny uplands of Brexit....
For anyone with an old passport, check the issue date
For anyone with an old passport, check the issue date
There needs to be a real conversation about service charges in London hospitality. Why are restaurants making customers directly pay staff through 12.5% service charges? Just pay your staff properly and adjust the price appropriately.
August 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
There needs to be a real conversation about service charges in London hospitality. Why are restaurants making customers directly pay staff through 12.5% service charges? Just pay your staff properly and adjust the price appropriately.
It's that time of year. Hope everyone got the grades they needed. #alevelresults
August 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
It's that time of year. Hope everyone got the grades they needed. #alevelresults
I'm starting to think Kemi's PR team is actively trying to destroy her.
"Yes, Kemi, tell the one about how you grassed on your fellow student..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Yes, Kemi, tell the one about how you grassed on your fellow student..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kemi Badenoch reveals how she told on exam cheat as teenager
The Tory leader speaks about her background and values in an interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I'm starting to think Kemi's PR team is actively trying to destroy her.
"Yes, Kemi, tell the one about how you grassed on your fellow student..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Yes, Kemi, tell the one about how you grassed on your fellow student..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
When you launch a political party and forget to hire anyone in PR...
July 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
When you launch a political party and forget to hire anyone in PR...
Read the entire article and there's not one "tilting at windmills" pun. The state of journalism...
Trump’s war on windmills started in Scotland. Now he’s taking it global
Trump’s war on windmills started in Scotland. Now he’s taking it global
President’s opposition to offshore wind more than a decade ago now threatens a huge industry in the US and beyond
www.theguardian.com
July 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Read the entire article and there's not one "tilting at windmills" pun. The state of journalism...
Corruption at the heart of London's retail district?
A small number of businesses around Piccadilly Circus appear to be "phoenixing" - whereby every time it comes to pay taxes, the owners are replaced, depriving local and national government of millions.
www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...
A small number of businesses around Piccadilly Circus appear to be "phoenixing" - whereby every time it comes to pay taxes, the owners are replaced, depriving local and national government of millions.
www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...
The billionaire and the tax evading gift shops
Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital manages a row of high-profile shops at Piccadilly Circus. So why does his team keeping renting them to students who vanish without paying millions of pounds in taxes?
www.londoncentric.media
July 22, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Corruption at the heart of London's retail district?
A small number of businesses around Piccadilly Circus appear to be "phoenixing" - whereby every time it comes to pay taxes, the owners are replaced, depriving local and national government of millions.
www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...
A small number of businesses around Piccadilly Circus appear to be "phoenixing" - whereby every time it comes to pay taxes, the owners are replaced, depriving local and national government of millions.
www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...
What are the major measures of world stability?
Doomsday Clock (currently at 89s)
Democracy index? (currently 5.17)
Global Peace Index (down 0.56%)
Any other good ones?
Doomsday Clock (currently at 89s)
Democracy index? (currently 5.17)
Global Peace Index (down 0.56%)
Any other good ones?
June 13, 2025 at 8:47 AM
What are the major measures of world stability?
Doomsday Clock (currently at 89s)
Democracy index? (currently 5.17)
Global Peace Index (down 0.56%)
Any other good ones?
Doomsday Clock (currently at 89s)
Democracy index? (currently 5.17)
Global Peace Index (down 0.56%)
Any other good ones?
Who are these people that really hate dinosaurs? It's like hating Latin or the Peloponnesian wars.
...after all, who doesn't like dinosaurs? 🦖🦕
Love dinosaurs: 15%
Like dinosaurs: 34%
Neither like nor dislike: 47%
Dislike dinosaurs: 2%
Hate dinosaurs: 1%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
Love dinosaurs: 15%
Like dinosaurs: 34%
Neither like nor dislike: 47%
Dislike dinosaurs: 2%
Hate dinosaurs: 1%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
May 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Who are these people that really hate dinosaurs? It's like hating Latin or the Peloponnesian wars.
Impressed that the Labour Government has had the balls to stand up and demand Israel starting allowing aid to Gaza.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
UK pauses trade deal talks with Israel, summons ambassador over new Gaza offensive
British foreign minister David Lammy is set to announce the pausing of trade deal negotiations with Israel, the government said on Tuesday, adding that it had also summoned Israel's ambassador over its expansion of military operations in Gaza.
www.reuters.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Impressed that the Labour Government has had the balls to stand up and demand Israel starting allowing aid to Gaza.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Thank God they've picked a new pope ... I don't think I could handle any more of BBC journalists padding desperately over a live feed of a chimney.
May 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Thank God they've picked a new pope ... I don't think I could handle any more of BBC journalists padding desperately over a live feed of a chimney.
Things I didn't expect to find in Southwark Park.
May 5, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Things I didn't expect to find in Southwark Park.
Top tips for Ebayers selling board games. If you're going to use AI for your pictures:
- Don't use a picture of three year old for a game with a 12+ age recommendation (and a smart 12 year old at that).
- Don't shrink the board game to about 1/8th actual size
- Don't charge £100 for a £50 game
- Don't use a picture of three year old for a game with a 12+ age recommendation (and a smart 12 year old at that).
- Don't shrink the board game to about 1/8th actual size
- Don't charge £100 for a £50 game
April 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Top tips for Ebayers selling board games. If you're going to use AI for your pictures:
- Don't use a picture of three year old for a game with a 12+ age recommendation (and a smart 12 year old at that).
- Don't shrink the board game to about 1/8th actual size
- Don't charge £100 for a £50 game
- Don't use a picture of three year old for a game with a 12+ age recommendation (and a smart 12 year old at that).
- Don't shrink the board game to about 1/8th actual size
- Don't charge £100 for a £50 game