Blue Sky PR’s Richard Hamer spent yesterday being filmed for the Channel 4 programme Dispatches after agreeing to take part in a programme on ageism.

Soon after turning 40, Richard was made redundant and after several months unable to find a suitable job opted instead to go it alone and established Blue Sky PR.

“I got involved through Ruth Manning, the owner of Plato’s People (and a Blue Sky client), who forwarded me an email sent to her asking if she knew of anyone affected by ageism in the workplace.

“Although I couldn’t think of anyone, it did get me reflecting of my experiences from nearly three years ago, which I’d completely forgotten about being so wrapped up in running Blue Sky.

“After several long phone conversations with Blakeway Productions, camerawoman Alison Ramsay came up to Yorkshire to interview me and to film me working.

“In the morning she saw me directing photographer Tim Hardy as he took pictures for the Met Club’s official Christmas card, in Harrogate’s Hotel du Vin. After that I was interviewed on camera about my experiences for well over an hour.

“I then drove us down to Leeds and while I worked from the Blue Sky office there, Alison spent the afternoon filming another candidate, before we reconvened at six to shoot an after-work meeting I had with Kensei Media about writing the content for their media platform website.

“This took place in the Lounge (the venue for GeekUp Leeds), which was packed with people having pre-theatre food, and all wondering what was going on.

“This was, perhaps, the most relaxing part of the day – and not just because of the beer – but because taking a brief from clients and offering advice is the bones of PR; and I got so involved with the meeting that I actually forgot Alison was filming until I saw her camera out of the corner of my eye.”

Many thanks to everyone who agreed to take part in the filming.