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Charlotte Belle Tobin
Interview & Words Phadria Prendergast
Belle PR founder and award-winning publicist, Charlotte Belle Tobin is usually found pushing clients like Grace Beverley to Krissy Cela into the limelight. Now, it’s all eyes on her, as she speaks with WOTC on exposure and seizing opportunities.
Tobin grew up in Sussex between London and Brighton, where her mother was a secretary and her father was a postman. “I went to a state school and we had one holiday a year. I wasn't spoilt, I didn't have that type of upbringing, but I was absolutely loved and I really knew the value of hard work.”
She learnt fairly quickly, just how powerful knowledge and education was, and in turn also realised her lack of exposure. “I really learnt that actually, even if my school was not the best school, I could really take advantage of it and the best teachers there. I really threw myself into that. I learned different instruments. I learned how to play the flute, the piano and the clarinet because I really wanted to use school for what it should be, which is a hub of learning.” It was during her time at Sheffield university that her eyes really began to open to the world outside of the box she hadn’t realised she had been in. She became President of the history society, turning what was originally a non-existent club, into a commercial entity with hundreds and hundreds of members.
Upon graduating, she was encouraged by peers to pursue a career in law, as a barrister. “I think when you're being pushed through a system, you're like ‘OK I'll do it,’”, she states. “I started my legal work experience, I did many different placements, but I just felt that studying to be a lawyer was the obvious choice, not necessarily the best choice. Just because you're good at something doesn't mean that's your only path.” Leaving her legal career behind, she undertook work experience at celebrity talent management agency The Cann Group, formerly Cann Associates. Peter Andre became the first celebrity Tobin managed. Beginning as an intern, and working her way up to head of PR, she was often the first one in the office and the last one out. “I was absolutely fascinated with this career path I'd almost stumbled upon, but knew it was the right decision,” she states.
“Just because you're good at something doesn't mean that's your only path.”
Tobin went on to work for international agency EDENCANCAN, where she led as a director and credits co-owners Nick Ede and Nick Fulford, who she learnt a lot about the industry and running a business from. Despite the company being run by two men, she never once felt patronised or undermined as a woman. She felt respected and included from day one and their leadership also taught her how to treat people.
In 2014, she set up her very own talent agency Belle PR from her kitchen. The agency specialises in entertainment, lifestyle and the charity sector. Six years on, with four awards under her belt, Tobin leads a team of five in the heart of Covent Garden, London, where the entirety of their business and clients are won through word of mouth and positive recommendations. More than anything, Tobin wishes to encourage and educate the next generation of women about PR. “I want to open this industry up. When I started, it was a very closed off industry, and also social media hadn't advanced. You couldn't just DM someone. You couldn't just announce so easily that you're doing a Zoom, come along. So social media has opened up that accessibility to people like me. Tobin hosts a handful of Zoom calls each month which she leaves open to future students, current students and even adults in a career that want to switch. “They can join and they can ask me questions. I will have special guests; other publicists and agents. I did one last week where I interviewed my number two because she’s younger than me. I'm thirty three but look, my number two is twenty six. And in four years, she's come from [an assistant level to associate director level. So, anything I can do to encourage the future generation to pick this as an industry, I will do, I will give my time for free.”
Charlotte’s Top Tips
The online community is amazing. Follow other publicists, it's free. Follow agents in the celebrity world. Read online articles. Educate yourself for free, it's not going to cost anything other than your time.
Connect. It's free. Connect with people on LinkedIn. Connect with people through Instagram.
I think my biggest advice would be depending on where you are going, where you're pitching, if you want work experience, if you want to send your CV in, talk to these people as human beings. Now, yes, some agencies are slightly more corporate, they might want a cover letter on top of a CV. However, my biggest piece of advice would be, connect with them, don't send a corporate email where you're just one of many.