“In Dublin’s fair city/Where the girls are so pretty/I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone.” So begins the song often regarded as the unofficial anthem to the city of Dublin, Ireland. In myth, the words echo around the capital’s cobbled streets; it’s a chant which has traversed the Irish Sea to be sung at many a football fixture. Yet this tradition is a mere beginning to Ireland’s historic association with words, a country which offers the world a plethora of writing flair.

Businesses may be missing out on millions due to poor use of language. A new study by market researcher Illuma Research and language consultancy the Writer found that UK businesses could be wasting £1.26m a year by using language ineffectively when communicating with customers.

From the glittering, holiday-decorated heights of the St Pancras Renaissance hotel, the greats of the global PR world celebrated excellence among their ranks. At last week’s annual ICCO Global Awards, the best agencies and individiuals in public relations from the international professional body were celebrated in London.

For an event honouring the best in live events, a good show is necessary. The EVCOM Live Awards 2016 did not disappoint. Replete with live musicians, a starlit venue, street dancers and a glow-in-the-dark basketball, the event was lively. Not to mention the two Guinness World Records attempts made on the night.

“Brexit will still mean Brexit, but we still won’t have a clue what that means,” Anne Richards, chief executive of M&G Investments said at yesterday’s Edelman Crystal Ball event. The six panellists discussed their predictions for the next year in terms of politics, technology, communications and social issues.

A few years ago, BIMA was in a tenuously good position. It had achieved prominence as the UK’s digital communications and marketing association. But its finances were unsteady, its membership value under question and its brand awareness only moderate below the c-suite. Under the assured leadership of Justin Cook, followed by Adam Graham, those improvements have been made. In 2016, BIMA is in a strong position in terms of awareness, purpose and membership, and it is ready to guide the future of the British digital industry.

With last week’s autumn statement mulling over in the minds of the politically concerned, Philip Hammond made his long-awaited first omission as chancellor of the exchequer. Yet for some, the November declaration was a red herring for an anxious post-referendum government.

Garnering a reputation of trustworthiness is a difficult task in any field of work, as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), now in its 68th year, broach upon the topic, a recent national conference and Parliament debate sought to establish what PR professionals must do to cultivate success.

Digital membership organisation British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) and digital agency SapientNitro revealed a widening digital skills gap between companies and prospective employees in a new study of 272 digital agencies. The research, carried out by Censuswide, also confirmed worries over the impact of the Brexit vote on talent diversity in Britain.