Public Affairs & Communications
Based in Scotland, we specialise in government and public affairs, communications and crisis management.
Linco offers bespoke services to suit you and your organisation.
Linco links your organisation to the experts you need to get results.
Communications
Are you making an impact? Leveraging strategic communication expertise to help you engage with your audience and break through the 24-hour news cycle, across print, online, digital and broadcast media, Linco can also provide counsel for when the unexpected happens, and guide you step by step to protect your reputation.
Government & Public Affairs
Do you want to build relationships with decision-makers? Using our in-depth knowledge of the political landscape to provide you with the advice you need, we know how government works and how you and your organisation can make an impact. Whether your aim is to better understand how legislation affects you, engage with political representatives or increase your profile, Linco can help.
Media Training
Would you benefit from some media training before stepping in front of the camera? Do you want to build contacts in journalism and broadcast media? Could your press team benefit from training and strategic direction? Let us know what you need and we can tailor a package of support to suit you.
Founded in 2023, Linco is a vibrant and fast-growing public affairs and communications consultancy based in Edinburgh.
In 2025, Linco joined the Connect Group, a leading UK and Ireland agency, hugely enhancing Linco and Connect’s offer to clients.
Linco provides advice and support to clients in Scotland, the UK and beyond, across the public, corporate and charity sectors.
Our Story
Catriona Matheson,
Founding Partner, Linco
Catriona founded Linco in 2023 and oversaw its transition into the Connect Group in 2025. She now leads the Linco team in Scotland and serves on the Connect Group Board.
Catriona has extensive political experience, with a career spanning Holyrood, Brussels, and Westminster. In 2015 she was promoted to Head of Communications for the SNP in the UK Parliament where she established and ran a busy press office following the landslide win of 56 MPs, later becoming Chief of Staff to the SNP Westminster Leader.
Catriona returned to Scotland, becoming a Special Adviser to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Government with responsibility for economic policy.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow and the University of Sydney, Australia, Catriona is a Trustee of The David Hume Institute.
Laura Blake,
Partner and Co-Owner, Connect Group
Laura is a Partner and co-owner of The Connect Group. She has been recognised in the Public Affairs Awards as one of the UKs most successful and effective public affairs consultants.
Laura offers senior counsel to clients across the Connect Group and is Chair of the Linco Board. She brings over 20 years experience of advising clients across the public, private and charitable sectors.
Innes Taylor,
Senior Counsel, Linco
Innes is an expert on Scottish politics and intergovernmental policy and has significant experience advising politicians in Holyrood and Westminster, latterly as the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on the Union.
At Linco, Innes leads and manages the delivery of detailed research, targeted engagement strategies, comprehensive campaign plans and in-depth analysis of political developments to enable clients to effectively influence legislation, policy and political sentiments. She also supports clients with media training, committee appearances and consultation responses.
Innes sits on the Institute of Director’s Scotland Policy Committee.
James started his journalism career with The Sunday Post in Glasgow and spent 15 years writing about the Westminster and Holyrood parliaments. As The Sunday Post’s Westminster correspondent he covered general elections, Scottish elections and the referendums of 2014 and 2016 and interviewed figures from across the political spectrum and globe.
His work with Linco and Connect is focussed on media where he provides strategic media advice and training to clients as well as securing effective coverage to reach relevant audiences.
He presented and produced The Sunday Post Politics Podcast, The Brexit Breakdown podcast for the UK in a Changing Europe and launched and exec produced the award-winning series, A Podcast of One’s Own with Julia Gillard, for The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. He is also the author of two books: The Gender Agenda (JKP 2017) and Dads Don’t Babysit (Ortus 2018).
James Millar,
Senior Counsel (Media)
Rob Fraser,
Senior Account Manager, Linco
Rob is an experienced public affairs and political advisor who has worked with organisations to develop successful engagement strategies and deliver award-winning campaigns. He has worked with a range of clients across sectors including health, education and energy, and has led Scottish engagement programmes from Westminster.
Rob spent three years working in the Connect Group’s London office before moving back to Scotland to join Linco full-time in 2025. Prior to joining the Connect Group, Rob worked in management roles at Tesco. He has previously worked with local authorities to deliver Scottish Parliament and local elections and sits on the PRCA NextGen Committee supporting early-career public affairs professionals.
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Drop us an email or fill out the enquiry form to find out more or to set up an introductory chat.
6 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
EH1 3EG
