It’s been a funny old 24 hours at our Edinburgh public relations agency.

It started with the announcement that I’ve joined Scotland’s best small public relations agency, Holyrood PR in Edinburgh, as a digital media expert.

But as I basked in the glow of landing my latest grown up job, that 24 hour period was rounded off when I headed to the office – only for the bus driver to give me a child’s ticket.

As you might imagine this rather took the wind from my sails. It’s a constant struggle to keep motivated for the rigours of adult life, when everybody thinks you are 15.

Y’see, just like that First Bus driver most people refuse to believe I’m 25. It’s time to own up. I look young.  While that may seem like a blessing, there are times it feels more like a curse – and it can be an embarrassing one at that.

Probably the single biggest casualty of my baby-faced condition is my Passport. The once proud red and gold mark of British citizenship is now a battered and dog eared state, with the cover worn away to a muddy-looking brown.

That’s because I have to carry it everywhere with me and I’m constantly fishing it out of my pocket for everything from buying paracetamol and lottery tickets to buying drinks during nights out in the pub.

When my appointment to join the talented Holyrood PR team was announced in the media, it was a strong professional message being delivered about the growth of the Holyrood PR, which was named Scotland’s Most Outstanding Small Consultancy at the CIPR awards, considered our industry’s Oscars.

However, no sooner had we shared the media coverage across social media, than one of Account Director Brian’s mates jokingly messaged him to ask: “Has Kenny’s mum given written consent  for his photo to be used?”

In fairness, at least that response was pretty witty and raised a titter in the office. I’ve heard plenty of less original jibes over the years.

There have been some  real laugh out loud moments  – like when I got the  child bus ticket. The proof is in the picture. It’s just a pity I had already paid the full £1.50 fare.

Here are a few  other memorable moments from down the years:

• I got kicked out of the sixth year common room in school as they thought I was a third year
• I got mistaken for a work experience pupil in a new workplace
• I frequently get asked for Photo ID when Asda delivers my shopping

But there is also a serious side – not least the impact it can have on my professional life when meeting new clients or peers. The old adage of not judging a book by its cover doesn’t seem to cover judging people’s age.

When meeting clients for the first time, some think I must be fresh out of school, some think I’m some sort of child genius digital master (which I like to think isn’t too far from the truth), while some spend the entire first meeting trying to work out my age trying to ask subtle questions that help them solve the distracting puzzle.

Thankfully, I’ve yet to have a similar experience to the poor White House staffer in the movie, “In the Loop” when Pater Capaldi’s foul-mouthed character Malcolm Tucker shreds a baby faced 22-year-old in  his normal hugely offensive manner.  (No, despite what you’re thinking this didn’t happen when Holyrood director Scott interviewed me for my new job.)

So, if you are interested in working with Holyrood PR (and if you are in business and looking for greater success, then why wouldn’t you?) here’s my chance to introduce myself and spare both of our blushes at a later stage.

I am actually 25 and have been working in PR for three years since I graduated. The past two years were spent  at a global agency, where I worked with international clients, household names and niche interests – bringing success in the digital sphere on a regular basis. Recently I was part of a team that won several awards and had the same work highly commended by PR Week and the European Excellence Awards.

Therefore, I would like to ask all the Holyrood PR clients I am going to meet over the next wee while to keep an open mind and remember, I’m in my mid-twenties, I work in digital and I have plenty experience, so you’re in safe hands! Especially at this Scottish PR Agency.

If you’d like to find out how I can put my youthful vigour to work for you and bring great results from digital for your business, why not get in touch with me or the rest of the team? They look young too, even though most of them can get into a pub without the aid of their passport…

Get in touch with CIPR’s Outstanding Small Agency for 2015 on 0131 561 2244 or by using the form below: