<p>Note the strength of brokers and the lack of independent IR agencies in the UK. But is the market moving closer to the US model?</p>
'I've always believed that investor relations is a variegated market,' says Chris Birks, director at London-based IR consultancy Frew MacMaster. 'For some UK companies, the IR service offered by brokers is probably all they want and all they need. It's not a