Responsible corporates

We work with companies that combine the pursuit of profit with a complementary attention to wider stakeholder impacts. Our experience spans global blue chips with sustainability as a core business principle, those with specific corporate responsibility initiatives and purpose-driven start-ups.

shell

Global stakeholder relations and online dialogue

Julie worked for Shell International’s Corporate Identity team to manage the business’ brand with global decision makers. It was an innovative programme that leveraged advertising media spend to create engagement and influencing opportunities on the world’s energy challenge. Julie was responsible for managing an international programme of stakeholder events, roundtables and a global award scheme through partnerships with BBC World, Newsweek and International Herald Tribune. The company was able to engage potential or actual critics including academics, Government officials, NGOs and investors.

Julie was also involved with the build, content and launch of Shell International’s online stakeholder engagement website – Shell Dialogues. The site continues to host a regular series of ‘webchat’ events on topical issues such as biofuels.

Results

Shortly after the site's inception, each webchat attracted around 700 of Shell’s global decision-making audience.

World Challenge awards were broadcast on BBC World to 21 million viewers categorised as 'high earners' - a proxy for Shell's special publics audience. The competition attracted 800 nominations from 120 countries, a 79% increase on previous year.

bt business

Business to business (B2B) thought leadership

BT Business looks after the IT and communication needs of around 1 million small businesses and has the largest UK wi-fi network enabling people to work wherever and whenever they want to. Whilst leading the account for BT Business Mobile, a key plank of the marketing strategy was to promote BT Business’ thought leadership on the management and wellbeing issues that come with mobile working. Julie managed the production of a range of content including a Remote Manager’s Toolkit which was co-authored by a think tank and a range of business organisations as well as a graphic-led guide to ergonomics for mobile workers.

Results

All materials were used in customer communications and also generated a sizeable amount of online buzz, particularly within small business and HR sites.

“Julie was tenacious and creative in her pursuit of comment opportunities for BT Business. She always had lots of ideas on how to develop thought leadership, such as the Remote Manager’s Toolkit or Get Fit for Mobile Working guide, both created in conjunction with external experts. Operating in a highly competitive market, it was key for us to build lasting reputation beyond product and create differentiation. It was good to have Julie as part of the team that helped to deliver this.”

Alia Ilyas, Senior PR Manager, BT Retail

aviva

Helping a blue chip engage with people and communities

Julie helped develop Aviva UK as a company firmly rooted in the communities in which it operates. She ran media and stakeholder relations for its CSR initiatives including a range of schools programmes.

Results

Helped devise a national schools competition to promote Aviva's financial literacy programme for young people, brokering an ongoing media partnership with The Times newspaper and securing endorsement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer and shadow Chancellors in the process. Large volumes of regional media coverage for schools programmes and Aviva's involvement in volunteering.

“Julie played a pivotal role in generating media interest in Aviva’s UK corporate responsibility programme. We clicked immediately, mostly because of her energy, great ideas and passion, and I subsequently charged Julie with responsibility for protecting and enhancing Aviva’s reputation as a responsible organisation. She delivered this and more, well beyond my expectations.”

James Leach, formerly Head of Corporate Responsibility, Europe, Aviva (now Head of Media Relations, General Insurance, Aviva)