We help you
tell your story.
ABOUT
We are a network of senior communications professionals working together with clients to develop, promote and grow their reputation.
We are not a traditional agency. We are a network of freelance consultants who will work with you to build a team that is bespoke to your needs. Without the overheads of an agency, we can provide value and longevity, providing staff on an ad hoc or a secondment basis.
Operating across all sectors, we have honed our experience shaping political campaigns and leading communications activity for high-profile government programmes under huge media and public scrutiny. We bring the best of each of us to the partners we work with.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, where an organisation’s reputation is all, we have developed specialist skills to support clients through crises and change programmes, with a focus on managing communications and stakeholder risk.
As independent and experienced consultants we bring creativity and boldness together with deep insight and understanding of the challenges organisations face. We have developed and delivered strategies for political leaders at every level, as well as CEOs and senior executives in the public, private and charitable sectors.
TELLING YOUR STORY
We bring a distinctive approach that enables story-telling to breathe life into an organisation and its work.
Throughout history, humans have told stories. These echo through generations crossing cultures and languages. These stories can be counter-factual and are based on an emotional response to people, places and groups.
The most effective organisations are ones that engage effectively with customers, staff and stakeholders telling stories, often on an emotional level, driving loyalty and developing passion.
The strongest narrative starts with the question Simon Sinek posed: ‘why’?
Why does your organisation exist; why are you leading this change; why should the public care about the issue that matters to you?
SERVICES
JOIN THE STORY NETWORK
We work individually with clients with the knowledge each of us is supported and backed up by our network. We have a network of 80 associates across every region in the UK and in Europea, the Americas and North Africa. Their skills span everything from crisis management to strategic public affairs.
Unlike the traditional agency model, we can draw on a network of associates who can provide support either on an ad hoc or secondment basis, providing the skills and knowledge to meet your business objectives.
We draw on each other to challenge ourselves and received wisdom in order to provide our clients with the best possible advice and support. If you would like to talk to us about how we can help your organisation or you as an individual, then we’d love to discuss.
If you're a freelancer with communications experience and interested in joining the network, please fill in your details here (Google form) and we'll be in touch.
OUR TEAM
Jo Gibbons
Jo is a senior communications strategist with over 25 years' experience at the highest levels of government, consultancy and in-house. She is an experienced team leader who knows how to communicate complex and controversial issues to wide and varied audiences and to motivate those around me to deliver. Jo has advised a Prime Minister, as well as senior Cabinet Ministers and officials, on all aspects of communications and has directly represented those politicians to external stakeholders and influencers. She has led in-house and consultancy teams delivering strategic planning as well as specialising in media relations, stakeholder engagement, event management, marketing and public affairs campaigning. Most recently she ran the marketing function for the Health Industries business at PwC and is currently providing communication support to a number of charities. She is an Associate at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation and a Board member of Compassion in Dying and Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest Homestart. Email Jo.
Ian Moss
Ian Moss has over 30 years' experience working in politics and as a senior civil servant on policy development, strategy, as well as speechwriting for ministers and Prime Ministers. Ian started out in Labour Party politics, elected as Vice President of NUS and then working as a researcher to the Labour Party front bench Home Affairs team and in Tony Blair’s office in the 1997 campaign. Ian became a civil servant at Oftel, regulating broadcasting and broadband and working on the Communications Act 2003 and the set-up of Ofcom. He then joined HM Treasury where he worked in the Growth Unit as Head of Innovation and Technology in HMT covering all aspects of Ofcom’s work, BBC Charter, Channel 4 shareholding, Aviation policy, gambling and National Lottery. After a spell as Principal Private Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Ian was Deputy Director and Head of Strategy in DWP covering all aspects of DWPs work and Director of Criminal Justice Strategy in the Ministry of Justice. After leaving the civil service Ian was Director of Policy for BPI, the recorded music industry trade body, and for 5 years was Deputy Chair of the Alliance for Intellectual Property – representing Music, Film, Publishing, Design, Games and News Media. Following BPI he was CEO of STM, the global publishing representative body, and CEO of Radiocentre. He has a Masters Degree in economics, specialising in competition and regulation.
Alex Bigham
Alex is a strategic communications and consultation specialist with 20 years’ experience supporting clients with engagement of stakeholders and media management, who specialises in infrastructure, healthcare and crisis communications. He has worked with private and public organisations ranging from corporates such as Microsoft, to public-sector institutions including the NHS and Ark Schools. Most recently, he supported National Highways prepare their planning application for the Lower Thames Crossing, an £8bn infrastructure project. During the pandemic, he was seconded to the Department of Health and Social Care as a Deputy Director for Strategic Communications, leading on Covid-19 work. A former councillor, he has worked as an independent consultant for five years, including as an associate with Deloitte, developing crisis communications protocols for clients. Email Alex.
REGIONAL GROWTH TEAM
Our Regional Growth Team provides economic development and strategic communications consultancy including high quality advice on government affairs, public relations and stakeholder engagement. We believe the most effective route to sustainable growth is by spreading wealth to every corner of the UK, so our network covers the country from the South West to the North East of Scotland. In total, we have access to a network of 80 associates in the UK that can cover every postcode.
We bridge the gap between national development and regional execution, to provide a true understand of the communities that stakeholders serve.
The team was brought together by Alex Bigham, Ian Moss and Gill Morris, who founded the successful Devo Agency. It includes strategic consultants in every region of the UK, that cover a wide range of specialisms from infrastructure to defence, from regulation to planning. It uses the latest technological developments to advise clients on political and media changes, seeking always to be ahead of time.
OUR ASSOCIATES
Gill Morris - North and North West
Gill is a luminary in parliamentary and public affairs with over 30 years of experience. A recipient of the CIPR Doug Smith Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Public Affairs Award, she has founded several successful agencies.
Gill is a leading voice on devolution, building campaigns and consensus for levelling up across England’s towns, cities and regions. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between local aspirations and national policy frameworks.
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Rosie Denham - South West
Rosie is a strategic communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement specialist, and founder of Project, a communications consultancy working with purpose-driven organisations and leaders. She helps clients develop clear positioning and messaging, build relationships with key audiences and stakeholders, and design communications and campaigns that create impact.
Rosie brings particular experience of working at the intersection of communications, policy and public affairs.
Through her work with The Story Network, she has supported clients including the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF), the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury and Alleyn’s School. Her recent work with UKABIF and the APPG has included supporting their engagement in Westminster and campaigning for improved recognition, rehabilitation and support for people affected by acquired brain injury.
Based in Exeter, Rosie also brings first-hand experience of local government and public policy, having previously served as an Exeter City Councillor and portfolio holder.
Emma Drackford - London and South East
Emma is a communications consultant with 19 years of experience across sectors including finance, the public sector, business membership, education, not-for-profit, health and fitness, and nutrition. She is also an adept writer with a journalism background. She has nine years of board experience with a good understanding of governance, business strategy, budgeting, and risk management.
Her communications experience includes strategy, campaign management (PR and public affairs), behaviour change, internal communications, digital comms, stakeholder relations, crisis and reputation management, and B2B and B2C marketing.
Nick Fincham - South East
Nick Fincham is an experienced economic adviser on regulation and public policy in the utility sector. In his early career, he developed expertise in economic regulation through senior roles at OFFER, Ofgas, Ofgem, Postcomm, the CAA and the FCA. He went on to gain a strong appreciation of the pressures facing utilities whilst serving on the Executive and Board of Thames Water. Most recently,
Nick has advised a range of UK water and energy companies (including DCC, National Grid, Anglian Water and MOSL), served as the Chair of the Regulatory Policy Institute and advised the Saudi Arabian Government on its regulatory framework for water and energy.
Rachel Shaw - East and West Midlands
Rachel works as an independent communications consultant specialising in high-scrutiny corporate reporting and narrative development, including annual and sustainability reporting and other complex, data-heavy reports, white papers and publications. Alongside formal reporting, she also supports organisations with wider communications strategies, campaigns and content where clarity, consistency, narrative discipline and creative storytelling matter. Before returning to consultancy, she was Director of External Affairs (and later Acting Chief Executive) at the Midlands Engine, a government-funded economic growth partnership established to help position the Midlands as a £220bn+ regional economy and support collaboration to attract major investment. Rachel spent 7 years as a consultant to the World Heart Federation as Campaign Director and Interim Communications Director. Rachel has delivered reporting and narrative projects for FTSE 100s, universities and membership bodies.
Geri Silverstone - South East
Geri is a political communications and community engagement strategy expert with 20 years global experience across the built environment, transport infrastructure, education, and local government sectors. A leading expert in political communications and stakeholder across the South of England, Geri has worked extensively with local authorities, national government, infrastructure projects, and educational institutions, helping to overcome barriers to growth through meaningful dialogue. His consultancy (the largest of its kind based on the south coast) is renowned for fostering collaboration between communities and organisations.
Regional Offices
Through our relationship with the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Devo Agency, we have access to a network of offices across the UK, including the IoD's iconic headquarters at 116 Pall Mall. We'd be happy to meet you at one of these venues to discuss your needs.
Our wider network includes:
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East Midlands – Meeting space in Leicester at the De Montfort University Innovation Centre.
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North West – Convenient meeting spaces in Manchester (Linley House) and Liverpool (Royal Albert Dock).
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South East – Venues across Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Milton Keynes.
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South West – Offices and meeting spaces in Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Wiltshire and Bournemouth.
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West Midlands – Convenient locations in Birmingham.
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Yorkshire & the Humber – Meeting spaces in Leeds and York.
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Wales – Locations in Cardiff and Bangor.
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Scotland – A broad network covering Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Dunfermline.
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Northern Ireland – Venues in Belfast and Newtownabbey.
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Isle of Man – Meeting and office facilities in Douglas.
This gives us access to a flexible network of professional meeting spaces across the UK, allowing us to arrange meetings in a location that is convenient for you.
WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH
