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Strategic communications partnership (retainer)

For organisations who need senior-level communications judgement.

When communication really matters, most teams don’t struggle with effort. They struggle with clarity, context, and time to think.
 

This retainer exists to solve that.
 

How does it work?

2015-2017

​A strategic communications partnership gives you ongoing access to a senior communications brain – someone who understands your context, helps you think clearly under pressure, and supports better decisions over time.

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Rather than working project-to-project, I stay close enough to:

  • hold institutional knowledge

  • spot patterns early

  • reduce firefighting

  • raise the quality of thinking, writing and decisions as the work unfolds

 

It's strategic first, tactical second – and designed to complement your team.

Who this is for
This works best for organisations who:

✓ Operate in complex, regulated or fast-changing environments
✓ Have a small or stretched comms team

✓ Know communication matters, but don’t want a full-time senior hire
✓ Are navigating change, scrutiny, growth, or AI adoption

✓ Value judgement, clarity and standards 
 If suitable, we can integrate practical GenAI exercises to support drafting, editing and clarity.

White Wired Mouse

What support looks like in practice
We shape our working relationship around your needs. Typically support includes a mix of:

  • Developing and evolving communication strategy
    Helping define priorities, audiences and direction — and translating strategy into practical guidance teams can actually use.

  • Turning messy thinking into clear narrative
    Helping shape ideas, arguments and messages so they make sense to your audiences.

  • Sense-checking and strengthening drafts
    Before they go out — especially when stakes are high.

  • AI-assisted writing systems and guardrails (only if you're on board with AI)
    Using AI to improve speed and quality without outsourcing judgement, voice or standards.

  • Embedded training and upskilling
    So capability improves over time.

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Throughout the partnership, you’re working with a senior communications professional who brings experience across sectors, alongside the combined perspective of a strategist, writer and coach. That blend allows the work to move between thinking, writing and capability-building without losing coherence or standards.

How the retainer works
 

  • Support is provided on an ongoing basis, shaped around your needs

  • Duration is flexible and reviewed as work evolves

  • I work with a small number of retainer clients only, to protect quality and attention​

Availability and pricing
 

​​I currently have capacity for a selected handful of retainer clients.
 

Pricing reflects seniority, scope and complexity, and is shared following an initial discussion to assess fit on both sides.

Next steps
 

If this sounds like the kind of support you’re looking for, the next step is a short conversation. We’ll explore:

  • what you’re dealing with

  • where ongoing support would add most value

  • and whether a strategic partnership makes sense​.
     

Sounds good? Let's talk.

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