News

Read and see the latest cutting-edge ideas, opinions and insights from our creative people.

Safe Successful Sustainable: A shared vision for better homes, support and opportunities.

An evidence-based account from Prospect Housing, a provider that chose to close. With our support in shaping and designing a report, Prospect Housing launched its policy paper at an All-Party Parliamentary Group event on 21 October 2021. The report details Prospect’s history, actions leading to the closure decision and recommendations to improve accommodation and support for residents across the UK. The launch was jointly held…

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How to create a good experience of hybrid working from a comms perspective

“I’m sick of these four walls, shall we get together?” “I need to read the room properly again. I need to feel where people are really at.” “I can only do proper creative stuff when I’m actually with people, let’s meet up.” Sound familiar? Then you find yourself in a meeting room with 4, 8, 10, 12 other people . . . Oh, and some…

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How do you keep employees engaged in a virtual world?

Wellbeing programmes, slicker online hubs, more online meetings? Navigating workplace engagement currently is a massive challenge. And whilst the pandemic has had many awful consequences, the impact on employee engagement is actually an opportunity for us all. Gallup reported that as a result of Covid we saw a ‘historical drop’ in employee engagement after an initial rise when the pandemic hit. But when you couple this…

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Leading through lockdown: how our clients are creating connection during COVID

With lockdown 2.0 happening, goodwill waning and businesses straining under increased pressure and high-pressure pivots, the challenge for leaders looking to ensure stability, safety and maintaining of morale is, without question, a bigger ask than ever before. Yet one of the things I’ve been privileged to witness with so many clients over recent months is the acceleration of empathy and purpose – bringing people back to…

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How smart leaders are catching the creative wave

Life under the COVID-19 lockdown has seen a remarkable and spontaneous surge of individual creativity and innovative sharing. Creative Bridge managing director Nicola Winn says that to survive and thrive in a post-pandemic world, organisations need to match this rush of resourcefulness. Across the UK this spring, people have been creative and in touch with each other like never before. A nation of bakers, knitters,…

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A story of homelessness

Senior consultant Ian Hembrow shares the tale of his recent encounters with one young man affected by homelessness and the lessons for everyone anxious to help others in similar situations. Supporting the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Shine A Light campaign is a practical step we can all take. I FIRST NOTICED ALISTAIR while I was taking part in a housing research event in my home…

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BLOG TWO PLACE BRANDING AND REGENERATION Q&A: PART TWO

In the second of our two-part series, regeneration expert Paul Quinn of Clarion Housing Group and our agency creative director David Bardell discuss stakeholder engagement, processes and what success looks like for place branding and regeneration. How do you engage stakeholders in developing place brands? PQ: There is often quite a lot of emotional investment from residents and other stakeholders. Not everyone is comfortable with…

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Silent night, holy night. When all is not calm when all is not bright.

Domestic violence is sadly a reality for more than two million victims (two-thirds of whom are women) every day of the year. However, the juxtaposition of a happy family Christmas and the added financial pressures and routine changes, mean the festive period is often a focus for awareness. Earlier this year, we, along with many others, signed up to support the CIH Make a Stand…

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Place Branding and Regeneration Q&A: Part one of two

Place branding is sometimes viewed as a natural extension of product branding. But in reality, its characteristics are very different. Traditional brand development generally involves creating something new for a target market - such as a product, company, service or cause. You know who it’s for and what their needs are, so your design and brand it for them. But with place brands, you’re not…

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Making important things interesting

How do you get the public to sit up, take notice and get involved in vital decisions and changes happening on their doorstep? Senior consultant Ian Hembrow reports on our work across England and Wales with the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) to apply proven media techniques to community leadership. The former Director General of the BBC, Sir John Birt, once said that the…

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