Frequently asked questions

That’s the most common starting point. Some organisations arrive with a clear brief and a defined challenge. Others simply know that communication or engagement isn’t working as well as it should, but aren’t yet sure exactly why, or what needs to change first. That’s fine. Early conversations help clarify what’s actually going on and whether a diagnostic, a focused project, or something else makes the most sense. You don’t need to have it figured out before you get in touch.

No. The diagnostic is there for organisations that want clarity before committing to a larger piece of work. It’s a structured way to identify what matters most and what to tackle first. But if you already have a clear sense of the challenge, we can move straight into the work.

Both, and in practice the two are usually connected. The most common shape of an engagement is strategy development first, producing the strategy, messaging, or programme design you need, followed by implementation support and guidance as your team puts it into practice. For many organisations, that’s followed by a period of retained advisory support over the following months, to help new ways of working bed in, check what’s landing, and adjust where needed. The aim is always to leave you with something your team can sustain, not a document that needs a consultant to interpret it.

Yes. Many of the organisations I work with already have capable communications or marketing colleagues, and that’s a good thing. I’m not there to replace your team but to work alongside them, providing strategic direction, an external perspective, or support on a specific challenge they don’t have the capacity or experience to tackle alone.

It depends on what’s useful. Some organisations take the work and implement it internally. Others find it helpful to continue with a period of retained advisory support, particularly as new approaches are being embedded and the team is finding its footing. There’s no expectation of ongoing work. If it would be useful, we can talk about it. If not, the project stands on its own.

Primarily publishers, membership associations, learned societies, universities, and research organisations, but also organisations in the broader education, technology, or mission-driven space where clear communication genuinely matters. What’s more important than sector is whether there’s a real communications or engagement challenge to work on.

It varies. The GROW Diagnostic typically takes two to three weeks. A strategy or engagement programme might run for several weeks or be phased over a few months, depending on scope and complexity. Strategy sessions are a single 90-minute conversation. The scope and timeline are always agreed upfront, so there are no surprises.