challenge
communicate
change
No smoke, no mirrors - just practical, straightforward advice, based on years of experience and proven success.
Start-up or established? SME or corporate? Public or private? We give you the tools to talk.
What we can
do for you
Whatever the challenge, we work with and empower our clients, developing a strategy that supports their goals, delivers their message to the right people and makes sure it’s received and understood.
Our pragmatic, results-focused approach is based on the belief that the person best placed to tell your story is . . . you.
Let’s get started
Owner-manager
As your business grows, so do the many demands on your time and attention. PR often takes a backseat to more pressing operational priorities. But if your company won’t tell its story, no one else will. We’ve helped the owners and partners of countless start-ups and SMEs become self-sufficient in communications.
More ►Chief Executive / MD
As trusted advisers to business leaders, we tell our clients what they need to know, not what we think they want to hear. Our advice is informed, unbiased, honest . . . and discreet. There are occasions in life when seeking a second opinion is simply plain, old-fashioned common sense. If you’re facing one of them, please get in touch for some sound advice.
More ►Commercial Director
We help clients fully integrate PR with their marketing and business development activities. Credible and influential, business-focused PR can build and help maintain customer loyalty, increase demand for your products or services, and grow your business. All at superior returns on investment to more mainstream approaches.
More ►In-house communicator
The unsung heroes of the communications world, in-house PR departments are the front line guardians of reputation, required to switch from defence to attack at a moment’s notice. We are committed to helping businesses develop their own communications resources, rather than fostering the dependency culture that so often prevails in the client-agency relationship.
More ►
Who we are
Straight talking. Practical. Experienced. We’ve been described as the sort of people who give PR a good name!
We certainly won’t be borrowing your watch to tell you the time. Or trying to sell you services that you don’t require. Instead, we work in an open and transparent way to create a partnership of trust with our clients. We offer what you need, when you need it. Nothing more. Nothing less.
What we do
We give SMEs access to the resources, structures and expertise that were unavailable before the digital age and even today are all too often the sole preserve of big-budget corporations and their expensive agencies.
Working with you, we’ll discover new and compelling ways to communicate your own unique story to the people who matter most to your business.
What we've done
Charity
Position as a unique proposition in a crowded marketplace to secure funding for its running costs and expansion.
Crisis planning
‘Worst case’ crisis communications counsel to leading North Sea operator during serious gas leak.
Defence contractor
Communications and launch of skills programme to ensure company and UK’s engineering and manufacturing sectors can compete effectively.
Emerging market investor
Promote external understanding of rationale for private equity investments in overseas businesses perceived to be controversial.
Energy exchange
Launch of Middle East’s first crude oil futures contract and energy exchange.
Energy infrastructure
Pan-European media and public affairs support for major natural gas pipeline project.
Energy innovator
Build brand of a new lab technology business to secure third party funding to enable commercial scaling globally.
Engineering manufacturer
Manage the liquidation of a respected UK manufacturer and its immediate sale to a US company to ensure it does not affect the company’s reputation.
Fuel distributor
Smooth integration of internal stakeholders of acquired companies within the structure of the new owner.
Fuel terminal operator
Establish an effective crisis communications plan to manage reputation through any potential crisis.
Global law firm
Development of corporate vision, values and purpose that reflects multi-cultural and geographic diversity of rapidly growing world leader.
Insurance provider
Build consumer profile of a direct sell insurance company to mitigate negative pressure from politicians and repel regulatory action that would affect the sustainability of the business and its parent company.
International energy conferences
Global promotion and on-site media centre management.
Market entry
Strategic advice and communications support for UK market entry of Hong Kong mass transit operator, major Indian infrastructure firm, and leading US nuclear utility.
Offshore energy
Transform profile of specialist vessel operator prior to purchase by private equity firm.
Oil & gas operator
Strategic communications advice on presentation of deepwater drilling programme.
Parcel delivery
Protect reputation and reduce risk of any new legislation that would affect the business model and operation of the business.
Postal services
Develop trust of potential customers in new company competing with former monopoly that has its own vested interests including government, politicians and unions.
Public inquiry
Preparation of senior executive for parliamentary inquiry into UK deepwater activities following BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Recycling
Position white goods manufacturer trade body as leading experts on EU electrical waste recycling directive to ensure implementation is practical for its membership.
Redundancies
Ensure that mass redundancy programme is not misinterpreted externally and confidence remains within the company.
Renewable energy investor
Branding, communications and launch of world-leading renewable energy investment company.
White goods manufacturer
Manage appearance on BBC Watchdog programme to ensure it does not create panic with consumers and affect sales.
The ikonoclast approach
We offer the full spectrum of strategic communications services, from media relations and crisis communications to editorial services and presentation training.
To ascertain which services you need (and those you don’t!) we run our Sense Check over your organisation to identify your business challenges and communications needs.
We will then share with you our initial thoughts and recommendations.
Find out more about our Sense Check ►
Where to find us
Based in London, with unrivalled national and international experience, we can also call upon our extensive professional network covering all aspects of communications in key locations around the world.
No matter where in the world you’re based, we can support your communications needs.
Key People
Paul Donlon
Paul is a corporate reputation and business-to-business communications specialist with over 25 years’ experience working in-house and agency.
Recognised for his ability to develop and implement award-winning campaigns across many sectors, Paul has successfully managed the reputations of clients in countless complex situations.
His strategic advice and media management skills have consistently delivered positive results at local, national, international and trade level. During his career Paul has worked for some of the UK’s largest PR companies, including Financial Dynamics and Weber Shandwick, and a wide range of industries, from energy and manufacturing to finance, travel and professional services.
Paul is also an experienced media and crisis communications trainer, drawing on his extensive experience to provide clients with the confidence and techniques to succeed.
Say hello ►Seán Galvin
Seán has been helping people tell their stories, defend their reputations and grow their businesses all his professional life. In a career that has taken him from Fleet Street journalism to freelance consultancy, Seán has held senior roles at energy giant Texaco, management consultants Accenture and global PR agencies Financial Dynamics and FTI Consulting.
Seán is an acknowledged expert in media relations, business writing and journalism, internal and external stakeholder relations, issues and risk management, and crisis preparedness and training.
He has represented clients across many industries – from energy, defence and transport to retail, IT, financial services and property – in both the private and public sectors, including governments and government entities. His extensive professional network includes business leaders, journalists, opinion-formers and politicians.
Say hello ►