Du Ciel Communications works with a small number of clients to develop bespoke communications and marketing strategies and plans. We’ll set clear performance targets and then implement the full mix of activities in your plan — from press campaigns to digital and creative content, events and social, and more.Choose from three, six or 12 month plans. We’ll tailor activities to your budget, objectives, and business size.Based just outside of Glasgow, Scotland, we have extensive experience in the energy sector, including renewable energy (offshore wind, tidal, circular economy), working for innovation projects, technology developers, and infrastructure builders.Other speciality sectors include: financial services (insurance and ecommerce), public health and advocacy (drug policy, infectious diseases), localisation of international companies, and cybersecurity.

I launched the strategy for communications and stakeholder engagement for Thistle Wind Partners (TWP) and its 1GW Bowdun Offshore Wind Farm and 1GW Ayre Offshore Wind Farm. I led community engagement through STEM activities, arts (theatre), podcasts and videos, creative competitions, an exhibition bus, and regional events. I also led TWP's public affairs engagement, media relations, digital channels, and established the TWP brand identity and communications protocols.Developing the TWP brand identity, tone of voice, 2023 and 2024 Communications & Stakeholder strategies and corporate communications policies and processesDeveloping and implementing the campaign plans to support key consenting milestones for the offshore wind farmsProviding communications training, guidance, and team rehearsals ahead of events and public speaking opportunities based upon a centralised Q&A documentManaging two stakeholder engagement managers in the project regions and supporting their professional development in the offshore wind industryOrganising events - community, pop-in, supply chain, ambassadorial receptionMapping key stakeholders, conducting focus groups and audience research, and leading outreach to relevant politicians, local government, trade associations and industry groups, community groups, academic research institutesSetting up and developing TWP's external contact database including embedding its use and best practice in external relations in the TWP teamDeveloping position papers, consultation responses, and strategic messaging for all audiences and channelsProducing content for events, exhibitions, digital channels and media (including copywriting, some graphic design, scripts, multimedia, podcasting)Establishing the TWP website and launching TWP social media channels on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTubeSetting up and managing the charitable and community grant schemes for TWP's regional engagement, sponsorships, and educational programmes

Over the years, I have also undertaken short-term contracts or voluntary work for:- MWH Treatment (Glasgow) in 2022: launching internal and external communications activity as part of a culture-building and transformation programme in their ESD JV.- EHRAC, University of London (voluntary): translation of witness accounts to support cases on behalf of people in the Russian Federation to the International Court of Human Rights.- Bank ZENIT: translation / copywriting services and Annual Report of Russia’s largest bank.- AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW): translation services and wrote content for the Annual Report following the end of my contract and return to the UK.

Developing and executing the communications strategies for Innovate UK and Horizon 2020 projects across the wind, wave and tidal sectors including launching communications for leading brands in the tidal, RAS, O&M fieldsDeveloping and implementing ORE Catapult's own communications campaigns on strategic themes to support the organisation's external reputation and leadership on key topics (tidal power, digitalisation of wind farm operations, robotics in offshore environments, etc.).Creating ORE Catapult's long-running Re-Energise podcast (producing show briefs, notes, directing, editing and promoting) and a variety of films, animations and multimedia content to market the organisation's capabilities, facilities and expertise.Producing content across multiple channels (publications, social media, websites, multimedia) in order to meet the objectives of the campaigns (to publicise new technologies, persuade industry to invest in JIPs, persuade government to invest in new forms of energy, etc.).Writing and pitching media articles for national and trades titles, arranging broadcast interviews for ORE Catapult experts. Copywriting, editorial and creative communications support for ORE Catapult projects and corporate identityManaging agencies to produce PR content, films, animations and graphic design for strategic campaigns as well as coordinating the ORE Catapult communications and marketing team's support.Copywriting technical reports for technical and non-technical audiences.Organising events in collaboration with the Events Manager (industry conferences, webinars, technology showcases, etc).

Creating AXA Business Insurance's public relations strategy, annual communications plans, managing the budgets, and developing segmented strategies for core customer groups in collaboration with the marketing and public affairs teams. Leading public relations activity that is proven to generate sales for the company, attract positive commentary by MPS and influencers as well as the mass media, and a very strong ROI covered in extensive reporting by independent econometrics experts.Executing media campaigns that garner regular national, regional and specialist trade coverage, as well as radio and TV interviewsCreation of the company’s Mini Business Adventures podcast series, as well as supporting development of content for a variety of platforms: corporate website, email and digital marketing campaigns, blogs and social media.Organising events such as AXA's sponsorship and dedicated evening event at the MADE Festival in Sheffield and in collaboration with external partners.Conducting research (focus groups, polling) to support public relations, lobbying, market research and marketing activity.Crisis communications and customer outreach during these events.Developing messaging and content for the company's product pages, marketing campaigns, sales teams, product literature, website quote and buy journey, email marketing campaigns, publications.

Developing the five-year communications strategy, annual communications plans, crisis communications' procedures and performance indicators with the International Office and regional offices.Coordinating the communication activities and core messaging across the project regions in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (eight countries) and reporting to the International Office in Amsterdam.Writing and production of the organisation's annual reports and key publications.Working with an international team on the planning and implementation of HIV advocacy campaigns in Western and Eastern Europe (Vienna Express 2010).Meeting project beneficiaries from Russian prisons and medical programmes to conduct interviews in Russian, develop case studies and original articles advocating for a rights-based approach to HIV prevention and treatment.Press liaison at international conferences and local events in Moscow.Managing the corporate and campaign websites: content writing, editing, managing relationships with web developers and suppliers in Moscow and the Netherlands.Managing and writing for online blogs and social media campaigns.Production of publications and promotional materials (leaflets, posters, campaign materials, event flyers).Translation (Russian-English) of core materials and quality control of freelance translation.Copywriting, editing and proof-reading of English-language materials.

Acted as the Association’s official spokesperson and press speaker (including for the Finance & Investment, Banking, Tax and Legal committees)Launched a new external communications and press strategy for the organisation’s lobbying and public relations activities in the EU and RussiaSet up a PR Committee for EU public relations companies working in MoscowInitiated and developed working relationships with foreign and Russian journalists (BBC, Financial Times, Vedomosti, Novaya gazeta, Kommersant, Russian TV and radio, etc.)Organised press campaigns on lobbying issues: such as a press event and campaign on Russia’s draft law 'On Foreign Investments in Strategic Sectors' which gained national front-page, positive coverage in Russia and in EU countries tooCreated and inaugurated Moscow’s Annual Press Party which has run successfully ever since (200 Russian journalists and foreign correspondents attended the first)Initiated and organised events such as a briefing and dinner with Mikhail Gorbachev and owners of Novaya Gazeta newspaperManaged and increased circulation of the AEB Business Quarterly and raised advertising revenueWrote, edited and oversaw publication of the monthly newsletter, position papers and investment guides

Created a new set of brand promotional materials (leaflets, slogans, website texts and advertising collateral)Translated marketing, research and product specifications from Russian to English for local offices in the USA and UKEstablished internal quality control procedures for translation, copy-writing and website localizationEstablished English-language texts as the base language for translation to other European languagesGenerated ideas for new marketing concepts, formats, slogans and presentationMarket research (together with country managers for UK, US, Japan, etc.) to support localization of marketing themes, slogans, concepts, images and other aspects of branding

General and Business English teaching to adults using the CELTA method