Communicate better.
The best communications don't just inform: they build trust, drive alignment and move people
We're a corporate communications partner for organisations that want to say the right thing clearly, credibly and consistently. We work with companies to develop strategic messaging and narrative, collaborating with design, to ensure every communication works as hard as it should.
Our team of corporate communications experts have backgrounds spanning IR, governance and media, in-house marketing and comms and journalism. With our depth of experience, we don't just execute — we challenge, shape and elevate. We understand what boards need to report, what investors need to read, what employees need to hear and what customers need to know.
Think of Hailhurst as the communications partner you didn't know you were missing.
Our services
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Bring your story to life
We can help you tell your story in an authentic way that’s not only clear, but compelling enough to engage across every touchpoint.
Whether you're refreshing your brand, welcoming new leadership or redefining your purpose, a clear and compelling brand narrative is essential. It’s not just about what you say — it’s about how you make people feel, and how you connect your business strategy to your audience in a way that resonates and endures.a way that resonates and endures.
How we can help:
Narrative discovery and articulation: We interview, dig into customer research, get under the skin of an organisation to really get to know you and help you explore your core messaging.
Messaging architecture: We create a structured framework or ‘messaging house’- including your core narrative and key messages by audience (customers, investors, press, recruits) so your story stays consistent but adapts to context
Tone of Voice development: We help to define how a brand speaks - formal vs. conversational, bold vs. reassuring, witty vs. authoritative. This ensures consistency whether it's a tweet, a report, internal comms or a press release
Content creation across channels
Website copy (About pages, case studies, product pages)
Thought leadership articles and blogs
Press releases and media pitches
Pitch decks and investor materials
Social media and email campaigns
Internal communications and employer branding
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Power your digital communications
We can turn your website and social platforms into powerful storytelling tools that inform and inspire action. They are key points of contact with all audiences, so the content needs to be clear, engaging and aligned with your overall communications strategy.
At Hailhurst, we specialise in creating strategically-crafted digital content that resonates with your audience, reflects your values and drives meaningful engagement. We work closely with your design and UX teams to create seamless social and web content. From refining investor messaging to simplifying complex business issues, writing case studies and updating employee communications, we deliver clarity and consistency, enhancing the user journey and amplifying your brand.
Our digital services:
Digital copywriting and editing – high-level messaging from detailed product/service descriptions to ‘employee voice’ pieces, blogs and insights.
User-focused content strategy – content planning to support your business goals and reach target audiences.
SEO- and GEO-optimised content - improve discoverability across digital and AI without sacrificing readability, authenticity or brand voice.
Collaborative approach – work hand-in-hand with design and UX teams to ensure content and design work seamlessly together.
Brand consistency – content aligned with your broader communications strategy, tone of voice and messaging.
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The strongest organisations communicate well from the inside out.
At Hailhurst, we help businesses do exactly that — bringing comms expertise and strategic clarity to shape your culture, guide your colleagues and build lasting trust.
We work closely with your internal comms and HR teams to plan, shape and deliver content that informs, inspires and aligns; from navigating a merger and integrating new colleagues, to embedding a new set of values or purpose, analysing employee engagement surveys or simply making sure your people feel heard.
Our internal communications support includes planning and writing for digital and social campaigns, refreshing employee handbooks and HR documentation, developing engagement content across digital channels and events, and guiding communications through integration and post-merger transitions.
From tone of voice to message consistency — we help you build the kind of internal communications that colleagues will actually read, remember and act on.
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Your senior marketing communications partner. Ready to plug in and deliver.
In a climate where businesses are streamlining teams and trimming in-house resource, marketing capability is often the first thing to go — and one of the costliest things to lose.
At Hailhurst, we step into that gap. We work as a senior communications partner to support stretched in-house marketing teams. We bring strategic counsel and hands-on delivery across the marketing communications mix, to help organisations communicate consistently, compellingly and credibly.
Our marketing communications support includes:
Developing themes and key messaging that unify communications across markets and platforms
Coordinating global comms campaigns with multi-language delivery tailored to regional audiences
Supporting website and wider comms development including content creation, editorial reviews and audit updates
Managing social media end-to-end: planning, writing, creative input and scheduling across multiple channels
Building reporting and insight frameworks to support social listening and campaign performance
Coaching local teams to strengthen tone of voice, writing style and message clarity — building internal capability
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Your corporate narrative, told with authority.
Organisations are facing more pressure than ever to report clearly, credibly and consistently. We help them rise to meet this challenge.
Great reports aren't just well-written. They're coherent, considered and built to land the right messaging and engagement.
We're more than just an editorial team. As well as writing and editing annual reports, we guide on messaging, structure and content strategy for Annual/Integrated, Impact and Sustainability reports. We work across industries to help companies reach a range of stakeholders, build trust and demonstrate accountability.
From the first planning conversation to final sign-off, we work at the heart of your reporting process to ensure every section works hard and connects with your wider business goals. We shape the narrative arc and structure the report as well as writing and editing it, while collaborating closely with your designers to make sure the visual and written narratives work in complete harmony. And our project managers keep things moving — coordinating contributors, streamlining reviews and making sure deadlines don't slip.
We can help with:
Planning workshops and communications briefs
Narrative/messaging strategy, content structure and narrative frameworks
Design collaboration — ensuring copy and layout reinforce each other
Interviewing, writing, editing and proofing annual and sustainability reports
Developing AI drafts
Creating style guides, Tone of Voice guidance and style reviews
Project management across complex, multi-stakeholder processes
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Clear, credible communications for your sustainability journey
We support organisations to sharpen sustainability communications. Whether you're just starting your journey or refining a mature sustainability narrative, we help you to articulate sustainability goals, actions, progress and impacts clearly and consistently. Our sustainability regulation experts also work with companies to navigate regulatory requirements, engaging with internal teams to support sustainability best practice reporting and communication.
Our sustainability communications support spans:
Advising on, writing and editing sustainability, impact and ESG reports, Climate Transition Plans and Social Value reports
Supporting on general sustainability communications for internal and external audiences
Preparing stakeholder briefings, Q&A packs, leadership messages and campaign content
Consultancy on best practice GRI, CRSD and TFCD requirements
Our work
Since Hailhurst started in 2018, we've worked on communcations with many different companies across a range of industries - from FTSE and AIM-listed companies to charitable foundations, new start-ups, government entities and significant private companies. Some are retained clients while others work with us on a project-by-project basis. We also support agencies to meet their clients' copy needs.
Want to find out more?
Our team
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Reporting writer and editor
Alison is an award-winning copywriter and expert editor with over 30 years of experience. She excels at understanding large organisations, polishing narratives with a consistent style and tone, and correcting grammatical errors. In addition to working in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, aerospace, and industrial gases sectors, she has over two years of in-house experience as both Head of Visual Identity and PR and Communications Manager. Alison leverages her extensive experience to help businesses of all sizes communicate clearly and confidently.
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Strategic corporate communications
Andrew is a former in-house corporate affairs director with 25 years’ experience advising listed infrastructure and regulated businesses across energy, financial services and telecommunications. He works with boards, executives and investors on issues where strategy, regulation, reputation and delivery intersect – particularly during periods of scrutiny, transition or long-term capital deployment. Andrew is also a Non-Executive Director at Caldera, bringing first-hand experience of industrial decarbonisation, infrastructure delivery and long-horizon value creation.
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Proofreader
Bridget has worked as a self-employed proofreader and editor for over a decade. In 2014, she decided to specialise in corporate communications and took on a contract proofreading Aviva Investors’ quarterly report, which she still holds. Alongside regularly working with major corporate communications design agencies and proofreading regulatory reports for FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 organisations, she also works directly with companies on a wide range of corporate proofreading projects. In addition, she is retained by a number of fiction writers.
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Writer and editor, digital specialist
Chris is an experienced copywriter and content developer who typically works across employer branding, employee communications, finance, technology, and B2B marketing. He focuses on branding, creative concepting, editing, interviews, and content creation.
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Project manager and editor
Jennifer is a writer, editor, and change manager with over 15 years’ experience and a keen eye for detail. She is adept at translating complex information into plain English. Her specialist areas include employment law, human resources best practice, and sustainability. She has a strong background in researching, developing, and implementing websites, as well as carrying out usability testing and market research. Jennifer has written and edited newsletters, corporate communications, regulatory reports, and sustainability statements, in addition to training and workshop materials for a wide range of stakeholders. She holds master’s degrees in employment law/HR and information studies.
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Proofreader
Jenny has worked as an in-house editor and proofreader at several publishing companies, including Kogan Page, Gee Publishing, and Butterworths. Since 2004, she has been a freelance proofreader for organisations including Bloomsbury, LexisNexis, and Hart Publishing. She prides herself on giving her work complete focus and is known for her eagle eye and strong time-management skills. At Hailhurst, she proofreads regulatory reports for companies across sectors including pharmaceuticals, energy, and technology.
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Investor relations and report writer/editor
Katherine has over 30 years’ experience in investor relations and financial PR, having worked as Director of Investor Relations for a range of FTSE 100 companies, including Smith + Nephew, Rentokil Initial, and Hammerson plc. A proven strategic adviser at senior and board level, she is skilled at identifying and communicating the messages that matter most to company stakeholders. Her experience encompasses M&A, shareholder activism, company restructuring, IPOs, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of corporate and financial literature, including annual reports, results presentations, statements, and capital markets day materials. She has project-managed and written more than 20 annual reports, winning five awards, including the Investor Relations Society Grand Prix Award for Best Overall Communication of a Company Investment Proposition (FTSE 100) in 2017.
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Editor, writer and strategic communications adviser
Melanie is an editor, writer and strategic communications adviser with more than 25 years’ experience in ESG and financial reporting. She has supported organisations across the energy, natural resources, wealth management and development sectors, specialising in annual reports, ESG strategy, sustainability reporting and executive communications. A former international journalist and foreign correspondent, she combines analytical rigour with clear, engaging storytelling and a strong understanding of evolving reporting frameworks, including CSRD, ESRS, GRI and climate-related disclosures.
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Investor and media communications
Miles has a strong background in financial reporting and copywriting and is an award-winning journalist who later moved into investor relations and strategic communications for listed companies. He excels at creating narratives that help companies of varying sizes and across multiple sectors deliver succinct, clear, and compelling messages to the City. He has worked closely with key stakeholders, particularly board-level management, and has specific expertise in sustainability reporting. He is also a Judge and Board Adviser at the Lloyds Bank British Excellence Awards, the UK’s largest programme celebrating innovation, growth, and entrepreneurialism.
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Writer, editor and digital specialist
Piper has a background as a financial journalist and editor, with over 20 years’ experience writing about investing, personal finance, and sustainability. She was awarded Green Voice of the UK by the Energy Saving Trust and has worked with major global organisations on sustainability reports, as well as producing white papers on green energy. She has project-managed and edited new websites and has also worked as an Acting Director of Communications. Piper is the author of three books and has lectured in business writing at London Metropolitan University.
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Writer, editor, comms consultancy, sustainability specialist
Polly is the founder of Hailhurst and works with leadership teams at FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and major global organisations on a wide range of corporate content. Her work includes writing and editing award-winning annual and sustainability reports, articulating brand and corporate narratives, and consulting on internal and external communications. Her experience as a journalist, combined with work for design agencies and in-house communications teams, enables her to advise effectively on messaging, content, structure, and stakeholder communication.
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Writer and editor
Sarah is a writer and editor with over 30 years’ experience in corporate communications, in-house media relations, financial journalism, and transforming complex topics into clear, readable copy. She works across sectors including food and drink, law, personal finance, sustainability, charities, heritage, and higher education, on projects ranging from annual reports and websites to case studies and opinion pieces for senior leaders.
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Marketing generalist
Sarah has more than 15 years’ experience working across a wide range of industries, supporting family businesses, solo operators, SMEs, and FTSE 100 organisations. She previously worked as an in-house marketer at Babcock International across multiple business units and has since consulted across numerous sectors. She is passionate about content creation, from blogs, articles, and reports to social media storytelling, as well as developing strong brand narratives and seeing them applied consistently.
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Proofreader
Simon is an experienced proofreader with over 30 years in the design and advertising industries. He has worked on a wide range of print and online projects, including annual and ESG reports, identity guidelines, press and magazine advertisements, websites, and packaging. He has a strong understanding of the corporate reporting sector and appreciates the importance of delivering accurate work on time. Simon brings a great eye for detail, reliability, dedication, and a flexible approach to his work, alongside a calm, friendly, and professional manner.