WHAT OTHERS SAY
We think we’re great to work with and get the job done. Organisations come to us because we can help them achieve key communications and business goals. And that’s what good PR should be about.
Brief: Develop, set up and manage the Health Foundation’s Inclusion Panel
“They’re not frightened to bring both creativity and robust challenge to what can be a knotty and sensitive area”
“Furner Communications began working with us in 2020 when we were looking at ways to improve the involvement of people, whose views and experiences are not considered enough, in the planning and delivery of our health and social care research.
They hit the ground running, helping us to quickly develop, set up and manage our Inclusion Panel. They run our monthly meetings, bringing their skills and expertise to the preparation, facilitation and reporting of each one. This includes supporting Panel members with access and development needs, turning research presentations and proposals into understandable language and working on strategic issues as we look to the future.
They’re approachable, but not frightened to bring both creativity and robust challenge to what can be a knotty and sensitive area. As a team they offer high value for money.”
Hardeep Aiden is a research manager at the Health Foundation
Brief: Ongoing communications and stakeholder support
“We were really impressed with the way they handled the media work”
“We met the Furner Communications team when we were working on a joint project with Housing and Care 21.
We were really impressed with the way they handled the media work around that project, which included sensitively managing case study material around end of life care issues. The resultant coverage was just what we wanted.
So we asked them to pitch for our communications work. Ben and his colleagues met that responsibility calmly and professionally. They seemed unfazed at the many projects, issues, and deadlines we threw at them. Whether design work, a facilitation project, writing a brochure, organising an event or handling media enquiries – the list goes on – they gave us what we needed.
Their expertise and experience across the sectors means they deliver wise counsel and high quality work, on time and on budget. And the tangible commitment to our determination to improve care for people at the end of their lives meant they were always willing to go the extra mile.”
Now chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC), Claire Henry was director of the National End of Life Care Programme.
Brief: Copywriting and design – newsletters and annual reports
“Better quality than we can manage
in-house”
“Furner Communications has been involved with JustDifferent since it was launched in 2006. What’s been great is the range of services they offer. There’s been strategic communications advice and media relations support since the early days, and in recent years they’ve taken on the writing and design of our newsletters and annual reports, giving us better quality than we can manage in-house.
Ben also attended our away day and facilitated a couple of really fantastic sessions, as well as writing up a great report on the event for us.
Their rates are reasonable. But more than that, the company is brim full of committed, enthusiastic and skilled staff who ‘get’ what we’re about and clearly want us to succeed in our work. And that’s priceless.”
Toby Hewson is chief executive of JustDifferent
Brief: Website review and media relations
“Just what was needed when the pressure was on”
“I first worked with Ben on a joint project several years ago when I was working for another education charity.
He and his team subsequently worked with us on a review of the Teach First website, which came up with some really helpful findings which kick-started our redevelopment project. They also provided press office cover when we were recruiting new staff for the communications department, offering strategic advice on tricky issues as well as hands-on media relations work on specific projects, developing and writing briefing materials and contacting journalists directly to place stories.
They offer good value for money, are easy to work with, hit deadlines and get on with the job – just what we needed when the pressure was on.”
Hannah Essex is senior associate director – communications at Teach First