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Communicating change better

Looking for an interim communications expert for your next programme or project?

I’m Julie Sykes, and I’m here to help your business communicate change better.

I bring a wealth of internal and external communications experience from multiple sectors and multinational organisations.

My approach is simple: I start with your objectives, then design and deliver the communications and engagement strategies to achieve them.

Trusted by C-suite leaders, I engage with diverse audiences to drive meaningful behavioural change.

For the full lowdown of my career history, see my LinkedIn profile.

Communicating change better

Looking for an interim communications expert for your next programme or project?

I’m Julie Sykes, and I’m here to help your business communicate change better.

I bring a wealth of internal and external communications experience from multiple sectors and multinational organisations.

My approach is simple: I start with your objectives, then design and deliver the communications and engagement strategies to achieve them.

Trusted by C-suite leaders, I engage with diverse audiences to drive meaningful behavioural change.

For the full lowdown of my career history, see my LinkedIn profile.

Programme and project communications

I provide interim communications leadership for your critical business programmes and projects, where communicating change well is a must. I’m Prince2 and APMG qualified, with experience in:

Mergers and acquisitions
Articulating a strategy and engaging stakeholders around it
New offices/sites and relocations
IT, digital and service transformations
Organisational change including restructures
Leading teams, workstreams and budgets

Standalone comms

For senior communications and engagement input on an ad hoc basis, I can help. Hire me to:

Create or provide guidance on your communications and engagement strategies and plans
Map and prioritise stakeholders
Write reports that turn complex information into a coherent story

Giving back

The Comms Guide supports charities promoting equality, education and training for young people. In recent years we’ve donated to The King’s Trust and Blueprint for all.

Energy and utilities

I worked with energy generator Drax on integration communications following their part acquisition of Scottish Power.

I devised a stakeholder engagement strategy, plan and framework for Northern Powergrid. I compiled their stakeholder engagement regulatory report, improving their 2016/17 industry ranking and incentive payment from fifth to third.

Financial services

I designed and managed the customer communication for Railpen’s (formerly RPMI) major IT transformation change programme.

For another financial services client I created a chat bot to answer members’ frequently-asked-questions about the impact of ‘Remedy’ public sector pension reforms.

Regulatory (legal)

I led communications and stakeholder engagement for two high-profile policy programmes for The Solicitors Regulation Authority. One included motor finance commission claims, where millions of consumers have a claim.

Healthcare

Working across eight NHS and local government organisations in health and social care, I designed a communications and stakeholder engagement programme for patients and the public.

I carried out market research and focus groups with healthcare professionals in to shape new service design in GP practices.

Technology

I led internal and external change communications for the global rollout of new Sales and Finance IT systems for Keyloop, providers of SaaS automotive technology.

Pharmaceuticals

Before setting up The Comms Guide, I was UK Communications Manager for multinational pharmaceutical company Teva. There, I project managed communications for four mergers and two office relocations.

Testimonials

I was impressed with Julie’s business acumen from the start and I don’t think I have seen anyone before grasping our complex business as quickly as Julie did. She was able to hit the ground running from day one and quickly established herself as the ‘go to person’ for proposition-related matters in Europe.

I was also impressed with Julie’s ability to build great working relations with people at all levels, including senior stakeholders. Great, experienced, common sense marketer and a pleasure to work with.

Electronics distribution client

Julie was a pleasure to work with; organised, efficient and knowledgeable. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with her again.

Healthcare client

Julie was a genuine pleasure to work with. Incredibly organised, knowledgeable and creative in her approach and an accomplished stakeholder manager. Julie’s passion for perfection shines through in her work and in the relationships she built with both colleagues and clients.

Financial services client