For 11 months I advised the membership body, network and financier for the creative industries (which has hundreds of SMEs, and businesses of all sizes in its membership) on its advocacy strategy for influencing UK Government departments and policymakers in the Sunak and Starmer administrations.
In my time there, the organisation successfully advocated on behalf of the sector for interventions like tax incentives for film, TV, visual effects (VFX) and independent production; tax reliefs for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries; and reforms to the apprenticeship levy.
Creative UK recommendations
Stephen is a stalwart, diligent and capable public affairs professional who brings great value to what he puts his hands to. I throughly enjoyed working with him and found him to be curious, confident and committed. I recommend him without reservation and think he’s a great colleague who brings tenacity, thoroughness and humour too.
Lara Carmona
Director of Policy and Engagement at Creative UK
Stephen was an extremely useful asset to Creative UK, demonstrating exceptional skill and initiative in media relations, political engagement, and strategic communication. His contributions have been both impactful and multifaceted.
He secured prominent media coverage to elevate the profile of our flagship events programme at Labour Party Conference. His ability to successfully pitch to political journalists not only enhanced our visibility but also ensured our messaging resonated with key audiences. In addition, Stephen played a pivotal role in shaping and refining a keynote AI speech for our CEO, showcasing his aptitude for integrating policy insights with compelling communication.
A standout achievement was Stephen's leadership in organising our virtual General Election hustings debate this summer. He adeptly secured and coordinated with five high-profile political speakers, demonstrating his capacity to manage complex stakeholder engagements with efficiency and professionalism.
Beyond these specific projects, Stephen's strategic advice on media relations has been invaluable. His counsel has been instrumental in guiding our approach, resulting in tangible outcomes that we acted upon to great effect. His contributions consistently reflect a deep understanding of both the political landscape and the media environment.
Stephen is dedicated and approaches his work with precision, professionalism, and expertise. He particularly excelled in the nuanced and demanding world of PR and political communications. His ability to independently manage critical projects while maintaining meticulous attention to detail has been very valuable to Creative UK.