Member Article

Communications consultancy secures three new retained clients

A communications consultancy is rounding off the end of its first full year in business with the announcement of three new retained clients.

Since being launched in September 2012 by former journalist and public relations professional Leanne English, LEC Consultancy has enjoyed rapid growth, working with clients including Spark eCommerce Group, NSK Bearings Europe, AS Design North East and youth unemployment charity The Employability Trust.

Now the business, which is based in Peterlee, can announce it has secured monthly retained contracts with business support organisation East Durham Business Service, American sweetshop chain Yankee Doodle Candy and the North East’s leading milkshake company, Shakaholic.

In addition to the new and established retained clients, LEC Consultancy is also working with the Peterlee Business Park Group on an ad hoc basis as it moves into its next phase of development.

Leanne said: “I am absolutely delighted to secure these new retained clients. It’s a wonderful way to end what has been a very successful first full year of business for me and gives me the perfect platform to grow even more in 2014.

“Each of these clients has their own set of priorities and I am very much looking forward to working with them over the coming months to help them achieve these.

“It’s especially gratifying to have been brought on board by East Durham Business Service as they supported me to launch LEC Consultancy last year. For me that’s a sign of just how far the business has come in a relatively short space of time.”

Before launching LEC Consultancy, Leanne, 32, worked for 12 years in a number of roles throughout the North East including as a reporter at the Hartlepool Mail and in the communications teams at One North East and local enterprise partnership Tees Valley Unlimited.

LEC Consultancy, which has also done pro bono work for charities Kayleigh’s Wee Stars and Jaiden’s Dancing Stars, provides a broad range of communications services including public relations, internal communications, crisis management, speech writing and strategy development.

Leanne added: “In the summer I set myself the challenge of doubling my portfolio by the end of year two and in less than six months I’ve achieved that. But I am not resting on my laurels and have other irons in the fire which I’m hopeful will be converted into business in the New Year.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying seeing the business go from strength to stregth. When I started I had an idea of how I’d like the business to grow but now, because of the success I’ve enjoyed since launching, I’m going to have to set myself some new targets. That’s a great feeling.

“I would definitely recommend self employment to anyone who is thinking seriously about it. It was something I thought about pursuing for so long but the time was never right and I always stuck with the security of working for someone else. But last year I knew it was a case of now or never and I have to say, I have no regrets that I went for it. Of course it’s been stressful and challenging at times and I’ve often worked long and unsociable hours to get the business off the ground. But now it feels like it’s all coming together and I’m excited as to what the future holds for LEC Consultancy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .