Wheatley PR Ltd

Approach

With over 30 years’ experience across in-house, agency and freelance roles, I offer a wide range of expertise in PR in all its guises.

From coordinating and chairing high level global sustainability debates for key stakeholders, through to organising Ministerial visits, producing employee magazines or running consultation programmes with local communities, my approach is the same – determined and results-driven.

“She's pretty much a whole PR agency in one person!” Chris Ettery, Head of Stakeholder Relations for Europe for the Lafarge Group

Partnership

You will find me at my best when I can work in partnership with you and your team. At heart, I have an in-house personality, so as a freelancer, I deliver the best quality results when I am embedded in an organisation. This can be demonstrated clearly through my long (15 years) and effective partnership with one particular client.

“Michele has supported us as a freelance PR consultant for over 15 years and has guided us through some challenging transitional periods. … Working with Michele is always a pleasure; she has a very personable approach to both life and work and has become an important part of the team.” Ashley Bryan, Industrial Director, Hope Construction Materials.

Adaptability

One of my key skills is an ability to adapt to ensure I can deliver on a PR brief. Through in-house, agency and freelance experience, I have developed strategies and knowhow to apply to PR challenges in any sector. I am also equally at home training a chief executive to ensure he delivers clear messages in an effective way, or volunteering to help out at a client’s site open day.

“For over 15 years, Michele has supported me with many aspects of Public Relations and community engagement, ranging from activities such as community liaison committees and newsletter production to open house events and challenging consultations.” David Shenton, Senior National Environment Manager, Tarmac Cement & Lime.

Focus

Always with my focus on the bigger picture of an organisation’s overall goals and priorities, I aim to make a significant contribution whatever shape the communications programme may take.

“Michele brings focus, challenge and discipline to any communication exercise. …In terms of dogged follow through to delivery I have worked with few better.” Alistair Gale, Director of Corporate Affairs, Port of London Authority

Experience

I am a stickler for genuine communications with stakeholders – listening to, as well as talking to individuals and groups who are connected with or have an influence on a client’s business.

I specialise in community and media relations; public consultation; environmental issues management; and media and communications training.

Over the last 30 years I have worked in many sectors including:

heavy industry (quarrying, mining, construction materials manufacture)
agriculture
port operations
consumer technology
recycling
logistics

Dedicated resource

I have a straightforward way of working – what you see is what you get, and you will get the best out of me if I can work as part of your team! I deliver communications advice and consultancy in a constructive, yet challenging manner. And, as a freelancer, clients have a dedicated resource in me, right from devising a communications programme through to its delivery.

“She will ask the difficult questions early, at the planning stages, which ultimately help ensure successful, effective communications.” Alistair Gale, Director of Corporate Affairs, Port of London Authority.

Experienced trainer

Media, communications and crisis training is a core area of specialism. Working with a range of journalists and expert technical crew, my training is practical and focused on realistic up-to-date client scenarios. By the end of each session I aim to build confidence and enable clients (from chief executive to shop floor) to view the media as an opportunity, not a threat.

In terms of job satisfaction, nothing beats a day delivering training. From coaching the delegates through a process which sees them arrive - usually apprehensive and unaware of the significant improvements they can make - right through to the more confident communicators I see at the end of the day.

Over 20 years’ training experience – 150+ courses; 400+ delegates
Delegate course score average 9.3/10
Trainees at all levels from boards and chief executives, to apprentices
Building skills for use in all communications situations – NOT just with the media

“Michele is a demon for delivering effective media training courses. I have seen dozens of clients walk into the training room, nervous and slightly suspicious of what lies ahead of them. Unfailingly they all finish the day with great big smiles, a sense of achievement and often saying it’s been some of the best training they have had.” Rachel Hicks, owner, Rachel Hicks Media

So that’s an overview of me from a professional perspective – when off-duty I am a self-confessed country girl, trying to do a half decent job of being mum to two teenagers, and taking solace in my dog and a good bottle of rosé with my husband!

Endorsements

Michele has supported Hope Works as a freelance PR consultant for the past 20 years and has guided us through some challenging transitional periods.
Her professionalism and commitment to the role shows. This, combined with her outstanding knowledge of the Cement Industry, and the people who work within it, enables her to continue to highlight our key messages and maximise our PR exposure. Working with Michele is always a pleasure, she has a very personable approach to both life and work and has become an important part of the Hope Works team.

ASHLEY BRYAN – INDUSTRIAL DIRECTOR, HOPE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Michele brings focus, challenge and discipline to any communication exercise. She will ask the difficult questions early, at the planning stages, which ultimately help ensure successful, effective communications. In terms of dogged follow through to delivery I have worked with few better. The media training is founded on a practical approach that leaves delegates, whatever their level, confident and equipped to make the most of a media interview.

ALISTAIR GALE – DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND STRATEGY – PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY
I’ve consistently worked with Michele for more than 10 years, most recently asking her to write and produce our annual supply chain sustainability progress report. The long tenure of her clients demonstrates the value-add that Michele brings though her expertise, experience and commitment. I’ve seen at first-hand how effectively her unique blend of strategic thinking and great execution across a range of sustainability and communications disciplines translates at local, national and international levels. Michele provides a complete suite of consultancy expertise in one person.

CHRIS ETTERY – DIRECTOR, SUPPLY CHAIN RESPONSIBILITY, DELL TECHNOLOGIES
Michele has delivered tailor-made media and communications training courses for a range of DairyCo people since 2005. Her courses are positive and instructive and have a lasting impact on our teams both in terms of media skills and more general communications. Michele gives us invaluable insights into the workings of the media and challenges us in a constructive ‘outside-in’ way to test out and reinforce our messages around dairy farming in Britain. The preparation done in advance of each course is impressive and ensures we always see progress in delegates afterwards.

AMANDA BALL – STRATEGY DIRECTOR – AHDB DAIRY
Michele is a demon for delivering effective media training courses. I have seen dozens of clients walk into the training room, nervous and slightly suspicious of what lies ahead of them. Unfailingly they all finish the day with great big smiles, a sense of achievement and often saying it’s been some of the best training they have had.
I have worked with Michele for almost 20 years and I’m always impressed by her passion for media training. Her wide breadth of experience, attention to detail and commitment to getting the best out of her clients make her the preferred choice for many businesses wishing to prepare spokespeople to face the media.

RACHEL HICKS – RACHEL HICKS MEDIA
For over 15 years, Michele has supported me with many aspects of public relations and community engagement, ranging from pro-active communications such as community liaison committees, newsletter production, open house events and specifically consultations. In our sector the use of waste-derived fuels has not always been publicly accepted as it is today; for our company Michele played a key part in ensuring we moved to a far more engaging process with clear messaging and robust engagement with all sections of the community and key stakeholders. This transfer to “upfront” open engagement helped dramatically decrease the time involved to secure the associated regulatory permits.

Michele has also supported us in times of crisis, providing a solid sounding board, supplying and coordinating press statements and training key staff when required. My measure of the effectiveness of these services is that we have been able to keep our neighbours, communities and regulators on our side and focus on resolving/preventing a repeat incident rather than managing negative press coverage that could have emerged.

DAVID SHENTON – SENIOR NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGER, TARMAC CEMENT & LIME

PR Partners

Michele Wheatley

Wheatley PR

One of the most rewarding aspects of a varied career in PR and communications is the network of fantastic people you get to work with along the way.

I regularly team up with colleagues to deliver the strongest combination of expertise to meet a client’s needs. Introducing two regular PR Partners – Amy Jackson and Rachel Hicks. For clients who need an extended team, I would not hesitate to call on these two like-minded communications specialists to work with me.

Amy Jackson

Public Relations Consultant

With a background originally in agriculture, I moved into communications early in my career and now have 24 years’ experience in PR. I have worked for agricultural and mainstream (UK top 5) agencies, as well as holding in-house roles, most notably as head of communications at the Milk Development Council.

For much of the past 10 years, I have worked as a consultant, specialising in issues and crisis management in STEM sectors. I have been involved in high profile issues such as horsemeat contamination scandal and concerns about labour exploitation.

Rachel Hicks

Freelance Journalist

I am a freelance journalist with 27 years’ experience in radio, television and online journalism. I trained with the BBC and served as a reporter, correspondent, producer and presenter for over 20 years covering court cases, interviewing politicians, reporting on national events and international sporting fixtures.

Since 1997 I have also worked with industry to promote and protect business reputations by honing their media skills and producing educational films. Sectors include tech, finance, maritime, construction, automotive, food and beverage, leisure, education and health.

Approach

Experience

Clients

Endorsements

Media training endorsement

Dairy farmer and Welsh farming ambassador Abi Reader gives her view on the value of my media training courses.

Covid-19

Michele Wheatley