Sarah Gleadall
Freelance Communications
Testimonials
Liz Page, former UK Director, British Red Cross
I worked with Sarah as Head of Communications for the large South East region of the Red Cross when I was Regional Director. She set up the communications function for the region across media, marketing and internal communications, integrating with national and other regional communications colleagues. Sarah is highly skilled at understanding the perspectives of different stakeholders and identifying ways of working with them to achieve results. She gets to the heart of the business issues, always recognising that communications is key to making a difference to the lives of the people the organisation works with. Her style was valued by colleagues in both the regional and national management teams. We trusted her judgement both at times of crisis and when building a longer term strategy. Sarah is a pleasure to work with and I have no hesitation in recommending her to you.
Phil Talbot, former Director of Communications, British Red Cross
I worked with Sarah for nearly six years at the British Red Cross and she is an impressive communications professional. As well as having specialist skills in reputation management and media relations, she has a deep understanding of how all communications disciplines integrate to provide a full package, both at strategic and practical level. She has an approach that focuses on outcomes for the customer (or beneficiary), harnesses the skills of other people in a way that builds teams and develops people, and is a clear, influential voice around any management or programme board table. I recommend Sarah for any communications-based project or position.
Tim Barclay, CEO, Appello
Appello is a leading provider of technology-enabled care solutions for the elderly and the vulnerable and we have been under-taking a material turnaround in our business strategy and operations. One of the key ingredients for the significant progress we have made to-date is the huge emphasis we have placed on internal and external communications. We found Sarah to be a real asset in creating these, especially in helping us think through the messaging for different audience sets. We also really valued her willingness to truly get involved, as opposed to being a typical by-standing consultant.
Sarah has a patient and considerate manner and this made it easy for all our colleagues who engaged with her to feel at ease and to contribute freely and effectively. We really appreciated Sarah’s work for us and I would recommend her to anyone who wants to give their internal and external communications a powerful uplift.
Greg Pye, Brand and Communications Manager, Big C
We worked with Sarah over the course of a few months in developing a series of new core messages for our organization. Sarah brought in a fresh energy and new perspective to our Communications and facilitated a new way of thinking around language and communications within the team. Sarah was able to take both a strategic angle as well as establishing the operational work needed for development and implementation across the whole team. Sarah was able to delve into the myriad of historical communications, descriptors and language, before reviewing, assessing, and delivering a clear path forward for all the team to understand.
It was a pleasure to work with Sarah, who along the whole process was understanding, patient and helpful in guiding us all through the project, resulting in a very high standard of delivery, which has been fully adopted and supported by all levels of the organization.
Katie Clark, former Operations Director, Parents 1st
I would highly recommend Sarah having worked with her on a marketing review for Parents 1st. Sarah was very personable from the outset and her thoughtfulness and humour are qualities that make working with her enjoyable as well as productive.
Sarah completed a thorough review on our organisation and branding, speaking to clients and stakeholders alike to ensure she fully understood what we were delivering and how we were perceived. Everyone that she spoke to commented on how warm and welcoming she was. From these findings, Sarah created a very strong strategic plan with clear and detailed steps and timescales. Whilst Sarah took the lead so to speak, with her marketing and communication skills and expertise, she ensured the whole process was consultative and that all directors had an input and were involved in the process.
Sarah was incredibly patient and accommodating throughout the project and always made us feel as though nothing was too much trouble. She is an absolute professional and I would love to work with Sarah again.
Clive Evans, former Director of Overseas Branches, British Red Cross
I can highly recommend her work having worked closely with Sarah on numerous projects at the Red Cross and can testify to her excellent ability in both giving a strategic approach to communications as well as supporting this with practical action.
During her time at the Red Cross I saw a big step change in their communications abilities and skills resulting in greater understanding of the organisation both local and international work.
Al Hoare, Director, Corserv
Sarah lead on an independent communications review for our company. She managed the process from start to finish keeping to agreed timescales and budgets. The work involved Sarah speaking to a number of key stakeholders from different levels in the organisation. Throughout these discussions she maintained confidentiality and remained impartial, producing an evidence led report which was accepted by the board.
Throughout my time working with Sarah I found her able to draw on her significant experience in the communications sector in order to provide quality advice. I also found her willingness to challenge decisions and different viewpoints a great asset.
Liz Lawson, Managing Director, Lawsons
Sarah was thorough throughout the project, taking time to fully understand what we are about and our current direction. She was able to work independently or with my team, and I could trust Sarah to represent the organisation with any customer.
Her recommendations were both strategic and practical and our team are now taking them forward to help strengthen our business.
Clive Turner, former Chief Executive, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH)
I have known Sarah for five years. In that time she has transformed the way PCH thinks of Communications. She has delivered and embedded an integrated communication strategy that reflects the values and spirit of the organisation. She has dealt with crisis communications in a way that has enabled PCH to be both resilient and proactive.
Sarah has provided excellent support to myself as CEO and Directors with regard to personal communications and helped us to develop more fully as communicators and leaders and to raise our profile both internally and externally.
She has brought a coherent approach to how we deal with media and has successfully positioned PCH as a leading organisation and brand in the city and within the housing association sector.
Sarah has a very strategic approach and is extremely professional in the way she approaches every challenge.
Symon Sweet, Director symonjames Ltd (Brand consultancy)
Sarah has a profound knowledge in all communications disciplines. Her analytical and methodical approach is not only structured and concise, but also considers issues from all angles and perspectives. Sarah is widely respected professionally and gains the confidence of others easily. She possesses a quality that is not held by many; a very considerate, intelligent, thought provoking professional who is balanced and fair.