The services we offer to our clients range from public affairs advice, through external and internal communications, to the management of corporate social responsibility programmes.
Our extensive business, political and media experience ensures that our clients receive a service which is practical, achievable and measurable, and at all times is aimed at ensuring their objectives are met.
Public Affairs
The activities of local, national and European governments can impact on the well-being of all companies and organisations.
Sometimes political change will create opportunities, at other times it will create challenges. Either way it will demand some form of response. This will involve different activities for different organisations. For some it may mean simply monitoring the political arena to be aware of any activities which affect the business or organisation. For others it will mean ensuring a clear understanding of policies and priorities. This will help them to refine strategic thinking and develop business plans against a sound understanding of present and future policy.
Some organisations need to conduct campaigns to inform and influence decision makers on specific policy or legislative issues. Others want to develop political contacts and raise their profile within Holyrood, Westminster, Brussels or local government.
Whether it is winning support for a positive initiative or minimising the consequences of a potentially damaging proposal you cannot afford to have anything but the most professional approach. Whatever your needs, McEwan Partners will ensure that your public affairs strategy is constructed and implemented in the most professional, efficient and effective manner possible.
Public Relations
The media, in all its many guises, plays a massive role in creating the impressions which we use to form our opinions.
No matter how right the case, if it is not communicated professionally the chances are that it will not be understood or accepted. Knowing and understanding the media, its motivation and needs, is crucial if your position is to be given balanced and informed coverage.
McEwan Partners has extensive experience in PR covering business, political and corporate social responsibility issues. We deploy this experience to develop strategies and campaigns that deliver coverage across a range of media – whether broadcast or print at both local and national levels.
Internal Communications
Good communication processes are a key element of every successful business.
Good communication however is not only about talking. Listening is equally important.
McEwan Partners has unrivalled experience in designing and managing internal communications. Programmes tailored to the clients' needs be they a multi-national organisation, a small business or charity.
We deploy this experience to develop strategies and programmes which ensure consistent and coherent management messages are communicated to employees in a professional way and contain a process which ensures their views can be fed back, thereby establishing a two way cascade of information covering the message and the employee response to it. Internal communication techniques in which McEwan Partners have unrivalled hands-on experience include:
- Design of an internal communications process
- Identification and development of key messages
- Cascade programmes and processes
- Production of in-house publications
- Production of in-house video/TV programmes
- Consultation programmes
- Opinion surveys
- Annual results meetings
- Employee councils
- Celebratory events
- One off messages
Issue/Crisis Management
McEwan Partners have vast ‘hands-on’ experience in this highly specialised area.
We have worked for and with leading national and international organisations, public sector bodies, charities and political parties, assisting them to develop strategies and manage action plans aimed at handling a large number of delicate and complex situations. These include:
- Industrial theft and security issues
- Redundancies
- Fatal accidents
- Senior management changes
- Political defections
- Political coalition activity
- Environment issues
Corporate Social Responsibility
Business ethics, corporate citizenship or community relations are just a few of the terms used to describe corporate social responsibility (CSR).
One thing however is indisputable; business and society are interdependent and the wellbeing of one can depend on the wellbeing of the other.
Many companies engaged in CSR activities are reporting benefits to their reputation and their bottom line.
McEwan Partners work with clients to help them design, implement and communicate their CSR activities in line with their business goals and the needs of the community.
McEwan Partners has proven experience in:
- Designing and implementing CSR programmes around large or
small budgets - Identifying one-off opportunities
- Ensuring CSR programmes are linked to business aims and requirements
- Ensuring CSR initiatives are communicated to the appropriate audiences be they business, political or community
Monitoring
As the foundation to any potential activity, an organisation needs to know precisely what is happening and to understand the background to the issues that arise.
McEwan Partners produces tailor-made monitoring packages to ensure that clients are kept informed of all relevant developments within Holyrood, Westminster, local government, quangos and party offices. For those clients who require monitoring services concerning the European Union, non EU countries and the United States, a similar service is offered utilising our membership of FIPRA*.
* The FIPRA Group is an independent network of senior public policy and regulatory advisors specialising in strategic government relations, the group has offices in 34 countries. McEwan Partners is one of only two British companies invited to join FIPRA.