Results Driven.

Perception A is a unique research and insight-based communications consultancy, which offers clients a breadth of services from strategy and planning to campaign development and execution.

Depth in experience.

Founded by senior practitioners, we recognise the need for a fresh approach to delivering what clients need to support their business objectives. We are hands-on, ambitious and results driven.

See for yourself.

Strategy and planning.

Reach your goals

We believe that the very best campaigns are built on themes and ideas, and work by successfully combining communications goals with the needs, values and interests of the audiences you want to reach. By auditing relevant industry, economic, political and societal trends shaping the communications environment, we can identify key themes and messages around which a truly effective proactive campaign can be built.

Research and Insight.

Driving above-market growth

Research underpins our approach to delivering effective insight-led campaigns for our clients, ensuring they are relevant, high-impact and resonate with their target audiences. We have an exclusive and unique research proposition, working with partners and experts and regularly conduct research to support our clients’ PR, marketing and sales programmes. We can survey many different audiences, from consumers to institutional investors – capturing their views on key issues.

Messaging and Positioning.

Connecting with your audiences

We work closely with our clients to help them explain and promote their business in a way which reflects their vision and values, developing a messaging framework for all communications which is clear, compelling, consistent – and stands out from the crowd.

Social Media.

Strategy and Execution

We work with clients to develop and execute content-rich social media programmes as part of our integrated communications offer. We help them develop a proactive social media presence, with an initial period of research, planning and structural development leading to managing owned channels on their behalf where necessary.

Campaign delivery.

Research-led experiences

We have experience of developing corporate communications programmes and delivering them across different international markets. Underpinned by our research-led approach, we support senior spokespeople to ensure they are equipped to tell their story and as credible, expert commentators on industry issues.

Media relations.

Engagement programmes

Our experience of working with clients across a range of sectors means that we have strong relationships with the key journalists across the nationals and specialist titles and run engagement programmes for many of our clients. We know what makes an interesting story and how to use the media as part of profile-building activity.

Crisis Management.

Staying in control

We can help you predict and plan for issues which have a reputational impact. For many clients we execute a top-line risk mitigation and preparation plan alongside auditing and refreshing existing plans with the in-house team. This includes reviewing the escalation and communications cascade in the event of an issue, reviewing existing key messages, holding and position statements, and reviewing scenarios.

See for yourself.

Investec

Perception A supports Investec Bank’s retail and business savings account proposition in the UK. This includes commissioning research with both consumers and SMEs to capture trends in their cash deposit/savings habits, which we then use to support a highly proactive media relations programme which generates coverage in the influential personal finance sections of the nationals and other relevant media.

Horizon Aircraft

Horizon Aircraft (now owned by Astro Aerospace) is based in North America and is one of the most exciting eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) companies in the world. To help raise Horizon’s profile and differentiate its proposition based on ‘best practice’ in what is a very crowded marketplace, we commissioned research with eVTOL and business aviation professionals as well as venture capital and private equity firms to develop themes highlighting the potential for growth in the sector. Over four months, we generated more than 200 pieces of quality media coverage globally.

Nickel Digital Asset Management

Nickel Digital is an FCA regulated crypto/digital asset hedge fund manager with a very impressive track record. To help raise its profile we regularly conduct research with institutional investors and wealth managers globally to capture their views on cryptocurrencies and digital assets, their appetite for investing in the asset class, and how they feel about regulation and security in the market. We use the findings to generate significant amounts of positive media coverage, and the research is also used for company investment presentations, and across social media.

Premium Credit

Premium Credit is the UK’s largest premium finance company, providing fund advances to help people and businesses to buy their insurance. We helped the company develop its Insurance Premium Index, commissioning research with both consumers and SMEs on their use of finance to buy insurance. As well as using this to develop a highly proactive media relations programme, we also produced a market report on the findings and infographics for use on social media and the company’s website

The Watch Register

The Watch Register is the world’s largest database of lost and stolen luxury premium watches. By analysing its data, we have been able to develop a proactive PR programme that has put them at the centre of the growing luxury watch theft market and the battle to tackle it. We have achieved over 500 pieces of media coverage internationally a year, including mainstream outlets such as the BBC, SKY TV, The Financial Times and a range of luxury lifestyle publications.

Ortec Finance

Ortec Finance is the leading global provider of risk and return management solutions for professional investors. We support its PR and marketing by conducting research with a range of professional investors – from wealth managers, pension schemes to insurance asset managers - on topical issues which we use to develop proactive PR programmes for specific geographical markets, including the U.S., Canada, the UK and continental Europe.

The Green Insurer

The Green Insurer is the UK’s first truly green car insurance broker focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way, while offsetting all emissions from driving. We developed a proactive PR programme to help raise their profile through the national, regional, motor and insurance trade media, commissioning consumer omnibus research and running Freedom of Information (FOIs) on issues such as pot holes to help generate news hooks to promote the brand and the company’s policies.

Heston Blumenthal OBE

We look after Heston’s personal PR and that of his restaurants including the Fat Duck, which has three Michelin stars. Our work has involved announcing that Heston is bi-polar and supporting his campaign to improve the working environment for people who are neurodiverse. This involved conducting research with HR directors/senior executives of FTSE 350 companies to identify how they support neurodiverse staff, and surveying people who are neurodiverse to develop a better understanding of the challenges they face in the workplace.

Oxford Risk

Founded in 2002 by leading decision science academics from Oxford University, Oxford Risk is an expert in behavioural finance and financial well-being. We support the business by promoting white papers and thoughts around the behavioural aspects of investing, as well as creating new thought leadership by conducting research with retail investors, wealth managers and financial planners. Our brief is global, which includes developing programmes for the UK, continental Europe, Australian and Middle East markets.

Tabula Investment Management

We have worked with European ETF provider Tabula Investment Management, which is now part of Janus Henderson, since 2019, providing PR support for new fund launches and existing marketing activity for its growing range of ETFs. This includes promoting its market views but also commissioning research with institutional investors and wealth managers on a range of relevant investment themes.

Airbus Corporate Jets

We work for Airbus Corporate Jets in the U.S. raising the profile of its market leading ‘heavy’ jet, The TwoTwenty. This involves developing content focusing on the U.S. large/heavy jet market by analysing market data, identifying relevant trends by commissioning research with business jet owners in the U.S. – from large corporates to family offices and hedge funds – on their use of business aircraft.

Insurance.

The team currently works for Consumer Intelligence and the Green Insurer. We have worked for Zurich, AXA, Insure&Go, MetLife, Prudential, Direct Line, Mactavish and Evertas in the past.

Banking.

Perception A currently works for Investec, and the team has also worked for State Street, Barclays, HSBC, Cambridge & Counties Bank, Redwood Bank and Sainsbury’s Bank.

Asset Management.

We work for AlphaReal Capital, Tabula Investment Management, Nickel Digital, GraniteShares, Dragon Capital, VEIL, Downing LLP and Ocorian. Previously, the team has worked for SSgA, Invesco, Barings Asset Management, Aviva Investors, NN Investment Partners and Hermes.

Wealth Management.

Perception A currently works for Rathbones/Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) & Oxford Risk, but the team has also worked for James Hambro & Partners, Succession Wealth, Brewin Dolphin, SCM Private, Close Wealth Management and Investec Private Bank.

Fintech & Technology.

Perception A currently works for Naoris Protocol, Deepki and Global Digital Finance . The team has also worked for Avaloq, Zegami. Alfi, SigTech, VALK, Ziglu and Guardtime

Digital Assets.

The team currently works for Nickel Digital Asset Management and Global Digital Finance. We have also worked for Laser Digital, Guardtime, Ziglu, Global Blockchain Business Council, Post Trade Distributor Ledger Group, Mode and Evertas.

Business Aviation.

We currently work for Airbus Corporate Jets and Horizon Aircraft. Other companies the team has worked for in this sector include Gama Aviation, Hawker Beechcraft, Nextant Aerospace, GlobeAir, Horizon Aircraft, Colibri Aircraft, Textron Aviation and Global Jet Capital

Other Sectors...

We have experience of working in a range of other sectors including retail, healthcare, real estate, renewables and telecoms.

Our current clients include

Because we’re only as good as the company we keep.

Meet your Perception A team

We are a team of senior communications practitioners who are experts in our field, working in partnership with clients and providing advice and hands-on support every step of the way.

Phil Anderson

Founder and managing director

Founder and managing director
Phil has worked in financial, corporate and consumer PR for 30 years. Before setting up Perception A, he was a Board Director at Citigate Dewe Rogerson.

His focus has primarily been on financial services and technology, and he has extensive experience of the asset management, banking, insurance and digital assets sectors. He has also worked in a variety of other industries including business aviation, retail and med-tech.

Clients include/have included:

Banking: State Street, Investec, HSBC, Barclays, Sainsbury’s Bank, Cambridge & Counties Bank, Redwood Bank and Capital One
Insurance: Mactavish, MetLife, Prudential, Insure&Go, Zurich and Axa
Asset management: Invesco, Hermes, Barings Asset Management, SSgA, Lyxor, NN Investment Partners, Tabula Investment Management, Alpha Real Capital, HANetf and GraniteShares
Wealth management: James Hambro &Partners, Succession Wealth, Brewin Dolphin, SCM Private, Investec Private Bank, Close Wealth Management and Odey Wealth Management
Fintech and digital/crypto assets: Global Blockchain Business Council, Global Digital Finance, Mode, Nickel Digital and Evertas Avaloq, Oxford Risk and Nucoro
Business aviation: Colibri Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft, Textron Aviation, Global Jet Capital, Nextant Aerospace and Gama Aviation

Taylor Marriott

Director

Taylor has over 5 years experience in financial, corporate and consumer communications, and has worked across a diverse range of sectors including insurance, banking, asset management, wealth management, technology and business aviation. She gained invaluable experience at two reputable agencies - Citigate Dewe Rogerson (CDR) and FTI Consulting - working alongside Phil at CDR on clients including State Street, Investec, Close Wealth Management, Global Blockchain Business Council, Global Jet Capital and Gama Aviation.

Anna Upton

Director

Anna has over 15 years' experience in corporate, financial and consumer communications, across a wide range of sectors including financial services, housing, construction, health and not-for-profit organisations. She started out at two award-winning agencies - Lansons and Fishburn Hedges - specialising in media relations for a range of retail and institutional financial services clients including Barclays, Legal & General, Post Office Financial Services, Allianz, Barclaycard, Paragon Bank and Royal London.

She has also successfully managed teams in-house, as Head of External Communications at Clarion Housing Group, the UK's largest housing association and a leading developer, where she led on corporate and financial communications for the Group.

Clare Anderson

Director

Clare is a corporate communications expert with over 20 years’ experience of advising at CEO and board-level, with wide-ranging experience in strategy and planning, external and internal communications, issues management, stakeholder engagement and media relations.

She was previously a board director at leading PR agencies Fishburn Hedges and Lansons. Her experience spans many sectors, with a focus on corporate communications and sustainability. She currently supports OneCircle and private equity firm, ADM Capital, which specialises in sustainable farming and food production. Past clients include Shell and TetraPak.

Clare has a wide range of asset management and financial services experience, including the Pension Protection Fund, Tesco Bank, LV, Vanguard, AXA IM, TIME Investments and wealth management disruptors Nutmeg and Investec Click and Invest.

Gill Wadsworth

Director

Gill is an experienced financial journalist specialising in pensions and investments. She has more than 20 years’ experience in personal finance, institutional investment, asset management and pensions, and has worked for the Financial Times writing and editing for several FT Business titles.
As a journalist, she has also worked for The Economist Intelligence Unit, Evening Standard, Raconteur, Yahoo Finance, Financial News, Pensions Expert, Best Execution and Pensions Insight.

Kevan Reilly

Director

Kevan has more than 16 years’ experience in PR as a senior director at Citigate Dewe Rogerson focusing mainly on financial services. Prior to this, he was an award-winning personal finance and business journalist.
His client experience and expertise is in the retail financial market focusing on issue management, media relations, thought leadership campaigns and product launches and he has advised companies including Prudential, MetLife, AKG, AIG Life, HSBC, Consumer Intelligence and Key Retirement.
During a 17- year career in journalism he worked at the Daily Mirror where he was Deputy Business and Personal Finance Editor, and as a City and Business reporter at the national newswire, Press Association.

Sarah Delas

Director

Sarah is an accomplished corporate communications advisor, having worked in financial, corporate and consumer PR for 16 years with experience of advising clients at CEO and board-level.
She was previously a director at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, where she gained experience in creating and rolling out UK and European media campaigns for a range of clients across industry sectors such as banking & finance, legal, professional services and technology.
Client experience includes Sainsbury’s Bank, AXA, Lyxor Asset Management, Deloitte, Capgemini, Fujitsu Siemens Computer, DLA Piper, Hitachi and Dimension Data

Rachel Smith

Team Assistant

Rachel is our team assistant. She worked at Citigate Dewe Rogerson for 25 years, where she supported Phil, Kevan and other senior executives.

Sarah Jones

Creative & Design

Sarah is a Graphic Designer with 20 years’ experience. In the last ten years she has specialised in supporting PR and Marketing clients, with corporate, B2B and B2C clients in sectors such as corporate, consumer, technology and financial services. Sarah works on a range of static and digital projects, such as infographics, creative reports and websites, to PowerPoint design and conceptual visuals.

Next Steps

We're a team with massive experience in a range of industries and sectors.

Whether you have a new project in mind or if you are looking to add support to one of your exisiting offerings fill in the form and start the conversation.

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