Hill+Knowlton Strategies UK

The London office of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global PR and communications agency that is part of WPP.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies UK

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, known as H+K, is a global public relations and communications agency that belongs to WPP and has offices in more than 40 countries. In the UK it provides integrated communications and campaigns across sectors. Its London team is organised into sector groups, with a 2018 company announcement mentioning eight UK sector teams including Energy and Industrials, the largest at 35 people at the time.

We did not find a formal mission statement on the pages we could read. The company describes a "breadth and depth" model that forms flexible teams combining specialist expertise, and its work blends strategy, creativity and innovation supported by data and analytics. Its UK chief executive at the time, Simon Whitehead, described a "culture of innovation and collaboration" as a core value. The company also names tools such as Flight School+ (crisis communications training), Better Impact (brand purpose and corporate responsibility) and H+K Smarter (a behavioural science unit).

London is H+K's largest single office and the base for its UK operation. A profile on the Creative Access site says the London office is "home to over 300 strategists, content creators and master storytellers", and the 2018 announcement also says about 300 colleagues work in London. A street address was not on the pages we read. Clients named in the 2018 announcement for the energy and industrials team include Shell, Hitachi, ICMM, Smart Energy GB, OGCI and E.ON.

A recent trade report on the Energy and Industrials team names Karen Butcher as Managing Director and Jenna Goldberg as a director with more than 15 years of built environment and corporate affairs experience, showing the team recruits people with specialist subject knowledge as well as communications skills. Built environment is described as a key growth area. The Creative Access profile describes flexible teams that draw on strategists and content specialists across the agency.

The roles an agency like this employs include account executives and managers, senior consultants, directors, content and digital specialists, behavioural scientists and analysts, and business support staff. To prepare, students can build skills in writing, analysing information and presenting, and follow a sector they enjoy, such as energy, health, technology or property, because clients value people who understand their world.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Campaigns and media work across sectors.', 'title': 'Integrated communications'}
• {'desc': 'Communications for energy, industry and built-environment clients.', 'title': 'Energy and industrials'}
• {'desc': 'Crisis training and purpose-led brand work.', 'title': 'Crisis and brand purpose'}

Key facts

• Part of WPP; offices in more than 40 countries
• London is its largest single office (2018 announcement)
• Over 300 staff in London (Creative Access profile)
• Eight UK sector teams (2018 announcement)

Website: www.hkstrategies.com