The PR agency to watch

As Orchard’s management team increases in strength and size, the good apples discuss their ambitions for the PR-led communications agency across the Channel Islands and beyond.  

Orchard have just appointed an Account Director & Business Development in Jersey. Why is now the right time to expand into this market? 

Brooke:  We have operated across all the Crown Dependencies for many years now but wanted to recruit someone in Jersey to deliver for our clients, alongside having the necessary contacts and network to propel our brand forward. Having been in discussions with Laura for some time, our paths aligned, and we were happy to welcome her on board to focus on growing our Jersey proposition. The two islands still have very distinct markets, but more and more are doing business pan island or with international aspirations and we need to have the talent and resources to support these ambitions.  

Laura: In recent years Jersey has become home to an increasing number of innovative businesses who are looking to grow and are making contributions to the business community and economy. We think we can help those organisations to tell their stories, so now is the perfect time to grow our presence on the island.  

What are your goals within the Jersey market? 

Laura:  We are not just looking to have a single point of contact on the island, but to develop a talented team so that we will be known as market leaders in PR and communications across both islands. More than just servicing our client portfolio, Orchard will be looking to create opportunities for career progression in the PR world in both islands continuing our programme of educating school leavers on how rewarding a career in this industry can be.  

On a personal note, I am really passionate about sustainability and interested in how businesses not only undertake their journey to be greener, but also communicate how and why they’re doing it. So I will be looking to develop Orchard’s delivery on this topic as well as furthering our own plans and goals.  

Brooke: Alongside brand awareness in Jersey, we feel it is also important to build the profiles of our very experienced and ambitious management team who all bring unique expertise to Orchard.   

 Will you be looking beyond the Channel Islands? 

Dan: We believe we have the right team members and talent to service clients beyond the Islands and Crown Dependencies and we have started to extend our activities through our membership of the L’Attitude Global PR network. A broader reach would certainly be part of our longer-term plans once we’ve fully embedded ourselves in the Jersey marketplace.  

Our appointment of Nathanial as Account Director has broadened our remit as he brings extensive consumer experience to the team and connections from his PR career in London.  

What changes has Orchard made to support this growth model? 

Chris: It’s been seven years since the management buyout of the business and 10 since Dan joined the team – he has worked across many of our most significant clients in diverse sectors and grown his expertise and reputation alongside that of the business. He now takes on a new role as Head of Client Services, focusing on client delivery and enabling Brooke to focus more on strategy and growth. 

Nathanial: Chris has just been recognised as a Top 50 Operations Leaders by Agency Hackers, which really demonstrates the sophistication of our business model and how it is built for growth and to evolve alongside our clients. Key investment in technology means we remain innovative and at the forefront of new developments and trends.  

What is it that sets Orchard apart from its competitors? 

Mike: Simply put it’s the strength of our team. We have a real depth of experience and one of the most qualified PR teams in the Channel Islands. While we all are well-rounded PR professionals, each member has their own strengths which enables us to offer the full breadth of services to the highest possible degree and across all sectors.  

The whole 14-strong team bring their own perspective and experience to communications issues and this diversity of thought and desire to find productive solutions make us a great problem-solving unit. 

Where do you see Orchard being in 5 years' time? 

Laura: We hope to be well established in Jersey as the communication specialists, building a team of PR professionals that service the Channel Islands as a whole. Orchard will use its talents to service clients irrespective of geographical location, leading with our unrivalled expertise for storytelling.  

Brooke: Orchard is the only Channel Island agency listed in PR Week’s Top 150 report. We’re very proud of our ‘Bubbling Under’ listing, which details the agencies to watch. We are also currently number 55 on the list of agencies based outside London and our target is to break into the Top 50 in the next couple of years. Alongside this we hope to be servicing more clients in the UK and those with international touch points, to become a well-known brand name in PR outside of the Channel Islands.  

The Orchard Management team is made up of: (clockwise) Brooke Kenyon, Chris Chilton, Mike Wilkins, Laura Morel, Dan Gallienne, Nathanial Eker-Male.