Second Mountain Comms, the specialist independent consultancy led by ethically-driven chartered PR practitioner Ben Veal, is celebrating its first successful two years in business with a move to new studio premises in rural Wiltshire and a refreshed brand identity.
The business, which specialises in working with purpose-driven companies and charities, was established by Veal in July 2020 following unexpected redundancy in the wake of the UK’s first lockdown. Its ‘purpose before profit’ ethos is driven by one mission: to help good people do good, by sharing their stories with the audiences that matter most to them.
Since launching two years ago, Second Mountain has delivered strategic and meaningful comms support to a host of local, national and international clients, including the Charlie Waller Trust, one of the UK’s leading mental health educators, Wiltshire-based humanitarian charity People against Poverty and Business against Poverty, the ethical movement of philanthropic business leaders. With 20% of its activity delivered pro-bono, Second Mountain’s first business birthday was marked by pledging the funds to sink a borewell in India, while more recently the business supported the inaugural Co-forest carbon offsetting initiative by planting 50sqm of trees at the site on the outskirts of Bristol.
Founder Ben Veal Chart.PR MCIPR, who is the acting chair for the CIPR in the South West region, received the ‘Mark of Excellence’ for Independent PR Practitioner of the Year at the 2022 CIPR Excellence Awards and also won Gold in the same category at the 2021 CIPR Pride Awards for the South of England and Channel Islands. The business was named ‘Start up of the Year’ at the 2022 Creative Bath Awards, is a two-time Bath Life Awards finalist, and was a finalist in the social enterprise category at the 2022 Small Awards.
To celebrate turning two, a refreshed brand identity, developed by graphic design firm Random Panda, bolsters the business’ future-focused proposition - while the consultancy’s move to the Glove Factory Studios in Holt, Wiltshire looks set to fuel its creative and collaborative opportunities.
“Now is the right time to evolve the business and build on the foundations laid during the pandemic,” says Veal. “Establishing a consultancy during such surreal times will always be a big part of my story - I’m very proud of what’s been achieved against the odds - but now the ambition is to take the business forward with clear intent and investment and really commit to delivering on our mission of helping good people do good through meaningful comms support.”
The Glove Factory Studios is a creative workspace hub for new and growing businesses, based in a stunning, sensitively restored industrial heritage building and surrounded by acres of beautiful Wiltshire countryside, and will serve as Second Mountain’s permanent base of operations for the coming years.
“Second Mountain’s new home at the Glove Factory is the perfect fit for a business that is just as focused on promoting real work/life balance as it is on delivering impact for clients. The pandemic showed the immense value that green spaces can play in our collective wellbeing and productivity; ready access to nature is pivotal to providing me with the energy I need to deliver as a trusted and ethical PR professional.”
The Wiltshire-based consultancy provides its clients with a full, integrated service in partnership with key creative partners: from PR and strategic copywriting to media training, brand consultancy, photography and UX design.
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