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Corporate Advisory

Supporting businesses and charities to better understand public policy

CONTACT us

• +44 (20) 8895 6324
• info@ardenstrategies.com

compelling insights and
sophisticated understanding

In these uncertain times, our clients increasingly feel that it is important to engage with politics and policymakers. We provide the tools that enable them to confidently do just that.

committed to excellence

Our unique experience of current affairs, and an innovative approach to thought leadership, helps ensure that our corporate and charity clients are listened to and that their ideas are respected.

We provide a rare combination of insight and strategy that is intellectually rigorous and has real-life practical application.

In an era of disruptive change and global uncertainty we counsel our clients on political risk and their strategic mitigation planning while also translating political events in a way that makes sense to business.

We work alongside clients’ in-house communications teams to provide expertise and an unrivalled insight on stakeholder engagement.

OUR SERVICES

• Political monitoring paired with insightful analysis of the latest developments and how they may impact your business.
• Developing a corporate narrative to support your engagement with decision makers.
• Mapping and analysis of political stakeholders that share your interests and can inform your engagement.
• Comprehensive mapping and analysis of political stakeholders that share your company's interests and can help inform your engagement with politics. 
• Support in building stronger relations between companies and trade unions.
• Analysis of politicians and advisors’ perceptions of your business and recommendations on improving perceptions. 
• A comprehensive support package for the political party conferences, tailored to your business goals. 
• Demystifying the major parties’ policy making processes and manifesto development.

Insights

Scottish Politics and Lucky Generals

25/04/2024

The SNP-Green coalition in the Scottish Parliament has ended acrimoniously and we are now into unknown territory. The First Minister now faces an uncertain future as his Coalition partners of this morning are this evening threatening to vote against him in an upcoming vote of no confidence.

Read More ⟶

Northern Ireland’s Impact on a New UK Government

25/04/2024

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will examine the General Election from the perspective of each of the regions and nations of the UK. First, we look at the political landscape in Northern Ireland and the impact that the vote in Northern Ireland might have for the rest of the UK.

Read More ⟶

Happy Anniversary to Scotland’s First Minister, We Should Cut him Some Slack

27/03/2024

As Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf ends his first year in office many commentators

Read More ⟶

read more

Our corporate advisory team

Kieran Simpson
Associate Director

Kieran worked for Labour’s economic team under Gordon Brown, and has served as a Special Adviser in three government departments. He has extensive knowledge of Whitehall’s interactions with business and trade bodies. Kieran has built a career as a leading communications and strategic adviser helping clients build their corporate reputations.
His knowledge extends across a range of sectors including the food & drink, agriculture, energy and health.

Anna Turley
Associate Director

Anna is an experienced senior executive with a distinguished record of achievement as a Member of Parliament, civil servant, government advisor and pioneering leader across local government, think tanks and Whitehall. Anna’s experience includes serving as the Member of Parliament for Redcar, a Shadow Minister as well as a member of two Select Committees including the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.

John Arnold
Associate Director

John has over 20 years experience in public affairs and has provided support to over 80 international blue chip companies, trade bodies, interest groups and local authorities including UKPowerNetworks, EE, VM02, Betfred, VirginAtlantic, the Housebuilders Federation, IBM, INEOS, and the UK Fashion Industry. John was the political advisor to the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, before joining the Local Government International Bureau where he was head of the international section. He is currently a Trustee of the Manchester United Foundation, the football club's charity.

Hayden Munro
Senior Strategist

Hayden Munro is an experienced campaign and corporate affairs strategist. He has run multiple national elections and was campaign director for New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's landslide victory in 2020. Hayden has worked as a senior advisor to Labour on energy, housing, climate and innovation policy. He has advised PMs, Cabinet Ministers and the leaders of some of the world's largest companies on strategy and messaging. Hayden brings a clear understanding of the intersection of politics, media, government and business.

Ellie Miller
Director of External Affairs

Ellie has more than 15 years’ experience working in senior roles with Labour. Since Keir Starmer became Leader, she, more than any other senior staffer, has led the party’s engagement with corporate Britain. As Head of Labour’s Business Relations team, Ellie has helped Keir Starmer rebuild connections with business. She has also worked as an advisor to a Labour Minister as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Commons. Ellie joined Arden from Make UK (one of the ‘Big 5’ business groups) where she was Head of Stakeholder Engagement.

Adam Scott
Account Director

During his eight years in Westminster, Adam briefed and advised more than 20 Labour Shadow Secretaries of State across a range of policy roles. For six years, he played a pivotal role in the Labour policy unit, overseeing a diverse portfolio of domestic policies including transport, housing, culture, and energy. His contributions directly influenced the development of the last two Labour general election manifestos. Adam will serve Arden’s growing corporate client base, as well as contribute to finding and winning new contracts.

Alec James
Account Director

Alec has worked with and for some of the most senior figures in the Labour Party including the then Deputy Leader, Tom Watson. He also worked at the heart of Labour’s HQ in the General Secretary’s office giving him a ring-side seat on all major developments in Labour politics in recent years.
Alec has policy expertise in energy, finance and technology policy.

Marie Birchall
Account Director

Marie has a decade of experience in senior roles at the Labour Party, working as a political advisor for Ministers and Shadow Ministers, including Yvette Cooper. Marie has worked across a broad range of policy areas in both Westminster and Holyrood. As Head of Policy for Scottish Labour, she steered the Party’s policy-making process. She also has experience in education research and working for INGOs and her particular policy expertise includes equality, education, justice and international development.

Shonagh Munro
Account Director

Shonagh is an experienced Labour adviser. Across the past six years she has worked with Labour politicians in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament as well as working at the Tony Blair Institute. Shonagh is networked across the Labour Party, particularly in Scotland where she led the office of Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader.
At Arden her policy specialisms include health, defence and technology.

Lorraine O'Shea
Senior Account Manager

Lorraine has advised some of the most senior figures in the Conservative Party including the late Dame Cheryl Gillan, Andrew Mitchell, and James Heappey. She supported the organisation of the 2019 Conservative Leadership, and has specialised in health policy and UK-EU affairs. During her time in Parliament she had responsibility for policy research, development and stakeholder engagement. At Arden her policy specialisms include foreign affairs, technology and energy.

Ryan Denning
Senior Account Manager

Ryan is a former Conservative advisor with six years’ experience working in the House of Commons for Conservative MPs and Ministers. He has also been involved on the frontline of both the 2017 and 2019 General Election campaigns, giving him unique insight into the workings of Conservative Campaign HQ. Ryan has led campaigns to influence policy in a range of areas including transport, the environment, and aerospace. His main policy interests are housing, defence, and foreign affairs.

Davide Sands
Account Manager

Davide has experience advising senior Labour politicians at Shadow Cabinet and Select Committee level. He has unique insight into Labour’s political processes and since Keir Starmer became Labour leader, he has advised a Shadow Cabinet Member across two portfolios which placed him at the heart of current Labour policy development, campaigns, and media management. His policy expertise and interests include transport, food security, foreign affairs, and environment.

Phoebe Warneford-Thomson
Account Manager

Phoebe has a wealth of experience from the fields of transport, trade and infrastructure. Phoebe was responsible for managing strategic communications for the Port of Dover as they navigated the post-Brexit years and re-shaped perceptions of the Port amongst key stakeholder groups. Previously working for the British Ports Association, she was responsible for using research and analysis to support the Association's policy positions and led on policy matters relating to Scottish ports, economic zoning, transport and digitalisation.

Tom Badham
Account Executive

Tom was previously as an Organiser for the Liberal Democrats, working on the 2021 London GLA Elections, the 2022 Local Elections, and with target seat candidates in preparation for the next general election. He is experienced in single-issue campaigns on a range of policy areas, including transport, environment and health.

Kaylin Raine
Research Officer

Kaylin holds a BSc in Law from the University of Durham and studied Politics at Luiss Guido Carli for her Year Abroad in Rome where she focused on international conflict and peacebuilding. She has experience as a researcher, being recently credited in a published book on the topic of biomedicine. As part of Arden’s research team, Kaylin’s main interests are in defence, health, and technology.

Patrick Marsh
Research Officer

Patrick has completed both BA and MA degrees in Politics and International Relations, and he has been involved with Labour Party politics for the past 4 years. Before starting at Arden, he worked within the field of responsible business, as well as with local authorities on single issue campaigns. His main interests include international affairs, environmental policy, and artificial intelligence.

OUR SERVICES

ABOUT ARDEN

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In these uncertain times, our clients increasingly feel that it is important to engage with politics and policymakers. We provide the tools that enable them to confidently do just that.

[/fusion_text][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

We offer clients compelling insights and sophisticated understanding. Our unique experience of current affairs, and an innovative approach to thought leadership, helps ensure that our corporate and charity clients are listened to and that their ideas are respected.

And because of the Arden team’s extensive experience, we are able to provide a rare combination of insight and strategy that is intellectually rigorous and has real-life practical application.

In an era of disruptive change and global uncertainty we also counsel our clients on political risk and their strategic mitigation planning while also translating political events in a way that makes sense to business.

Additionally, we work alongside clients’ in-house communications teams to provide expertise and an unrivalled insight on stakeholder engagement.

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