Meet Katy – JGA’s storyteller and enthusiastic comms ‘pro’
When did you last do a selfie? Not everyone likes posing with their smartphone, but encouraging JGA’s (camera-shy) team to take photos when they’re out working is a key part of Katy Perceval’s role as Comms and Marketing Support.
As she explains: ‘I’m a big believer that what JGA does isn’t so much ‘business to business’ as ‘people to people’, which is why the relationships we build are so important to the quality of support we provide.
‘As in life, it’s our personality that makes us different – and selfies play a key role in bringing JGA’s personality to life. They really help us to tell our story and communicate with our professional networks in a meaningful and engaging way.’
‘From a comms point of view, I’m lucky that although our Associates are home-based, they also travel to deliver our services and develop our business,’ she adds. ‘Our MD Jeremy is often out and has become a real train station selfie ‘pro’!’
Raising awareness of the JGA brand
So alongside coaching JGA’s Associates in the ‘art’ of the selfie, what else does Katy’s role involve?
At a practical level, she works closely with our team – and especially Operations Manager Lisa – to create engaging written content for JGA’s website and social media, with a focus on our LinkedIn.
Her aim is to help raise awareness of the commercial and cultural difference that our transition, people and governance services can make for our clients, to grow our networks and to nurture advocacy of our brand.
‘It’s a fantastic role,’ she explains. ‘I offer fresh ideas and write or edit most of our blogs and social media posts; when needed, I contribute to our internal and client materials and advise on our comms strategy too.’
Connecting with values-led networks via LinkedIn
‘People tend to have a love/hate relationship with LinkedIn,’ she concedes. ‘But for JGA, it’s a useful channel that enables us to stay connected with our values-led networks.
‘It’s a platform where our ‘no white noise’ pledge is especially important because there can be a lot of ‘shouting’ by other brands.
‘That’s why we take care to post only when we have something relevant to share – such as updates on our activities, new service launches and client success stories.
‘We’re also committed to playing our part in the sectors we support, by responding to others’ social media too, such as the content shared by the Employee Ownership Association. The clue’s in the name ‘social media’ – it’s a two-way thing.’
‘I’m a big believer that what JGA does isn’t so much ‘business to business’ as ‘people to people’, which is why the relationships we build are so important to the quality of support we provide’
Katy Perceval, JGA Comms and Marketing Support
Growing our business in a thoughtful and engaging way
Being Comms and Marketing Support is a role she enjoys for several reasons.
‘JGA has a wonderful vibe and I really love being part of such a supportive team, which also has a healthy respect for cake!’ she reveals. ‘That sense of belonging is very precious when you’re semi-freelance and work from home.
‘I also enjoy being able to use my journalistic skills to raise awareness of what we do in a thoughtful way that’s helping to grow our business.’
Katy’s previous career was with the John Lewis Partnership, where she worked on their in-house magazine (the Gazette) and digital channels for more than 20 years. After leaving in 2017 to take a career break, she first worked with JGA freelance on specific projects before joining us as Marketing and Comms Support in July 2022.
Playing our part to promote Good EO
No stranger to the world of EO, has anything surprised her about JGA or our clients?
‘Everyone says this but it would be how complex, diverse and dynamic the EO sector is,’ she says. ‘At the same time, I think that what most people want from any business or role – whether EO or not – is pretty simple: to enjoy what they do, feel they’re making a difference and earn enough to make the choices they want.
‘As individuals, the broader balance we seek changes as we change – for example, the pandemic and cost of living crisis are real game-changers that have upended working patterns, workforce demographics and the skills the UK requires.
‘You’re lucky if you can find fulfilling and flexible work with supportive colleagues whose company you enjoy.’
Legwarmers, coffee and the chance to volunteer each week!
For Katy, as for many others, that’s still a work in progress, but in the meantime here are the five things that get her through her working day:
1. Right now? In mid-winter? My multi-coloured wool legwarmers. Keeping your ankles and wrists warm is essential when you WFH.
2. Good coffee from a cafetiere. It’s not just the taste, it’s the ritual of making it. It focuses my thinking and lifts my mood.
3. Feeding sultanas to the two robins, two blackbirds and thrush outside my window. Often they eyeball me through the glass when I’m working. This can be distracting if I’m on a Teams call.
4. My daily walk on the hill where I live. The trees are incredible and there are views stretching 25 miles to the South Downs.
5. My day ‘out of office’ each week, volunteering hands-on at a garden project for adults living with disabilities, ill health or social isolation, through a charity called Thrive. No keyboard, no phone – it’s such a tonic. I’ve been doing it since 2017 and I love it so much.
If you’d like to know more about how JGA can support you and your organisation through our Transition, People and Governance services, get in touch here.