Communications & reputation consultant

Senior communications leadership, whenever you need it

I'm a communications and reputation leader with 14 years' experience across some of the country's largest and most complex organisations. From strategy and change to brand, reputation and the moments that matter most, I help leaders communicate with clarity and confidence, as a strategic partner, an interim director or an extra pair of expert hands.

Steve Hayes, communications and reputation consultant

How we can work together

I've spent my career as part of senior leadership teams, using communication to drive organisations forward and working hand in hand with boards and executives. Whether you need to shape a strategy, protect a reputation, steady a team or find the right words, I bring that experience to every brief.

Strategy, change & internal communication

Developing the strategy and narrative that take an organisation forward, then bringing colleagues with it. From corporate strategy to change, engagement and the employee experience, I turn complexity into something people understand, believe and act on, and build the moments that make it stick.

  • Corporate strategy & narrative development
  • Change & transformation communications
  • Internal communication & employee engagement
  • Learning, events & employee value proposition

Corporate affairs & reputation

Corporate affairs, brand and crisis. Having trained as a journalist and news editor, I know how the media work from the inside, so I'm a strong, steady pair of hands when the spotlight turns and I help leaders say the right thing, the right way.

  • Corporate affairs & strategy
  • Brand & rebrand programmes
  • Crisis & reputation management
  • Media handling & spokesperson support

Interim & consultancy

Need a steady hand at the top of your comms team? I step in as an interim Director of Communications, or work alongside you as a consultant, and keep things moving from day one.

  • Interim director & head of comms
  • Consultancy & advisory
  • Team mentoring & capability building
  • Board & executive counsel

Writing, content & keynotes

Words that sound like you and land with your audience. Thought leadership, copywriting, award entries, speeches and keynotes, with an editor's instinct for a story.

  • Thought leadership & ghostwriting
  • Copywriting & award entries
  • Speeches & keynotes
  • Editorial & storytelling

Who I've worked with

From a global multi-sport event to some of the country's largest housing and care providers, both in senior in-house roles and agency-side.

Associate Executive Director2024–present
Consultant2026
Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications2022–2026
Director of Communications2018–2022
Communications Lead2016–2018

Work that moved the numbers

Communications should do more than look good. Here is some of what it has delivered.

12
Housing associations have adopted The Trials of Mrs Tranter, the award-winning engagement exercise I created.
£1m
Rebrand programme delivered end to end, from strategy and identity to rollout across the organisation.
10%
Uplift in engagement with corporate strategy after a clearer, more human internal comms approach.
4,000
Colleagues in the organisations I've led communications for, so I'm at home reaching a large, diverse and dispersed workforce.
Steve Hayes delivering a keynote
Steve Hayes on a conference panel
Steve Hayes presenting at an awards ceremony
Steve Hayes speaking at a comms conference

The experience behind the work

I've spent 14 years leading communications for some of the country's largest and most complex organisations, as a director, a member of the senior leadership team and a trusted adviser to boards and chief executives.

Much of my work has been change, strategy and internal communication, bringing colleagues with an organisation as it transforms. I've also led brand, corporate affairs and crisis, and I started out as a journalist and news editor, so I bring a cool head and sound judgement when a crisis breaks or the media come calling.

I'm a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication, an Associate Executive Director at Creative Bridge, and a regular keynote speaker and awards judge. Today I bring all of that to organisations as an independent consultant, whether that's a one-off brief, a season of interim leadership or an ongoing partnership.

Senior leadership team Change & internal comms Corporate affairs & reputation Strategy & engagement Fellow of the IoIC Creative Bridge

Work recognised nationally

A rounded picture of how the work, and the teams behind it, have been recognised across the communications profession, through awards, national platforms and thought leadership.

5× GoldICE Awards, 2021–2024
4 Golds2026 ICE Awards, incl. Best Innovation
Team of the YearHousing Heroes Awards, 2021

Awards

  • 2026Four Golds at the ICE Awards for The Trials of Mrs Tranter, the engagement campaign I created, including Best Innovation.
  • 2024Gold at the ICE Awards for Best Storytelling and Best Not for Profit, plus Gold for the corporate strategy campaign.
  • 2023Gold at the ICE Awards for Best Engagement with Strategy.
  • 2022Gold at the ICE Awards for Best Use of Video.
  • 2021Gold for Best Intranet, and Communications Team of the Year at the Housing Heroes Awards.
  • 2021Award of Excellence at the IoIC Awards for Citizen's first all-colleague conference.

Platforms & influence

  • Fellow, Institute of Internal Communication
  • Keynote, IoIC Festival (2026)
  • Speaker, CIH Housing conference (2026)
  • Speaker, PR Week Crisis Communications Conference (2025)
  • Speaker, Leadership Live, Institute of Leadership (2024)
  • Advisory board, NHF Communications & Influencing Conference
  • Chair, advisory board, Inside Housing Communications Conference
  • Awards judge, ICE Awards & IoIC Awards

Selected thought leadership

Let's talk about your challenge

Tell me what you're working on. I'll come back to you personally, usually within a day.

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I'll come back to you personally, usually within a day.