About us

The Create 51 team are renowned specialists in strategic communications and engagement, principally in the regulated utilities sector.

We pride ourselves on breadth of expertise across corporate communications, stakeholder and reputation management, customer research and engagement, design, digital and social media. We adopt a common-sense approach to keeping our communications clear, compelling and jargon-free.

We regularly collaborate with existing in-house teams as well as an external network of specialists.

A brief history

Create 51 was originally formed in 2014 by Rebecca Burgess and Jane Gould, both strategic communication experts who had worked in news and corporate PR disciplines, and largely within the regulated water sector.

They found themselves working independently on neighbouring water companies’ business plans as part of the five-yearly price review process. Afterwards, over a post-submission drink, they agreed there must be a better way of offering their specialist services to clients – one that combined their skills and expertise and offered greater resource capacity at the same time.

Nine years (and another five-yearly price review process later!) we have expanded our team with a blend of experienced employees and tried and trusted associates. But our ethos remains as simple as it was over the drink – to deliver excellent, quality work on time, all the time.

PS: What’s in a name? The ‘51’ in Create 51 is the latitude of Sussex where we are based.

 

Rebecca Burgess

Director

Rebecca is a former regional and national journalist, who has previously worked with Sky News and the Press Association. With a passion for words, she has used her 25 years’ experience in delivering strategic communications for the water industry, local government, charities and travel industry to devise creative campaigns and engagement programmes that deliver proven results for companies and organisations.

Penny Hodge

Director

Penny has 20 years’ experience in corporate communications including media relations, issues management, public consultation, public affairs and strategic stakeholder engagement. She has worked extensively in the water industry but also has experience of working in the NHS, central government and a national sports governing body. She is passionate about working with organisations to bring their business priorities to life in a way that engages and involves customers and stakeholders to build credibility and trust.

Joel Hufford

Senior Communications Consultant

Joel has worked in a variety of key communication roles across the water, energy and health sectors since 2007. Prior to that, he spent 10 years as a broadcast journalist for BBC radio and TV. This range of experience has enabled him to build up expertise in a number of areas including stakeholder engagement, public relations, media relations, internal communications and copywriting.

Sarah Feasey

Senior Communications Consultant

Sarah is a versatile engagement specialist with extensive cross-sector experience spanning government, private industry and not-for- profit organisations. She has over 15 years’ experience in communications and public affairs with a strong reputation for developing high-impact stakeholder relationships and driving strategic communications initiatives that deliver measurable results. Sarah combines policy expertise with exceptional stakeholder management to influence decision-makers at all organisational levels.

Stephanie Ellis

Communications Consultant

Steph has a wealth of experience in communications and PR roles spanning the higher education, housing and water sectors. She holds a CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing and has a wide-ranging skillset including event management, media relations, stakeholder engagement and running multi-channel campaigns.

Andy Blaxland

Andy is a town planning, consents and engagement specialist with over 30 years experience in local government and private sector consultancy roles at a senior level. He has extensive infrastructure experience securing consents for wastewater, water and energy projects, negotiating hard to secure permissions. Andy has also helped to prepare local plans, drought plans and water resource management plans for water companies and regional groups. Andy is an excellent communicator, working closely with clients and other partners to devise and implement consenting and communication strategies. He particularly enjoys the challenges of successfully delivering high profile and controversial projects.

Tanya Monk

Designer

Tanya is a designer that brings a real difference in her approach to developing solutions to the challenges that we deliver on. Always able to bring new creative ideas but also with an understanding of how to present the critical messaging that is at the heart of what we do, so that it engages with the audiences we are targeting.

Lisa Hallewell

Designer

Lisa is an experienced designer who works across both print and digital mediums to produce a wide range of high quality creatives. Her expertise includes developing company logos and branding, corporate brochures, exhibition and marketing material, packaging, and designing desktop and mobile websites.