Leading North East businesswoman Sarah Waddington has announced the closure of her PR agency to explore new opportunities.
Ms Waddington, who also leads the North East branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD), is to close marketing and PR business Astute.Work after 14 years of working with clients including the North East LEP, the Common Room and GBB.
She said a transition period is under way ahead of the business closing in August, and that she expects the freelance writers and specialists to take on the clients Astute represented through their own personal companies.
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In a social media post, she said: “After 14 wonderful years running a business that has enabled me to work with some of the best people I will ever meet, I’m closing Astute.Work.
“Astute has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Set up in a recession as a virtual agency when this wasn’t de rigeur, our mission has always been to help organisations develop and communicate their purpose and use their position to create social impact. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved.
“It’s been a blast. The team, our clients, the absolute fun and challenge from start to finish has been something I’ll treasure forever, but it’s now time for something new. There are so many possibilities right now, not least as we face the cost of living crisis and activism is no longer a choice.
“So, in a short while I’ll be taking six months out while I set my sights on some new qualifications and a new direction of travel. I’ll keep you posted as my exciting journey gets under way.”
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The experienced PR and management consultant now plans to take some time out to spend with her family and work on the next chapter of her career, starting with continuing her Certificate in Company Direction through the Institute of Directors.
After that, she plans to explore ways to put her skills to good use, while continuing her work with husband Stephen at Socially Mobile CIC, a not-for-profit organisation founded to support and inspire public relations practitioners across the 海角视频. The organisation helps people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the under-represented and under-served groups including black, Asian and ethnic minority practitioners, the LGBTQ+ community, women returners and those with disabilities.
She said her future business aspirations may well expand upon the work she does through Socially Mobile, as well as executive coaching and consultancy work.
Ms Waddington said: “I’m ready for a bit of a change and need a new challenge. I’ve been doing a lot of work in terms of company direction, non-executive direction and also business advisory work, and these are the areas I think that’s where I’m headed.
“A lot of people have spoken to me about how I’m quite an activist, so I’m working out how I can put that to good use.”
She added: “A change is needed. There’s so many people in society who need more, and the Government don’t want to step forward, so it’s down to people in the private sector to step up. I’m at a level in my career where I have a certain skillset and a certain level of power and agency, so I need to look at how I can use that effectively.”
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