An East Midlands communications consultancy founded after a discussion in a pub has reached its 10th anniversary after building a client base spanning the UK and international markets.
BakerBaird was launched in 2016 by former business journalist Richard Baker and ex-government communications director Stuart Baird, who set out to create a consultancy combining private-sector commercial insight with public-sector communications expertise.
A decade later, the Nottinghamshire-based business has worked on projects in 20 countries and secured 12 industry awards, including two gold honours at this year’s Chartered Institute of Public Relations awards.
The consultancy has delivered communications and engagement programmes for organisations including the East Midlands Combined County Authority, East Midlands Freeport, the East Midlands Development Corporation and local authorities across the region.
Its portfolio has also expanded nationally, encompassing mayoral authorities, major infrastructure projects, the STEP Fusion energy programme and a global health initiative led by the University of Liverpool and funded by the Gates Foundation.
Richard Baker said the business was born from a challenge between the two founders.
“Nottingham already had creative agencies and some amazing PR firms and we really wondered if it could be done,” he said.
“So we sat down in a pub, thrashed out a plan, and BakerBaird was the result.”
The business later strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Gaby Taylor, former director of communications at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, as senior account director.
BakerBaird’s most recent award success came at the CIPR Excellence Awards, where its work on the East Midlands mayoral election awareness campaign received double gold recognition.
Stuart Baird said: “It’s been a privilege to work on projects that make a difference to the world around us, whether that is a device that saves the lives of newborns in sub-Saharan Africa or a new sports facility in Stapleford.
“While we work nationally and internationally, we’re passionate supporters of our home city, Nottingham, and our home region. This is where our story began and we will never miss an opportunity to promote it.”
