How We Work

Every communications agency has a process. Fewer explain the thinking behind it. This section of the Engine Room offers a closer look at how we approach our work at SE10 – from the principles that guide our advice to the practical decisions we make every day. It’s not intended as a sales pitch, but as an honest reflection of how we balance creativity, editorial judgement, and evolving technology to deliver work we’re proud to put our name to.

Starting with a new communications agency? Here’s how to help them hit the ground running

Appointing a communications agency should reduce pressure on your team, not create months of extra work to help them get up to speed. While every organisation is different, we’ve found that the quickest way for us become useful to our clients is through building a shared understanding, one...

How will SE10 fit in with your in-house marketing or communications team?

Every organisation has its own way of managing communications. Understanding that before we recommend an approach is essential, because the services a specialist industrial PR agency provides may look similar from one client to the next, but the way those services are delivered needs to reflect the people,...

How SE10 gets to grips with complex technical topics

Engineering and technology businesses often worry that external agencies will struggle to grasp their highly technical products or processes. It’s a perfectly reasonable concern, particularly for organsiations that have previously spent more time educating their agency than benefiting from it. But understanding complex technology is only part of...

When does a B2B PR agency’s sector expertise become a conflict of interest?

For industrial brands choosing a B2B public relations agency, specialist sector expertise is often the main draw. But that same experience may mean it already works with some of your competitors, customers, suppliers, or partners. So where is the line between valuable industry knowledge and relationships, and a...

How do you get to the right public relations agency quicker?

PR agency selection processes can generate a lot of information before you have a clear sense of which organisations would be genuinely suited to the brief. From the agency side of the table, we’ve noticed that a simple qualification stage can make the journey to finding the right...

Strategy or execution? Make sure your RFP asks the right question

One reason agencies with similar capabilities might produce very different proposals is when they try to answer different questions. If your RFP (request for proposal) doesn't make clear whether you're looking for strategic thinking, delivery capability, or both, comparing proposals becomes much harder....

Retainer or project? The agency model that works depends on the comms challenge

Should you appoint a communications agency on a project basis or a retainer? It's one of the most common questions in RFPs and procurement discussions. The answer isn't that one model is better than the other. It's that different communications challenges require different ways of working – and...

Should you specify a budget in your PR agency RFP?

Whether or not to disclose a budget might be one of the most debated parts of any agency request for proposal (RFP). Some organisations believe keeping it confidential encourages competition and better value, while others want to see how far their budget could take them by specifying a...

Is your communications agency reducing your workload – or adding to it?

Industrial organisations hire communications agencies to bring specialist expertise, fresh perspectives, and additional capacity. But when an agency relationship creates unnecessary extra coordination, clarification, and administration, it can undermine the very reason it was appointed. The difference often comes down to the operating model behind the partnership....

Human-led, AI-assisted: How SE10 uses AI responsibly

Generative AI has changed how a lot of work gets done, ours included. But it has not changed what clients are paying for: clear thinking, accurate writing, and a story worth telling. Here is how we use AI to work smarter while keeping the craft, and your confidential...

Does it matter if your PR agency team actually likes each other?

A strong PR strategy is only part of the story. We explore how the way an agency team works together can shape outcomes more than many clients might realise....

The case for choosing a smaller agency

“I’m sure you’ve heard the Dunder Mifflin argument before. It’s about how a smaller company is able to compete against the titans of industry because it’s more nimble, flexible, attentive and passionate. Well, it’s true.”...

How We Work

Starting with a new communications agency? Here’s how to help them hit the ground running

How will SE10 fit in with your in-house marketing or communications team?

How SE10 gets to grips with complex technical topics

When does a B2B PR agency’s sector expertise become a conflict of interest?

How do you get to the right public relations agency quicker?

Strategy or execution? Make sure your RFP asks the right question

Retainer or project? The agency model that works depends on the comms challenge

Should you specify a budget in your PR agency RFP?

Is your communications agency reducing your workload – or adding to it?

Human-led, AI-assisted: How SE10 uses AI responsibly

Does it matter if your PR agency team actually likes each other?

The case for choosing a smaller agency

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How We Work

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