Our Community

Here at Shepherd PR, we believe in taking our corporate responsibilities seriously and we aim to lead by example.

Whether it’s encouraging the next generation in business or playing an active role in our local community, our goal is to make a difference and have a positive impact.

Apprenticeships

Kathryn Moorcroft & Maya Ings

Shepherd PR is a great advocate of the apprenticeship programme.

We took on our first apprentice, Kathryn Moorcroft, five years ago. Kathryn, a former head girl at Ashbourne’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, is now a full-time PR Account Executive after completing a 12-month social media and digital marketing apprenticeship, which combined work with studying at Derby College.

She has since completed a leadership and management qualification, as well as studying environmental journalism in Vienna, and plays a vital role in our business.

Georgia Handley joined us soon after and has now moved into full-time employment at John Pye Auctions after starting her career and achieving her business administration qualification with us.

Maya Ings also completed a training scheme in Social Media & Marketing.

Both Kathryn and Maya contribute wholeheartedly to the team and demonstrate what can be achieved by hard work and a drive to succeed.

We believe apprentices offer real benefits to businesses and are pleased to be in a position to offer such opportunities in the area.

To find out more about our apprenticeship scheme, or to register an interest, email jo@shepherd-pr.com

One of our work experience placements, Olly

Work Experience

Over the years, Shepherd PR has offered work placements to 30 people, of all ages.

We each owe a debt of gratitude to a variety of companies, newsrooms and editors who have helped us on our professional journeys. By encouraging people to come and spend time with us we hope to give a little back and share our knowledge to guide others on to exciting and fulfilling career paths.

Our aim is to provide a real insight into our world and not just let those on placements watch what we do.

Each participant starts by writing news and features to make a newspaper article. Then we go out and film and edit a short video on the subject. The placement concludes with the design of a newspaper front cover headline and a double page spread.

This means each person taking part has the chance to get really hands-on and leaves with content that is invaluable for college and university applications – news articles they have written, video they have researched, scripted and presented, and design work completed using the latest software.

If you’re interested in working in PR, video or simply want to find out more about what makes the business tick, a limited number of work experience placements are available. We’d love to hear from you.

Contact us on 01335 368020 or email jane@shepherd-pr.com

Backing For Sport

Dyers Arms

For the 2018/19 season, we were delighted to support a young and talented football side in Leek, which was venturing for the first time into the Sunday League, coached by Phil Gilligan and Andy Birch Machin.

Over the years the side built up a solid track record in the junior game while making their mark in adult matches.

In 2017, we sponsored Leek Rugby Club’s under 16s team – and we also provide support for the annual Calton Fell Race held near our office.

Support For Education

Jane with Nottingham Business School graduates, Hilke and Hanna

Members of our team regularly talk to students at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) in Ashbourne on a wide-range of topics including citizenship, social media policy and ‘ready to work’ skills.

We are proud to be supporting the school’s Future programme alongside Derby University, launched in 2016, which recognises and rewards QEGS’ students for their commitments to volunteering and work-based learning.

Shepherd PR has also worked with four graduates from the University of Nottingham Business School to support our growth in the Austrian marketplace – and we’ve supported two of their MSc research students with their dissertations, focused on market research and brand perception.

Our MD, Jane Shepherd was Vice Chair of Trustees at the QEGSMAT Multi-academy Trust, which has schools across Derbyshire and Staffordshire. She is also a former Visiting Industrial Fellow at Aston University’s Business School.

Our work in the community also includes support for Ilam Primary School, where Jane was a Chair of Governors, including setting up an annual sponsored horse ride to raise funds for the school.

We also undertook a 3-day video project at Ilam, teaching Year 6 pupils how to research, script and produce a short film about the role of the school in their community.

Our film crew then went out into the local area with the children, who interviewed members of the community.

The Shepherd PR team then edited this footage into a six-minute film which captured life at the village school.

Encouraging Export

Jane was appointed as an Export Champion in 2017 by the Department of International Trade, with a remit to help encourage companies in the UK – particularly smaller ones who think it might not be relevant to them – to consider doing business overseas.

Since then she has attended events, done presentations and taken part in campaigns to get the message across.

If anyone wants to ask questions about starting their export journey, please get in touch jane@shepherd-pr.com

Video Support

Each year, we donate our time and expertise to deliver videos to help local good causes. Recent examples include:

• In 2017 – The production of a video to help raise funds for a First Responders unit in Waterhouses Staffordshire.
• In 2018 – Production of a video for the Ashbourne-based Glitz & Glamour charity, raising money for cancer. https://bit.ly/2w8LJHJ
• In 2019 – Production of a video to raise funds for a life-enhancing operation for Staffordshire Moorlands youngster Beau Machin, to help him to walk. https://bit.ly/2VNpkix
• In 2020 – Throughout the year, we’ve helped The Hubb Foundation by providing them with video and social media content. You can read more about this incredible charity at https://www.thehubbfoundation.com/
• In 2022 – We continued to support Glitz & Glamour by providing video content for their most recent charity ball.