Fourth Estate Creative

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications and press officer for the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. We’re a training and membership organization for trading standard services within the UK. I oversee the internal publications that go to out our members, several areas of government, policymakers, and key stakeholders. I also support media inquiries.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fourth Estate Creative?

We had a previous publishing house that worked with us to create our publications. We wanted to accomplish that task for a reduced cost, so we had to reconsider the way we produced publications. We hired Fourth Estate Creative to help us overcome that challenge.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fourth Estate Creative proposed many different solutions to address our problem. One suggestion was to reduce the number of published deliverables to two printed copies per year. Rather than having a monthly online version, they suggested having a website where we could post things more frequently, and reach our members as soon as news and relevant information became available. That’s the direction we took for the rest of the engagement.

They came up with a few ideas, but we had an in-house pitch that we wanted to go with. They presented some additional concepts to us throughout several in-person and online meetings. That gave us an opportunity to consider different designs. We developed an approach that worked well for both sides. We provided them with a written style guide, and they designed each deliverable independently.

Their involvement with us includes handling the full design process of our magazine. They gather content and commission writers to work on each issue with them. They have a design team that puts together the physical content for us. Once they send copies for proofing, our team will double check everything for accuracy relating to trading standards. There’s usually little that needs changing.

If we bring in any external advertising or anything like that, they offer their services redesigning artwork. That helps out our publication and allows our partnering companies to get some work done as well.

In addition to the publications, they also provide us with a number of other services including video production. They’ll produce video animations for various projects and campaigns that operate on a national or local level. They still maintain the website, and we’re starting work on our third issue of the print magazine now.

What is the team composition?

They’ve allocated three full-time staff members and several backup contractors. Our main point of contact for a while was Paul (Managing Director, Fourth Estate Creative). He’s also our current liaison for newer work that comes through. We have a different point of contact with regards to the publication. There’s also a marketing resource that we work with when trying to reach a bigger audience.

How did you come to work with Fourth Estate Creative?

We sent out multiple RFPs, and Fourth Estate Creative was one of the companies that responded. They put their information forward and applied for the contract. We interviewed a total of four different firms. Fourth Estate Creative’s proposal was within the price range we were looking for, and they put forth several innovative ideas that we hadn’t considered.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together right before summer 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We send internal surveys to our members when the issues of the magazines come out. Feedback has been mostly positive, but it’s impossible to please everyone all the time. Overall, we’re happy to have received the kind of responses their work facilitates. Any campaign that Fourth Estate Creative runs for us is completed with decent numbers. Our clients appreciate their contributions as well.

How did Fourth Estate Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re an open team that communicates proactively. If we need to get something from them, we know who can deliver. Paul delivered a fantastic issue of a magazine for us. From a project management standpoint, that example in itself speaks volumes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re capable of integrating themselves into any subject. They also know our business well, which is brilliant for us. If we need to start a new project, I can pick up the phone, and they’ll answer almost any time of the day. They’ve even worked on the weekend for us. The whole team does whatever they can to ensure that what we need can be completed to a high standard. We definitely made the right choice by hiring them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Reach out to them. I guarantee that they’ll successfully complete any project.