I can hardly believe it's been four years since I took on my first freelance client through my business Lucy King PR & Marketing.

Since then, I have worked with 18 different clients from across the education sector. The last year in particular has felt something of a whirlwind. I started the year with four retainer clients, and ended it having worked with 10 different clients across a multitude of projects! 

Client relationships

I'm proud to say that as I enter my fifth year of freelancing, I am still working with one of my very first clients, a leading Further Education college group. The work I do for them has evolved (I'm now supporting their stakeholder communications) but the relationship keeps getting stronger.

Alongside this, I continue to support a brilliant Uni Connect partnership with its communications and marketing - another long-term collaboration which I value dearly. Social mobility is a passion, so working with clients who are making a difference in young people's lives is extremely rewarding.

I’m also enjoying supporting a small number of independent schools with marketing strategy and implementation and reconnecting with former colleagues and friends, who have all been so welcoming.

I'm excited to see how these long-term partnerships develop over time as they each continue to go from strength to strength.

Strategy projects

In early 2023, I was delighted to be asked to help a leading local company working in the education sector develop its marketing strategy for working with primary schools. I then won a tender in the autumn to work with a fantastic education charity on developing its marketing strategy for engaging parents.

Associates

These strategy projects, alongside my monthly retainer work and other projects, took me to capacity in 2023. As my business continues to grow, I have been able to start outsourcing work to associates where specialist skills are needed - including graphic design, media relations and social media marketing. I'm very grateful for the support I have had from my associates over the last year. It has been a lifeline at times, and I'm looking forward to further strengthening my associate network in 2024.

Professional development

Other professional highlights of 2023 include graduating with Distinction from the Socially Mobile Mobile Diploma in Leadership Communication and achieving Chartered status with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. I'm incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the industry.

Paying it forward, it was a great honour to be asked to mentor a former colleague to help them get to the next level in their career. Furthermore, I delivered two PR careers workshops to young people in primary and secondary schools. Even though I dread public speaking (!), career information from real, relatable people is incredibly valuable - so if I am asked, I'd love to do more of this in the future.

Personal reflections

On a personal level, the past year has been challenging for several reasons. The teacher strikes, multiple illnesses, medical/dental appointments and school holidays meant having to work even more flexibly than normal around my family commitments.

As a proud mum to two girls, my daughters have always been my 'why' and I have a beautiful illustration on my office wall which reminds me of this every day. Working for myself gives me the freedom to choose when and where to work and for this, I am extremely grateful.

2024 intentions

When I look back over the past 12 months, and what I was doing at different times, I can now see that I may have taken on too much (I find it extremely difficult to say "no" to new projects!)

In 2024, I intend to continue nurturing the relationships I have built so carefully with my clients and associates, to decline opportunities that don't align with my strengths and values, and to give myself the space I need to focus both on my business and personal goals. Maybe that means working less? Or maybe it means making better choices about where I focus my time, and keeping my values at the forefront of my decisions.

I wish you a very happy new year and thank you for your ongoing support.

Here's to a great 2024!