Partner Article

Getting to Know... Jen Hallam

We know you as the MD of the strategic brand communications agency, Gardiner Richardson, and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick… 

I grew up in Teesside and returned to the North East after a decade in Manchester working at large creative communications agencies. I love my role within Gardiner Richardson, focusing on the commercial, people and operational aspects of the business.  

Social value really drives me and the team at Gardiner Richardson; we want to do what we can to have a positive impact on our local and wider community. Some of our recent projects have included working with New Writing North to provide work experience placements for young people and creating a guide to accessible communications with students and adult learners from the Percy Hedley Foundation.  

Did you always want to work in your industry? 

I think brand communications is a fascinating world to be part of and something I was keen to build a career in since University. I’m inherently curious, so the thing that’s always appealed to me is learning about our clients’ industries, their challenges, and how we develop strategies to support them.   

I get my energy from being around others, so I was always going to choose a career that revolves around people and relationship building.  

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst? 

The job is constantly new and interesting. Our role as consultants is to keep our clients ahead of the changes, channels and trends in brand communications. This means we’re constantly learning and seeking new perspectives on how we can approach our work.  

The hardest part is taking time to switch off sometimes - balancing the responsibility of running a business with parenting, and finding a little bit of time for myself sometimes in between! 

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? 

I’m proud of where the business is and my role in that. Gardiner Richardson has been part of the North East business scene for 28 years, and we constantly push ourselves to evolve to meet opportunities in the market and deliver work we’re proud of, while maintaining our core values to be a good employer and socially conscious business.  

How do you relax outside of work? 

I am kept busy by my two children, who are 4 & 6, and by our Labrador, who is a bundle of chaos and energy. I also love to cycle to our office in Generator Studios, it’s a great way to start and end the day. 

What makes the North East such a great place to live and work? 

I lived and worked in Manchester for over a decade, and it was a fantastic place, but since I’ve moved back to the North East and started my role at Gardiner Richardson, I’ve been really bowled over by the closeness and supportive nature of the business community. There’s a real sense of sharing insight, advice and coffee in the spirit of wanting to help each other out.  

Tell us something about you we didn’t know… 

My go-to karaoke song is ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ by Starship.  

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .