Alison Harmer |

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I'm an award-winning copywriter, editor and proofreader working across multiple channels for numerous clients, particularly in healthcare, flexible workspaces, manufacturing, charities and membership organisations. I trained as a journalist and learnt to edit and proofread at the British Printing Industries Federation and leading internal communications agencies. My regular work includes writing, editing and proofreading newsletters, annual reports, websites, intranets, and marketing materials. My clients value my editorial meticulousness, tight project management, clear on-message writing, and ability to improve other people's content. I vigorously pursue errant apostrophes and other grammatical slip-ups and am noted for delivering to deadlines, especially when clients are under the cosh.

Media

Company literature, Newsletters, Magazines, Websites/blogs, Online materials for charities and corporates, Annual reports (digital and print), On-screen materials like intranet pages, ESG reports (pdf and online), Charity impact reports, Award entries, Direct marketing for businesses, Advertising campaigns for agencies, Video scripts 

In-house and freelance experience

Freelance since 2001

PR and Communications Manager, Regus Group Services - 2007-2008

Senior Editor, Beetroot - 2002-2003

Head of Visual Identity, ING Barings - 2000-2001

Recent Training

SEO content writing (current) - 2024

Web editing (CIEP) - 2022

Proofreading and editing - 2021

Introduction to Content Design (Government Digital Service) - 2020

SEO for beginners - 2020

Clients for whom you have worked within the past three years

Ageas UK

FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group

Guy's and St Thomas' Specialist Care

Landmark Space

Hotbox

Ogilvy

Paragon

The Air Ambulance Service

Circle Health Group

Standard Chartered Foundation

Keep Britain Tidy

Myriad Global Media

Medico Digital

FODO

NCHA

Pad Creative

Immediate Network

The Car Expert

Business Writing Academy

Arthaus

Blue Bee

Duncan Yeardley

Zestfor

Core Gas Control

Charity for Civil Servants

The High Sheriff of Surrey 2021-22

Subjects

Business (business to business (B2B), direct marketing, marketing, premises/property, coworking space, offices, flexible workspace, serviced offices, business leadership, ESG)

Communications (marketing communications, internal communications, corporate communications)

Building (construction industry, built environment)

Design (website design agencies, creative agencies)

Engineering (oil/gas industry)

Finance (banking, financial services, insurance)

Manufacturing (industrial gases, printing inks, confectionery)

Media studies (cinema/film, cinema history, newspapers)

Membership organisations

Medicine (midwifery, National Health Service, patient information, surgery, medical copywriting)

Social sciences/studies (charities, voluntary sector, third sector, foundations, healthcare)

Writing skills (copywriting, journalism, newsletter writing, brochure writing, blog writing, web content writing, article writing, sector-specific writing)

Qualifications and awards

BA Media Studies

Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication

IoIC Award of Excellence Best Freelance

testimonials

Alison is the best proofreader I've come across. She is incredibly accurate and reliably speedy in her turnaround.

H Bingham, Director of Communications, Keep Britain Tidy

Alison turns technically complicated ideas in to clear and concise copy that keeps readers engaged.

If you are looking for someone who can proofread, grammar check and improve the quality of your materials I highly recommend Alison’s services to you.

M Hill, Senior External Affairs Manager, Ageas UK

Alison’s keen eye and meticulous attention to detail help ensure our healthcare content’s consistency and quality. I can rely on Alison to edit our content to extremely high standards, catching the tiniest of details and offering guidance, all while working to tight deadlines.

B Forbes, Content Manager, Medico Digital

Having worked with Alison for a long period of time, during which there were some high-pressure moments, I have no hesitation in recommending her. Alison is very reliable, and her work is accurate, really prompt and insightful. She delivers both in terms of content and timing which is a rare combination and is also a real pleasure to work with.

Dr Llewelyn, The High Sheriff of Surrey (2021-2022)

As AB’s sub, Alison was quick off the mark, and her essential input did not add unforeseen time to a project. She showed incredible responsiveness and professionalism even when an urgent project arrived.

K Macauley, Managing Director, AB

Alison is a superb wordsmith - whether writing original material or subbing and editing supplied copy. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

T Buckley, former CEO, Care Of Police Survivors (COPS)

Since Alison has worked with us, the quality, consistency and accessibility of our communications have improved beyond recognition, improving our connectedness to members and the wider sector and enhancing our brand image. Alison is always available to us for the smallest to the largest of tasks and to the tightest of deadlines and is a major asset to our business. 

D Hewlett, Director for Leadership, Transformation and Strategic Partnerships, FODO

[Alison] proved flexible when proofs were pushed back and excels at the tricky task of editing content drafted by various people for whom English isn’t their first language.

N Lee, Head of Marketing, Paragon

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Communications

• Copywriting
• Content marketing
• Writing
• Business writing
• SEO