Headmaster
Major Public School
"Many thanks indeed for your time and your guidance this afternoon. I was grateful for your calm assurance about the way forward."
My objective is to provide a calm, rational presence to individuals or organisations preparing for, or in the midst of, a crisis. From a client who has been contacted by a tabloid journalist demanding a statement on a breaking story, to an organisation that has just learnt of a fatality, I aim to provide clear, effective advice and guidance based on 20 years' experience in media relations.
Charlie is an experienced crisis communications specialist who provides strategic and crisis management support to organisations whose reputation is in danger of being damaged.
For over 20 years Charlie has worked with many organisations to deliver clear and comprehensive crisis communications advice, support and media relations guidance. This has covered a wide range of sectors, particularly specialising in schools' crisis management. Charlie has managed many highly controversial crises, and many more that had the potential to be controversial but didn't get reported widely.
As the Managing Director of specialist public relations agency, Quantum Public Relations, Charlie can draw on a talented team to provide flexible and responsive support to organisations threatened by a range of crises.
In most cases that Charlie manages, the success of the project is judged on how little media coverage there is of an issue. His role is to minimise interestand limit reputational damage wherever possible. Generally, this begins with media training and creating a crisis communications plan in order to ensure that, should a crisis arise, those involved have a clear strategy.
In cases where quashing media interest is impossible, Charlie's expert reputation management helps to ensure that key stakeholders are communicated with effectively, limiting the damage to an individual or organisation with a view to rebuilding and restoring stakeholders' faith in the future.
If you are facing a potential crisis that could result in damaging publicity, or simply preparing your crisis management or business continuity plan, contact Charlie for a no obligation consultation.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
Winston Churchill
Charlie's pedigree in crisis communications and reputation management is extensive. He is the leading provider of crisis communications services to the education sector, and has supported over 100 independent schools, colleges and nurseries that found themselves in a crisis situation over the past decade. These crises threatened to have a serious impact on their corporate reputation but with a clear crisis plan, Charlie has helped to limit damage. Crises have ranged from student fatalities, historic sexual abuse allegations and bullying leading to suicide, through to flooding and fire.
Reflecting the nature of crises Charlie provides a 24/7 service. If you need urgent assistance with crisis communications, please contact Charlie Vavasour on 01233 500200 or email charlie@quantumpr.co.uk.
Charlie provides both issue-specific media training, for individuals and organisations that are entering into a crisis, and more general media training to allow people to deal with the media should an issue arise in the future.
When offering media training on a specific issue, Charlie works closely with the spokespeople who are going to be dealing directly with the media. These sessions focus on messaging as well as delivery, to prepare spokespeople for the worst, so that the reality of interviews is a lot less daunting.
The more general media training that Charlie offers provides organisations with an insight into the importance of the media within society, to ensure individuals have a clear plan should a crisis arise in the future. This training highlights the different types of media and the needs of each one, and offers advice on interview techniques.
"The Media Training course run by Charlie is absolutely brilliant. I've been to quite a few training courses by now and he is in a league of his own. It was interesting all the way through, and it all felt like useful knowledge to have, especially the practical part." Officer, Cambridgeshire County Council
Charlie has worked with many organisations that need a strategic communications plan. Across a wide range of sectors and industries Charlie provides expert counsel and interim support when organisations are facing specific issues or find they are in need of specialist support.
He is currently supporting a Fire and Rescue Service that is going through a major restructure following a comprehensive review of culture, advising on the controversial merger of two independent schools and supporting a developer to manage the backlash from a highly unpopular planning application.
By providing an external, third party perspective, Charlie ensures that clients focus on the communications impact of their actions at a time when they may be simply concentrating on the crisis going on around them.
Testimonial
Dear Charlie,
On behalf of the Governors, the leadership team and me, personally, I am writing to thank you most sincerely for your help and support over the crisis situation at Thorpe Hall School earlier this term. Your arrival at the school that fateful Monday was like manna from heaven! You brought a wonderful cool objectivity to the school which made the team feel utterly reassured and able to cope. I was so impressed with the persona you adopted, one of quiet, thinking support...
Testimonial
Thanks for your invaluable support over the last couple of months. With all due respect, I hope it is quite sometime before we need to talk again, though I have no doubt that there will be a need at some stage.
Testimonial
"Many thanks indeed for your time and your guidance this afternoon. I was grateful for your calm assurance about the way forward."
Read more
Every school head or bursar is acutely aware that a crisis may hit them at any time. However well-run and well-respected their school is, they cannot...
Crises inevitably come when they are least expected and it is the nature of the business to have to act immediately to provide support. Providing a 24/7 service is a pre-requisite to delivering an effective service.
Testimonial
"Thank you very much for all your help – I found it most reassuring to have your professional advice."
Crises usually come unexpectedly, but that doesn't mean they cannot be prepared for. If you are preparing your crisis management or business continuity plan then make sure that communications is a central part.
Crisis communications is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession. It is designed to protect and defend an individual or organisation facing a public challenge to its reputation.
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