Expertise in strategic communication and community engagement
SERVICES
Connect, engage, communicate
 scale(0.100000%2c-0.100000)' fill='%233c3c3c' stroke='none'%3e%3cpath d='M310 422 c-21 -17 -22 -22 -12 -52 7 -18 12 -45 12 -60 0 -25 15 -40 41 -40 5 0 18 9 29 20 41 41 16 150 -34 150 -8 0 -24 -8 -36 -18z'/%3e%3cpath d='M121 385 c-27 -35 -35 -78 -21 -120 23 -70 90 -87 135 -33 24 28 27 38 23 87 -4 41 -10 59 -28 73 -33 27 -84 24 -109 -7z'/%3e%3cpath d='M391 280 c-13 -11 -34 -20 -48 -20 l-25 0 26 -31 c14 -17 26 -37 26 -45 0 -23 25 -27 59 -9 38 19 42 62 9 99 l-23 25 -24 -19z'/%3e%3cpath d='M67 199 c-23 -14 -47 -62 -47 -97 0 -25 6 -32 38 -45 60 -24 117 -29 176 -17 105 22 135 77 77 142 l-29 33 -25 -23 c-47 -44 -106 -45 -152 -2 -15 14 -24 16 -38 9z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Community engagement and research
Understanding community priorities, finding and engaging supporters and conducting research to align project goals with community interests.
 scale(0.100000%2c-0.100000)' fill='%233c3c3c' stroke='none'%3e%3cpath d='M160 397 c-127 -36 -181 -120 -131 -203 11 -18 33 -40 50 -50 17 -10 31 -21 31 -24 0 -9 -43 -47 -60 -53 -36 -13 61 -6 110 9 30 8 78 19 105 24 130 24 195 76 195 157 0 40 -5 51 -38 82 -60 57 -175 83 -262 58z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Public engagement and communication
Organising and managing public exhibitions, creating and maintaining websites and engaging with local politicians and stakeholders.
 scale(0.100000%2c-0.100000)' fill='%233c3c3c' stroke='none'%3e%3cpath d='M50 240 l0 -240 185 0 185 0 0 170 0 170 -55 0 -55 0 0 70 0 70 -130 0 -130 0 0 -240z'/%3e%3cpath d='M330 416 l0 -46 41 0 41 0 -32 40 c-45 56 -50 57 -50 6z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Planning and winning planning consents
Helping clients secure planning consents by presenting and advocating for projects at committee meetings and addressing community concerns.
Ian's story
From leading communications consultancies to shaping community planning
Ian, Managing Director of HappyBusiness, former owner and managing director of Meeting Place Communications, one of the UK’s largest independent communications consultancies, Ian has twenty years experience of working with developers and land owners to deliver complex planning promotions, understanding how to engage communities, work with politicians and shape planning applications to reflect community priorities and find supporters.
Ian is a councillor in Wiltshire and has previously represented wards in the London Borough of Islington and Maldon District Council in Essex.
Before being in business Ian was communications director for a number of major charities.
Our Clients
Clients I have worked with include...
What We Do
Innovative consulting solutions
We work with clients to engage communities, find community benefits and help deliver planning consents.
We provide research, public engagement (exhibitions, websites), we find and engage supporters, engage local politicians and speak at committee.
Overall we seek to understand the community’s priorities and how they can be applied to the project.
Case Studies
Discover how our strategies have transformed client objectives into successful outcomes
Each case study showcases our approach to addressing unique challenges, leveraging our extensive experience, and delivering tailored solutions.
 scale(0.100000%2c-0.100000)' fill='%233c3c3c' stroke='none'%3e%3cpath d='M327 474 c-4 -4 -7 -83 -7 -175 l0 -169 25 -6 c14 -3 36 -3 50 0 l25 6 -2 173 -3 172 -40 3 c-23 2 -44 0 -48 -4z'/%3e%3cpath d='M197 374 c-4 -4 -7 -60 -7 -125 0 -118 0 -119 25 -125 14 -3 36 -3 50 0 l26 7 -3 122 -3 122 -40 3 c-23 2 -44 0 -48 -4z'/%3e%3cpath d='M67 314 c-4 -4 -7 -47 -7 -95 0 -86 1 -89 25 -95 14 -3 36 -3 50 0 26 7 26 7 23 99 l-3 92 -40 3 c-23 2 -44 0 -48 -4z'/%3e%3cpath d='M30 30 l0 -30 210 0 210 0 0 30 0 30 -210 0 -210 0 0 -30z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Portland House, Land Securities
A major change of use from office to residential in a tall tower overlooking Buckingham Palace. Close liaison with architects and planners. Significant engagement with the local community, and politicians, briefings for business and community groups and preparations for the planning committee.
Exeter City FC
A project promoting the partial redevelopment of the Exeter City stadium and the provision of student accommodation to partly fund it. Close co-operation between the developer and club. Presentations to key politicians, the media and local groups, major consultation with residents and supporters; website and calls to action for supporters. Ongoing discussions with politicians and preparation for the planning committee.
Royal Canin (Crown Pet Foods)
Promotion of plans for a major pet food factory in Somerset producing 60,000 tons of pet food a year. Providing a major boost to the local economy. Significant engagement with politicians and supporters and meetings with neighbours. Preparation for single application planning committee.
Mineral Water Hospital, Bath
Planning application for redevelopment of the former hospital in the city centre into a hotel. Discussions with senior politicians. Briefings with members of the cabinet and planning committee members. A heavy focus on benefits the project would bring to the city centre.
TESTIMONIALS
Hear from our satisfied clients
Steve Pope
Topland
The fees Topland spent on the communications programme in Bath and the support we received from Ian Thorn must represent one of the most cost effect instructions we have made.
Rob Head
ResiSolutions
Ian Thorn is a highly experienced communicator in the development industry. He understands politics and how to get the community involved in projects.
GET IN TOUCH
