Last year I joined Portland’s Health team as a Junior Account Executive, following a six month placement with Save the Children International developing health and education programmes. After witnessing the Junior Doctors Strikes in 2016 upon my arrival back to the UK and seeing my local hospital and A&E endure further government cuts, I found myself developing an incurable interest in health policy, people’s access to it and how governments prioritised it as a political issue.
My decision to join Portland’s Health team was driven by a desire to work for a company who were at the heart of one of the Government’s most ‘political’ areas of UK policy; and it has not disappointed. My understanding of the UK’s political environment and how it is communicated has not only expanded but it has been strengthened by the company’s accessible, knowledge-sharing culture. It is not unusual at Portland to find yourself discussing everything from day-to-day politics to the newest medical innovations and drug approvals with partners and specialists alike.
Throughout my time at Portland, I have had the privilege of working on a multitude of accounts with political, medical and digital specialists. As a team we work together to help our clients successfully navigate through the often complex and fast-changing landscape of health policy. It is this approach to problem solving that has allowed me to develop skills in brand and product communications, disease awareness and patient advocacy. In the space of ten months, I have been able to help run patient advocacy roundtables, strengthen NHS policy and run an award winning social media account, just to name a few.
In my opinion, one of Portland’s many strengths is its commitment to developing people. From training sessions with the company’s partners, directors and managers to weekly presentations from prominent figures in political, media and business communications, Portland equips you with the skills to be the best consultant you can be. It is this commitment that plays a vital part in bringing the business together as a whole to share ideas and learn from the vast expertise under Portland’s roof.