About

We are an international consultancy providing digital strategy, online communications and support for content strategy and content marketing in schools, colleges and universities. We have worked with over 160 education institutions around the world to support their strategic use of digital and social media.

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We've worked with:

Our Work

We have worked with schools, colleges, universities, training and professional development bodies and research institutions around the world. Here we provide an insight into just a handful of our projects in the education sector. You can also view our full client list here.

Going Global: Quality Conference Coverage

Providing social and content coverage for Going Global, with Twitter impressions of #GoingGlobal2015 increasing dramatically to 34 million, from 302,000 impressions in 2014.

A turtle swims close to the bottom of the ocean in Chagos Archipelago

Chagos Conservation Trust: Getting Your Message Across

Imagining the vision and mission of the Chagos Conservation Trust, and creating compelling copy to support this with key messaging.

Hiker takes a photograph of a castle on the top of a lush mountain

UCL: Raising awareness of studying abroad

Developing a more strategic approach to the promotion and communication of global opportunities at UCL, to help them reach their Global Engagement Strategy targets.

UWC students sit on a wall in the countryside with their arms around each other's shoulders

UWC: Raising the profile of the recruitment process

We worked with UWC to design and implement a digital marketing campaign in target countries to raise the profile of their recruitment process.

The Founder's Building at Royal Holloway University

University of London: Embracing writing for the web

Providing writing for the web training to advance creativity and quality of web content amongst a distributed network of editors.

Students’ Union UCL: A new brand and website

We worked with Students' Union UCL on a rebranding and website redevelopment project in order to increase the Union's student engagement.

St George’s, University of London: Planning a digital transformation

Developing a full content strategy based on intensive research to support and advance the University's website and intranet redevelopment project.

Launching The de Ferrers Academy Sixth Form

Pickle Jar Communications was appointed in December 2017 to support the Academy with marketing advice and recommendations to ensure the recruitment targets are met.

Swedish Flag, image under CC license from Christopher Neugebauer

Study in Sweden: Advancing International Recruitment

Audience research with international students to provide insights and develop personas to advance digital engagement activities.

UCL influencer map

University College London: Influencer Mapping

As one of the world's leading higher education institutions, it was important for UCL to understand and advance their online influence.

Teesside University: A Roadmap for a Digital Future

Setting a roadmap and defining work packages for the University to imagine and advance a digital and connected future.

Post it notes. image under CC license courtesy of Christian Lendl

Heriot-Watt University: Creative Content Training

Advancing creativity, content and social media skills through a year-long bespoke workshop series for a range of staff

At the UHR annual conference

Universities Human Resources: Communications Support

Developing a communications strategy and providing ongoing support to engage people in and with HR in Higher Education.

Rotating DNA, Genetic engineering scientific concept, blue tint, 3d rendering

Sanger Institute: Website Content Strategy

Working in partnership with web agency NewCity to develop the content strategy and plan to influence the new website for the Sanger Institute.

Northumbria University: Student Communications

Working in close partnership with the University, we set out a vision for the University's future approach to student communications.

AHUA: Engaging Members and Raising Profile

We were commissioned to develop a communications strategy and have since been working with them to implement that strategy.

Nord Anglia Education: Digital Content Strategy

Working in a versatile team, we delivered content plans for each Nord Anglia Education school and produced content for many of their websites.

The front of the 'John Henry Brookes' building at Oxford Brookes University.

Oxford Brookes: Case For Support

To help the University launch a new support and fundraising strategy, we developed the Brookes Because messaging concept.

Newcastle University: Creating a Thriving Social Community

We created a strategy that helped Newcastle University reach its students, and grew the Facebook audience by 1400% without advertising.

Imperial College London: Creating a Guide to Student Success

We worked with Imperial College London on the award-winning "Imperial Success Guide", which provided advice on assessments and learning.

London South Bank University: Discovering What Students Want

We helped LSBU to shape a portal that students would want, based on interviews, analytics, best-practice and a range of intelligent tools.

War Child: Getting the Right Message Across

We carried out research and interviews to help War Child choose a campaign message that worked for them, and spoke to their audience.

City University: Keeping the Strategy On Track

We helped City University develop their social media strategy, and stayed on as a "critical friend" to offer guidance and help keep their plan on track.

Radboud Universiteit: Sharing the Potential of Social Media

We visited Radboud to organise a week-long event which shared the potential of social media with staff, academics and senior leaders.

The Open University: Facebook for International Students

We assisted the Open University in the launch of a new Facebook page for international learners, and provided content to boost its audience.

UTHSCSA: Social Media for Student and Patient Engagement

While UTHSCSA were re-thinking their website, we helped them devise a social strategy that would connect with both patients and students.

What We Do

Our work focuses on the education and education-related sectors. We provide bespoke digital communications consultancy and support to help your school, college or university with student recruitment, parent engagement, corporate communications, fundraising, research communications, alumni engagement, and internal communications with staff and students. Specialists in content strategy and digital planning.

Digital Project Planning

Setting the vision for your major digital engagement projects and website development activities. Creating project plans and a roadmap for your activities.

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Research & Benchmarking

Working to better understand what really motivates your audiences through audience research, and recommendations on how to use our insights.

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Content Strategy

Development of content strategy and content marketing strategy and plans for websites, social media and integrated online and offline communication.

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Delivery

Creating engaging and sharable content for your websites, blogs, social media channels or print. Writing SEO copy to enhance your content marketing approach.

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Support

Working in partnership with you as a “critical friend” to provide ongoing advice, guidance, support and input into your institution’s communications.

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Workshops & Training

From public speaking and talks on content strategy and digital communications, to workshops and bespoke training packages to help you develop.

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Blog

Want to keep up to date with the latest news from Pickle Jar, and join the discussion about the best ways to build and connect with your audience? Our full blog archive is here