Hannah Grimette

I was part of the first year of students to study the Publishing MA at Oxford Brookes via distance learning. It made a big difference to my career, as I was able to work full-time whilst studying. After eight years in PR working agency-side and in-house for various companies and brands, some related to publishing and some not, I’ve taken the leap and launched my own freelancing copywriting company. Using the skills that I gained from my studies and work experience, I’m growing my business on the side as I continue with my day job in the Media Relations team at The Open University.

Starting my own business has been a lifelong ambition and I’m thrilled to have finally launched Pen 2 Paper Communications. By supporting with press releases, articles, blogs, web copy and transcription, I work with small to medium sized businesses to help strengthen their brand and external image. Since the summer, I’ve begun work with a handful of clients, but am still looking to expand and take on further projects.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a network of accomplished and experienced individuals, who have been invaluable in providing me with advice on my freelancing journey. Initially my first step to starting my business was planning the initial concept – the services I wanted to offer, my rate, company name, website and social media channels. The next stage for me will be to seek out local business networks to join and draft and schedule a number of poignant blog posts to drive traffic and engage new audiences.

My MA in Publishing has given me the knowledge and confidence to pursue a career in communications. It’s finessed my research and writing skills and provided me with a stepping-stone into my role at the leading books, arts and culture agency, Midas PR – a role I secured the week after finishing my dissertation. Midas and the opportunities it provided me with, led to where I am today.

I’d highly recommend studying publishing with Oxford Brookes. Even if you don’t stay in publishing, the skills you’ll gain are transferrable to so many other industries. To demonstrate that you can study at a master’s level, shows dedication and a high-level of aptitude, which is incredibly appealing to employers.

To find out more about Pen 2 Paper Communications, please visit: https://www.pen2papercommunications.com/