THE AGENCY EARNING CREDIBILITY FOR STARTUPS AND SCALEUPS IN
THE MEDIA

Harpswood provides communications support to ambitious and disruptive businesses who are having a positive impact on society.

We work with startups, scale-ups and unicorns in climate, energy, transport, space, health, education and engineering.

Connections and media experience matter in PR. That’s why we’ve got former senior national journalists on the team who will make your stories compelling.

The coverage we generate means investors know our clients. They consider them as future stars because of the media profile we’ve built – and fear missing out on the chance to fund them.

Our clients are on the fast-track from disruptor to established business – and know that we play an important part in getting them there.

It’s a journey we’ve been on with Octopus Energy. We worked with Octopus from its early days, offering PR support as it transformed from scrappy startup into the UK’s largest energy firm.

We’ve also built the profiles of Naked Energy, Climate X, New Orbit, MyEdSpace, New AutoMotive and Isembard.

We have offices in the UK and US and offer global communications.

MEET THE TEAM

JAMES CLENCH

Founder
James founded Harpswood after 16 years as a national newspaper reporter and editor, including head of news at The Sun. A highly skilled communicator, James understands the news agenda and knows what journalists want. His work with Octopus Energy helped it grow from startup to global green energy giant. As Managing Director, James oversees Harpswood’s global growth while offering senior client support and staying close to the stories that matter.
STEVE MYALL

Associate Director
Steve spent 20 years in national newspapers, covering everything from natural disasters to celebrity interviews. His experience as a features editor gives him a sharp eye for a strong story and how to tell it. At Harpswood, he leads our media training offer, helping clients speak with clarity and confidence when it counts most.
GRACE BROWNE

Account Director

Grace has been part of Harpswood since day one and is known as the person who gets things done. Fluent in Spanish, she’s helped Octopus Energy expand into Spain and prepared a client for a royal visit with just 72 hours’ notice. Her calm, confident approach sets the standard for client service across the agency.
EVA LIGHTFOOT

Account Director
Eva joined Harpswood after six years as a BBC broadcast journalist, where she learned what makes audiences and editors pay attention. She has an instinct for stories that cut through and a calm, detail-driven approach clients trust. A recent highlight includes an op-ed in the FT for health tech client Deep Medical.
KELLY ZUNIGA

Account Manager
Based in Houston, Kelly brings more than 15 years of bilingual storytelling experience across media, government and global brands. She’s led communications for the University of Houston, El Nuevo Día, USA Today Puerto Rico and Univision Tampa. Kelly’s determination and detailed approach delivers impact for clients.
PETE MCCARTHY

Account Manager
Pete brings his endless enthusiasm to everything he does. With a background in corporate and financial PR, he’s quick to spot a story and jump on it. Recent newsjacking successes include ITV and BBC Breakfast interviews for clients. A true can-doer, Pete’s upbeat energy and humour are infectious.
NOOR ALY

Senior Account Executive
Noor has a background in impact finance, communications and policy. She loves working with clients to turn complex ideas into clear stories and has landed coverage in the likes of the Financial Times and BBC News. Fluent in Portuguese with strong Spanish and French language skills, she brings her international perspective and passion for sustainability to the team.
EUAN ROBERTS

Account Executive
Euan recently completed his master’s degree in Political Theory at the LSE. He then worked at a foreign policy think tank, working closely with its communications professionals and developing a passion for making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Since joining Harpswood, Euan has landed coverage in the likes of The Times, The Guardian, and BBC News.
ELLA DAYER

Account Executive
Ella recently completed her master’s degree in International Politics & Diplomacy at SOAS, having previously studied English Literature. She then spent a year working in compliance, working closely with consulting and investment clients, where she developed a sharp eye for navigating complex situations. Ella brings experience in crisis management alongside a real excitement for spotting up-and-coming stories.