Marketing leadership for purpose-driven organisations.
Accountability for better marketing outcomes, without the cost of a full-time hire.
I’m Ned Wells. After more than 25 years in marketing, I’m increasingly fascinated by the challenge of how businesses can meet their near-term financial needs, while doing right by people and planet. It’s why I set up The Impact Files podcast.
My career started in production engineering and management consultancy at PwC, where I learned how things are made and how boards decide where to invest.
I then founded, grew and exited my own digital marketing agency, so I know first-hand what it takes to run a business, win customers and build something of value.
Today I provide organisations with the marketing and digital leadership they need, without the cost of a full-time hire.
How I help
Marketing mentor
Although your team are busy with content and campaigns, they don’t yet have the experience to deliver against the business plan.
I offer: Director-level mentoring and practical support, building your team’s skills and confidence to deliver results.
Fractional Marketing Director
Marketing decisions land on your desk, or stall, because you can’t yet justify the senior leadership that your marketing needs.
I offer: Director-level ownership of your marketing at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Making decisions, setting direction and pace; reporting to the board.
Digital marketing procurement
You need a new website. Every supplier looks competent – and you know that choosing the wrong one will be costly.
I offer: experienced support from brief to final selection – defining what you need, guiding you through the process to choose a partner you can trust.
Digital transformation
Your systems have grown piecemeal – workarounds and unreliable data are holding the organisation back.
I offer: a realistic, phased roadmap for your systems, data and processes, then the direction and governance to keep implementation on track, on budget and delivering value.
"Ned's brought some great strategic thinking to our digital marketing work, helping us to pinpoint where we might have most impact and designing the tools and resources we need to get ourselves noticed."
Graham Duxbury, Chief Executive Officer, Groundwork UK
"Ned’s support has been crucial to our successful journey as a relatively new business over the past few years – alongside providing additional capacity; extensive skills and knowledge in areas such as marketing and communications, he also brings emotional intelligence and a shared set of values to the table – things which are equally important to us."
Mike Ormerod, Head of Central Services, BDSIP Ltd.
"I can’t recommend Ned highly enough and have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He’s guided us through a complex marketing strategy and plan, providing sound advice and working diligently to ensure Groundwork secures the best possible outcome."
Garry Campbell, Head of Policy & Communications, Groundwork UK
"Ned's strategic marketing expertise was instrumental in helping us expand Impact Pumps' pay-as-you-go SolarPlex system to a wider audience.
His strategic insights and hands-on support strengthened our marketing approach and helped generate impressive early results."
Mark Bryant, Chief Executive Officer, Impact Pumps
"Thank you for all your input and the clarity you have brought to shaping a strong, coherent marketing plan for Jumaya Progressive International Ltd.’s upcoming proposals around Promenading in Paradise.
Your strategic framing and sharp articulation have been especially helpful as I refine the narrative and positioning—particularly around how Jomaya presents the value to both cultural stakeholders and potential sponsors.
It has given real momentum to my thinking as I align the creative, diplomatic, and commercial dimensions of the project."
Courtenay Harewood - Director, Jumaya Progressive International
"Ned provided us with the opportunity to think outside of our day jobs - bringing together people from across different businesses within our network.
He helped us to create a business strategy which really challenges us to consider how we're going to grow our programme, setting aspirational growth targets and how to get past the barriers preventing us currently.
I'd highly recommend working with Ned - he's been a positive force for change in our organisation."
Emily Thompson, Fuel Poverty & Climate Change Director, Groundwork in the North
Notable organisations I've worked with:
Commercial
- Essentra
- Fujitsu
- Oxford Instruments
- Standard Chartered Bank
- Philips
- Sony
- Smith and Nephew
- TGI Friday
- Wirth Research
As well as lots of start ups, small and medium-sized businesses.
Charity and not for profit
- CPRE
- Crisis
- Diabetes UK
- Girls Not Brides
- Groundwork UK
- Health Foundation
- Marie Stopes
- Plan International
- Queen Elizabeth Foundation
- Royal Academy of Dance
- The Elders
- Sue Ryder
As well as lots of micro, small and medium-sized charities.
Membership and public sector
- Chartered Management Institute
- Chartered Institute of Marketing
- UK Hospitality
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
- Institute of Directors
- Metropolitan Police
- Middlesex Learning Partnership
- Ministry of Defence
- Oxford University
- Oxford Brookes University
- UNISON
And some smaller membership organisations too!