As a contracted copyeditor with the Social Mobility Commission since 2021, it’s been a career highlight working with the dedicated research teams on the State of the Nation reports 2024, 2023 and 2022. I’ve also copyedited reports on digital inequalities, mental and physical healthcare, higher education, the social mobility index, and improving the collection and availability of data across government.

The SMC is an advisory non-departmental public body of the Department for Education. It monitors the government's progress in improving economic opportunities and reducing child poverty across the UK.

I’ve liaised with chief information officers and chief execs to copyedit annual plans, such as this high-level strategic report from Transparency International.

Transparency International is the UK’s leading independent anti-corruption organisation. It has worked for over 25 years to expose and prevent corruption “so that no one in the UK and where the UK has influence has to suffer its consequences”. Amen to that.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) contracted me during the busy lead-up to 2023’s Future of Britain conference and beyond. The conference outlined a new era for governance using technology and innovation. Labour leader (now PM) Keir Starmer delivered the keynote speech and other speakers included food campaigner Jamie Oliver and Khan Academy founder Sal Khan. The day was hosted by broadcasters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel and included an address by French President Emmanuel Macron.

I edited and proofed many articles on TBI's strategic themes, such as tech, climate, energy and proposals for NHS, education and police reform. Examples include:

Fit for the Future: A Fair Deal to Tackle Obesity in Britain (foreword by Jamie Oliver)

Ten Actions Countries Should Take to Create a Digital-Identity Ecosystem

Shifting the Trillions: Four Critical Actions to Take After the Paris Climate Summit

Rebuilding Trust and Delivering Safer Communities: A Plan for Reforming UK Policing.

Global tech recruitment company Harvey Nash Group and London-based Nash Squared use my copyediting and proofreading services to finesse the final stages of corporate reports, such as the Tech Talent and Salary Report 2024, yearly and mid-year Digital Leadership Reports, and other reports such as sustainability.

Something that all businesses need right now, is a practical guide to successfully implementing traceability in supply chains. I was hired by TrusTrace to proofread and copyedit its traceability roadmap.

TrusTrace uses software to help the world’s leading retail brands trace their products and materials from suppliers to consumers – using data to know, prove and improve the impact of their value chains.

I was over the moon when asked by the National Youth Agency to come on board as a copyeditor as it updated guides and policies to reflect new changes to the Education Act. I helped different authors as they prepared statutory duty guidance, safeguarding standards, youth work practice standards, the national youth curriculum and a toolkit on how to run a youth club.

Let’s hope the new Labour government increases support for the sector. No more cuts to vital youth work!

The shocking truth about privileged Britain.

I was commissioned by Byline Books to proofread a collection of articles by investigative journalist Sam Bright, which chronicles the misuse of public money. Sam spent over a decade tracking how some government leaders have swopped public service for self-service.

I urge you to read Bullingdon Club Britain, now already on its second print run – the revelations are a political timebomb.

Another welcome commission on an issue close to my heart – inequalities.

Since 2022, the comms team at the International Inequalities Institute (III), part of the London School of Economics and Political Science, has commissioned my copyediting support each year for its complex annual report. The III is a centre for rigorous research into the nature, causes and consequences of the multiple inequalities afflicting our world today.

It's wonderful to be part of a team publishing the innovative work of the UK's best policy brains.

“There are gangs in the parks, so we can’t go.”
“Being a young person can be nerve-racking in Dudley; the bus station and the market don’t feel safe, especially on weekends. There are always fights.”
“There’s nothing to do except vape, really. There are loads of vape shops.”
“I don’t see much that’s good here. It feels like I’m stuck, just passing time.”

Just some of the lived experiences and voices of young people, parents and caregivers documented in the report Growing Up in Dudley. The resource was commissioned by Dudley Council Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate, working with research company Frame Collective. They talked to over 200 people and brought their experiences to life through reports, stories and illustrations. “The qualitative research informs strategic priorities around public health and services for families, children and young people and helps shape the future of Start for Life and Family Hubs in Dudley.”

Let’s hope the new Labour government can bring lasting change to the borough.

A lovely surprise hit my inbox when I was asked to be the copyeditor and subeditor for a newly launched magazine called Fifty-Four mag. The mag exists to unearth, preserve and celebrate the inherent individuality which exists across Africa’s diverse 54 countries – the stories and experiences that don’t often make the news.

For more than two years, I have set and advised on editorial standards for the mag, including creating a style guide, writing articles, recruiting staff and managing the company’s LinkedIn account.

The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity brings together the world’s leading researchers, policymakers, activists and practitioners who are working to defeat systemic inequality. I copyedited a huge piece of research looking into South Africa’s post-Covid-19 labour market, with a specific focus on four types of workers: a sex worker, taxi driver, domestic worker and an Uber driver. The report outlines how labour law and policy can and should change to better protect people.

Working through an agency, I provided a heavy copyedit on a guidance note for the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – part of the government’s commitment to reduce gender-based violence. The guidance outlines the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s strategy to integrate a gender perspective into building security and stability internationally, protecting the human rights of women and girls and promoting their participation in conflict prevention and resolution.

I provided copyediting and proofreading support to an Emmy-award-winning director during the production of this toolkit for inclusion and accessibility, which aims to see the D/deaf and disabled community accurately portrayed on screens and in production teams.

The resource was produced by FWD-Doc (Documentary Filmmakers With Disabilities) and Little by Little Films in association with Doc Society, and supported by Netflix. It also includes a case study about Crip Camp (Netflix, 2020) and with a view to best practices, not just compliance.

I’ve been commissioned by clients to help with writing in plain English when the text is translated from another language or when new cultural phrases or examples are needed as case studies. One example is for Belgium-founded neighbourhood network, Hoplr, as it expands its reach into the UK market.

Hoplr works with local authorities and the public sector to realise the potential within an area by strengthening community networks and relationships. Fab illustrations to boot!

International Property Media calls me for backup during its awards season. The work involves creating content for extensive international brochures, sourced from a text that is often in broken English and overly technical for the readership.

I get to admire and describe some amazing award-winning architecture and interior design.

I have provided copyediting support on thought leadership content such as this white paper for global talent acquisition experts Lundi Inc, as well as helping the team finesse website copy.

The team has a borderless recruitment ethos and believes a person’s location does not define their value.

For many non-governmental organisations (NGOs), I copyedit, proofread or write supporter-facing materials for many different departments – fundraising, campaigns, corporate or policy teams. One example includes copyediting a report for Transparency International about how corporate anti-bribery and corruption policy can be effectively measured.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to safeguarding human rights and reversing the rising tide of hate, extremism and disinformation worldwide. My copyediting and proofreading services have been used since 2018 on reports and briefing papers covering many issues, such as the gathering pace of far-right groups on social media to conspiracy theories overshadowing the US elections.

The research is used by governments and tech companies to counter extremism and polarisation.

It was a privilege to help copyedit this complex report for the coalition of NGOs Citizens for Financial Justice (including Christian Aid, Debt Observatory in Globalisation, Society for International Development and Stamp Out Poverty).

The report outlines the global health and climate emergencies in the context of the age of financialisation and outlines a post-Covid-19 future.

In partnership with Google and YouTube Creators for Change, Be Internet Citizens is a new campaign designed to teach young children and teenagers about media literacy, critical thinking and digital citizenship.

My copyediting services were commissioned by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue during the development of its teacher and community toolkits. This resource is vital to keep our children away from online harms.

I was contacted by the design agency, Tamassy Creative, to support Japanese Buddhist movement Rissho Kosei-kai with copywriting and copyediting during the production of its website and most recently a new video introducing its vision.

I worked closely with the director of the London Centre, the very lovely, Rev Kyoichiro Hosoya.

I love the ethos behind Global Psychiatry Archives, which aims to advance global mental health by making relevant scientific knowledge accessible to all. It helps new and young authors from developing economies publish scientific research – those from communities that don’t have robust state-funded or private healthcare systems or where medical funding for research is unavailable.

For over two years, I proofread research papers, created brand copy, and created its first editorial style guide.