Communications that move organisations forward.
I help universities and purpose‑driven institutions turn strategy and change into stories people can believe and act on.
My award‑winning work specialises in narrative strategy, stakeholder engagement and communications that shift culture during periods of change and uncertainty.
Dr Jules Maclachlan is a communications consultant and strategic advisor on narrative, engagement and leadership tone.
Awards
HEIST 2025: Silver – Best Student or Alumni Engagement Initiative
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IoIC Awards 2025: Award of Excellence – Best Leadership Communication Programme
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Best of CASE Europe 2025: Digital campaigns (student-oriented)
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HEIST 2025: Silver – Best Student or Alumni Engagement Initiative • IoIC Awards 2025: Award of Excellence – Best Leadership Communication Programme • Best of CASE Europe 2025: Digital campaigns (student-oriented) •
When organisations change, the story often lags behind.
Strategies are agreed and plans are published, but people still ask: “What does this actually mean for us?”
Leaders speak, but messages land differently across teams, partners and the public. External positioning promises ambition, while inside the organisation, things feel more complicated. When the story, the reality and the day‑to‑day experience don’t match up, trust starts to slip and progress slows.
That’s where I come in. I help organisations tell a story that is clear, credible and consistent, so people feel part of change.
How I help
A story people recognise themselves in.
By putting stakeholders at the heart of my work, I define what an organisation genuinely stands for and where it is going, in language people recognise. That means staff, students, partners and communities can see themselves in the direction, rather than being asked to endorse something that feels abstract or imposed.
Turn strategy into something people can experience.
Strategy only matters if people can understand it, explain it and feel it in their daily work. I translate direction into narrative, formats and leadership communications that connect with staff, partners and the public – from institutional strategies to leadership resets and major change programmes.
Make communication work in practice.
Instead of adding to the noise, I craft communications that flow clearly across leaders, channels and moments of scrutiny. The focus is on simple tools and rhythms that teams can use to support progress, protect credibility and free up leaders to focus on decisions.
Services
Strategy & narrative
Turn strategy into a story people can believe and repeat.
Engagement design
Bring people into change with real ownership and insight.
Leadership & scrutiny
Support leaders to communicate clearly under pressure.
Case studies
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Turning a University strategy into a shared mission
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![A photo of a lively strategy exhibition with students walking past]()
Designing strategy engagement that captured 12,000 voices
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![Professor Duncan Ivison in conversation with two students in a cosy cafe]()
Resetting leadership communications
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![A poster for the flexible learning programme at the University of Manchester outside a brightly lit atrium]()
Embedding student voice in change programmes
Meet Dr Jules Maclachlan
I work at the intersection of narrative, change and lived experience, helping organisations say what they mean – and making sure people can feel it in practice.
With a PhD in History and more than 15 years in communications, my work has spanned executive advisory, stakeholder engagement and public positioning across complex, purpose‑driven organisations.
Most recently, I worked with the President and Vice‑Chancellor at The University of Manchester to reset leadership tone towards greater openness and to design formats that face difficult questions head‑on.
I also led large‑scale engagement and insight synthesis and co‑authored a ten‑year strategy shaped by more than 12,000 contributions, turning consultation into real co‑creation.
This combination of research‑driven insight and practical delivery under pressure means I am most useful when stakes are high, evidence is messy and you need a story that stands up to reality.
Get in touch
Drop me a quick message about the strategy, change or communications challenge you’re working on. I’ll get back to you within 24 hours to discuss how we might work together.