2022 reflections: Year-in-review at Hey Me
Posted by Amelia Spanton on 20 December 2022

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As we near the end of any year, it is a natural time to take stock and reflect on the experiences and lessons we have gained from the previous year.

2022 has been a significant year for many of us, as we emerged from the pandemic, began to travel, and interact in person more. Several momentous events occurred, which had an impact on how we operated our clients’ communications strategies, and we learnt to react and work in a more agile manner.

We experienced an influx of events, with many of the team attending events across the globe to support our clients and hear from key leaders across the industries in which we operate. We also had the opportunity to work with industry experts from new sectors, to hone and refine their messaging.

We also learnt that there is a certain beauty to be found in taking things at a slower pace, one positive offshoot from the pandemic. Proud of our work life balance, here at Hey Me we understand the need to invest in all areas of our lives, and endeavour to make this a reality for our team.

To reflect on the previous year, our team recently sat down to share what 2022 has meant to be them, and what they are looking forward to achieving in 2023:

Amy Jeffs, Managing Director, and Founder:

What has been your personal highlight of 2022 working at Hey Me?

It has been a strange 12 months for me. This time last year, my first child was two months old. I used my keeping in touch (KIT) days to keep in touch with the team and help deliver some workshops to our clients and returned to work properly in July.

A key theme this year has been the hard work and dedication of the Hey Me team, who guided the growth of the company while I was away.

Seeing the team thrive, even when I was off on maternity leave, has been nothing short of miraculous at times. Particularly Amelia, such a proud moment when she went to the RIA conference dinner in November on her own and enjoyed it. 

What have your learnt about yourself this year?

I’ve learnt that the people you have around you are the most important things, that being a mum and a business owner is a lot harder than people make it look and that two-way flexibility is hard to maintain in a growing business, but I will try to continue to embed it into Hey Me regardless. 

It’s important to surround yourself with bright, talented, and trustworthy people who can make you and the organisation better. We’re lucky at Hey Me that we have had and continue to build a great team. 

How has the culture evolved at Hey Me this year and what do you enjoy about working at the company?

This year we’ve overcome several challenges. Working as a team to develop and grow, I think we’ve become more aware of each other’s needs and how we can better support each other. I hope that with the growth we can maintain our flexible and caring culture.

What knowledge will you be taking with you into 2023 and do you have any final thoughts to share?

It is important to take time to rest, reset and let your brain quieten down. We can achieve a whole lot more than we think we can.

What a year 2022 has been. I really don’t know how we pulled it off at times, but we finish the year on the up. We have plenty of new ideas on the way for 2023. Watch this space.

 

Jen Derrick, Content & Copywriting Associate:  

What has been your personal highlight of 2022 working at Hey Me?

I’ve not been long back from maternity leave, of course, but it has to be working with the Hey Me team – they’re all such lovely ladies.  

What have your learnt about yourself this year?

That I know way more about the rail industry than I thought! With the right research and support, I can get up to speed with areas I’m not as knowledgeable about very easily. 

How has the culture evolved at Hey Me this year and what do you enjoy about working at the company?

It has a friendly culture and I love that it’s a small, close-knit team where your work is really valued. It’s also a great place to learn from one another. 

What knowledge will you be taking with you into 2023?

To have the confidence that you can do anything when you put your mind to it. 

 

Lydia Paine, Senior Communications Executive:

What has been your personal highlight of 2022 working at Hey Me?

My personal highlight for 2022 has been joining the Hey Me team! I couldn’t have asked to work with a better group of women. 

What have your learnt about yourself this year?

I have learnt that you can have a family whilst nurturing your career too. At Hey Me we all work flexibly, and it is such a good way to establish a healthy work/life balance.  

How has the culture evolved at Hey Me this year and what do you enjoy about working at the company? 

Being a part of the team where everyone genuinely wants the best for each other. We support and empower one another; it is such a fantastic environment to thrive and grow in confidence.

What knowledge will you be taking with you into 2023?

I am looking forward to gaining new experiences and taking on new challenges. Personal development is something Hey Me prioritises, so if there’s an area I need to work on I know I have the time, space and support to do so.

 

Emma Lever, PR & Communications Manager:

What has been your personal highlight of 2022 working at Hey Me?

It has certainly been a busy year and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to enhance my copywriting skills and lead on new client messaging workshops. I have also enjoyed working closely with the team, comprised of friendly, knowledgeable, and fun ladies who I enjoy spending time with, both in-person and remotely.

What have your learnt about yourself this year?

Coming from a PR background, I have been trained in working to tight deadlines, however in more of a communications-based role, there is merit in taking things a bit slower. I have also rediscovered my love of copywriting and thoroughly enjoy taking the time to write creative content – the harder and vaguer the brief, the better!

How has the culture evolved at Hey Me this year and what do you enjoy about working at the company? 

It has been fantastic to have seen team members such as Amelia flourish, the addition of new team members such as Lydia and the return of Jen after maternity leave. I love the friendly, warm, and supportive culture we have here and look forward to seeing it evolve further in 2023.

What knowledge will you be taking with you into 2023?

To take the time to pause and reflect, leave room for mindfulness, and embrace any new opportunities that emerge, as you never know where they will lead.

 

Amelia Spanton, Social Media and Communications Executive:

What has been your personal highlight of 2022 working at Hey Me?  

Highlights for me include the new experiences, such as going to industry events, as well as the great opportunities for learning and growth, supported by a great team.

What have your learnt about yourself this year?

I’ve learnt that I enjoy a varied work life, from copywriting, to project management, to graphic design. I’ve also learnt that work life balance is really important and that it is key to prioritise this.

How has the culture evolved at Hey Me this year and what do you enjoy about working at the company? 

This year it’s been great to have the opportunity to get together in person with the team, for client meetings, team days and industry events. As a remote, close-knit team based across the UK, it’s lovely to catch up in person when possible!

What knowledge will you be taking with you into 2023?

I will be taking into 2023 a whole range of new and developing skills and some great new connections!

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. We look forward to working with our friends, clients, and partners in 2023!

 

For other articles, check out our blog. If you would like to find out more about how Hey Me could support you with your communication needs, get in touch with us via communicate@heyme.co.uk

 

ENDS

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“Since day one, Amy herself has fit seamlessly into our team, understanding the message we want to convey and the audiences we want to reach. Her upfront audit was invaluable in helping us internally hone our common voice, which has demonstrated itself in the consistency of the content we put out as a brand and as individuals within the company. Behind the scenes, Amy has instinctively adopted our internal communication methods (Slack, SharePoint) and works closely with our in-house graphic design team to ensure our graphics and copy are in sync.” Lucy Prior MBE - previously from 3Squared 2021
“After meeting Amy a few years ago, I was able to provide her with an opportunity to manage the comms on a major alliance, alongside Marie from Doodle HR, which she flourished at. Amy helped me to implement a more structured approach, freeing up my time to work more closely with clients and create new content. Hey Me are easy to deal with and quick to provide valuable solutions; I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Amy and the team again” Karen Duncan - Lanehead Coniston
“Working with Hey Me is very straight forward - they take you through whatever process is needed, with clear instruction and good ideas. Since working with Hey Me, Zak Mobility now has a strong brand identity and purposeful website that is fit for purpose. I would recommend Hey Me to other companies, as they do a professional job with a friendly face.” Sam Pearce - CEO, Zak Mobility
“As a member of the RIA SME Leadership team, Amy ran a slimdown version of the Hey Me messaging workshops in 2023. The workshops helped the team to delve deeper into what the SME group stood for, what it meant to them as individuals and businesses and what they wanted to gain from communications. By holding up a mirror to those in the group and using a tiered approach, the group was able to find a common purpose and with Hey Me's help, a common language which best represented the aims of the leadership team and our RIA SME members. The fantastic results of this can be seen in action on our SME page of our website.” Isabella Lawson - Railway Industry Association

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