TRANSFORMING CHARITY HORIZONS: FROM START-UP TO ESTABLISHED LEADER IN CHARITY RECRUITMENT

Background

Charity Horizons is a recruitment business specialising in the charity and not-for-profit sector, co-founded by Charlie Mynard and Leanne Roberts. After four successful years, they were ready to take their brand and website to the next level, moving from a start-up to an established business. They needed a strategy that would not only modernise their brand but also clearly communicate their value to clients and candidates.

The Challenge

Charity Horizons’ original website and brand were created when they launched but no longer reflected their evolution and success as an established business.

Issues included:

UNSTRUCTURED WEBSITE: 
Many pages, confusing navigation, large blocks of text, and a focus on “About Us” rather than addressing client and candidate problems.

OUTDATED BRANDING: 
Their brand didn’t reflect their professionalism within the charity sector.

A LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR EVOLVING SERVICE OFFER: 
A limited understanding of their evolving service offer: They wanted to expand into training, consultancy, and other not-for-profit areas.

Charlie and Leanne knew they needed more than just a new website – they needed clarity on their brand and messaging.

The Solution

McLaren&Co. transformed Charity Horizons’ brand and online presence through a range of services:

1. Marketing Strategy and Plan

OBJECTIVE: 
Establish a clear marketing strategy aligned with their business goals and expansion plans.

APPROACH:
Delivered a hands-on workshop to help Charlie and Leanne understand their business goals, target markets, and points of differentiation. We developed a bespoke marketing strategy that provided clarity and a three-month action plan to ensure marketing activities aligned with their growth ambitions.

KEY OUTCOME: 
A focused marketing roadmap that provided clear steps for expanding their service offerings and reaching new audiences.

‘&Co.’ Partner: Boo! Marketing.
 

2. Brand and Messaging Strategy

OBJECTIVE: 
Create a comprehensive brand and messaging strategy to define what Charity Horizons stood for, who they served, and how to
communicate effectively with their audience.

APPROACH:
Through research and workshops, we defined the brand’s vision, mission, values, target audience, and messaging pillars. We created a value proposition that resonated with clients and candidates, shaping a brand personality that was supportive, authentic, and enthusiastic.

KEY OUTCOME: 
A unified, strategic brand message that allowed Charity Horizons to confidently communicate their value to both clients and candidates, positioning them as compassionate experts in the charity recruitment sector.

 

3. Visual Identity

OBJECTIVE: 
Equip Charity Horizons with branded merchandise and exhibition materials to showcase their new brand.

APPROACH:
We sourced high-quality water bottles, bags, and banner stands that reflected the updated brand, giving Charity Horizons a consistent, professional presence at events.

KEY OUTCOME: 
Tangible assets that extended the brand experience beyond digital channels, helping Charity Horizons build recognition at events and in-person meetings.

‘&Co.’ Partner: Smarter Retail
‘&Co.’ Partner: Smart Printing Company

4. Website and Photography

OBJECTIVE: 
Build a user-friendly, engaging website that clearly communicates Charity Horizons’ services to clients and candidates.

APPROACH:
We created a clear site map, structured content, and wireframes that addressed the needs of both audiences. Custom photography showcased Charlie and Leanne in interacting with clients and candidates, enhancing the site’s authenticity.

KEY OUTCOME: 
A modern, mobile-friendly website with intuitive navigation, clear calls to action, and SEO optimisation, making it easy for clients and candidates to understand Charity Horizons’ offer and take action.

Check out their new website: https://charityhorizons.co.uk/

 ‘&Co.’ Partner: Athena Media

‘&Co.’ Partner: Sam Toolsi

5. Merchandise and Exhibition Materials

OBJECTIVE: 
Equip Charity Horizons with branded merchandise and exhibition materials to showcase their new brand.

APPROACH:
We sourced high-quality water bottles, bags, and banner stands that reflected the updated brand, giving Charity Horizons a consistent, professional presence at events.

KEY OUTCOME: 
Tangible assets that extended the brand experience beyond digital channels, helping Charity Horizons build recognition at events and in-person meetings.

‘&Co.’ Partner: Smarter Retail
‘&Co.’ Partner: Smart Printing Company

The Results

A clear brand identity that resonates with their target audience, building trust and credibility.

A modern, user-friendly website that communicates their services effectively, resulting in more inquiries from both clients and candidates. 

A cohesive marketing strategy that aligns with their growth goals, allowing them to expand into new markets confidently. 

Professional branded materials that increase brand visibility and make a lasting impression.

Clear brand identity

modern website

cohesive marketing

Professional materials

“Lisa is quite simply the best in the business! She was professional and personable, and really listened to our needs. She helped us understand our marketing goals and produce a brand and website we feel really reflects us. While being incredibly talented and experienced herself, Lisa’s partnership model gave us the confidence to know that we had industry experts working on all aspects of our project. Lisa has a fantastic network of people, who were all a pleasure to work with.

I would not hesitate to recommend Lisa to anyone… Working with McLaren&Co. felt like a true partnership, and we couldn’t be happier with the output!”

Charlie Mynard
Co-founder, Charity Horizons

Conclusion

McLaren&Co. helped Charity Horizons transform from a start-up into an established leader in charity recruitment with a brand that truly reflects who they are, an engaging website that drives inquiries, and a marketing strategy that supports long-term growth.

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