Hello there! I'm Simon, and I've spent over 20 years as a copywriter in two of the most challenging industries within which to be a creative: financial services and charity. This website is a collection of some of my professional and personal writing.
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I started out at pioneering banking brand, Egg, spent eight years writing much of Comic campaign collateral, launched my own comedy greetings card range, and have written for various satirical websites.
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Today, with most of the world either on fire, under water, or teetering on the brink of social, economic and/or political collapse, I predominantly ply my trade as a senior copywriter in the third sector. However, I still accept private sector work and have written for clients that range from property developers, stately homes and luxury hotels to branding agencies and software multinationals.
Recent clients
In the last few years I've written for many charities, both large and small, on everything from messaging toolkits and OOH installations to direct response mailing packs and mass-participation fundraising events.
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Alongside working directly for charities on a project-by-project basis, I also freelance as a senior copywriter for Open Creates; a strategic and creative agency that brings people together to change the world.
Comic Relief
I worked for Comic Relief for almost eight years, writing collateral for the most successful Red Nose Day and Sport Relief campaigns in the charity's history.
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And, yes: we all sat next to Lenny Henry, went to meetings on space hoppers, and everyone wore Red Noses on Red Nose Day… because what you really need on the most important working day of the year is moderately impaired breathing.
Samaritans
Samaritans are an extraordinary charity that I'm lucky to have worked with for several years now. Dedicated to being there for anyone who feels they have no one, they do this not just through their free 24/7 helpline, 116 123, but also with amazing outreach work in schools, prisons, with the Armed Forces and across Network Rail.
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Alongside environmentalism and human rights, mental health is an area I've long been passionate about, so I'm honoured to work with them.
Egg
Remember Egg? The 'internet bank'? They did those telly ads featuring anthropomorphised guinea pigs in tiny velour tracksuits? Well, anyway, it's where I started.
It was also something of a baptism of fire. Two months into the job, my boss abruptly resigned (not my fault), leaving me as sole copy sign-off for the entire business. It made me the writer I am today.
Modern Logophilia
You know that feeling you get when you come across an awesome word? Y'know, words like mellifluous, jentacular, pulchritude and absquatulate. Nice, isn't it?
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Modern Logophilia is a creative collaboration, between myself and the excellent Ivana Catovic, which explores and celebrates a handpicked handful of wonderful words. Honestly, you never heard such language.
Satire
Launched by comedian and novelist, John O'Farrell, in 2006, NewsBiscuit is an open-submission satirical news site that I started writing for in 2011.
After a month in which I had more frontpages than any other writer, John made me an editor in 2012. Two of my pieces remain among the most popular and widely shared articles in the site's history.
