Paul O’Rourke.
Reputation and profile building for CEO
The challenge.
When Paul first approached us, he had never done any PR. Despite leading two purpose-driven businesses across social care, fostering and housing – Next Stage Group and Blueprint Investments – his external profile didn’t reflect the scale of his work or his long-term ambitions.
He needed more than media coverage. He wanted to strengthen his reputation, build investor confidence, create a clear leadership profile and improve visibility in search. There was no existing narrative, no defined positioning and no integrated strategy connecting PR, SEO and LinkedIn – it was a completely blank slate. So we went away and built an integrated strategy to meet his range of objectives.
Insightand strategy.
As always, we started with comprehensive onboarding sessions to understand not just the businesses, but Paul’s motivations, values and long-term goals. The common thread running through everything was early intervention – the belief that safeguarding should begin before harm occurs, not after. And it was that insight that shaped our entire strategy.
We built a joined-up communications plan designed to position Paul as a credible voice across social care, housing and investment. The whole strategy was about owning a clear, defensible narrative that aligned with commercial growth.
The strategy integrated earned media, SEO and LinkedIn so that authority was built consistently across every touchpoint.
Results
Pieces of coverage
Increase in web users
Increase in organic search
LinkedIn follower growth
Ourexecution.
We defined five core values and developed four ICPs spanning social care professionals, housing associations, local authorities and investors, with messaging tailored carefully to each audience.
On the PR side, we created a steady pipeline of thought leadership across key verticals including care, housing, finance and regional media. Topics ranged from the care sector staffing crisis to supported housing innovation and the responsible use of AI.
Alongside this, we developed a detailed SEO strategy built around four core content pillars to improve discoverability and long-term authority in search. LinkedIn activity reinforced both PR and search visibility, ensuring consistent messaging across channels.
As coverage increased, Paul’s confidence grew. We media-trained and briefed him thoroughly ahead of any interviews, which included appearances on GB News and TalkTV, ensuring he felt prepared and credible in every setting.
Measurableimpact.
Our PR work so far with Paul and his two businesses, Next Stage and Blueprint Investments, has delivered over 50 pieces of coverage across key trade and national titles, including The Times, Daily Express, Daily Mail, The Sun, Inside Housing, The Carer, Children and Young People Now, Caring Times, Social Care Today and Community Care.
Now national journalists from the likes of The Times and Daily Express approach us directly for comment, as they know that Paul is an expert in his field.
The impact hasn’t just been in headlines, as it’s been reflected in measurable growth across search and social. SEO performance between 2024 and 2025 showed:
- Total users up 92%
- Organic search up 35%
- Sessions up 84%
- Engaged sessions up 50%
On LinkedIn, momentum has built steadily across both Paul’s personal profile and the Next Stage page. Over 12 months, Next Stage’s follower count grew by 16%, with our content generating 4.8k impressions and maintaining an average engagement rate of 13%. Meanwhile, Paul’s personal LinkedIn presence accelerated even more significantly, with 13,000 total impressions – up 170% year on year – alongside a follower growth of 104%.
But most importantly, Paul is now recognised as a serious voice in his sector, supporting stronger business conversations with partners and investors.