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At the recent AGBIS/HMC/ISBA Heads, Governors and Bursars Conference, Tim Toulmin and Jack Myers shared insights with the audience on the evolving landscape of media, crisis management, and school strategy. While the world of journalism and public scrutiny continues to shift, the fundamentals of integrity, transparency, and strategic clarity remain constant anchors for school leaders. […]
Alder is thrilled to announce that, alongside RSA, Marsh, and DWF, we have won the Insurance Collaboration Award at the 2025 British Insurance Awards, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The award recognises our joint initiative, Crisis Response, an innovative service designed to give organisations fast, co-ordinated access to legal, insurance, and communications support during high-pressure situations. Whether it’s […]
When an employee is arrested or charged with a criminal offence – particularly one likely to attract public or media interest – the communications challenges can be significant. Navigating this situation requires care, confidentiality, and co-ordination between HR, legal and communications teams. How you manage internal and external messaging can have a lasting impact on […]
Public inquiries in the UK are designed to investigate matters of serious public concern – from major health or safety failures to decisions made by public bodies or private organisations. While inquiries are not about determining criminal or civil liability, they can place an organisation and its leadership under intense scrutiny. Many law firms offer […]
Inquests are a vital part of the judicial process, designed to establish how someone died – particularly in unexpected or unexplained circumstances. However, they can also be high-profile, emotionally charged events that attract significant media interest. For organisations involved, how they respond – and are seen to respond – can have a lasting impact on […]
Every school is responsible for keeping pupils safe and recruiting teachers that will also prioritise the well-being of students. Reports submitted to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) show a year-on-year increase in the number of referrals for teacher misconduct – a 47% increase in the number of referrals in 2022/23 and a 91% increase compared […]
Ensuring that students are safe and well cared for is paramount for any educational institution. Last week, the Charity Commission published the findings of an inquiry into two linked charities, Ampleforth Abbey Trust and St Laurence Education Trust following allegations of sexual abuse at Ampleforth published in the Times. The findings show that poor communication, […]
Alder attended the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) annual conference last week, when Managing Director, Tim Toulmin, and COO, Susan Smith, presented a session on ‘communicating difficult messages to stakeholders’.  Before the conference, we polled 51 attendees, asking them about their primary communication concerns and what measures they had in place to help them prepare.   […]
Whether you are soon to become a tech unicorn, a charity that has received major funding and is about to expand or a school that has seen significant year-on-year pupil increases – growing organisations have many reasons to celebrate.  Â
But it is important to remember the caveat that with growth comes increased reputational risk. Greater visibility, a rising profile, evolving stakeholder needs and growing employee numbers all contribute to a heightened exposure to reputational threats and media scrutiny for growing organisations.