What Stronger Stories does

Stronger Stories is a UK-based strategic consultancy that applies the science of storytelling to help organizations articulate and operationalize change. Founded in 2015 and operating under legal entity Long Run Works Ltd., the firm serves entrepreneurial leaders and communities undergoing transformation across sectors including health, nature and climate, education and skills, energy, built environment, food, transport, and international development. The core offering is organized into three practice areas: Diagnosis (narrative landscape analysis, reputation and narrative audit, audience insight), Strategy (brand story development, narrative architecture, messaging frameworks, campaign narrative planning), and Activation (executive coaching, story playbooks, campaign execution and creative direction). Named clients include UNDP, Innovate UK, WorldSkills, NESO, the UK Department for Transport, London Councils, TRAFFIC, and Knepp Wildland Foundation, with the firm reporting a 9-out-of-10 client return rate.

The firm has codified its methodology into proprietary assets: the Narrative Shift Matrix (a diagnostic tool for locating the moment of change), the Lean Story Canvas (a strategic planning tool), and Lean Story School (an online learning platform). These tools are distributed as free PDF downloads and via a freemium subscription model, which functions as both a marketing channel for consulting services and a social impact commitment — Stronger Stories reinvests 20% of profit and time into Lean Story School for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the global south. An additional experiential offering, the 24 Hours in Story Experience at the Cooksbridge, East Sussex headquarters, monetizes partner-led facilitation with on-site accommodation and nature activities.

Revenue mechanics combine professional services (custom-scope consulting engagements, often multi-year, sold directly to enterprise, government, and NGO buyers), subscription revenue from Lean Story School, and experiential fees from the 24-hour program. Distribution is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales (regional, UK-focused) and global self-serve channels (free tools and online learning). The firm holds B Corp certification (since 2021) and Blueprint status (since 2020), and operates as an independent private limited company with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or institutional backers. The team is small (~5 named members including senior partners and consultants), with offices in Cooksbridge, East Sussex (headquarters) and London.

Name

Stronger Stories

Legal name

Long Run Works Ltd.

Website

https://strongerstories.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stronger Stories is a UK strategic consultancy that uses the science of storytelling to help entrepreneurial leaders and communities develop narratives for organizational change, serving enterprise, government, and NGO clients across 11 sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA), Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services (BPACANAI)

Keywords

• Strategic narrative consulting
• Brand story development
• Narrative architecture services
• Change communication consulting
• Storytelling strategy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Core revenue stream from strategic consultancy engagements helping organizations develop narrative strategies, brand stories, messaging frameworks, and campaign execution. Projects range from narrative audits to full strategic plan development.
2. Experience-Based Training: Revenue from immersive 24-hour story experiences hosted at their Sussex headquarters, including workshops, training, facilitation with senior partners, and accommodation.
3. Lean Story School Subscriptions: Online learning platform with subscription-based access to storytelling education, though significant free content is provided as part of their democratization mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stronger Stories is a strategic consultancy that helps entrepreneurial leaders and organizations undergoing transformation craft compelling stories about change. Its core service is structured across three practice areas—Diagnosis (narrative audits and landscape analysis), Strategy (brand story development, narrative architecture, and messaging frameworks), and Activation (executive coaching, story toolkits, and campaign execution). The firm supports these services with free diagnostic tools and the Lean Story School online learning platform, plus an immersive 24-hour workshop experience held at its Sussex headquarters.

Product overview

Stronger Stories is a strategic consultancy that offers a combination of professional consulting services and free self-service tools for narrative development. The consulting services are organized into three practice areas: Diagnosis (narrative landscape analysis, audience insight, reputation audit, story system mapping), Strategy (brand story development, narrative architecture, messaging frameworks, campaign planning), and Activation (executive coaching, story playbooks and toolkits, content creation, campaign execution). Alongside these services, the company provides free tools including the Narrative Shift Matrix diagnostic tool, Lean Story Canvas template, and Lean Story School e-learning platform. The company also offers an immersive 24 Hours in Story workshop experience held at their Sussex headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diagnosis Consulting Services Practice area covering narrative landscape analysis, audience insight and values mapping, reputation and narrative audit, internal and external story analysis, and story system mapping for organizations undergoing transformation.
• Strategy Consulting Services Practice area covering brand story development, narrative architecture, messaging frameworks, campaign narrative planning, and partner story alignment for entrepreneurial leaders and transforming organizations.
• Activation Consulting Services Practice area covering executive skills and coaching, story playbooks and toolkits, impact stories and content, internal story activation, and campaign execution and creative direction for organizations activating their narrative strategy.
• Narrative Shift Matrix A free diagnostic tool that helps leaders locate the moment of change they are facing, understand its impact on belief and identity, and create the conditions for a better story to emerge.
• Lean Story Canvas A free story development tool drawing on enduring successful story patterns to help organizations find and align their strongest stories about their best ideas.
• Lean Story School An online learning platform that brings the science of storytelling to life through simple models and bite-sized lessons, designed to help individuals develop skills to get their ideas the attention they deserve.
• 24 Hours in Story Experience An immersive 24-hour workshop and training experience at Stronger Stories HQ in Sussex, including facilitation with senior partners, workshop spaces, meals, glamping or hotel accommodation, and nature walk activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 out of 10 clients choose to work with Stronger Stories again

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lean Story School (Internal Platform)coreOthersInternal educational platform developed by Stronger Stories to democratize storytelling skills. 20% of profit and time reinvested into this free learning platform for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the global south.
• Long Run Works Ltd.coreOthersLegal operating entity for Stronger Stories. The company operates as Long Run Works Ltd., with the brand Stronger Stories. Copyright indicates operations from 2015-2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forster Communications: UK-based strategic communications consultancy focused on sustainability, ESG, and purpose-led clients. Highly comparable in vertical mix, public sector and NGO client base, and boutique senior-led delivery model.
• Radley Yeldar: UK strategic brand and communications consultancy that helps purpose-led organisations articulate strategy through narrative. Directly comparable in strategic narrative development, brand storytelling, and enterprise client base.
• Salterbaxter: Sustainability and purpose communications consultancy serving corporates, NGOs, and public bodies. Comparable client mix, strategic narrative positioning, and B Corp-aligned purpose identity.
• Seven Hills: UK strategic communications consultancy serving charities, social enterprises, and public bodies on narrative, profile, and policy influence. Comparable in NGO and public sector client mix and strategic narrative work.
• Blue State: Purpose-driven digital communications agency working with nonprofits, foundations, and progressive brands. Overlaps with Stronger Stories on mission-driven positioning and change-oriented narrative strategy.
• Hope&Glory: Independent UK PR and strategic communications consultancy with a strong track record in purpose, sustainability, and social impact campaigns. Comparable in client types and campaign narrative planning.
• Futerra: Global communications agency specialised in climate, nature, and sustainability storytelling. Overlaps with Stronger Stories on nature/climate NGO and government clients, mission-driven positioning, and narrative-led campaign work.

Broad incumbents

• Ogilvy PR: Global communications network with purpose and sustainability capabilities. Broader incumbent offering overlapping strategic narrative, brand storytelling, and campaign execution services to enterprise clients.
• Edelman: Global public relations firm with a dedicated purpose, climate, and social impact practice. Competes for similar public sector, NGO, and purpose-driven corporate work at greater scale.
• Freuds (TBTL Group): One of the UK's largest strategic communications and public relations groups, with a purpose and sustainability practice. Larger incumbent serving similar buyers with a broader service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stronger Stories