1284 Communications

What 1284 Communications does

1284 Communications (legal entity 1284 Limited) is a Loughborough-based PR and communications consultancy founded in 2020, serving innovative small businesses, local government, universities, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations primarily across the East Midlands with UK-wide reach. The firm delivers strategic communications, content marketing, and media relations services, supported by Chartered PR practitioners, a former Editor of the Leicester Mercury, and a trained BBC journalist on the leadership team. Pricing combines project-based engagements from £999+VAT with retained services from £1,600+VAT per month, supplemented by a VCSE special-rate tier.

The firm's core proprietary product is CommsTally®, an Innovate UK-funded (£80,000 grant) campaign planning and visibility platform with native LinkedIn API integration for Page-level analytics, registered as a trademark. Distribution combines direct sales (20-minute consultative introductions followed by discovery), the UK Government's Crown Commercial Service communications supplier marketplace (RM6124) for public sector procurement, and referrals via East Midlands Chamber (where Managing Director George Oliver holds a board seat), the Federation of Small Businesses, and existing clients. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015, Cyber Essentials Plus, CIPR Chartered PR Practitioner status, Good Business Charter and Fair Payment Gold credentials, and was awarded CIPR Midlands Small PR Agency of the Year in 2026.

The business model layers a small 5-person core team with a curated associate network spanning digital design, photography, web development, film, sustainable printing, marketing campaigns and AI/digital transformation — enabling broad service delivery without proportional headcount cost. Customer concentration is spread across named clients in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, social housing, cyber security, sport and economic development, with recurring retained relationships alongside project work. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

1284 Communications

Legal name

1284 Limited

Website

https://1284.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

1284 Communications is a Loughborough-based Chartered PR consultancy serving innovative SMEs, local government, universities and VCSE organisations across the UK, delivering comms strategy, content marketing and media relations supported by its proprietary CommsTally® campaign planning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Loughborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Communications Services: One-time project engagements for specific communications deliverables such as press releases, content marketing, media relations, and communications strategy. Pricing starts from £999+VAT per project.
2. Retained Communications Services: Ongoing strategic partnership with regular outcome reporting and continuous communications support. Prices start from £1,600+VAT per month, providing clients with consistent access to Chartered PR professionals without paying £80k+ for an in-house Communications Director.
3. VCSE Special Rates: Special pricing rates offered for voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations. Custom quotes provided upon request for specific project requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

1284 Communications provides strategic PR and communications consultancy, including communications strategy, content marketing, and media relations, delivered through project-based engagements and monthly retainer services. The firm also operates CommsTally®, a proprietary campaign planning and visibility platform funded by Innovate UK, which provides LinkedIn-integrated reporting and performance tracking for client campaigns.

Product overview

1284 Communications operates as a PR and communications consultancy offering strategic services across communications strategy, content marketing, and media relations. Their primary proprietary product is CommsTally®, an Innovate UK-funded campaign planning and visibility platform that provides clients with transparent campaign reporting and performance metrics. The consultancy structure includes a core team of Chartered PR practitioners supplemented by an associates network, delivering services primarily to SMEs, local government, and VCSE organisations across the East Midlands and UK-wide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CommsTally®: Innovate UK-funded platform providing full campaign planning and visibility for communications measurement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% client award shortlisting rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LinkedIncoreTechnology or IntegrationLinkedIn API integration within CommsTally® platform for reporting and analytics. Accesses LinkedIn Page analytics including impressions, clicks, follower statistics, and content performance. Provides dashboard visualization of campaign metrics. Only accessible to authorised users within 1284/CommsTally® administration and client accounts.
• Crown Commercial ServicecoreOthersListed supplier on UK Government's communications supplier marketplace (RM6124), enabling straightforward and compliant commissioning for councils and public sector organisations across the UK.
• East Midlands ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard-level governance involvement. Managing Director George Oliver serves at board level. 1284 listed as member organisation. Collaborative relationship supporting regional economic development.
• SoundingBoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise co-directed by 1284 (alongside Ian Borley DL and Scott Charlish) to accelerate regional small business growth. Running our own social enterprise to accelerate regional small business growth.
• Think FundingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Chris Shaw brings 40+ years expertise in ethical business planning, fundraising, impact reporting, governance, and social innovation for public, community, and education sector organisations.
• Blueberry Marketing SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounder Faresh Maisuria has led campaigns for 500+ public and private sector organisations including Department for Business & Trade, HarperCollins, and The AA.
• CIPRcoreOthersChartered Institute of Public Relations. 1284 team members hold Chartered PR Practitioner status. Company listed in CIPR Public Directory as chartered practitioners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Speed Communications: UK B2B PR and communications consultancy with similar SME, corporate, and public-sector focus. Closely comparable in size, service model (project + retained), and regional/national remit.
• Manifest London: B2B tech and innovation-focused PR consultancy with similar start-up, scale-up, and ecosystem clientele in the UK.
• Linstock Communications: UK communications consultancy focused on B2B, technology, and public-sector clients with similar retained-service and campaign-based model.
• MFG (Made for Growth): UK communications and PR agency working with B2B, technology, and growth-stage clients — comparable in target customer profile and integrated campaign offerings.
• Threepipe: UK digital PR and integrated communications agency blending content, media relations, and performance measurement — directly comparable in service mix.
• Beattie Communications: UK-based integrated communications group offering PR, content, and media services to SMEs and public sector — direct competitor in the UK mid-market PR space.

Broad incumbents

• Instinctif Partners: Larger UK-headquartered communications consultancy serving B2B, technology, and public-sector clients — overlapping capabilities but at much greater scale.
• Headland Consultancy: Established UK corporate communications and public affairs consultancy with comparable B2B and corporate reputation services.
• Weber Shandwick: Global PR and communications network serving corporate, government, and innovation clients; broader portfolio and much larger scale than 1284.

Emerging players

• Boldspace: UK-based integrated comms agency focused on challenger brands and B2B technology clients; partial overlap with 1284's innovation/start-up focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/61591470502184
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1284communications

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 1284 Communications