What Stephenson-Mohl Group does

Stephenson-Mohl Group is a UK-based public affairs and strategic communications consultancy that helps organisations navigate the intersection of politics, planning, and public opinion. Founded in 2017-2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the firm serves clients across housing development, renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and the third sector, including named clients such as Vistry, Banks Group, Regen Power, Warmworks, GrupoTec, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, and ROC (Renewable Energy). Its core service lines are Public Affairs (political engagement, legislative monitoring, risk management), Planning (stakeholder engagement, consultation, and delivery of planning consents), Reputation (crisis management, campaigns, media relations), Community (consultation and engagement), and Social Impact (charitable initiatives and internship programmes). The firm reports having delivered over £2 billion in planning consents across housing, extra care, retail, tourism, and renewable energy sectors.

The firm operates as a relationship-led boutique consultancy with approximately 7-8 team members, combining deep North East political roots with a Westminster office opened in October 2024 at Adam Street, London. The senior team carries direct political and governmental credentials, most notably Simon Henig CBE (former Leader of Durham County Council and inaugural Chair of the North East Combined Authority) as Head of Government Relations, alongside parliamentary advisors and Labour Party alumni. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is entirely bespoke professional services with quote-based, project-engagement pricing. The firm has no disclosed external funding, operates as an independent private company, and grows organically through senior hiring, client wins, and geographic expansion.

Name

Stephenson-Mohl Group

Legal name

Stephenson-Mohl Group

Website

https://stephenson-mohl.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stephenson-Mohl Group is a UK public affairs and strategic communications consultancy advising housing developers, renewable energy firms, and infrastructure clients on planning, political engagement, and reputation. Founded 2017 in Newcastle, it now operates from Newcastle and Westminster.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Affairs Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Public affairs consultancy
• Planning advisory services
• Reputation management consulting
• Community engagement services
• Government relations advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Professional consulting fees for public affairs, planning, and reputation management services. Revenue generated through project-based engagements with clients across housing, energy, and infrastructure sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Stephenson-Mohl Group is a UK public affairs consultancy that connects organisations with policymakers through four core service lines: Public Affairs (political engagement, legislative monitoring, and stakeholder influence), Planning (strategy and consultation to secure planning consents), Reputation (crisis management, campaigns, and PR), and Community (stakeholder consultation and local engagement). The firm also runs a Social Impact programme that includes charitable initiatives and political internships.

Product overview

Stephenson-Mohl Group is a public affairs and strategic communications consultancy offering a unified suite of services: Public Affairs (political engagement, legislative change, local advocacy, risk management), Planning (stakeholder engagement, consultation, planning consents delivery), Reputation (strategy, crisis management, campaigns, PR), Community (engagement, consultation, insight-driven strategy), and Social Impact (charitable initiatives, internships, community partnerships). The company operates as a single integrated consultancy rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with services often combined to deliver 'local insight and national impact' for clients across housing, energy, infrastructure, and built-environment sectors. The consultancy was founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2018 and expanded to Westminster in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £2 billion in planning consents delivered across housing, extra care, retail, tourism, and renewables
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Beamish MuseumminorOthersCorporate Partner and Business Friend of Beamish Museum. SMG provides funding to support the museum's Health and Wellbeing programmes and has sponsored the minibus providing transport to the 1950s Aged Miners Homes. Partnership rooted in regional cultural support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SEC Newgate: Global strategic communications group with a strong UK public affairs practice serving corporate clients — comparable in services but materially larger.
• WA Communications: Independent UK public affairs consultancy focused on corporate communications and political engagement — directly comparable in service mix and target client profile.
• Portland Communications: UK strategic communications and public affairs firm advising corporates on political engagement, policy, and campaigns — closest direct peer with comparable service stack and enterprise client base.
• Lexington Communications:
• Hawthorn Advisors: London-headquartered public affairs and communications consultancy serving corporate clients on political engagement, policy, and reputation — directly comparable to SMG's core offering but at significantly larger scale.
• Cicero Group: UK public affairs, policy, and political research consultancy serving corporate and public-sector clients — directly comparable in service mix (public affairs, research, communications).

Broad incumbents

• Finsbury Glover Hering: Global strategic communications and public affairs firm with a major UK presence — overlapping capabilities but significantly broader geographic and service footprint.
• Brunswick Group: Global advisory firm focused on critical issues and stakeholder communications — overlaps with SMG's reputation and public affairs work but at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Teneo: Global advisory firm offering communications, political risk, and consulting services — comparable in strategic advisory and political positioning services, with a much wider service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Aspect Communications: UK public affairs and communications consultancy serving corporate and public-sector clients — comparable niche UK public affairs positioning but smaller and earlier stage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stephenson_mohl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Stephenson-Mohl Group