About

We help world-class organisations raise their teams’ digital performance

  • When the Royal Air Force wanted to equip its teams to use social media to get the word out about careers, we coached the team to become storytellers
  • When Vancouver Airport wanted to stress-test multiple teams to rehearse customer care and resilience plans around a major incident, we brought a challenging scenario to life in a secure, contained environment
  • When Hackney Council needed to get several thousand staff up to speed on data privacy, we scaled up a digital learning programme to help them explore the real issues, not just tick boxes

Across the world and across sectors we bring our uniquely practical digital capability services to help clients:

  • define good digital performance and operating models
  • understand gaps and barriers – and help to overcome them
  • scale digital learning across all levels of the organisation
Reading about 'what to do' in a crisis on its own doesn't cut it in an ever-changing, fast-paced digital world where online content can make or break an organisation. Helpful's hands-on session gave us experience of discussing, writing and responding to real time digital messages as a crisis broke so teams are better prepared for the real thing -- Ministry of Justice

What we think good digital looks like

It’s easier and cheaper than ever to push great content at your audience. But what do you do when they ask you a question? We help clients in all sectors to use social media for customer service and, in preparation for difficult times, defend their reputation or be seen as a source of authority.

We don’t believe a one-size-fits-all approach to social media from multinational organisations is an effective way to do business. Local audiences and different online behaviours demand a considered approach. That’s why we tailor our work to suit the countries in which we work – whether we’re on-site or working remotely.

There are some universal hallmarks of good communication in the digital age, regardless of size or sector. They form the core of the programmes we shape with our clients, building real improvement over time:

Hallmarks of good digital comms: authenticity, speed, differentiation, persuasiveness, sustainability, impact

What we offer

Our focus is digital capability-building: we work across all sectors including government, financial services, beauty, energy, aviation and emergency management. Our most high-profile work includes live rehearsals for major events, involving counter-terrorism teams, airports and financial institutions. We provide:

  • training and coaching to build knowledge, confidence and capacity to use digital channels effectively
  • consultancy, workshops and simulations to help teams develop strategies, set goals and benchmark their performance – including for business continuity, crisis response and customer service
  • engagement and consultation support to help you understand your audiences and use online tools and content effectively to get their input and feedback

Our tailored services are supported by some key products including:

  • Social Simulator: immersive, realistic stress-testing of your team’s ability to handle social media in a crisis situation
  • Crisis90: our classroom-based training platform to help teams discuss their approach to a crisis or customer-service scenario
  • Digital Action Plan: our personalised, blended online/offline digital skills programme to help groups develop the confidence and skills to use digital tools at work

We work with clients who operate in all 7 continents of the world. In the UK, we count more than a quarter of FTSE 100 companies as clients.

Helpful clients

How we work

Founded in 2010, our core teams are based in London & New York City, working worldwide.

We coach, train and test teams including corporate communications, resilience, customer care and more, delivering over 200 workshops or simulations each year. Some clients come to us with a clear need or plan. Others want us to help them work out where to start.

Helpful services routemap

We are relentlessly focused on practical learning. So, even when we’re helping thousands of staff get to grips with new skills, our Digital Action Plan ensures they’re putting new knowledge into practice right away. Our Social Simulator and Crisis90 platforms help groups from 5 to 150 people test existing processes and new ideas simultaneously, in a secure, private environment.

Sustainability is a core principle of our company: transparency in tax, paying a real living wage, offsetting the carbon emissions from our operations, and supporting good causes with pro bono help.

What makes us different?

  • Digital is what we do: every member of our team has practical experience blending digital with traditional media and governance, and we help our clients bridge the divide in their own organisations
  • Empowering our clients to do good digital for themselves is what we’re about: From coaching your digital responders in how to get the most out of corporate channels, to working with staff across the business to establish a network of trusted authentic voices, we will make sure that your people have the skills and confidence they need to engage confidently online – without dependency on us
  • We balance technology, consulting and content: our world-leading software platforms bring scenarios and learning to life, but our model is based on understanding the people in your team and helping them solve the issues they face, not selling licences

Get in touch

We’re always happy to chat through an issue or idea – without any obligation.

Email: hello@helpfuldigital.com

Call: +44 20 3012 1024 (UK/EMEA/APAC) or +1 646 358 3413 (Americas)