Business 31.01.25

Wild PR: Landing at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

Wild PR, the collaborative and growth-driven PR agency founded by Katrina Cliffe, is approaching a new chapter in the company’s history, after opening a new HQ at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s managed workspace, Landing Pad.

After making the move last September, the PR agency has been focused on ‘steadying the ship’, with a number of new hires, refined working processes and setting up in Sheffield, all taking place over the past year. Now, Katrina is gearing up to make her mark in Sheffield and integrate into the innovation ecosystem, showing that collaboration and true industry insight are key to delivering growth for their clients.

From starting out and rapid growth to strategic streamlining 

Katrina founded Wild PR in 2014, following a career in agency and in-house marketing and PR roles in industries including digital, telecoms and technology. In her last role, she found the challenges of rigid working structures incompatible with life with two young children and decided to take the leap into freelancing.

Within just six months, Wild PR made its first hire, welcoming on board an apprentice—a path Katrina champions, having started her own career in this way.

Katrina’s early clients were primarily professional services but she soon built up a specialism in the education sector, working with several emerging Free Schools. Over time, the agency established a strong portfolio in manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Wild PR grew to a team of nine and maintained client and team numbers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the past 18 months have seen a transformation at the agency. Team members have naturally moved on, and a thorough review of client accounts prompted Katrina to streamline operations, letting go of unprofitable accounts and enhancing productivity and reducing overservicing to keep its team numbers at six.

“By focusing on quality over quantity, we reduced our client numbers while actually increasing the value of retained accounts,” Katrina explains. “This approach has allowed us to invest more time in truly understanding our clients’ industries and offering them valuable, results-driven services that can only be achieved through a trusting, collaborative partnership.”

At the heart of The Park

As part of this process, Wild PR adopted a remote-first model, moving away from its large office in Huddersfield, which, following the pandemic, was often underused. The team now utilises a co-working space in Cleckheaton as well as the new base at Landing Pad, giving them complete flexibility and a contemporary, inspiring space to meet and collaborate.

For Katrina, this move was driven by both personal and professional considerations. While exploring schooling options for her daughter, who is a competitive ice skater, Katrina discovered the UTC at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Its Sport and Science pathway perfectly suited her daughter’s needs, and its location became central to Katrina’s daily routine. After initially working in nearby cafes and communal areas while her daughter was in school, Katrina needed a more permanent workspace and discovered Landing Pad, right at the heart of The Park.

“I spend enough time in the car as it is,” Katrina says. “Being here, right across from my daughter’s school, means I can settle and focus on work without constant travel. Plus, the proximity to fantastic facilities like IceSheffield is a bonus, so she has somewhere she can practice if I’m caught up at work.”

This coincided with the recruitment of Social Media Manager, Hannah Jackson, who is Sheffield-based and joined the team in August 2024.

“Given that I was going to be spending more time in Sheffield, we decided to cast the net further in our recruitment search and we found Hannah,” remembers Katrina. “She was the perfect fit, so it was even more beneficial to have a base here that she can use.”

Welcoming a new PR partner to Sheffield

Wild PR wants to deepen ties with Sheffield’s business community and with expertise in manufacturing, tech, and healthcare, Katrina sees good potential in the city.

“Sheffield is home to so many innovative companies, and we’re excited to become part of its vibrant ecosystem,” she explains. “Landing Pad has been a welcoming space, and we’re already benefiting from its networking events and connections. We have proven success in helping companies grow through really well-informed, proactive PR and marketing, so we are keen to share what we know with businesses in the community.”

Wild PR’s approach involves becoming an extension of its clients’ teams, immersing itself in their industries to deliver informed, impactful content. This dedication has helped clients achieve impressive growth, with one scaling from £2 million to £20 million in turnover in just six years.

Katrina explains, “We aim to get to the point where we’re industry experts for our clients. That means investing time and effort into understanding their businesses inside out. Collaboration is key—when both sides are equally invested, the rewards are long-term and high-value.”

The next chapter

As Wild PR continues to find its feet at Landing Pad, the focus is on steady growth and building collaborative and long-term relationships in Sheffield. With a new Marketing Communications Director joining the team and a new base connecting them to the city’s thriving innovation ecosystem, Katrina is excited about the next stage in her company’s journey.

“Now that we’ve steadied the ship, I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for us in Sheffield. I’m excited about meeting more businesses in this city and helping them build their profiles and achieve growth.”

You can find out more about Wild PR on the website: wild-pr.co.uk and you can get in touch with the team on email: roar@wild-pr.co.uk

Wild PR