When George Oliver left journalism in July 2020, his plan was to create a corporate communications consultancy specialising in East Midlands innovation.
The result was 1284 Communications – originally based at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park – being founded to respond to the then Government’s Levelling Up agenda, the long-time strategic need to drive UK productivity.
“I got interested in the growth benefits of innovation, increased productivity, and change while I was at the Leicester Mercury,” says George, who edited the paper from 2016 and led its move to digital-first publishing.
“When I started my own company, I wanted to use the skills gained from 15 years in news media to promote regional innovation and its benefits for social entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs and wide economic growth.”
1284 received a £15,000 business loan from The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity in April 2023. It was used to develop a new CRM, for website updates, launch of a newsletter, print collateral, trade shows, industry accreditations, targeted sponsorship, and other strategic marketing activity.
Despite being founded in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1284 grew quickly, building a strong portfolio of clients including universities, local authorities, SMEs, start-ups, and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
Following this early success, the business began to scale. Amy Orton joined as Account Director in 2023, marking the first phase of team expansion. The company’s first apprentice, Lauren Cropper, joined in July 2024. 1284 now employs five people and six associates.
The most recent arrival is former university journalism lecturer Emma Oliver, who was appointed as Content Editor in October 2025 to reinforce 1284’s newsroom-led approach to communications and content creation.
In August 2024, 1284 left the Loughborough University incubator, moving into nearby scale-up space at the Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC). It positioned the business at the heart of its target market of East Midlands regional innovation.
Ongoing business growth has been matched by industry recognition. In 2026, 1284 was named CIPR Midlands Small PR Agency of the Year, alongside award wins for its work in AI-driven communications – underlining its reputation for combining innovation with measurable impact. It was also shortlisted for the CIPR’s UK Small PR Consultancy of the Year.
1284 celebrate at the 2026 CIPR Midlands Awards
Alongside an expanding client portfolio, 1284 has continued to develop new products and services, including its Innovate UK-funded CommsTally® platform, which is designed to improve transparency and measurement in PR and went live in April 2026.
Meanwhile, 1284 made the unusual step in its industry of working for ISO 9001 accreditation. It was awarded the internationally-recognised standard for quality management systems in 2025. Only a handful of PR agencies hold ISO 9001, demonstrating 1284’s commitment to consistent, high-quality delivery, robust internal processes and continuous improvement.
For clients, ISO 9001 – as well as 1284’s status as a Crown Commercial Supplier – provides added assurance that their campaigns meet clearly defined standards, with a strong focus on accountability, efficiency and measurable outcomes – particularly important when delivering complex, multi-stakeholder communications programmes.
1284 works with B2B, G2B and B2G clients to find lear ways to tell often complex stories. Examples include:
• increasing public awareness of Government-funded programmes
• contextualising organisational restructures
• engaging with diverse groups of stakeholders
• chairing multi-agency comms groups
• setting out the benefits of investment.
The work of 1284 Communications is underpinned by strong engagement with regional growth and support organisations, reflecting a wider commitment to the East Midlands’ economic and social development.
George continues to voluntarily play an active role across this ecosystem. As well as being a Non-Executive Director at East Midlands Chamber, he is Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Leicester. He serves as Chair of Charity Link, the £1.7m turnover nonprofit which supports vulnerable people in crisis across the region.
These roles ensure 1284 remains closely connected to the challenges and opportunities facing businesses and communities, informing its approach to communications, policy engagement and impact-led storytelling.
As the business continues to grow, its core mission remains to champion regional innovation, translate complex ideas into compelling stories, and help organisations demonstrate real impact.
For more information about 1284, visit www.1284.co.uk, email info@1284.co.uk, or sign up for its monthly newsletter.
To find out more about The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity’s interest-free business loans, which are available up to the value of £20,000, interest-free for nine years, please click here
