Made up of experts in a broad range of services and sectors, we each bring a different perspective to our clients’ businesses – helping us deliver the best work every time.
Stefanie Hopkins
Founder / MD
Nicola Dempster
PR Account Manager
Tom Coates
Account Director
Emily Raleigh
Associate Account Director
Carl Hopkins
Creative Lead
Gill Bowker
Associate Account Director
Abigail Henderson
Account Manager
Annace Baynes
Social Media Account Manager
Georgina Spence
Junior PR Account Executive
Rhianne Lee
Junior Social Media Executive
Nicole Jowett
Office Manager
Bethany Monks
Office Administrator
Kirsty Perkins
1991 – 2021: Always Remembered
Stefanie Hopkins
Stefanie is the founder and managing director of Faith PR with over 19 years of PR and marketing experience. German-born Stef is a modern languages graduate who fell in love with communications. She started her career in the industry at McCann Erikson Leeds working on behalf of Bentley Motors before beginning a PR role at full-service agency JDA. She set up Faith in 2007 from her kitchen table and has grown the agency to the full team it has today. In recent years, Stef has won several awards for herself as well as Faith PR, including Forward Ladies SME Emerging, Yorkshire Women of Achievement and 42 under 42.
Commercially aware at all times to identify opportunities to attract new business and generate growth.
Delivering PR, social media and communications strategies for businesses which help to influence or manage the perceptions people have of an organisation.
Leading a team on designing and executing client projects to deliver on-brand results and maximise income and return investment.
With a background in modern languages, Stef is able to build successful working relationships with clients and businesses internationally.
Tom Coates
Tom has more than 13 years of experience working in journalism, public relations, marketing and content creation. In more recent years, he has developed his skillset to include digital disciplines like web development, digital design and SEO. He has delivered award-winning B2B PR campaigns and has worked on behalf of some of the UK’s biggest brands, including Ladbrokes, Asda and Ebuyer. Tom’s role as an Account Director is varied and includes work across a range of marketing disciplines, leading the development and successful delivery of strategy.
Building, delivering and adapting a PR approach that leaves no stone unturned in search of quality coverage.
Building and managing content SEO strategies that get client websites up the Google rankings.
Working with clients to build a robust, streamlined marketing approach crafted from the right streams.
Creating efficient working processes that combine client-side insight and expertise with the skillset of the Faith team.
Carl Hopkins
An ability to bring things to life visually and identify what makes something visually engaging, which he continues to do as an art tutor.
Proven track record at taking businesses forward and implementing effective and efficient strategies to achieve sustained growth.
Advertising and marketing knowledge and expertise rivalled by few, including how to spot an opportunity to effectively promote any business or brand.
Providing mentoring and useful advice to business owners and decision-makers across a number of different industries.
Emily Raleigh
As a former modern language graduate, Emily fell into the world of PR by chance when she accepted an admin role straight out of university at a Bradford-based agency. She went on to work her way up the ranks after falling in love with the industry that combined her writing and creative skills. Following a brief stint living in Spain, she worked for a London-based integrated agency where she managed the Leeds PR team, focusing predominantly on health and education clients.
Gill Bowker
After completing a degree in engineering, Gill decided on a different path, accepting a job with an award-winning Manchester-based public relations consultancy. Gill worked with consumer, B2B and lifestyle brands, helping to develop and implement their PR strategies. Her work with Faith PR will see her strengthening and creating long-lasting relationships and implementing strategies for a wide variety of clients.
Nicola Dempster
With over 18 years’ marketing communications and events experience, Nicola was a BBC journalist before moving into PR. She worked in London agencies for several years, across consumer and B2B clients, including household brands such as Argos, BT, The Financial Times and Canon. Nicola returned to her native Yorkshire and worked for a variety of high-profile Leeds agencies, focussing on retaining and growing larger consumer brands. Clients included Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks, npower, Morrisons and Nestlé, and numerous restaurants, shopping centres, and health charities. She was also Press and PR Manager at Opera North. At Faith, Nicola works on several of the agency’s key accounts and inputs more broadly into planning and strategy.
Award-winning event management and sponsorship maximisation skills.
Generating headline-grabbing news stories for clients when they are naturally scarce, by creating eye catching angles and finding current hooks to hang them on.
A former BBC broadcast journalist with an eye and an ear for what makes good airtime.
Rhianne Lee
Currently undertaking an apprenticeship in digital marketing with Kirklees College, Rhianne was previously a media marketing assistant. After opening a small online business in early 2021, she developed a passion for social media and marketing. Rhianne has a creative eye and greatly enjoys designing content. Eager to learn and enhance her skills further, she is passionate about helping companies grow through social media – something which she is ideally placed to do at Faith, as our social media account executive.
Planning monthly social media activity and content calendars
Helping to coordinate social media campaigns, drive recognition and build engagement
Creating, curating, and managing proactive social media brand content, including multimedia formats
Abigail Henderson
Abigail joined the Faith team in March 2019 after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a BA (Hons) in journalism. Having spent a work placement at Faith the previous year, Abigail developed a passion for PR and social media so when the opportunity to join the team on a permanent basis arose, she jumped at it. Abigail has worked her way up from account executive and now manages a number of clients delivering content, PR and social media while supporting senior team members on various tasks, from sector research to creating media lists.
Planning and executing engaging PR campaigns to deliver tangible results in a clients’ target sector of the media.
Bespoke copywriting in the form of SEO blog posts to help maximise the impact blogs have on clients’ rankings and brand awareness.
Email marketing, including design and delivery of content. Abi is the agency’s lead on MailChimp design, used to develop monthly e-shots and other assets for clients.
Using InDesign to create eye-catching visual content to support PR activity, onsite content and social media strategies.
Nicole Jowett
Nicole joined the team as the agency’s first apprentice, studying Business and Administration at Kirklees College. Following her qualification, she joined the team as full-time as Administration Assistant. Since then, she has gained a qualification in bookkeeping and been promoted to Office Manager. Nicole is responsible for providing operational support for all members of the team as well as the daily handling of financial accounts. She is committed to providing a professional and friendly service, while making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Financial management of internal and client accounts across the business, including invoicing and expenses.
Overseeing the maintenance of the premises and managing staff and business resources.
Administrating business logistics to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the company.
Organising the team to map out clear work deadlines and managing communications between the agency and clients.
Annace Baynes
After beginning her social media career aged 17 as an apprentice marketeer, Annace has worked her way up the ranks, handling all types of social media marketing strategies and influencer outreach. She has worked on several household names, including L’Oreal and Next, creating organic and paid for social media as well as influencer engagement campaigns. Annace has a passion for all things social media, thriving in a creative environment and always thinking outside of the box. Annace’s role at Faith will see her capitalising on her experience in both B2B and B2C marketing to boost and grow clients’ digital strategies, as well as continuing to develop her own skills in the ever-changing field of social media.
Creative thinking.
Social strategies.
Analysing data.
Online business growth.
Georgina Spence
As a recent fashion brand marketing graduate, Georgina has decided to delve into a career within the PR industry. With an eye for creativity and a love to keep up with the latest trends, Georgina became very interested in PR and social media in her university modules. With a background working in customer service and hospitality, Georgina has developed great communication skills, which she would like to put to the test within her new role at Faith. She also hopes to develop and evolve the skills she learnt at university to bring them to life within the world of PR and social media.
An eye for design and creativity.
Developing detailed media lists.
Design and editing within Photoshop and InDesign.
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A love for event planning and management.
Bethany Monks
After leaving school ten years ago, Beth jumped straight into an office environment, working in a variety of roles including sales, customer service, administration, HR and marketing, across a range of sectors. Throughout this time, she developed a love for helping people and thrives in a fast-paced environment. More recently, Beth has helped to build a virtual office business, where she helped to manage the social media and marketing services for her clients. At Faith, Beth supports the whole team with a variety of administrative and social media responsibilities.
A passion for organisation.
Promoting efficiency in an office environment.
A love of design and creativity, specialising in Canva.
Building trusting relationships with current and prospective clients.
Remembering Kirsty Perkins
On 14 September, Kirsty – our social media and digital lead – died suddenly and unexpectedly at home. She was a much-loved, talented, loyal and valued member of Faith PR who made an impression from day one when she joined as an intern in 2014. She quickly grew to become an important member of the team and forged a unique and niche role for herself, taking the lead on all things social media and digital. We will miss her so much and her legacy at Faith will always live on.
We’re rasing money to support Kirsty’s young family: 30 for Kirsty
Stefanie Hopkins
MD and PR lead
Tom Coates
AD and Content Marketing Lead
Kirsty Perkins
Social media & Digital Lead
Emily Raleigh
PR Account Director
Gill Bowker
PR Account Director
Kate Wobschall
PR Account Manager
Matt Fraser
Digital PR Account Manager
Abigail Henderson
Junior Account Manager
Rebecca Bamford
Social & Digital Account Executive
James White
Content Executive
Nicole Jowett
Office Manager
Stefanie Hopkins
Stefanie Hopkins is the founder and managing director of Faith PR with over 15 years of PR and marketing experience. German-born Stef is a modern languages graduate who fell in love with communications. She started her career in the industry at McCann Erikson Leeds working on behalf of Bentley Motors before beginning a PR role at full-service agency JDA. In recent years, Stef has won several awards for herself as well as Faith PR, including Forward Ladies SME Emerging, Yorkshire Women of Achievement and 42 under 42.
Tom Coates
Tom started his career in the media industry as a sports journalist, before branching out into public relations, marketing and copywriting. In more recent years, he has developed his skillset to include digital disciplines like web design, digital design and SEO. He has delivered award-winning PR campaigns on behalf of some of the UK’s biggest brands, including Ladbrokes, Asda and Ebuyer.
Kirsty Perkins
Kirsty gained experience working in-house and agency side before joining the Faith PR team. She found her passion for the industry in her gap year before going on to study PR with Marketing at Leeds Beckett (or Leeds Metropolitan as it was known at the time). As a dedicated account handler, she specialises in social media and digital marketing, working alongside designers, copywriters and suppliers to ensure work is delivered on time, to budget and to brief.
Emily Raleigh
As a former modern language graduate, Emily Raleigh fell into the world of PR by chance when she accepted an admin role straight out of university at a Bradford-based agency. She went on to work her way up the ranks after falling in love with the industry that combined her writing and creative skills. Following a brief stint living in Spain, she worked for a London-based integrated agency where she managed the Leeds PR team, focusing predominantly on health and education clients.
Gill Bowker
After completing a degree in engineering, Gill Bowker decided on a different path, accepting a job with an award-winning Manchester-based public relations consultancy. Gill worked with consumer, B2B and lifestyle brands, helping to develop and implement their PR strategies. Her work with Faith PR will see her strengthening and creating long-lasting relationships and implementing strategies for a wide variety of clients.
Kate Wobschall
A former journalist with more than 20 years’ experience, Kate Wobschall was a group deputy editor and chief sub-editor before making the move into PR three years ago. She loves to tell client stories whether it’s through a Tweet, press release or feature, but beware –there’s nothing like a rogue apostrophe to make her see red. Kate is a dedicated horse-rider who most weekends can be found in the ring at shows around the UK with her two native ponies. Having qualified for Olympia and the Royal International Horse Show, like any self-respecting, super-competitive Yorkshire girl, she’s only happy when she’s holding t’trophy.
Matthew Fraser
A PR graduate with more than 5 years’ experience in the industry, Matthew Fraser has worked in several traditional and digital PR agencies across the Yorkshire and Manchester regions. Cutting his teeth on a range of national PR accounts including Marks & Spencer, Westfield, University of Law, and ScS. He loves getting to really understand a client and then using that knowledge to help raise awareness through creative campaigns.
Abigail Henderson
Abigail Henderson joined the Faith team in March 2019 after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a BA (Hons) in journalism. Having spent a work placement at Faith the previous year, Abigail developed a passion for PR and social media so when the opportunity to join the team on a permanent basis arose, she jumped at it. Starting as a junior manager, Abigail works on content, PR and social media for a range of clients while supporting senior team members on various tasks, from sector research to creating media lists.
Rebecca Bamford
Rebecca is new to Faith and we’re still working on her profile!
James White
James joined Faith earlier in 2021 and provides an invaluable digital skillset. He works across a range of Faith clients in areas including digital design and web development. James arrived at our agency as part of the Kickstarter scheme and has quickly become an integral part of the team, proving himself as a brilliant problem-solver and bonafide tech wiz.
Nicole Jowett
Nicole Jowett joined the team as the agency’s first apprentice, studying Business and Administration at Kirklees College. Following her qualification, she joined the team full-time as Administration Assistant. Since then, she has gone on to take the next step in her career by gaining a qualification in bookkeeping. Nicole is responsible for providing administrative support for all members of the team as well as the daily handling of financial accounts. She is committed to providing a professional and friendly service, while making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Carl Hopkins
Carl Hopkins has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, advertising and branding as well as business ownership. His career began as a junior designer for direct marketing agency JDA and went on to become managing director, before selling the business he had increased turnover from £9.6 million to £19.4 million.
Over his career, Carl has been voted the 35th most influential marketer outside of London by readers of The Drum magazine, Man of the Year in 2015 by Network She and Business Person of the Year in 2015 by Brighouse Echo.
How it started
Seeing a gap in the local market for a strategically-focused communications agency, Stefanie Hopkins founded Faith PR in 2007. Launching the business from her home at the start, the agency quickly expanded and soon Faith PR had its own premises and a growing team working on an ever-broadening client portfolio.
How it's going
As Faith PR has grown, so have the number of trophies on our bookshelf. Faith PR, and Stefanie personally, have been recognised in a variety of award schemes – from industry-led – CIPR Pride Awards, PRCA Awards and Prolific North – through to local and regional business awards including Forward Ladies and Yorkshire Women of Achievement.
Where we're heading
More than ten years on, Stefanie’s mission remains the same – to be a leading Yorkshire communications agency working for the best local and national brands, with a strong culture of excellence.
Giving something back
We all live in West Yorkshire and many of us have grown up locally. It means that our community is really important to us – and our families. So, we do our best to make a positive impact on the area and are always looking for new ways to help make a difference. We support a range of charities and local initiatives, but please do get in touch if you would like to chat about how we can help you locally too.
IN MEMORY
Here lies a tribute to a collegue taken too soon
Forever lost, but never forgotten
