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PR and marketing that gets results

When you work with us, we become an extension of your team and really get to know your business. This way we can understand what makes you different from your competitors and what persuades your customers to choose you.

Why Shooting Star

Shooting Star is an award-winning PR, marketing and digital agency set up in 2006 by directors Kate Strawson and Jez Ashberry, who had one aim: to help businesses grow by increasing brand awareness and sales. And that is still our mission today.

Even though the tools we use may have changed, our reason for coming to work in the morning is the same. Nothing makes us happier than reading about our clients’ expansion plans or new business wins in the national news or on social media.

And because our team is made up of ex-journalists, marketers, event managers and experienced PR professionals, we can look after all aspects of your PR and marketing. We know how to create interesting and engaging content that really resonates with your target audience, and we put creativity at the forefront of everything we do.

Let’s meet for a chat

We believe in what we do

Shooting Star Vision

We strive to be a great employer and the best PR and marketing agency we can be,

helping our people and clients to achieve their full potential.  

 

Shooting Star Mission

We build great relationships with our clients to deliver imaginative PR and marketing that helps them to thrive,

while nurturing young talent and contributing to the community.  

 

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Meet our team

Our team is made up of ex-journalists, events, digital and marketing specialists. Each member of the team brings something special to the table. If you’d like to see who you’ll be working with, take a look at our profiles below.

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Kate Strawson

Director

Kate studied journalism and worked as a journalist before moving into PR. She set up Shooting Star with Jez in 2006. In her spare time she loves travelling and has backpacked around Australia and New Zealand and hiked along the Great Wall of China. She also enjoys walking her dog Bailey and learning Italian.

Get to know my journey>>

Star sign: Scorpio – determined, loyal and resourceful

Jez-Ashberry-Shooting-Star-Director

Jez Ashberry

Director

One of the agency’s founders, Jez was a print journalist before moving into PR and running the press office at the University of Lincoln for eight years. He is pernickety about punctuation and a stickler for good grammar. He’s married with two grown-up kids. He’s a dog lover and likes beer, whisky, baking bread, reading, writing, acting and directing.

Read more about Jez >>>

Star sign: Pisces – intuitive, creative, caring

Maz Davis

Account Director

Maz studied marketing at De Montfort University and has worked in senior brand marketing roles across the toy, nursery and watch sectors. She works on PR and marketing campaigns across a portfolio of clients and is responsible for account management, communications, media planning, event planning and activation. In her spare time she loves travelling, genealogy and walks in the countryside with her terrier Brush.

Star sign: Aquarius – assertive, creative, passionate and honest

Emma van Nieuwenhuijzen Senior Marketing Manager at Shooting Star

Emma Van Nieuwenhuijzen

Senior Marketing Manager

Emma worked for Unilever while studying PR and co-ordinated their internal brand launches including Lynx, Hellmann’s and PG Tips. She also worked in house for a glamping provider at festivals throughout the UK and Ireland. In her spare time, Emma loves to travel, cook, swim, entertain friends and family and walk the open countryside accompanied by her black labrador.

Read more about Emma >>>

Star sign: Libra – sociable, creative, intelligent

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Niamh Tracey

Senior Account Executive

Niamh is a graduate of Lincoln University with an Upper Second Class degree in Dance. After working as a self-employed arts teacher for a couple of years, she decided to move into marketing. Thanks to her arts background, Niamh considers herself a creative and loves learning new skills. As an avid fitness lover she is often at the gym or out running, but can also be found reading the next psychological thriller! 

Get to know Niamh>>

Star sign: Capricorn – ambitious, loyal, confident 

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Dan Bratton

Digital Content Executive

Dan has a degree in Photography and a master’s in Digital Marketing. Dan began as an in-house marketer in the construction industry and is now responsible for social media planning and strategy for both Shooting Star and our clients as well as creating engaging content. In his spare time, he loves reading, listening to podcasts and walking his sausage dog Gus.

Star sign: Sagittarius – lively, passionate, smart

Jacob-Porter-Digital-Marketer-at-Shooting-Star

Jacob Porter

Digital Marketer

Jacob has completed both a Level 3 and a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing. He developed his skills while working in-house for multiple companies over the past seven years and has a passion for videography. Jacob enjoys playing music on his guitar and listening to 70s/80s classics. He also enjoys going for long walks by the seaside and occasionally a spot of sea fishing! 

Get to know Jacob further>>

Star Sign: Scorpio – brave, confident, ambitious  

Sarah Johnston

Business Development Manager

Sarah started her business journey in 2017, setting up Homes4harrogate from her lounge and growing it for sale in 2021 for a six-figure sum. Since then she has been coaching over 50 business owners to grow their businesses and reach a million-pound turnover. With a passion for marketing and creativity, Sarah has advised clients on direct mail campaigns, social media marketing campaigns and getting your clients to like, know and trust you. In her spare time, she enjoys walks with her pug Peggy, yoga and kayaking on the marina where she lives. 

Star sign: Aquarius – assertive, creative, passionate and honest 

Fancy joining our team?

We’re a fun-loving, caffeine-fuelled bunch with a penchant for all things creative and cake-shaped!

We’re always on the lookout for fresh talent to join our team, and we enjoy helping people to get their feet on the career ladder.

We’ve always offered work experience placements to students and graduates, and we run a paid Rising Star internship scheme for the most promising candidates. So far five of our interns have secured full-time permanent jobs with us, and many now have flourishing careers in PR and marketing.

If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, get in touch by emailing your CV to hello@weareshootingstar.co.uk.

What’s it like working at Shooting Star
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