About EMPRA
PR, crisis communications and education marketing with more edge, warmth and judgement.
EMPRA works with schools, colleges, universities, trusts, awarding bodies and EdTech organisations that need sharp communication, stronger visibility and calm support when the stakes are high.
Education-first thinking.
Media coverage, reputation and crisis support.
Brighter ideas, not bland agency fluff.
What Makes EMPRA Different
Education expertise with sharper instincts.
We know the pressures education organisations face because we have spent years working in and around the sector. That means we understand the sensitivity of reputation, the urgency of crisis communications, and the need for marketing that actually supports recruitment, profile and trust.
EMPRA is at its best when the brief needs judgement as much as creativity: a media story that needs shaping, a crisis that needs calming, a campaign that needs sharpening, or a website or product that needs to communicate more clearly.
Meet The Team
The people behind EMPRA.
Founder / MD
Ruth Sparkes
Ruth leads EMPRA’s work across PR, communications and marketing strategy, helping clients build profile, handle pressure and find the right response when the stakes are high.
Public Relations
Clare Gilbert
Clare brings a journalist’s instinct to every story, helping clients uncover angles, shape coverage and feel more confident speaking to the media.
Design
Debbie Elsden
Debbie brings visual clarity and illustration craft to the business, making the brighter side of EMPRA feel distinctive, polished and properly considered.
Marketing / Projects
Donna Hewitt
Donna turns strategy into action, helping clients move from good intentions to realistic plans, tighter delivery and better momentum.
How We Work
Clear advice, stronger stories and practical support.
Media relations with bite
We know how to find the story, frame it properly and get it into the right places.
Crisis support with judgement
When something goes wrong, clear advice and calm communication matter more than noise.
Marketing that supports real goals
Recruitment, reputation, stakeholder trust and profile all need sharper communication, not more clutter.
Digital in the right place
Websites, products and AI tools are part of the picture, but they should support the wider brand, not overwhelm it.
Contact
Need a team that understands education and communicates with confidence?
If you need PR support, crisis communications, sharper positioning or a stronger digital offer, EMPRA can help shape the next step.