About
Hello!
We are BOOST Communications and Training, a communications consultancy for small businesses, professional services and healthcare clients.
Our unique experience in the business and academic worlds of communications, training and teaching gives us a passion and insight into helping small businesses. We can identify the best communications, training or research solution to meet your needs, budget and timeline and give you the boost you need! Find out more about our team below...
Dr Jane Tonge PhD MA Director
Dr Jane Tonge is an experienced communications practitioner with a background in academia and consultancy services. She set up BOOST to bring the benefits and advantages of business-school know-how to small businesses. She is passionate about giving them the advice, support, tools and skills they need to ensure their business thrives.
The practitioner bit…
Jane has worked as a communications practitioner in the public and private sector, and as an independent consultant for clients in healthcare, professional services, and business enterprise sectors. She
has worked as as a Business Development Lead, B2B PR Account Manager, Local Government Press Officer, and Editor & Writer for Plain English Campaign.
Jane works with small businesses to help them promote their services, provides training on communications and networking, and offers business research to inform action and strategic planning.
The academic bit…
A Cambridge University graduate, Jane has an Honours Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Public Relations, and a PhD in Business and Management. She is a Member of the Public Relations Communications Association (MPRCA) and was a Senior Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Jane is a former Senior Lecturer in Marketing Communications at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Business School specialising in public relations, corporate communications, reputation management, media relations, and professional writing skills. She was Programme Leader for MSc Public Relations, and set up and directed the UK's first interactive online Master’s course in Public Relations and Media Management attended by international communications practitioners.
Now an Associate Lecturer at the Business School, Jane lectures on Persuasive Writing and supervises Master’s and Doctoral students.
Her PhD research examined the use of personal contact networks and networking for client retention and client acquisition in small businesses and public relations consultancies, and how to develop successful and long-lasting professional business relationships.
Mel Powell M.Phil MAAssociate Trainer
As an Associate Trainer, Mel Powell devises and delivers a range of training in communications and public relations.
The practitioner bit…
Mel is a Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Accredited Practitioner and is a regular Judge for the CIPR PRide Awards. She has significant practitioner experience in local government, media relations and arts (theatre) marketing, having worked first as Public Relations Manager and then Marketing Manager at Calderdale Council and Public Relations Manager at Cambridgeshire County Council.
The academic bit…
Mel is a dedicated educator and experienced PR professional. She works part-time as a Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at MMU Business School, where she was formerly Associate Head of Student Employability and Course Leader for MSc Public Relations. She was also Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at Leeds Beckett University.
Mel holds an MA and an M.Phil in English from St Andrews University. She has teaching experience in public relations, marketing, branding, creative brand strategy, communications theory, ethics, personal development planning and employability.