This month we speak to Nyree Ambarchian, Co-Founder, Jack & Grace, about what they look for in a hire.
What motivated you to start Jack & Grace and why?
We were fed up of being told it’s impossible to make a business work if you:
- Only use public relations as a force for good, for clients making a positive impact in the world
- Ditch loads of the ‘rules’ of work – for example like requiring people to be in London
- Prioritise people and planet equally with profit
We started Jack & Grace to test out the things our previous bosses had told us were impossible over the years. (It turns out it is all possible!)
How do you land a job at Jack & Grace?
We work quite differently to lots of other agencies – we’re remote first, spread all over the country; we offer all roles part-time as standard (you can work full-time but you need to request it); we have salary transparency; and work super-flexibly based on each individual’s needs. You need to be comfortable with all that because it’s not for everyone.
We’re small (there are 12 of us now) so we don’t have loads of roles. But the best way to get on our radar is to email us: hello@jackandgrace.co.uk and keep an eye on our LinkedIn as we advertise new roles there first.
What piece of work are you most proud of and why?
Our Plant Your Pants campaign for charity, The Country Trust, will always have a special place in my heart. Planting cotton pants is a brilliant way to test soil health and a hilarious experiment for children to learn about nature.
We got loads of media coverage (getting BBC Radio 4’s Justin Webb to talk about his pants on the Today Programme will always be a career high), but seeing children afraid of mud, dirt, and insects suddenly transform and get their hands muddy with big grins on their faces – that was magic.
What’s the best job advice you’ve been given for working in PR?
The very worst advice I ever received turned out to be the best advice. I was told by my boss I needed to put work ahead of my family to get ahead (my daughter was aged one at the time). That was the final kick I needed to set up Jack & Grace.
To anyone else facing the pressure of juggling work and family/life, you don’t need to put work first. If you’re being told that (overtly or through culture/behaviour from colleagues) call it out / leave. Work is important but it’s not life.
Find these tips useful? Keep an eye on Jack & Grace’s LinkedIn page for upcoming roles.
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