From Scratch to Global Presence: Jason Knights, Founder and Director, Reflects on Five Years of Building Knights MPR

When I first set out to build Knights MPR, there were no external investors or outside help, and certainly no guarantee of success. What I had was a vision – an agency that could revolutionize the PR and brand communications landscape for businesses operating in the sectors of maritime, renewables and conventional energy.

Now, five years later, Knights MPR has expanded from a UK-based startup to a global agency with a presence in Australia, North America, Europe, and in Scotland, London and also Cornwall where our Head Office is located, with partner hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore and Brazil, all delivering tailored communication, PR and brand flaring solutions to clients worldwide – clients that include TotalEnergies Marine Fuels in Singapore, Lubmarine in France, American Bureau of Shipping, ABS Consulting, Inc. and BGE, Inc. in North America, AW-Energy in Finland, Woodward L’Orange in Germany, ARA Petroleum in Oman, Accelleron in Switzerland, and in the UK with Intellian Technologies, William Hackett and Aminex PLC.

This journey from scratch to global presence has been nothing short of extraordinary. Here’s a reflection on the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and the remarkable growth we’ve experienced – plus a look at how PR, communications and brand initiatives have shaped our own success.

1. The Power of PR: More Than Just Media Coverage

PR, communications and branding are not just tools for generating media buzz or improving public image – they are essential for businesses of all sizes to build credibility, navigate challenges, and drive growth across the supply chain. From the outset of my early career with organizations such as Cornwall College, Renishaw Plc, and Paramo/Nikwax, I soon recognized that effective communication could transform a company’s growth, enabling it to not just survive but thrive in a competitive market.

For our clients operating in industries like energy and maritime, the ability to manage market perceptions, build relationships, and communicate effectively with customers, investors, and partners is critical in today’s operating landscape. Getting the balance right between strategic PR and tactical everyday communications, can help companies showcase their innovation, respond to industry shifts and trends, and create lasting customer impact and recognition – whether they’re a startup in need of visibility or a multinational transitioning through their decarbonization agenda or even navigating complex geopolitical issues.

2. From Local to Global: Expanding Without External Help

The growth of Knights MPR has been an entirely self-funded journey. We started with me as the solo representative of the agency and very quickly developed a small team of reliable experts – many of which I have worked with previously in other client-facing roles such as Rigibore and Lloyd’s Register before starting Knights MPR. Within three months of starting Knights MPR, a handful of clients put their trust in us with AW-Energy moving to us from their PR agency in New York, and TotalEnergies Marine Fuels in Singapore and Lubmarine in France choosing Knights MPR over their legacy agencies. From that moment our drive was always to further expand our reach. Today, reaching our fifth anniversary, our global footprint spans the UK, Europe, Australia, North America, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Brazil – achieved with careful planning and a commitment to serving each market with the same approach, service quality and communications expertise.

Building an international PR and communications agency from scratch meant that every decision, every client relationship, and every hire had to be strategic. Without external backing, we relied heavily on organic growth, which involved reinvesting profits, making calculated risks, and constantly evolving our services and approach to meet the demands of an ever-evolving global market.

3. Resilience in the Face of Setbacks

Like any entrepreneur, I faced moments that felt bewildering and the complexity of starting and running a Limited company was on many occasions (and can still be) highly time consuming when you are in charge of meeting client needs, and doing the work that you are paid to do, but also having to manage the administration of a Limited company including the accounts, reporting, paperwork, invoicing, insurance, sales, networking, etc. Resilience is essential… it’s certainly not a 9 to 5 job!

However, for me, business isn’t just about growth – it’s about the ability to pivot, adapt and solve problems. Within three months of starting the business we were faced with the pandemic, and we quickly transitioned to remote-first operations, making use of digital tools like Teams, Zoom and Slack to cultivate a collaborative culture. Through it all, our commitment to every one of our clients and our core values kept us grounded. We’ve emerged from the pandemic stronger and more prepared for the next challenge.

4. People: The Heartbeat of the Agency

No company can succeed without the right people, and this is especially true in PR, communications and branding, where talent and expertise are everything. From day one, I focused on building a team that was not only skilled and well networked, but passionate about what we do, and why we do what we do every day for our clients. The right team of PR experts, creatives, and strategists can elevate client work to new heights.

As we grew, our emphasis on maintaining a strong company culture became increasingly important. We prioritized relationships – both with clients and internally between ourselves – fostering an environment where everyone felt invested in the agency’s success. It’s not just about the business results; it’s about the people who contribute to them. It’s about how we work together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts.

5. Growth is Key: But Smart Growth is Crucial

We didn’t just want to grow – we wanted to grow sustainably. Growth, after all, is the fuel that drives innovation, creativity, and long-term success. We made sure that each expansion was aligned with our values, our vision, and our commitment to delivering exceptional service for clients wherever they are located in the world. As Knights MPR scaled, I focused on attracting new clients that complemented the companies we currently represented. It is important for us to be able to work with non-competing companies so there’s no conflict of interest. It also helps our clients work together at events on campaigns or through podcasts and webinars to offer complementary insight in shared discussions that increases the dialogue across industry.

6. Differentiation is Critical in a Competitive Market

When you’re starting from nothing in a competitive industry like PR, you have to find a way to stand out. From the beginning, we sought to differentiate ourselves by being client-centric – offering personalized strategies that went beyond media coverage. We didn’t just want to be another PR agency; we wanted to be a partner who understood our clients’ goals and partnered with them to help them achieve those goals through strategic and everyday communications.

Fighting for differentiation from some of the legacy agencies that have been in existence for a while meant constantly challenging the status quo and evolving with the needs of the market. We combined best practices learnt from our careers and our own experiences of working with agencies in the past to offer more than an outsourced PR function. We focused on results, impact, and building long-term relationships with every client.

7. Building for the Future: What’s Next for Knights MPR

As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: to continue delivering top-tier PR, communications and brand flaring services to clients across the globe, helping them build their reputation, grow their business, and stay ahead of the competition. The future of PR is digital, data-driven, and ever-evolving, and we’re ready to lead that charge.

We’ll continue to expand our international presence, with an eye on new markets that present exciting opportunities. We’re also doubling down on technology, investing in analytics, and digital tools that will enable us to refine our strategies and measure our success more precisely than ever before. Central to maintaining our building blocks is ensuring every one of our clients gets the results they need and the right level of service.

8. The Value of Mistakes and Learning

I’ve made my fair share of mistakes along the way, but what’s important is that we don’t dwell on them – we learn from them. I often think of the words of Vince Lombardi: “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Every mistake is an opportunity to grow, to refine our approach, and to become better at what we do.

When you build a business from scratch, you learn quickly that there’s no such thing as a perfect road to success. What matters is the willingness to learn, adapt and persevere.

5 Years: A Journey of Growth, Resilience, and Ambition

The past five years have been an incredible journey of growth, very long hours, tough decisions, and hard-earned success. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved at Knights MPR, but what excites me most is the future. Our global reach, our expert and growing team, our increasing media network, and our unwavering commitment to delivering results for our clients put us in a strong position for the next phase of growth.

We’ve built something we’re proud of from the ground up, and I look forward to continuing this journey, shaping perceptions with integrity and influence with our clients, our team, and our partners by our side. Here’s to the next five years – and beyond!