Specialisms
I specialise in the following areas:
- Communications Support
- Communications Training
- Community Engagement
Michelle Gant is the Director of The Engaging People Company, which she founded in April 2017. She leads the organisation in supporting public sector, social housing, and not‑for‑profit clients to achieve their goals through targeted and meaningful communications and engagement. Michelle develops and delivers comprehensive communications and engagement strategies, and designs consultative activities—such as surveys, workshops, and facilitated sessions—that provide genuine insight and ensure people have a meaningful voice in shaping initiatives.
From 2010 to 2017, Michelle served as Director of Engagement at Freebridge Community Housing, where she was part of the senior management team and held strategic responsibility for HR, Communications, and Legal services.
Prior to that, between 2005 and 2010, Michelle was Communications Officer at Bridging Newcastle Gateshead, leading all aspects of communications for the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder. Her work covered resident and internal communications, stakeholder and partner engagement, government relations and visits, brand management, and media relations.
Key Strengths/Area of Expertise
- Communications, PR, campaigns
- Engaging people
- Community engagement
- Stakeholder engagement
- Employee engagement
- Consultation
- Facilitation
- Writing – engaging people through storytelling
Professional Qualifications
- ILM Level 7 in Strategic Management and Executive Leadership
- ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring
Testimonials/Case Studies
Lorna Blackmore, Director of Communication and External Affairs, Bromford Flagship
“Michelle knows how to engage and influence at all levels, possessing excellent communication skills including the ability to listen actively, articulate ideas clearly and tailor messaging to different audiences. She has empathy, emotional intelligence and the ability to build rapport and trust with others. Michelle has always had a strong work ethic, is reliable, responsible and committed to excellence. She has experience working across different sectors and draws on a wide range of best practices and strategies to help us achieve our goals. She sees the big picture and has an understanding of organisational dynamics, navigating complex landscapes with ease. She always bring a smile and positive vibe which is contagious, she is a joy to work with and someone I’d happily recommend time and time again,”
Notable Achievements/Value Added
- Supporting Town/Neighbourhood Boards and councils by carrying out extensive engagement to inform their submissions for Pride in Place funding;
- Carrying out significant, creative, and meaningful consultation exercises to inform plans, projects, and decision-making for different organisations;
- Supporting councils and Town Boards with communications and engagement around their Town Deal programmes and projects;
- Developing the Love West Norfolk brand for west Norfolk, and delivering associated campaign activities;
- Creating and publishing four collaborative books for charity, and carrying out continued creative writing projects to engage people.
Relevant Sector Knowledge
- Government funding especially Towns Fund and Pride in Place
- Housing and regeneration
- Town / Neighbourhood boards