By creating a brand story that talks to investors as well as employees, we have helped a leading solar investment manager to grow its reputation in a singular and powerful way.

NextEnergy Capital is a leading solar investment management company, founded back in 2007. We were asked to help them to refresh their brand and create a band story that would appeal to institutional and retail investors, as well as colleagues and new hires, and show how they are fulfilling their mission to ‘lead the transition to clean energy’.

Working with the Leadership Team at NEC, we delved into what makes them special in the eyes of investors and employees and different from their competitors. What was evident was the Leadership, Agility, Passion and Urgency of their proposition. Leadership in the market; Agility to move into new markets; Passion as a mission-driven business; and Urgency of the need for energy transition.

Next is Now is simple, memorable and powerful. Such is the strength of the message that it has remained unchanged over a four-year period. We have also had the phrase registered.

Values are a powerful way to guide behaviour and decision-making in organisations of all sizes. We helped the firm develop the identity for the values, shape their meaning and create fun and insightful ways to communicate them – from values packs and merchandise to running workshops and embedding into various parts of the employee experience.

We helped to transform the NextEnergy Capital website – simplifying the user experience, conveying the NextEnergy story through film, infographics and news, and shining a light on the growth and impact of their investment strategy. We now manage the website on a quarterly retainer – updating plugins, changing functionality as and when required and supporting content development. In the last 12 months, there has been a 15% uplift in organic search and a similar lift in the number of visitors.

We have continued to support NextEnergy Capital with content creation, whether filming the CEO for his annual wrap-up of the year; creating investor comms for the German market; or supporting the NextEnergy Foundation with a bespoke website and reporting template.

Our work with NextEnergy Capital can be looked at across three value streams:

• The ability to attract high-value talent that helps to grow capability and revenues;
• A purpose-driven brand story that stands out to investors and talent;
• A culture and values set that drives the right behaviours and decision-making.

Through our brand messaging and marketing NextEnergy Capital has showcased its worth to investors, with a clear voice, intent and image. Pride amongst its workforce has also grown, strengthening buy-in, and loyalty.