About
I had the idea of starting The UK Speechwriters’ Guild after making a visit to Washington DC in 2008.
Since 1999, I have worked as a freelance speechwriter in the UK.
In February 2008, I received an invitation to speak to the Ragan Communications annual conference of speechwriters in America.
It was a revelation. In America, speechwriters are given proper training, have status and are well paid. The Americans treat with great importance the ritual of giving a speech.
Fellow delegates were very curious about how the UK speaking industry worked. How could they get to speak to groups? How could they move into the market? Was there any way in which they could sell their magazines to UK customers?
I wasn't sure whether there were even more than half a dozen people who called themselves speechwriters in the whole of the United Kingdom.
In December 2008, using the Internet and personal contacts, I organised a drinks party for UK speechwriters, in central London. Twenty-five people came along, with members of the group expressing a desire to see the business of speechwriting flourish and grow.
In April 2009, I launched The UK Speechwriters’ Guild, bringing together those wishing to give the public a better idea of what speechwriters do and what benefits they can bring.
On 18 September 2009, we had our first conference which brought together the country’s top speechwriters. When we set out, I never thought we could match the standard of the Ragan Communications Conference I went to in Washington DC in 2008, but, on reflection, we did, at the first attempt. We may not have an Obama, but we've got our own style and our own outstanding communicators.
Over the coming years, we can now look forward to building a thriving industry for speechwriters in the UK
Brian Jenner