From Stratford to San Francisco: a niche PR Agency with global impact 

It is remarkable how many small Warwickshire businesses operate on a global level. Among these is Stratford-upon-Avon-based Transmission PR. It has been quite a journey for founder Aby Hawker since an unexpected email landed in her inbox and professional curiosity evolved into passionate advocacy

It was a typical evening in my Warwickshire village home when I refreshed my emails at around 8pm. What appeared there was anything but ordinary - there in my inbox sat an inquiry from a leading San Francisco healthcare provider seeking specialist PR support, despite being located 5,270 miles away from my small startup agency. 

This long-distance outreach wasn't coincidental. TransMission PR occupies a distinctive space in the communications landscape, specialising in transgender and non-binary inclusion and awareness. We partner with organisations committed to genuine inclusivity for gender-diverse communities, ensuring their approach and language authentically reflect best practice - and taking away the fear which so often leads to the subject being dismissed or being pushed so far down the to-do list that it never gets addressed. 

My journey into this specialist field began a decade ago - not as a member of the transgender community myself, but as a communications professional with a commitment to addressing unmet needs. When I was offered an in-house role with a gender-affirming healthcare provider, I embraced the opportunity despite having no prior experience with issues impacting the transgender community. What began as professional curiosity evolved into passionate advocacy. 

Working closely with the transgender community revealed profound systemic barriers: multi-year waiting lists for initial consultations, physicians practicing without adequate training due to curriculum gaps, and alarming rates of mental health struggles. The most striking realisation was that these challenges stemmed not from individuals' gender identity but from societal rejection and institutional failures. 

I quickly realised that this was fundamentally a human issue, the infrastructure simply wasn't there to support the basic needs of this community - and people were suffering as a direct result. 

After six years immersing myself in the field, I recognised the opportunity to create broader impact beyond a single organisation. TransMissionPR launched with a commitment to authentic representation in 2021, building a team that includes transgender and non-binary consultants who ensure our work remains grounded in lived experience. 

Today, our client roster spans multiple sectors. We work with:  

• Trans specific healthcare providers: raising awareness of their important work. 

• Hospitality and fashion brands: creating visibility and providing guidance on  trans-inclusive policies 

• Charitable organisations: enhancing their reach and amplifying their messaging 

• NHSE: delivering specialist training 

• Cultural institutions: including our work on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth installation, which has been described as "a monument to the transgender community" 

As businesses increasingly recognise that true inclusivity encompasses all identities, TransMission PR stands ready with specialist expertise that's proven invaluable across continents. Our journey from a Warwickshire village to international consultancy demonstrates how addressing specific community needs can create both social impact and business success. 

When your organisation is ready to ensure its approach to gender diversity reflects best practices, remember there is expertise available that can help you to navigate these often challenging waters. 

 * Aby Hawker is the founder and CEO of TransMissionPR. She can be reached at aby@transmissionpr.com.