About us
Royal Pilgrim is a innovative specialist agency that can make a massive difference to your project and development plans. Formed in 2018 via the merger of two successful property communications businesses, we are often the difference between a project getting spades in the ground or not; and even when our input is smaller, we add value. Why? Because every member of our team has the experience to think outside the box while steering you towards your end goal.
Meet the team
Ben Pilgrim
Ben is a Founding Director of the company and previously ran his own PR agency for over ten years. Prior to that, he was International Press Manager for Knight Frank and worked as a journalist in Central America. Over a 25-year career specialising in the built environment, he has advised on some of the UK’s highest profile regeneration and development projects for leading UK and global companies.
Scott Royal
Founding Director Scott has spent his career working in and around politics and government at both national and local level. For the past 20 years, he has worked within the planning and development sector, applying his experience to many high-profile projects, including major retail developments and large-scale housing developments. Scott has advised companies such as Bruntwood, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Westfield, IKEA, Barratt Homes, Redrow and various local authorities and public bodies on development proposals.
Alex Ketnor
Alex is Director of Design at Royal Pilgrim and has over 20 years’ experience in the built environment design industry. He is a multidisciplinary designer who works across diverse media, including print, web, and animation; creating engaging and innovative collateral. He has worked with a wide range of clients on projects throughout the UK.
Emily Parkin
Emily has been consulting with local communities on planning applications and engaging with stakeholders across the UK for over 20 years, from the Scottish Highlands to Dover. She is also our in-house specialist on the Welsh planning system. With her career being entirely spent within the built environment, she has vast experience across all sectors including retail, residential, commercial, energy and large-scale regeneration. Emily has advised on pre-application consultation, political and stakeholder engagement and construction communications for clients including Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Wrexham A.F.C, National Grid, LCR Property, ION Developments, Bellway Homes, VINCI Developments, Redrow Barratt and several local authorities.
Matt Joy
Matt is a public relations, stakeholder engagement and community consultation specialist with over six years’ experience working in property communications agencies. He previously worked for three Members of Parliament and has a strong track record leading political stakeholder engagement and public consultation for major regeneration and development projects.
Cleo Sullivan
Cleo is a PR and communications specialist with a background in stakeholder engagement and public consultation within the built environment. She has previously worked on a range of high-profile national infrastructure projects, supporting the delivery of strategic communications and engagement programmes for complex developments.