Verve – specialist health communications

Welcome to Verve.

We’re a specialist health communications agency.

Everything we do has science at its heart but the patient front of mind.

We create powerful, memorable campaigns that build relationships between brands, HCPs and patients. And we’re experts in promoting and humanising healthy conversations at the heart of where behaviours are started and changed.

So you could almost say we’re restless patient people.

Do your campaigns need an injection of human?

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We give you… gold!

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For the second year in a row we’re a winner at the Rx Club awards!

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We're in the Top 40 of UK creative healthcare agencies and third in small agency.

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Five years in a row! We’re shortlisted again for the OTC awards…

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It might be an A2 protein, but we think our animated MoA is A1!

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Want to know more about the journey to pharmacist independent prescribing?

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ON OUR menu

Fresh. 360. Integrated. Full service. Innovative. Patient-centric. Award-winning. You could call us all of those things. But we use simpler words to describe what we do.

We don’t much care for buzzwords. What we do care about is understanding your brand and the therapy area, working out exactly what you need and making it happen.

How can we make it happen for you?

Get in touch to find out >

HCP training
- Gentle disruption
  
  We were challenged to disrupt Emergency Contraception recommendation habits in pharmacy and build awareness. So, we worked with leading community pharmacists and a pharmacy psychologist to create an interactive recommendation aid and a unique training guide. The result? Difficult conversations in pharmacy became easier – an outcome recognised by the OTC Marketing Awards 2020 judges.
  
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Events
- The future is bright
  
  Launching a new customer programme in the middle of Covid restrictions (no face to face event or sales team visits) can be challenging. We worked to create a memorable online broadcast featuring industry updates and high tempo launch message with a glitzy studio backdrop (green screened) with great results and amazing feedback!
  
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Videos, animations, mode-of-actions & TV
- A2 mode-of-action
  
  We were challenged to produce a premium-feeling mode-of-action video for one of our infant feeding clients. To help ensure the MoA spoke to parents as well as HCPs we created a fully natural-looking CGI environment and used luxurious textures to provide the premium feel desired. A live-action intro and outro helped to humanise the piece helping to forge a connection between our clients and new parents.
  
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Campaign strategy
- Another step closer to breastmilk
  
  Research has shown that paediatricians are unfamiliar with the proteins found in infant formulae and breastmilk and their differences. To help our client explain the differences between these proteins and the benefits A2 milk could bring to infants we developed a campaign focused on the unique benefits of the A2 B-Casein.
  
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Concepts & key visuals
- Brighter looking skin care
  
  We gave the E45 cream a more innovative, modern feel – while still highlighting the breadth of skin conditions it treats. The campaign and key visual were nominated for a PM Society award. Smooth.
  
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Product launches & promotions
- Clearing up confusion
  
  Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is an under-recognised condition, often confused with thrush. It’s also an issue that sufferers can find embarrassing to discuss. As part of the Balance Activ relaunch in 2019, our campaign discretely targeted and supported HCPs when identifying and treating BV in pharmacy.
  
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Detailing, e-detailing & sales aids
- UX oriented
  
  Sales teams seem to get less and less time with their HCP customers these days. To support one client, we developed a comprehensive eDetail showcasing and training on full product range and recommendation skills. Providing easy customisable user experiences this allowed our client’s customers to engage and learn at their own speed.
  
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Point of sale & instore activity
- A more intelligent approach
  
  A pack of leaflets and a window poster just doesn’t cut through these days. With a deep understanding of the premium lens recommendation process, we created more attractive, relevant in-store materials adapted from Global creatives. It meant more engaged and educated opticians, and a more effective process.
  
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Interactive digital development
- Interactive e-learning modules
  
  Our client tasked us with the creation of an all-encompassing eLearning module for sales forces and customers alike. We developed an interactive platform by mixing up different ways of learning: infographics, videos, quizzes and gamification. Our clients were so pleased with the result that we have translated it into nine languages, and counting!
  
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Trade advertising & direct marketing
- Resisting the overuse of antibiotics
  
  Antibiotic resistance is expected to kill around 10 million people a year globally by 2050.* Our Strefen campaign for RB challenged pharmacy to ask whether their sore throat customers may be contributing to the problem. 2019 OTC award winner.
  
  *Source: Let’s work together to preserve our antibiotics – GOV.UK Public health matters blog
  
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Advisory boards & symposia
- Illuminating the blue light issue
  
  With the increase in electronic device use there have been many claims made about how damaging it can be for eyes. Many spectacle lenses now claim they block this ‘harmful’ emitted blue light. We put together a roundtable panel of top-level international experts chaired by the UK’s key opinion leader on the topic.
  
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Webinar hosting & facilitation
- Live Digital CPD
  
  Our client wanted to communicate with their customers using a digital first approach. We supported them with the development of a series of over 20 webinars which we hosted and facilitated along with managing and developing the promotion. The results were fantastic and we are already planning next year’s campaign.
  
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Internal communications
- Desktop delivery
  
  Our client was launching a new digital platform for HCPs and wanted to spread the good news and generate excitement internally. We developed a suite of branded goodies, balloons, and launch guide which was an overnight surprise delivery to the desk of employees.
  
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Exhibitions & congresses
- Exhibitions & congresses
  
  We’ve produced stands that have successfully engaged the full range of health professionals including specialists, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, GPs, opticians and nurses.
  
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Patient support
- The end of awkward conversations?
  
  Research showed that women often feel embarrassed when going to pharmacy to seek emergency contraception. As part of a campaign to help HCPs support this sensitive conversation, we developed a checklist, both paper and digital, which allows women to answer the pharmacist’s questions more discreetly.

We love data
Do you?

How many pharmacy visits take place daily in the UK?

1.6 million That’s a massive amount of product recommendations

Source: About community pharmacy : PSNC Main site
How many GP consultations happen in England each year? (And how many lead to a secondary care referral?)

Over 300 million 10% lead to a secondary care referral – that’s a lot of opportunities to influence the conversation

Source: NHS England » Primary care
How many lines of code has Verve developed for clients in the last year?

Around 120,000 Verve is physical, digital, and interactive

Source: Our developers’ worn-away fingerprints
What percentage of people in the UK use the same pharmacy each time?

Over 75% We know that long-term relationships are everything

Source: Essential facts, stats and quotes relating to pharmacy and pharmacy professionals : PSNC Main site
How many pixels have we designed in the last year?

About 4,000,000,000

Source: Our designers’ excited eyes
How many NHS prescriptions are dispensed each year in England by community pharmacies?

Over 1 billion in 2019/20 – could more of those be your product?

Source: Community pharmacies in England 2006-2020 | Statista
What percentage of UK pharmacists are independent prescribers?

18% in 2020 All newly qualified pharmacists will be PIPs by 2024/26

Source: GPhC survey of registered pharmacy professionals 2019. Brewtal Coffee
How many HCPs have Verve communicated to in the last year (by OTS)?

About 9,000,000 Roughly once for every doctor in the world

Source: Verve data on file
What percentage of medicines in the UK are not taken as intended?

30–50% Looks like we all have a lot of work to do…

Source: Introduction | Medicines optimisation: the safe and effective use of medicines to enable the best possible outcomes | Guidance | NICE
How many people does the NHS employ?

Over 1 million full time, one of the world's largest workforces alongside Walmart and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – quite an audience to engage with

Source: NHS Providers
What percentage of pharmacist independent prescribers prescribe every working day?

40% According to a 2019 survey

Source: GPhC survey of registered pharmacy professionals 2019
How many drugs are on the market?

Over 20,000 prescription drug products are approved for marketing – and that doesn’t include OTCs

Source: Fact Sheet: FDA at a Glance | FDA
How many brands’ stories got Verve in the last year?

57 Talk to us about becoming part of your brand story

Source: Verve data on file
How many doctors are there worldwide?

Between 10 and 15 million all making prescribing decisions everyday

Source: How Many Doctors Are There in the World? | Reference.com
How many pharmacists are there worldwide?

4.6 million making recommendations everyday

Source: WHO | World Health Statistics
In the last year, how many health product launches has Verve worked on?

12 To give your launch some verve, get in touch

Source: Verve data on file
What percentage of pharmacist independent prescribers see 50 or more patients in a typical day?

20% According to the 2019 GPHC survey

Source: GPhC survey of registered pharmacy professionals 2019
How many meetings have Verve attended in the last year?

Over 6600 That's almost 14 per week for each member of Verve!

Source: Verve Data on File

To get the right answers for your brand
CONTACT US

The Verve
Playlist

Ami Desai

Account Manager

Ami spent six years at Barts Cancer Institute, specialising in peptide-targeting research and has been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals. That and her MSc in Molecular Pathology and Genomics means she can be trusted with the recipe for Verve.

Favourite

A cheeky beer

Guilty pleasure

Watching make-up transformation videos

Passion to make a difference in the world has always been something I have thrived for. Working at Verve has given me an opportunity to make a difference in the HCP world.
Andreea Ciulei

Accounts Manager

Andreea has a BSc in Administration, and is now studying for an Advanced Diploma in Accounting in between giving the office Verve. Having also spent over six years in dental nursing, Andreea really can compare a particularly tough job to pulling teeth.

Favourite

Springtime in Wales

Guilty pleasure

Netflix/Amazon Prime binge-watching

BSc in Administration with 6-7 years of experience in Dental Nursing. Additionally studying for an Advanced Diploma in Accounting to further my development in understanding the language of numbers.
Andrew Holloway

Account Manager

Andrew gained a BSc in Biochemistry with industrial experience and prior to becoming a Vervian worked in HCP guideline publishing. You won’t win a regulations argument against this man.

Favourite

Chet Faker - Talk is Cheap

Guilty pleasure

Destiny’s Child - Say My Name

As a man with a love of medical science and phobias of blood and needles, working on healthcare campaigns allows me to explore my passion without fainting in the office.
Dan Robinson

Snr Creative Artworker

A creative artworker and retoucher with 28 years’ experience, 20 of them in healthcare and pharma communications. Whatever the message, trust Dan to add Verve and sugar-coat the pill.

Favourite

Fields of the Nephilim - Psychonaut

Guilty pleasure

Video games - especially the Assassin’s Creed franchise

Advertising and creativity are my family business, so it runs in my blood. Having been involved in the industry for many years, both my father and older brother were big influencers, so it was almost a foregone conclusion that I would follow in their footsteps.
Dom Murdoch

Founder & Director

Dom has two decades of agency experience, specialising in data-driven marketing. Few have been involved in more HCP comms for POM-P switches in the last 10 years. Even more impressively, 8 years ago Dom created the unstoppable force that is Verve.

Favourite

My internet history used to be bars and clubs. Now it’s treats for the dog.

Guilty pleasure

I cannot resist a watch offer. Even though all I wear is an Apple watch.

There have been many ups and of course a few downs in the history of Verve but every day is a great day especially when there is a new challenge. A main part of being a great agency is the quality of the team - not just proficient but positive in attitude. They give me Verve too!
Evie

Disruption Officer

Evie is the youngest and cutest (just!) member of the Verve team. She welcomes everyone personally in the mornings and can usually be found sleeping on the sofa or sat with anyone who is eating.

Favourite

Long walks in the park

Guilty pleasure

Discarded fast food

Arf gnarl, woof grrr gnash bark. Whine pant woof arf arf gnash bark.
Jules Herbert

Account Director

Jules brings 20 years of Marketing and Communications experience across the corporate, healthcare and high-end travel industries. Starting her career in Public Relations Crisis Management, with a stint in Australia, Jules returned to the UK to focus on strategic planning and execution.

Favourite

I love running, helps me stay sane and fit (ish) at the same time.

Guilty pleasure

Cadbury’s Creme Eggs on Ritz crackers

Two decades in the industry clearly makes me a Jedi of marketing... Honed by my last five years as a working mum with small children, which brings military efficiency, UN levels of diplomacy and I make sure everyone is wrapped up warm and has been to the loo before heading out.
Miriam Magni

Account Executive

Recently graduated with a BA in Journalism and Communications. Excited to grow and explore my potential in a vibrant and creative agency like Verve.

Favourite

Strawberries in every different form - fruits, body creams, perfume!

Guilty pleasure

Cheesy-music nightclubs

Joining Verve as my first internship is helping me developing the skills I need to work for a fast-paced agency.
Paul Beard

Director

Paul has a distinguished background in publishing across consumer, B2B and healthcare including five years as publishing director at an international HCP specialist. So he understands the importance of a powerful story to give brands Verve.

Favourite

An ice-cold gin and tonic

Guilty pleasure

Superhero movies - especially Batman!

After more than 20 years (sigh) in media, to now working on HCP campaigns that help make a genuine difference to the quality of life for patients, gives me a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction.
Smasher

Digital Dev Manager

Our digital developer has over 10 years’ experience creating apps, websites, ads and many other types of interactive content. He also knows something we don't about the digital world, so prefers not to have his face online.

Favourite

New York-style cheesecakes

Guilty pleasure

The Eurovision Song Contest

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Stu Collins

Creative Director

Neuroscientist and creative director, Stu has had an unusual path through his 15 years in the pharma industry. This combination gives him a unique approach meaning his ideas have Verve, and he can tell you why.

Favourite

Sigur Rós - Takk

Guilty pleasure

An ever-increasing collection of vinyl ‘art-toys’

I’ve been fascinated by ads from a young age. I was an odd kid. I’m #blessed that I’m now in the position to not only make them, but to apply scientific knowledge to make a difference to patients’ lives.