Annual review production for a global organisation

The Brief

When a global nonprofit began work on its latest annual review and ESG report, it appointed a design agency to manage the design, production and delivery of the publication. To support their team, Method Marketing was brought in to lead the copywriting and editorial process.

The organisation didn’t have to produce an annual review, but it chose to. The aim was to demonstrate transparency, share the impact of its work and give stakeholders a clearer understanding of what had been achieved over the previous year.

The report needed to bring together information from teams working across multiple countries, disciplines and departments. It also included a dedicated ESG section covering environmental performance, governance, sustainability initiatives and organisational commitments.

At around 50 pages, it was a substantial piece of work.

Alongside the annual review itself, we were also asked to support the production of internal communications and promotional materials to help share the finished publication with wider audiences.

The Challenge

The biggest challenge wasn’t writing the report. It was gathering the information needed to tell the story.

The organisation’s teams were spread across North America, Europe and Asia. To build a complete picture of the previous year, we spoke with more than 25 people from across the business, including the CEO, COO, CFO, divisional leaders, communications specialists and ESG consultants.

Those conversations took place across multiple time zones, with interviewees based in countries including the United States, Canada, China, France and Belgium. Finding time in busy diaries was a challenge in itself.

Then there was the ESG section.

Much of the information had been developed by specialists and contained highly technical detail. Our role was to understand what sat behind the data, ask the right questions and translate that information into language that would make sense to readers without a technical background.

In addition, some of the final ESG data wasn’t available until shortly before publication, which meant we had to work quickly to incorporate new information while keeping the project on schedule.

The Solution

Because we had worked on the previous year’s review, we began by looking at what had gone well and what could be improved.

Together with the client and design agency, we reviewed the previous process, identified lessons learned and mapped out a production schedule that would keep the project moving.

With so many different factors to manage, the project could have easily got out of hand. To keep everything on track, weekly all-hands meetings helped keep everyone aligned. These sessions brought together the client team, design agency and Method Marketing to openly review progress, discuss challenges and identify any information that was still outstanding.

Over a period of several weeks, we interviewed team members from around the world to understand what they had achieved, what challenges they had faced and what they wanted stakeholders to know about their work.

Some conversations focused on major organisational initiatives. Others uncovered smaller stories that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. Together, they provided the raw material for the report.

Once the interviews were complete, we developed the first draft of the report. Each section was reviewed by the people closest to the work to ensure technical accuracy before being shared with senior leadership for further feedback and approval. This helped ensure the final publication accurately reflected both the detail and the bigger picture.

For the ESG section, we worked closely with consultants and specialists to translate technical information into clear, accessible content. Where final data was still being prepared, we worked with the design team to create layouts that could be updated quickly as information became available.

Once the design was complete, we carried out a full proofreading review to ensure consistency, accuracy and alignment with the organisation’s style guidelines.

Alongside the annual review itself, we also produced social media content, internal communications materials and an amplification guide to help teams share the report with their own audiences.

The Outcome

The finished annual review and ESG report provided a clear and engaging overview of the client’s work, achievements and impact over the previous year.

The report was well received by both senior leadership and the brand communications team, who were pleased with the quality of the content and the professionalism of the finished publication.

The project also demonstrated the value of bringing together different areas of expertise. By working closely with the client team, ESG specialists and design agency, we were able to transform a large volume of information into a publication that was informative, accessible and engaging.

Producing an Annual Review?

Whether you’re producing your first annual review or looking to improve an existing process, Method Marketing can help with everything from stakeholder interviews and content development through to editing, proofreading and supporting communications.

If you’d like to discuss your next annual review, ESG report or impact report, drop us a line.