Louise Marsters | Corporate Editor
Advanced Professional Member| Location | Marsters Associates Limited, West Berkshire, UK |
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| Louise Marsters |
I edit communications and reporting content for corporate clients – because the quality of what we publish is essential to our reputation.
Clients ask me to review their annual reports and accounts, project and research publications, and brand and communications content; to develop house-style guidelines; and to advise on modern language conventions.
My in-house experience in financial reporting and corporate communications means I know editing is a crucial quality-control tool in producing professional communications – communications that enhance our credibility and inspire trust in our brand.
☞ Talk to me about making your next project publication-ready at [email protected]
☞ Read more about my 25-year career background below or on LinkedIn
Services
Copyediting – a thorough review to make your messaging clear, correct and easier for your readers to understand or act on
Proof-editing – a lighter-touch copyedit, and most often what my clients mean when they ask me to 'tidy up' or 'sort out' a document
Rewriting – a way to shape and smooth words so they say what you really mean or want them to say, or to make sure they're in plain English
Repurposing – an edit to make the most of your existing content, by adapting it for different channels, publications or audiences
Developing house-style guidelines – a tool to eliminate inconsistencies in style, grammar, punctuation and spelling that confuse and distract your readers, because everyone in your organisation writes differently
Clients
Major international companies, including FTSE 100s and FTSE 250s, in:
- oil and gas
- pharmaceuticals
- food and beverage
- chemicals
- banking
- management consulting
- science publishing
- media and newspapers
- luxury fashion
- engineering and architecture
- computer software
- publishing and business intelligence
Leading UK businesses in:
- investment banking
- investment fundraising
- planning and development consulting
Leading UK non-profit organisations in:
- governance
- financial reporting
- shipping
- information, advice and campaigning
- ethical trade
- library development
- energy research
- academia
Career
- Corporate Editor, since 2012
- Financial Reporting Manager, BP plc, 2008–11
- Financial Reporting Adviser, BP plc, 2006–08
- Communications Manager, BP plc, 2005–06
- Marketing Communications Executive, Burness Paull LLP, 2004–05
- Publishing Adviser, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, 2001–04
- Business Development Coordinator, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, 2000–01
- Business Development Coordinator, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers, 1998–2000
Training
- Plain English for Editors, CIEP, 2024
- Getting to grips with grammar, CIEP, 2023
- Copyright for editorial professionals, CIEP, 2022
- Word for practical editing, CIEP, 2021
- Practical markup of PDFs, SfEP (Society for Editors and Proofreaders), 2019
- Efficient editing: Strategies and tactics, SfEP, 2018
- Copyediting 2: Headway, SfEP, 2017
- Proofreading 3: Mentoring, SfEP, 2015
- Brush up your grammar, SfEP, 2014
- Write 101x: English grammar and style, University of Queensland, 2014
- Advanced grammar, Plain English Campaign, 2006
- Corporate editing and proofreading, RMIT University, 2001
Qualifications
- Master of Communications and Media Studies, 2003
- Bachelor of Business (Communications), 1998
- WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, 2018
Memberships
- Professional Member, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
Resources
How can an editor help with brand voice?, a blog post by Louise Marsters, explains that editors do more than put your style guidelines into action – they can make your words sing to the tune of your voice guidelines too, and keep you on brand.
A week in the life of a corporate editor, a blog post by Louise Marsters, talks about communications, brand and business publishing, including the types of projects that need an editorial eye.
Your house style, a CIEP guide, outlines the value of a house style and reveals how to go about constructing such guidance if one doesn’t already exist.
Trust me, I'm listed, a book by Claire Bodanis, explains why the annual report matters, and how to do it well.
Keywords
corporate reporting FTSE 100 FTSE 250 annual report annual report and accounts form 20-F annual reports interactive annual report annual reporting annual review summary review financial reporting notice of meeting sustainability report sustainability reporting sustainability review responsible business report risk uncertainties governance remuneration board directors committee ESG section 172 stakeholders non-financial reporting corporate communications corporates external affairs public relations business reporting framework pro bono report corporate social responsibility CSR brand guildelines brand identity brand book brand principles visual identity guidelines imagery guidelines video guidelines wine wines energy oil gas law firm legal reputation research group reputation report tone of voice ToV brochure marketing materials website content writing style guide house style house-style guidelines editorial style guidelines
Testimonials
And might I also thank you – the editing was transformative.
David Bodanis, speaker, business adviser and writer of bestselling non-fiction books
Louise is the type of editor that you want on your team – whether it be working on a large, complex publication or multiple sets of content for various channels (e.g. online content, above-the-line marketing material and press releases).
Louise is a pragmatic editor. She understands that an organisation needs to set a tone of communications that aligns to its brand; however, she is courageous in making sure that while a tone is set it does not compromise grammar and plain English.
I have observed Louise put her skills to use under extremely tight timelines, with high-risk content (i.e. it must be correct for legal and market reasons) as well as cutting through corporate-speak to make clear, approachable internal communications. All done with a smile, enthusiasm and a dedication to getting the job done.
Nicholas Robinson, Head of Corporate Reporting, BP plc
I have worked with Louise for several years on the development of major publications aimed at academic and policymaker audiences. She is highly professional, thorough, has an eye for detail, meets deadlines, simplifies corporate-speak, and is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Steve Shaw, Head of Communications – Upstream, BP plc
On my retirement in August 2008, Louise succeeded me as BP’s financial reporting manager. She was a worthy successor in this challenging role for a major international company and has all the right attributes to be a professional member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.
Valerie Shepard, Financial Reporting Manager, BP plc
In my opinion, Louise is a great asset to any team she cares to work for. She constantly bubbles with enthusiasm, loves her job and has a great professional eye for – and attention to – detail in her work.
Bill Burridge, Internal Communications Manager, BP plc
Just letting you know, [the client] loved the edit – all great. Thank you!
Claire Bodanis, Founder and Director, Falcon Windsor
Just wanted to say thank you, Louise, for being so responsive and helpful...bringing you on board for this project was definitely a good decision.
Thea Sherer, Head of Group Communications, Springer Nature
We were super happy with the job! I'm sure we will work together again.
Larraine Datta, Senior Director Client Services, OPX Studio
Thank you also for the amazing [house style] overview document – it’s a treasure trove!
Penny Baxter, Director, SB&Co
Thank you for being so accommodating with our fluid timelines, and for turning the proofreading around so quickly on such a tight final deadline.
Awa Jaram, Account Director, GW+Co
It will be a shame to see you go – your work has always been great and I know the team have enjoyed working with you over the past few years. Massive thank you for everything you’ve done with Robot Mascot.
James Church, Co-founder and COO, Robot Mascot
Thank you for everything you have done for us. It has been wonderful working with you, especially your flexibility on working with the business plans and pitches.
Basil Riley, Business Strategist, Robot Mascot
Thank you very much for this – I am very pleased with the work you’ve done. It highlights a very real need...for professional editorial services.
Stephen Cox, Senior Creative Manager, Independent Age
Again, I can’t tell you what an amazing job you have done with this [annual report copy].
The whole organisation benefits greatly from all the work you do for us and helping ensure we only publish products of a high professional standard.
It’s...such a pleasure working with you and your eagle eyes!
Alice Birkbeck, Studio Manager, Independent Age
I am absolutely delighted with [the house style guide]. Thank you so much for your work and for all your guidance in the earlier stages.
Emily Yates, Publications Manager, International Chamber of Shipping
The deliverables were great. We could definitely appreciate the amount of work, especially regarding the footnotes. The feedback document was really useful too.
Membership Services, Ethical Trading Initiative
I thank...Louise Marsters for bringing her editorial expertise to the thesis. Louise, a professional editor who used to edit my environmental law newsletters at [national law firm] Freehills, proofread my thesis, correcting grammatical errors and applying a rigour of consistency over the presentation of my work.
Dr Brad Jessup, Lecturer, University of Melbourne and winner of the Best PhD award at the Australian National University's 2020 Australian Legal Research Awards
Just wanted to say what a great job you’ve done on the proofread, Louise, and made it so easy and clear to follow.
Philip Steed, Director, Steed Design