About us
The Surgery was founded in 2013 by Paul Cohen and Nick Cordell, built on a heritage of graphic design, brand thinking and digital craft. From brand development, print and sponsorship activations to retail environments and digital experiences, our roots have always been in creating work with clarity, intelligence and unmistakable creative polish.
As our relationships with clients deepened, one discipline consistently drew us in: internal communications. With the insight and encouragement of client and internal comms specialist Sarah Meurer, who later joined our leadership team, we made a deliberate decision to specialise. Carly Murray soon followed, strengthening our strategic capability and helping us shape a rare blend: design thinking and internal communications working seamlessly together.
Today, Sarah has returned client‑side, but her influence runs deep. As part of her legacy, we continue to run Barn to Boardroom – the internal comms event she and Carly launched over a decade ago. Now in its eleventh year, it remains one of the sector’s most valued forums for insight, challenge and connection.
This integration of disciplines has become our hallmark. Insight sharpened by creativity. Creativity grounded in human understanding. A combined practice designed to create communication which resonates and transforms.
We’ve grown intentionally, not exponentially. A 20‑strong team, proudly independent and purposefully lean. Strategists. Designers. Brand thinkers. Writers. Internal Comms specialists. All working side by side to deliver clarity, confidence and meaningful change for some of the world’s most respected organisations.
Our studio sits in a converted barn on a working West Sussex farm, a place with room to think, challenge, create and breathe. It shapes how we work: focused, thoughtful and always curious. A setting that invites fresh thinking and fosters great ideas.
We’re proud of our blue‑chip client list. Proud of the awards we’ve earned. But most of all, proud of the impact we create – work that helps people understand, connect and move forward with confidence.
This is The Surgery.
Independent. Insight‑driven. Creatively led.
Work that works®.
What drives us
Our mission
To create work that works – strategic, insight‑led, creatively crafted solutions that move people and organisations forward.
Why we do what we do
Because when people understand, believe, and feel connected to what’s happening around them, organisations thrive. Clear, purposeful and creative communication changes everything.
What we do
We combine human insight, strategic intelligence and creative craft to deliver internal comms, EVPs, brand, design and digital solutions that align and inspire your people.
How we do it
We listen deeply, think boldly and design with intention. We cut out the unnecessary, focus on what matters and turn complex challenges into clarity – and clarity into action.
Most organisations are focusing on AI capability.
Fewer are focusing on how people feel about it.
That’s the gap.
With different teams at different stages of AI adoption and all doing different things, employees don’t just need training.
They need clarity, reassurance and a reason to believe.
At The Surgery, we work with IC teams to:
• Cut through the noise
• Build a clear narrative
• Support leaders to communicate with confidence
• Make AI land in a human way
Less hype. More impact.
Need to explore what this could look like for you? Get in touch and talk to The Surgery humans about how we can help.
Link in our bio
Everyone in internal comms is being pulled into AI conversations right now, but often with very little guidance 🤔
Cue our new podcast, Unprompted: AI in IC 🥳
Carly and Si will be chatting to people who are actually using this stuff, sharing their experiences and helping us progress together.
In our first episode, we caught up with Rebecca Lindsay from Hyperexponential to talk about how she’s been building AI agents into her day-to-day work.
💡 Building an annual leave assistant that drafts out of office messages and summarises what needs attention
💡 Creating a tone of voice agent to help teams write more consistent comms
💡 Testing an emotionally intelligent comms checker that sparked strong reactions
💡 Using internal survey data to design tools around real friction points
💡 Getting tools in front of people at the right moment through systems like HR triggers
It’s an honest chat and exactly the kind of conversation we’ll be having more of. Practical, free flowing, and focused on learning together.
Link in the bio. Take a listen!
Right then… it`s just seven more sleeps until THE event of the internal comms, HR and employer brand calendar.
If you`re coming to #BarnToBoardroom this year get ready to get influencing with impact, give us a wave below, and we`ll see you on 1st July, we can`t wait!
AI is moving fast. But inside most organisations, it’s not joined up.
Different teams, different messages, different tools, different ways of doing things.
It’s all a bit confusing for you and for your people.
Where there’s confusion, internal comms can provide clarity!
We get AI. It’s why we can help you to:
• Create a clear, usable story for AI
• Bring consistency to how it’s talked about
• Build confidence across your workforce
• Turn uncertainty into action
AI only really works when people understand what it can do for them and how their organisation wants them to use it.
Drop us a message (to a real human!) and let’s talk it through.
Work that Works® is who we are and what we do.
It’s how we think, how we collaborate, and how we deliver for our clients.
We create work that’s strategic, insight-led and creatively crafted, work that moves people and organisations forward.
We know internal comms and creative shouldn’t just sit side by side. They should elevate each other.
It’s why we bring internal comms and creative thinking together as a combined force.
Because insight shapes ideas, and creativity gives them clarity, purpose and impact.
Work that Works® is our design-thinking mindset, and our internal comms expertise ensures every creative choice has purpose, clarity and impact.
It’s what our clients rely on us for – practical, effective work that drives real, measurable impact.
It’s work that sharpens understanding, exceeds objectives and shifts behaviours, all crafted by our helpful, happy, and hardworking Internal Comms, Design and Brand, Animation, Events and Employer Brand experts.
We’re focused on delivering work to move you forward with confidence.
That’s what Work that Works® means to us.
So… let’s talk and let’s get that brief of yours going in the right direction.
We recently refreshed and repurposed the Harcourt IGN website – and what a great opportunity it was to rethink how design and structure can better serve users.
As a business that operates at the intersection of strategy, governance, leadership transition, and complex ownership dynamics. Harcourt IGN’s digital presence had to reflect its expertise and professionalism.
Our focus was simple: make the user’s experience cleaner, more modern, and easier to navigate.
The updated design leans into a more contemporary look and feel, with a streamlined layout, improved visual hierarchy and a consistent use of space. By simplifying the site, it feels lighter and more intuitive as soon as the user lands on it.
Via desktop, tablet or mobile, the experience now adapts seamlessly – maintaining clarity and usability across all devices.
We also revisited the site structure from the ground up. By reshaping the navigation and content flow, we’ve created a more logical, user-focused journey. Visitors can now find what they need more quickly, with clearer pathways guiding them through the site.
Ultimately, this wasn’t just a visual update – it was about improving usability at every step. A cleaner design, a more intuitive structure, and a smoother overall experience.
We love it, and thankfully so do they!
Take a look at the refreshed site here: https://harcourtign.com
Spare a thought for poor old animator Luke who drew Curaçao in The Surgery World Cup sweepstake. They are only priced at 17,500 to one to win the tournament, Luke, so you never know!
More likely to win it are Caian (Argentina) Becca (Brazil) Si (France) and PC (Germany).
Carly will be hoping England can undo sixty years of hurt by winning the tournament again, but surely another noble exit in the quarter finals awaits?
Meanwhile James will be channelling his best Braveheart impression to cheer on Scotland.
Are you getting into the spirit of the World Cup this year?
Whether you have Paraguay, Uruguay, Haiti or one of the favourites in your sweepstake we hope you enjoy it!
We’ve all been there… a creative brainstorm that quickly turns into a room full of random ideas, no direction, and very little to show for it!
We think creativity isn’t about throwing thoughts at a whiteboard and hoping something sticks. It’s about creating the right conditions for ideas to grow, whether it’s for a new name for a local greengrocer (Live Life On the Veg surely!) or concepts for a new IC strategy and more.
So… here’s some practical advice from our EVP and creative genius Si to running creative sessions to help you get the best from them.
From the importance of prep and setting the right structure, to keeping energy high and making space for every voice in the room, it’s all about balancing freedom with focus.
Because when you get it right, you don’t just leave with ideas – you leave with momentum and clear next steps.
If you’re looking to run more effective, engaging sessions that lead to real outcomes, give it a read, and of course, get in touch if we can help you get creative!
https://ineedsurgery.com/how-to-run-a-creative-session-and-make-sure-they-dont-go-pear-shaped/
#Creativity #Innovation #Leadership #Teamwork #Collaboration #Facilitation #Marketing #Ideas
