Meet storytelling senior editor Bryan Jones, who talks about lessons learned in a newsroom, a failed adventure as a cruise ship singer, and being patronised by his far more talented children…

Hi Bryan. How are you doing? Can you give a quick update on life so far with 44?

It seems like just yesterday when I first started doing a bit of freelance writing for 44 – but it turns out that was back in March 2015.

Lots has happened since then. I joined the team full-time a couple of months later, and have worked with a range of brilliant clients since then – Volkswagen Group, Sainsbury’s, National Grid, EDF Energy and Tarmac, to name-check just a few. One of the most exciting projects we’ve worked on over the past few months has been to launch an in-house print newspaper for Siemens Mobility.

It’s been a rollercoaster. After spending almost my entire working life in newspapers, I knew I needed to learn fast to make a proper contribution to internal communications projects – but I must have managed it because all these years later, I’m still here!

Tell us what you’ve brought over from your time in newspapers.

I guess it’s all about storytelling really. I’ve always felt one of my skills was being able to tell a story clearly and succinctly. Find the right angle – and understand the audience. These are key skills I’ve used all of my working life – and things I was taught in my early days as a cub reporter at the Loughborough Echo.

I’ve also realised that a key skill you need as a journalist, which has come in handy, is being able to talk to people from all walks of life – and to empathise with them. In the morning, I’ll be interviewing and writing a story about someone just starting out in their career, and then in the afternoon, writing a blog for the managing director of one of the UK’s biggest companies.

Both have an equally important story to tell.

What’s the best thing about working in internal communications − and what’s the biggest challenge?

It’s a bit of a cliché, but as with many clichés, it happens to be true – the best thing about the work at 44 is the people. Both the team here and also the clients you get to meet and work with.

I’ve had a pretty long working life and have worked in a few different environments. The ones you remember most fondly are the ones with the best people.

And the biggest challenge is usually starting that new piece of work. The blank page staring at you from the laptop, urging you to write something brilliant. Once I’ve started, I’m usually OK – but it can often be daunting! On the flipside, the challenge to keep coming up with something new and creative is exciting and the most fun part of the work we do here at 44.

Tell us something about yourself that we might be surprised about…

I’ve been asked that question before – so I already know the answer. Back in another lifetime, I worked for six months as a singer on a round-the-world cruise. We performed choreographed shows with a band and fabulous backing dancers – as well as more intimate concert-style gigs for the passengers when the ship was at sea.

I’m making it sound far more glamorous than it was… it was a tiny old ship, and certainly not Princess Cruises, but I did get to see some amazing places. Lots of the islands in the Caribbean, Grenada being my favourite, Cape Town, the remote island of St Helena (where Napoleon spent his exile after being defeated in 1815), Mauritius, all around Europe and up to Scandinavia.

Turns out I wasn’t that good a cruise ship singer though – so it was back to the day job when I returned to dry land.

So, happy to remain a writer for now?

Well yes, I think so. I do enjoy the occasional venture on to the am-dram stage, when I can wangle my way into a tasty little musical theatre role. But I’m well aware of my limitations.

I have four incredibly talented children, ranging from 12 to 21, who can all sing, act and dance brilliantly. They’ll pat me on the head and tell me I’m OK on stage, but I only have to watch them perform to see how it’s really done.