About
At Great Speech Writing, we work with private and corporate clients across the UK and around the world. From CEOs and keynote speakers to best men and nervous grooms, our clients come to us when the stakes are high and the words really matter.
We work closely with clients at every stage—writing from scratch, editing existing drafts, and helping polish both performance and tone.
We offer:
- Bespoke speech writing services
- Presentation coaching and delivery support
- Corporate copywriting for websites, blogs and internal communications
- One-to-one and group training for public speaking and communication
Whether you’re preparing for a TED talk, pitching for investment, addressing Parliament, or standing up at a family wedding, we’re here to help you write, refine and deliver a speech that feels authentic and lands with impact.
Our Approach
From Brussels to Bristol, Westminster to West Lothian, we support clients delivering speeches in every setting. Whether it’s in a corporate boardroom or conference hall, a marquee, a function room or a stage, we’ve provided the speech that has helped someone connect with their audience with the right words at the right time.
Our mantra is simple:
Keep it relevant. Make it appropriate. And always ensure it’s original.
We don’t believe in scripts that sound like they’ve been written by someone else. Our job is to help you sound like the best version of you. Clear, confident, and completely in control.
We’re happy to chat to anyone about a speech, whether you want us to write it from scratch, or just need a bit of advice. Wherever possible, we will try to help you create something simple, intelligent and original. We’ll never charge for a phone call and our discretion is assured.
Our Team:
Lawrence Bernstein. After graduating in History from Peterhouse, Cambridge, Lawrence became chained to a desk in the City. One night, he sat in a pub dictating a best man speech to a friend about to leave for a wedding in Vegas. The friend (Mark) suggested this might be a more enjoyable way of earning a living. It was a light bulb moment. The next morning, Lawrence placed an advert in Private Eye Magazine for a new speech writing service. Nine years later, he manages ‘Great Speech Writing’ and our small team of writers from our office in North London. He continues to write speeches in addition to helping clients build communication strategies. He stays involved in every part of the business, and remains true to his original promise that no speech is too big or too small. If you would like to contact Lawrence directly please email him.
Our team of writers:
Dolan Cummings is our senior speech writer. He has been writing and delivering speeches for years. His previous work has ranged from writing at the BBC to chairing public debates in London and elsewhere on everything from the arts to international politics. He admires speakers from Martin Luther King to Chris Rock. Dolan works on a huge range of speeches and corporate writing assignments. He has an extraordinary eye for complex detail and a knack of drawing the right information from clients in a short period of time!
David Elliott is an experienced writer, specialising in humorous speeches for weddings and after-dinner speakers. In addition to speech writing, he also writes comedy material for page, stage, and broadcast (including sketches, one-liners, and topical comedy prep), and is passionate about creating funny, engaging material for performers and non-performers alike. His short fiction has appeared in many magazines and anthologies over the years, and his satirical articles are regularly published by a variety of comedy websites.
Ben Timpson spent over 13 years in the armed forces as a strategic communications specialist and advisor to senior leadership teams around the world. He has a wealth of experience delivering communication campaigns in high pressure, politically complex circumstances. As a former spokesperson he also understands the unique pressures placed upon those tasked with speaking on behalf of an organisation – and what it takes to succeed. Alongside consultancy, Ben is also a speechwriter who loves nothing more than the challenge of winning over a difficult audience with a dry subject! When he’s not writing your speech, he can be found in the test match special box commentating on his favourite sport.
Ben Duncan-Duggal is a writer with range. He brings five years of experience in communications and politics, which has involved writing across a diverse range of formats and contexts. Ben’s produced speeches for Parliament and has ghostwritten articles for the Guardian, Times, Mirror, the Independent and elsewhere. He’s at home with everything from copy for your website to riotous best man’s speeches. In his spare time he can usually be found on the terraces at Selhurst Park watching his beloved Crystal Palace or with his nose in a book.
With a librarian for a grandfather and a lawyer for a father, Becca Stogdon‘s life was always going to be about words. An English degree at St Catherine’s College Oxford may have helped hone her writing skills, but she feels it’s understanding people and what makes them tick that make the difference when writing speeches. Becca prides herself on really listening to a client to be able to draw out their stories and write a speech for them in their own tone of voice.
When she’s not shaping words, she’s busy growing and buying flowers, designing events and delivering flower arrangements for weddings, parties, businesses and private homes all over the country.
Theo Eze is a senior speechwriter and our go-to web content specialist. With a background in English Literature and Creative Writing, he quickly honed a style tailored for speakers at events worldwide—from weddings and funerals to TedX talks and corporate keynotes.
He writes to make audiences laugh, cry, learn, and feel inspired—achieved by quickly connecting with both clients and their audiences. Theo takes pride in understanding people from all walks of life.
Will Howard is a creative writing graduate from North London. He is a playwright, theatre producer and arts writer who has worked for NME, Kerrang!, Songkick and FAITH Drama Productions over the past decade. Specialising in heartfelt, sincere speeches, Will’s empathetic, sensitive presence is hugely beneficial to nervous or emotional speakers. He also supports the client management team and may be the first voice you hear when calling us!
Anna O’Kennedy: It’s not always easy to find someone who can write, offer advice, coach and run projects. Then along came Anna! She previously worked as a business consultant and then a secondary school English teacher (and Head of Year). Together with her love of the written and spoken word, this enables her to work in every part of the business, from defining a company’s internal communication strategy to writing a speech for a Mother of the Bride. Anna is based in the office and loves a chat, so she may well be the first person you speak to on the phone.
Shahed is a writer, editor and journalist with work published across digital and print including in HuffPost, Vice, Stylist, and Cosmopolitan. If she’s not writing, then she’s probably reading! She specialises in simple, clear, elegant copywriting, ranging from short articles on fashion to 100,000 word technical training manuals.
A key part of our copywriting service, she majors in in creating web content that’s engaging, effective, and SEO-friendly for clients ranging from quirky start-ups to established industry leaders..
Our trainer:
Alys Wallinger’s background is in both writing and acting for theatre, film and TV. As a writer, she trained under the prestigious Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme and Criterion New Writers’ Programme and has since written plays which have toured nationally to critical acclaim. As an actress, she was worked in the West End playing a range of interesting roles. She understands what it is to feel the pressure of performing and can empathise with those feeling nervous. Her experience has enabled her to learn key tools and tricks to manage nerves, channel pressure and deliver an optimum performance. As a Delivery coach Alys has worked with clients from a background of different sectors including: NGOs, Charities, Literary Festivals, Sporting agencies, Banking, Investment Management, Livery companies, Entrepreneurs, Marketing companies and Recruitment.
Our office managers:
When you get in touch with us, chances are your first conversation will be with Anna, Dave or Lauren—our expert client managers and the friendly voice of Great Speech Writing.
They’re more than just coordinators. Each has in-depth knowledge of the speech writing process and can offer guidance, advice, and reassurance at every stage. Whether you’re unsure where to start, need help shaping a brief, or want to talk through your options, they’ll make the process simple, supportive, and stress-free.
They act as the bridge between you and our writers—ensuring your speech is in the right hands and delivered exactly when and how you need it.
Katie Hedges joined us in 2014 and manages the accounts and runs our online projects. She previously worked for eleven years as an Account Manager at a German web agency and has an extraordinary eye for detail and impeccable calmness under pressure. She may be found at weekends playing tennis, watching football and baking banana cakes.
Press
Please scroll down for examples of articles, TV features and radio shows that have featured Lawrence and the Great Speech Writing team.
September 2022 – Two Interviews in the Metro
Lawrence interviewed on the new Prime Minister’s first speech as Conservative party leader and then, in a second article, on her first Prime Minster’s Questions. Two very different performances.
Monday 5th: Liz Truss lacks ’emotional connection’ and ‘decorative icing’ Boris used in speeches
Wednesday 7th: Liz Truss was ‘not afraid of being unpopular’ with controversial PMQ tactic
August 2022 – Feature in The Metro
Link to the article here. Full text here.
March 2022 – Lawrence interviewed by GB News on Putin’s recent speech. Are we trying to create rational analysis of a man who is becoming increasingly irrational?
29th January 2022 – Lawrence interviewed by The Spectator podcast about the business and our classified advertising
Listen to the audio clip of Lawrence being interviewed here.
18th August 2020 – Lawrence interviewed by Times Radio about speeches in lockdown.
Listen to the audio clip of Lawrence being interviewed here.
4th June 2020 – Lawrence interviewed by BBC Radio about about Winston Churchill’s war speeches.
Listen to the audio clip of Lawrence being interviewed here.
November 2019 – Great Speech Writing provides expert advice in YourLondonWedding magazine
October 2019 – Great Speech Writing is ‘Business of the Week’ in the Ham & High
Read the article and see how we have helped hundreds of people.
23rd October 2019 – MyLondon interviews Lawrence on his life as a speech writer
See how Lawrence responded here
29th November 2018 – Lawrence featured on Wedding Espresso’s podcast.
Listen to the podcast, watch the video or read the transcript here to discover Lawrence’s top tips on writing and structuring a great wedding speech.
8th November 2018 – Lawrence hosted a webinar with BrightTALK on “How to give a great business presentation, pitch or speech”.
Listen to the webinar on playback for free with BrightTALK.
Other attendees who watched the webinar said:
“Excellent presentation! I found the content incredibly useful.”
“I absolutely LOVED this webinar presentation! I learned so much in a short period of time.”
“Fantastic relevance and clarity! Just in time for a difficult speech I have to deliver this weekend. Will definitely take this info to heart.”
“Absolutely fabulous! Provided some great tips I can immediately apply. One of my favorite BrightTalks so far!”
12th October 2018 – Lawrence speculated with the Daily Star on what Prince Andrew might say in his speech at Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding.
Read the example speech Lawrence wrote here.
17th May 2018 – Lawrence interviewed by BBC Radio Kent on wedding speeches and the Royal Wedding.
Listen to the audio clip of Lawrence being interviewed here.
13th May 2018 – Lawrence spoke to the Daily Star about Prince William’s best man speech for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding.
Read the full article and take a look at an example speech written by Lawrence here.
7th October 2017 – Lawrence interviewed by BBC Radio on Theresa May’s conference speech (and The West Wing).
Listen to the audio clip here.
July 19 2017 – Tips on how to get those wedding speech tears flowing. (As featured on Heart, Capital FM and in association with Kleenex)
Kleenex asked us for our tips to get those wedding speech tears flowing and these were featured on Heart and Capital FM.
Read the article on Heart here
Read the article on Capital FM here
June 21 2017 – Lawrence interviewed about the Queen’s Speech and weddings (!) live on Talk Radio.
Click on the image below to hear the five minute chat with Jon Holmes covering speech tips and more.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzYO_Lnod7M
June 2017 – Seb featured in ‘The Wedding Secret’
Seb, our Client Relationship Manager, offers advice to Grooms speaking at their wedding reception. Here’s a snippet: “One regular complaint from wedding guests is that came to listen to stories about the bride and groom, not the groom and his best man. Don’t forget who you are marrying and why you have asked people to come and celebrate.”
Read the full article here
May 21 2016 – Lawrence featured in ‘First Person’ in Financial Times Magazine.
“Speechwriting is like Botox — the better you do it, the less likely your clients are to advertise the fact. People who come to my company for help with a social speech don’t want anyone to know. It’s a cloak-and-dagger world: we can call clients on their mobile but not the landline; they’ll meet in a café, but miles from their house. Discretion is key.”
Read the full article here (If you are having trouble opening this link contact us and we will send you the full article).
May 2016 – Lawrence interviewed in Catherine Moonan’s ‘The Pitch Coach’
Extract from the chapter:
“There are three things that make a speech great. They are the basis upon which we built the business, Great Speech Writing. The first is relevance…. Number two is clarity…. Finally the hard part: sprinkling magic onto it, to make it original, different and exciting.”
May 2016 – Man London asks Lawrence about effective communication
March 2016 – Lawrence is the ‘mystery guest’ on BBC Radio!
The Paul Miller Show has a weekly feature where listeners call-in asking questions to help identify the occupation of the mystery guest. This ‘phone-in’ section of the show is available in Clip 1 (below). You may be surprised to hear some of the careers Lawrence was linked with! Clip 2 (further down the page) features a more formal interview focusing on what being a professional speech writer involves.
Clip 1: Callers try to guess what Lawrence does for a living!
Clip 2: Paul Miller interviews Lawrence about his career as a speech writer
March 2016 – The Gay Wedding Guide asked Lawrence about two same sex wedding speeches we have written.
Jan 2016 – An article on hitched.co.uk guiding brides on how to give the ultimate speech on their wedding day.
Dec 1 2014 – BBC Radio 5 Live interview with Lawrence on Prince Harry’s fear of public speaking
This five minute interview from the Afternoon Show with Dan Walker and Sarah Brett marked Prince Harry’s launch of the #FeelNoShame campaign, where celebrities admit their secrets to help those with AIDS be more open about their condition. Covers the Prince, his phobia, other famous people with similar fears, tips for getting it right, and examples of great speakers in the world today.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZA9I3IL-Wuk
Oct 2 2014 – BBC Three Counties Radio interview on the party conference speeches
This four minute clip covers David Cameron’s Prime Ministerial style, Ed Miliband’s notes and the enduring importance of the spoken word.
July 24 2014 – Daily Telegraph
June 2014 – Daily Telegraph Feature
A video feature on Great Speech Writing within the telegraph’s Business Club section:
//www.youtube.com/embed/ZNwU0uVoeso
Oct 3 2012 – BBC Radio Wales interview on Ed Miliband
Lawrence live on BBC Radio Wales during Labour Party conference discussing Ed Miliband’s ‘One Nation’ speech.
Link to 3 minute MP3 clip here
July 9 2012 – BBC Radio interview on Andy Murray
Lawrence live on BBC Radio discussing Andy Murray’s tears and what makes a great speech. Audio clip here: Lawrence_Bernstein_BBCRadio_Mike_Zeller_Radio_Interview_2012-07-09
Feb 29 2012- BBC Radio 4 and World Service Interviews on the Oscars
Live on BBC World Service during the Oscars discussing the quality (or otherwise) of the acceptance speeches. In two separate interviews an hour apart.
.
The first: Lawrence-BBC-World-Service-Oscars-Feb-2011-Part1
The second: Lawrence-BBC-World-Service-Oscars-Feb-2011-Part2
Featured in article in Dame Magazine on what to say (and what not to say) on receiving an Oscar
April 29 2011 – SKY news interview on Prince Harry
Interviewed outside Buckingham Palace live on Sky news on Royal Wedding day . You can see it here, or click on this link for a bigger version on YouTube (but trust me, I’m not suited to HD!).
Feb 2011 – BBC Radio interviews on Prince Harry
Interviewed abour Prince Harry’s best man speech on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Merseyside.
July 2009 – BBC online magazine
Quoted in the BBC Online Magazine in this article :
“In a nutshell, a great speech is communication at its most effective, and we all want to communicate effectively in whatever situation we find ourselves in”, says professional speech-writer Lawrence Bernstein.
“The rules and techniques of good communication work on all levels – if you’re on a stage speaking to thousands of people, asking your boss for a pay rise, trying to buy a new house, or teaching a class of 10 year olds.”
May 2009 – New Zealand Herald
Featured on the other side of the world in the New Zealand Herald:
April 2009
Interviewed by Macleans in Canada (the Canadian equivalent of ‘Time’ magazine in the US). ‘Great Speechwriting’ has been abreviated to ‘Great Speeches’ in the article below!:
January 21 2009 BBC Radio London about Obama
Interviewed on BBC Radio London by Vanessa Feltz about the Obama inauguration speech.
Sept 23 2008 BBC Radio 5 on Gordon Brown
Featured on BBC Radio 5 Breakfast show with a suggested headline clip for Gordon Brown’s speech at the Labour Party Conference.
Sept 2008 with Stephen Fry on BBC Radio 4
Featured on Stephen Fry’s ‘English Delight’ on Radio 4.
Also in 2008
I have also been interviewed about this service on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Essex, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Radio Kerry in Ireland.
I have also been asked to contribute to a number of magazines. If you found me in the Spectator, Private Eye or the New Statesman, you may not read them all regularly, but here are a few clippings.
August 2008
and, perhaps less visually impressive, the article itself:
April 2008
Also in 2007
