Ken Burnett and Alan Clayton have set up a new fundraising consultancy which will focus on creative skills, rather than “hard skills”.

The new firm, Clayton Burnett, brings together two of the biggest names on the international fundraising conference circuit.

Clayton (pictured left) told Civil Society that the “creative heritage” in both his and Burnett’s experience will drive the company’s approach to clients. Clayton said that the firm would work to build creative skills, a creative approach to change and training in public speaking and mentoring.

In a Facebook fan page set up by the pair late last week, the mission of Clayton Burnett is described as being "To make sure that being a client of Clayton Burnett, while never easy or cheap, is a real pleasure, at all times and in all ways."

The two consultants have already secured ten clients for the firm. The clients include top-100 charities, a number of Scottish charities, Relationship Marketing, the Swedish Fundraising Association and Stephen Thomas Associates in Canada.

Ken Burnett is the founder of agency Burnett Associates and author of Relationship Fundraising, and won the award for Outstanding Contribution in Fundraising at the Professional Fundraising Awards 2007.

Alan Clayton is director of innovation at The Good Agency. In 1998, he founded Cascaid Group and continued to work as managing director until 2007, when the company was merged with Ideas Eurobrand and TwentyFirstCentury Brand Theatre, to form The Good Agency. 

Clayton said he would remain a part-time consultant at The Good Agency, but said he was keen to get involved in more client work at Clayton Burnett. “I’m much better at clients than I am at managing staff,” he joked.