James Croft is an experienced communications consultant and media professional, with organisation-wide management experience.

The focus of James’s work for Pencil-Sharp is in education publishing project management, which over the past year has included developmental editing, author and review process management for Edexcel/Pearson Education Ltd, ELT/ESP developmental editing, picture research and author liaison for Garnet Education; and editorial and production management for the College of Occupational Therapists.

James is also the editor of Teaching Excellence, the in-house magazine of the Cognita schools group, and a feature writer for School Leadership Today, Professional Development Today and Education Executive magazines.

Past clients in education have included OUP’s International Education Unit (partnering on projects for Capita, CfBT, and the National Strategies initiative), the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), the Chartered Institute for Language and Training (CILT), Edexcel, Heinemann, and other divisions of Pearson Education, Garnet Education, David Fulton (Granada Learning), Letts Education, and the Good Schools Guide.

Pencil-Sharp offers a full contract publishing and project management service. This may include any or all of the following: project scoping, assessment and briefing, execution, including author management, content development, book plans, asset logging and tracking, editorial, picture research, artwork briefing, copyright permissions, pre-press studio management and or print management.

James is experienced in devising and implementing full systems solutions, supply chain management, quality control, client management, and tender bid preparation.

A comprehensive guide to publishing process is available for senior managers who are new to outsourced management frameworks, or who need assistance in developing their own publishing.