For over a decade, my poetry commissions have included national TV advertising campaigns, global recruitment campaigns, centenary events, brand launches, seasonal campaigns, and many more.
I pride myself on offering a dynamic and professional service, with a wide range of tones and styles. Obviously, each commission is unique, and I work on terms that suit the client. After an initial email discussion, we’d need a briefing call to agree on the finer details.
Please note that I’m not currently taking on personal commissions. Finally, if you’re looking to commission a poet, but I’m not quite right for your campaign, I can’t recommend Maria Ferguson highly enough.
A selection of previous clients
Below are some examples of my previous commissions. My fee drastically varies depending on the nature of the commission and any usage involved. Please indicate your budget rather than asking me to provide a quote – it’s far too easy to either sell myself short or price myself out!
Leeds United FC
Centenary kit launch • Jul ’19
This is quite possibly the biggest honour of my career to date: being commissioned by my boyhood club to write the poem for their centenary kit launch, voiced by Ralph Ineson.
Jeremy Corbyn MP
General Election campaign • Dec ’19
Another contender for my greatest honour. Jeremy Corbyn’s team invited me to write this poem for the 2019 General Election campaign, and Michael Sheen agreed to read it.
Nationwide Building Society
National TV ad campaign • Apr ’20
For my third Nationwide ad, I was asked to write a poem alongside my better half Maria Ferguson, with a message to ourselves in six months’ time. As it happened, it was almost six months to the day until our (planned) wedding date…
Nationwide Building Society
National TV ad campaign • Apr ’19
I was invited to write these poems whilst researching the cultural history of Wakefield’s city centre and was delighted when Nationwide ended up using them for another national TV ad campaign.
Nationwide Building Society
National TV ad campaign • Sep ’16
This poem was a major national TV ad campaign for Nationwide Building Society and was one of the original three which launched their award-winning Voices Nationwide campaign. My poem received over a million views online.
Mercedes-Benz Vans UK
Poetry in Motion campaign • Aug ’23
This poem has launched a ‘Poetry in Motion’ campaign, which invites van drivers and small business owners to submit their own poems for a chance to win a Mercedes-Benz eSprinter or eVito van.
British Heart Foundation
Father’s Day poem • Jun ’25
I know from personal experience how tough Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day) can be for people who’ve lost parental figures. So, I was touched to be commissioned to write this poem for British Heart Foundation ahead of Father’s Day 2025.
Blue Peter (CBBC)
National Poetry Day live episode • Oct ’19
Unfortunately, I don’t have a video clip of this. But I was thrilled to appear on Blue Peter’s live episode for National Poetry Day 2019 and perform this commissioned poem as part of my appearance.
Saint Ursula Academy (Ohio, USA)
Recruitment video • Sep ’24
It was an honour to be commissioned to write this poem for Saint Ursula Academy. It’s clearly a very special and unique school over in Cincinnati, Ohio and it felt incredible to be able to write something that connected with people across the pond. Education in all shapes and sizes is something that I’m passionate about, and seeing the final video was a real buzz!
BT Sport Live football coverage
Marcelo Bielsa’s farewell • Mar ’22
The poem that I never wanted to have to write! For Leeds United’s first fixture since Marcelo Bielsa’s emotive dismissal, BT Sport commissioned me to write this poem as part of their matchday coverage. It was a huge honour to be asked to express this thank you on behalf of the LUFC fanbase.
Cancer Research UK
Pledge Pathway To Progress • Jul ’19
My Mum was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September 2015, and within six weeks she’d been given the all-clear. I realise how incredibly fortunate we are, but even then, it was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. So I’m really proud to have been commissioned to write this reversible poem for Cancer Research UK.
Northern Monk Brewery
Great Northern Day launch • Aug ’25
I’ve enjoyed many a pint of Northern Monk in my time, so I was thrilled to be commissioned as part of their Great Northern Day launch. The aim is to establish an annual celebration that’s eventually on a par with St Patrick’s Day! All power to ’em.
Shed Seven
Homecoming gig announcement • Sep ’23
Shed Seven guitarist and songwriter Paul Banks gave me my first ever commission back in 2014 (the York Arc Light ‘I Matter’ poem) and so this project meant a lot to me. The video gives me goosebumps!
Fly The Flag
Human Rights Day • Dec ’20
One of the aims of the Fly the Flag campaign was to remind people what their basic human rights actually are. This includes food and shelter.
Gü Puds x FareShare
Christmas campaign • Nov ’20
Everybody loves a Gü Pud (they do vegan and gluten-free options before you say anything). But what I really love is that Gü teamed up with FareShare UK for Christmas 2020. So, it was great to be asked to write this!
European Youth Forum
Yo!Fest official poem • May ’18
This was the official poem for the European Youth Forum‘s bi-annual Yo!Fest event, which took place in Strasbourg in June 2018 and attracted around 10,000 young people. I also performed at the event.
Black Sheep Brewery
Drink Cask Beer campaign • Feb ’22
I’ve seen a few people say that if you are going to do a poetry commission for a brand, it should only be for brands that you enjoy. Well, I can’t say that that’s not the case with Black Sheep Brewery and their Drink Cask Beer campaign…! My commissioned poem is brilliantly performed by Chantelle Pierre.
Sunny Bank Mills (LEEDS 2023)
Hidden Stories project • Jan-Apr ’22
These poems were commissioned as part of an artist/researcher residency as part of LEEDS 2023’s ‘Hidden Stories’ project. You can read more about it here.
Leeds United Supporters’ Trust
World Poetry Day • Mar ’21
It’s quite a thing to be able to say that this was one of the craziest 12-month periods in Leeds United’s history. The range of fans reading the poem is incredible, too – from Rune Temte to Heidi Haigh.
Welcome to Leeds
Leeds United promotion celebration • Jul ’20
For fairly obvious reasons, this was extremely enjoyable to write. A poem to welcome Leeds United back to the Premier League after 16 agonising years, on behalf of Welcome to Leeds and the city. Voiced again by the brilliant Ralph Ineson.
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
#Eureka25 birthday celebrations • Jun ’17
I was appointed as one of Eureka‘s ambassadors as part of their 25th birthday celebrations, and they commissioned me to write this poem in order to celebrate the campaign.
Arts Council Collection
Revolt & Revolutions exhibition • Jan ’18
I was honoured to be commissioned by Arts Council Collection to write a poem in response to the Revolt & Revolutions exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. There’s more content and a video here.
Academies Enterprise Trust
#RemarkableLives brand relaunch • Sep ’18
This poem helped to launch a new identity for AET, and the title has since been incorporated into their new logo, as each of their schools – with a total of over 37,000 pupils and 6,000 staff.
Morgan Sindall Construction
Operation Spitfire • May ’20
I love history-based projects such as this one. The Spitfire is a British icon, and I’ve done a fair bit of work in Stoke-on-Trent over the years, so it was great to combine the two for this commission.
North Ormesby Primary Academy
COVID-19 mural • May ’20
I’ve taught at NOPA a couple of times and am very fond of Middlesbrough in general, so was honoured when they asked me to write a poem for their COVID-19 mural. The poem sums it up perfectly by saying that it’s so much more than a school!
York Arc Light
Making Every Adult Matter campaign • Nov ’14
This poem ended-up featuring in ‘Two Little Ducks’ and led to me becoming an ambassador for Trinity Homeless Projects who adopted it as their “anthem” in summer 2015.
Long Division Festival
#OntoTheStreets project • May ’19
Inspired by my Instagram feed, I was commissioned to write ten short poetic odes to former musical haunts in Wakefield. These were displayed in empty shop windows in the city centre during Long Division Festival 2019.
Efficiency North
EN:Able poetry anthology • Sep ’17-Apr ’18
I wrote a full-length poetry collection for Efficiency North, after spending 6 months visiting various community projects around the Yorkshire & Humber region; all of which have been funded by their EN:Able scheme.
Other commissions
I’ve also been commissioned by Philosophy Football, Foundation Futures, The Football Pink magazine, the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign, Purely Organic, One to One Development Trust, and many more.
Matt Abbott Poet 