Who we are
Cherryleaf helps organisations explain complex products, systems, and processes clearly.
Cherryleaf combines long-standing technical communication experience with current documentation practices: API docs, docs-as-code, structured content, AI-aware workflows, customer education, and content strategy.
Since 2002, we’ve worked in technical communication, API and developer documentation, online help, user assistance, policies and procedures, training content, and documentation strategy.
We help clients create information that is accurate, findable, maintainable, and useful for both humans and AI-enabled systems.
Today, we’re based just to the west of London and in Brighton, and we support the growing trend of “remote worldwide” and hybrid roles across the US, UK, Canada, and Europe.
Where we help
We work with teams that need to improve:
- Developer and API documentation, including OpenAPI-based docs, SDK guidance, and developer onboarding.
- Product documentation, online help, release notes, user guides, and embedded help.
- Docs-as-code and structured authoring workflows, including Git, Markdown, XML, DITA, and component-based content.
- Documentation strategy, governance, content audits, information architecture, and documentation lifecycle management.
- Customer education, training materials, knowledge bases, and support content.
- AI-related documentation, including content that supports AI tools, AI-assisted authoring, and documentation that can be consumed by humans and machines.
- Prompt engineering and AI Skills, designing prompts and prompter strategies to shape AI product experiences.
What we produce for you
Technical communication is no longer just about manuals or online Help. The content we create might appear in a developer portal, an API reference, a knowledge base article, a support workflow, a release note, an onboarding screen, a training course, a chatbot source, or a procedure used by staff.
Bridging the gap
Our role is to bridge the gap between what users need to do and what they can work out for themselves. That means making information clear, accurate, structured, findable, reusable, and maintainable.
Why use Cherryleaf?
Here are a few reasons why someone might consider using our services:
- Expertise
- Cherryleaf has over 20 years of experience in technical communication and e-learning.
- Our team includes experienced technical writers, instructional designers, and trainers who can create high-quality content for a wide range of industries and audiences.
- Efficiency
- Cherryleaf can help you create content quickly and efficiently, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.
- We use best practices and tools to streamline the content creation process, ensuring that your content is delivered on time and on budget.
- Quality
- Cherryleaf is committed to creating high-quality content that meets your specific needs.
- We use a structured approach to content development, which includes planning, writing, editing, and testing, to ensure that your content is accurate, clear, and effective.
- Flexibility
- Cherryleaf can work with you to create content in a variety of formats, including online help, user manuals, training materials, and e-learning courses.
- We can also work with you to develop a content strategy that aligns with your business goals and objectives.
- Customer service
- Cherryleaf is known for our exceptional customer service.
- We work closely with clients to understand their needs and provide personalised support throughout the content development process.
- Collaboration
- We understand both the writing craft and the systems behind modern documentation.
- That includes working with subject matter experts, developers, support teams, product teams, and compliance stakeholders; planning documentation sets; improving documentation processes; and helping teams choose appropriate tools and workflows.
Our owners
Ellis Pratt
Ellis is a Consulting Technical Communicator and Director at Cherryleaf. He has been working in technical communication since the early 1990s. He has a degree in Business Studies. He is also:
- A Member of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC)
- An Associate of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
He was a judge for the UK Technical Communication Awards 2020 and the DevPortal Awards 2020. He is a regular conference speaker on technical communication topics.
See also:
Ginny Critcher
Ginny has a background as a skilled trainer and information designer. She has over twenty years experience in teaching and training throughout the world. Ginny has extensive project management skills. She also has considerable experience using the main technical authoring tools.
Ginny is fluent in Spanish.
She has:
- An MSc (in Information Systems)
- A BA (in Spanish Studies)
- A RSA TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate
Ginny manages the development of Cherryleaf’s training courses.
See also:
Awards, Books and Memberships
Training course accreditations
Cherryleaf’s Technical Author/technical writing training course‘s content is accredited by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, the professional body for Technical Communicators in the United Kingdom. It is an independent assessment of the course’s quality. This course is also recommended by The Australian Society for Technical Communication and The Technical Communicators Association of New Zealand to their members.
Published books
Cherryleaf’s staff are contributors to the following books:
- The Language of Technical Communication. 2016. XML Press.
- Current Practices and Trends in Technical Communication. 2017. ISTC Books.
Legal information
Registered in England 4575705
VAT Number 803 2288 54
Carol Johnston
Carol Johnston MA (Cantab), who was one of Cherryleaf’s original founders, died on 22 January 2012. Please see the eulogy on our blog.
Contact us
Want to discuss your situation, and explore how Cherryleaf can help you? You can tell us about your project, issues and goals. We’re here to help.