Experience

Spirit Studios

• United Kingdom
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal & CEO

  • Jun 2019 - Present

  As Principal and CEO, I am responsible for the effective leadership and management of Spirit Studios, accountable for the financial health, structure, reputation, character, mission, staffing, students and safeguarding, and responsible for the vision of this great, historic learning institution. I provide inspirational leadership to staff and learners, whilst ensuring the delivery of outstanding academic performance and organisational structure, providing guidance on our mission, vision, relevant legislation and codes of practice across HE. Caring deeply about the sector and its role in the community and the creative industries, I am a shrewd and capable influencer, providing inspirational, dynamic, forward thinking stewardship whilst navigating complex external relationships. Driving internal organisational change and steering a culture of honesty, transparency and self-awareness, I work with vision and dedication to ensure the delivery of the best outcomes for all that I serve.



Spirit Studios

• United Kingdom
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head of Marketing

  • Oct 2015 - 2019

  As Head of Marketing, I was responsible for devising and delivering plans that had a clearemphasis on creativity, innovation, efficiency and return-on-investment within a complex andhighly competitive, undergraduate market with the aim of driving growth of our student body. During my four years as Head of Marketing at Spirit Studio - one of the first schools dedicated to providing audio education over forty year’s ago – with a direct report to the board of directors, I lead a marketing team that enveloped CMA and GDPR guidance, sales, student support, events, outreach programmes and brand development, whilst architecting the dissolving of games and film to focus entirely on music education, resulting in a major re-brand, including name change. My role was to identify and target key student markets at home and within the EU, as well as developing and leading on the relationships with businesses, professional bodies and academic partners, coordinating budgets and resources and managing external agencies to deliver against specific KPIs over a remit that spanned informal and new degree course development through to customer supporting initiatives - including event development, promotion and content generation in support of brand awareness. I employed my significant and relevant experience across the full marketing mix, with particularemphasis on the delivery of integrated, measurable touch-points, covering brand identity designand development, digital and social media and customer/sales relations.



JWS

• Sales and Marketing Manager

  • Jan 2013 - Oct 2015

  I was one of three senior managers of a 41 strong people business working in the heritage and conservation sector, bolstering the ongoing expansion of a highly-skilled company, safe-guarding the distinctive fenestration of Britain's Great listed and period properties.



Z-arts

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Director (Trustee)

  • Sep 2010 - Jun 2014

  Z-arts is Manchester's only multi-art form multi-space arts venue.Supported by Manchester City Council, Z-arts is a professionally managed, creative space for young people, operating as a creative hub to base young people, to be inspired and to be encouraged to inspire others.As a non-executive director from September 2010 to 2014, I was one of several board members tasked with steering a fantastic, high profile arts centre. My role on the board was to contribute to the development of the brand, drive change and develop meaningful relationships - including many with schools. With a personal focus on the strategic brand development of this important and historic arts centre, I worked very closely alongside exceptionally professional and dedicated board members, staff, and young people in this difficult but competitive and exciting period in British arts.



Funnel Creative Ltd

• Director

  • Nov 2005 - 2011

  In 2005 I was appointed director of Funnel Creative Ltd and tasked to re-focus the agency, by balancing the books, managing and directing existing accounts and to identify, win and build new ones, increasing a turnover of x4.From excellent business and financial management, writing skills for bids, pitches, presentations – development and delivery – as well as ideas generation, I had won and gone on to manage, build and maintain the brands of many organisations large and small, including the American Peanut Council, Business in the Community, the Government's National Employer Service, and the UKs leading publisher of graduate and postgraduate education recruitment solutions, Graduate Prospects, as well as successfully raising the standards of arts & cultural organisations large and small.With full-hearted communication skills and my deep awareness of client needs, I delivered myriad successful projects, many of which have been published in global best selling books on brand and identity.



Creative Industries Development Service

• Cultural Advisor

  • 2005 - 2008

  A strategic advisor to the board of the Creative Industries Development Service (CIDS) for three years, this public sector, north western creative advice service encouraged the economic growth of the region through the design, cultural and digital sectors until its close in 2008. As an advisor and ambassador to CIDS, my principal focus was the link between education and industry and raising the standards of creative education for all young people, in and out of Schools and Universities.



Freelance

• Photographer

  • 1995 - 2005

  Photographing artists for Major and Independent music recording labels, alongside culturally significant interests as a Contributing photographer for Dazed & Confused Magazine.Two solo photographic exhibitions.