Content and Public Relations Manager

• Mar 2022 - Present

As the only in-house PR and comms person, I manage and deliver the firm’s internal and external communications strategy, across all content channels. I work with key stakeholders including management, senior executives, external clients and legal teams to support in the production of business plans and PR strategy at sector level. I also coordinate award submissions. Key accomplishments - Completed Content Strategy course - CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing - Feb 2023 - Acting Deputy Employee Representative - Business Support, London - April 2023 - Present - Launched Tech+ newsletter campaign - firm's best performing piece of content to-date with record open rates - Over the last financial year, LinkedIn follower numbers increased by over a quarter - 28% Show less

Public Relations and Communications Executive

• Jun 2019 - Mar 2022

Within a team of six, I was responsible for delivering the firm's marketing communications, digital and hard copy, internal and external. My duties included PR, crafting press releases, adding articles to the Birketts' website, social media posting (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook), email marketing / campaigns, dealing with press queries (regional and national) and producing newsletters. I scheduled, designed and delivered our full suite of seventeen external newsletters, in addition to providing support with several internal publications for employees (covering CSR, HR and health and wellness). I was promoted from Marketing Executive to PR and Communications Executive in June 2020 in recognition of my specialisms.Key accomplishments- CIPR Level 7 Diploma - Public Relations (completed March '22)- Google Digital Garage - Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (completed December '21)- Member of Ways of Working and Recognition and Team Communications steering groups- Founder crisis communications group- Team ranked 2nd in top 10 UK Digital100 LinkedIn posts w/ comments Q11 2021- Attended CIPR 2021 conference - Stakeholder engagement- Attended CopyCon 2019Stats below as at June 2021Press coverage increased by 20%.Total number of articles = 1,292 (972 online news, 309 print, 11 blogs).During the last financial year 40 newsletter campaigns (44,336 emails) were sent with a deliverability rate of 99.57% / open rate of 32.9%, exceeding the legal sector benchmark.By search, Birketts ranked 200 places ahead of its closest regional competitor when it came to number of articles at the height of the pandemic.WebsiteBirketts rank inside the top 1m websites worldwide (just 69 UK law firms make this list).408 legal updates and 108 press releases were added to the website.InternalAt the height of the pandemic, comms extended from 5 offices to over 750 homes with the launch of digital firm wide internal publication OBSR which now stands at over 100 issues. Show less

Legal Secretary

• Sep 2015 - Jun 2019

I also provided evening secretarial support from January 2017 to July 2018; in this role I undertook work for the agricultural, corporate, commercial and property teams.

Freelance Copywriter

• Mar 2019 - Jan 2020

Paralegal

• Nov 2014 - Jul 2015

Freelance Copywriter

• Dec 2013 - Dec 2014

• Developed an in-depth knowledge of brand guidelines and tone of voice to create coherent creative copy to strict deadlines • Researched and compiled in-depth features for a wide range of industries including education, finance, travel and leisure, entertainment, retail and recruitment • Regularly brainstormed titles to keep content engaging, producing material for a wide variety of high profile brands including HBO, American Express, Viking, Pegasus, Thomas Cook, Jordans, McCain Foods, Cineworld, Fennwright Mason, The Cooperative, Itineris, Schwartz, nPower, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Warner Bros and Argos. Show less

Freelance Copywriter

• Aug 2014 - Aug 2014

• Developed and executed business content for third party consumption • Produced Press Release for company collaboration with Wine Poole • Developed and executed business content for third party consumption • Produced Press Release for company collaboration with Wine Poole

Freelance Copywriter

• Dec 2013 - Feb 2014

• Devised a template to organise biographical information for a range of contemporary design brands • Cultivated narratives and stories to construct biographies and drive product sales • Delivered timely and detailed product descriptions for key design brands including Ali Miller, Aelder Design, ByALEX, Hertfordshire Hammocks, Room9, Barneby Gates, Altfield, Rosie Emerson, Astrid Harrisson, Natasha Lawless, Alexena Cayless, Blanche Dyls design, Lampara and many more • Drafted, proofed and edited interviews Show less

Copywriter

• May 2013 - Dec 2013

• Wrote and edited engaging community content (department copy, phone application copy, marketing newsletters), compelling product descriptions and persuasive selling copy that encouraged customer participation. • Produced extended product descriptions (Today’s Special Value) for the Home and Leisure and Garden departments featuring big brands including Morphy Richards, KitchenAid, Vitamix, Northern Nights, Kelly Hoppen, Vax, Yankee Candle and Dyson. • Researched the main features of items including their USPs, marketplace context and benefits to the customer using internal and external contacts, the Internet and published materials. • Used blogging and other social media tools to present content to customers all over the world and assumed responsibility for presenter blogs belonging to Anne Dawson and Jill Franks. • Worked with the Design and Planning team in order to produce entertaining, effective and accurate web pages; attended vendor meetings with brands including Dyson to streamline social media and copy strategy with the aim of driving sales. https://www.practicalecommerce.com/8-Social-Media-Lessons-from-QVC Show less

Freelance Copywriter

• Apr 2012 - Nov 2013

• Researched a subject or topic using the internet and other published materials to write creative and persuasive copy which met commercial aims under strict deadlines • Ensured all output met the ‘look and feel’ of a wide range of big brand websites that boast reader numbers of well over 100,000 a month including www.digi-business.co.uk • Considered useability, SEO and accessibility at all times to optimise impact; managed and prioritised own workload according to timelines and business requirements Achievements: • Frequently received accolades for writing articles on topics I had no prior knowledge of (including everything from diabetes to football) without a brief, most notably in July 2012: ‘Thanks for a well-written piece with strong imagery and content that really relates to our demographic’ Magda Knight, Founding Editor, www.mookychick.co.uk Show less

Freelance Writer

• Apr 2012 - Oct 2013

• Regular contributor to an award-winning network of community oriented entertainment websites • Researched and wrote comprehensive restaurant guides on venues across London for web publication Achievements: • Consistent production of excellent articles led to being chosen to carry out high profile reviews, notably at The Fire Station restaurant where I interviewed Michael Westenbrink on the social enterprise Beyond Food Foundation apprenticeship scheme for the homeless • Regular contributor to an award-winning network of community oriented entertainment websites • Researched and wrote comprehensive restaurant guides on venues across London for web publication Achievements: • Consistent production of excellent articles led to being chosen to carry out high profile reviews, notably at The Fire Station restaurant where I interviewed Michael Westenbrink on the social enterprise Beyond Food Foundation apprenticeship scheme for the homeless

Editor

• Sep 2011 - Jul 2013

• Engaged with contemporary culture in order to research and write articles on a range of topics such as the male escort industry, changes to the penal system and the cultural scene in London • Corresponded with writers and developed creative ideas for publication • Edited and proofread all the material for the magazine, checking for utility and accuracy • Maintained brand awareness by using social media applications such as Facebook and Twitter to promote forthcoming articles and events that might be of interest to our readership Achievements: • Wrote articles for the first edition of the magazine, which was available in a series of high profile locations including the Hilton Hotel chain. Show less

International Portfolio Co-Ordinator

• Jun 2012 - May 2013

• Supporting with the preparation and delivery of Edexcel’s portfolio of qualifications, including GCSEs, A-Levels, Vocational Qualifications (such as BTECs and NVQs) and Diplomas • Providing high level project management for company flagship projects to strict deadlines • Copyediting and proofreading to house style for a number of projects • Supplying technical and editorial support in the drafting of submissions for national publication • Following departmental processes and procedures to assist with control of cross-team workflow • Taking administrative control of team projects and assuming responsibility for business critical information prior to publication • Providing administrative support to several different teams by monitoring schedules, maintaining quality and standards and editing original drafts of learning materials. Show less

Publicity Assistant DK Marketing and Publicity

• Apr 2011 - Apr 2011

Editorial Assistant Viking Editorial

• Feb 2011 - Mar 2011

Features Editor CUB University Magazine

• Oct 2009 - Mar 2010