Experience

St Andrew's Healthcare

• United Kingdom
• Mental Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Mar 2020 - Present

  Public Relations and Internal Communications for mental health charity (4,500 staff, 850 patients), covering Northampton HQ, Birmingham and Essex hospital sites. Notable projects include:• Planning and delivery of communications activities for various campaigns, including Covid-19 staff and patient vaccination programme and uniform roll-out • Launch of new (SharePoint) staff intranet and new internal staff newsletter• Content creation and art direction of Annual Reports for last three years, featuring stories of hope and recovery alongside the Charity’s financial data. Editorial lead for other charity publications, including Diversity and Inclusion Report, Quality Report and Education Report• Management of consent process, filming cycle and publicity for BBC Two documentary ‘Girls on the Edge’, filmed within the charity’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit. Programme achieved 700,000 viewers and a combined circulation figure of 82m for press coverage • Substantial increase in national, regional and trade media coverage for the charity.Responsibilities:• Board and Governor communications, writing regular updates on behalf of the CEO and leadership team• Proactive media relations, communicating key messages through news releases, subsequent measurement/analysis and reporting. Providing reactive responses to local, national, trade and specialist media • Working with internal and external stakeholders and partner organisations on joint communications activities and challenges• Development and delivery of communications and social media strategy • Social media content, social media policy and associated staff Code of Conduct• Management of content schedule and news flow• Briefing and management of external agencies and freelancers• Crisis communications – response, monitoring and delivery • Internal and external communications content, including stories, award entries, updates, videos, infographics, opinion and thought leadership pieces etc.

• External Communications Manager

  • Apr 2017 - Mar 2020

  Public Relations and Internal Communications for mental health charity (4,500 staff, 850 patients), covering Northampton HQ, Birmingham and Essex hospital sites.



University of Northampton

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Officer: Press and PR

  • Jan 2013 - Apr 2017

  External and internal communications for large University (14,000 students, 2,500 staff). Lead communicator for research news, and communications support for all four faculties. • Copywriting of press releases, statements, case studies, marketing materials and prospectus • Ghostwriting for Vice Chancellor • Reactive and proactive media relations, with subsequent PR analysis and reporting • Forward planning and campaign management • Crisis communications • Creating visual content for social media channels and website, including video • Internal communications lead: generating content, weekly newsletter, editor of termly staff magazine. Notable achievements: • Advisor on brand new ‘Communicating Science’ module, part of Human Biosciences degree. Creation of course material and delivery of seminars • Full marketing and media support for launch of Healthwatch Northamptonshire. Extensive liaison with partners (Northampton Volunteering Centre and Northamptonshire County Council) • Launch of new internal staff magazine. Responsible for planning, content, budget and production. Shortlisted in the ‘Editor of the Year’ category in the Institute of Internal Communication’s national ICon Awards 2016.



Retina UK

• United Kingdom
• Information Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • May 2012 - Dec 2012

  RP Fighting Blindness was a charity based in Buckingham, which aimed to raise awareness of and offer support to people affected by retinitis pigmentosa. This was a new role for the charity. • Copywriting news stories, features, press releases and opinion pieces • Editing technical research material to create simplified news stories for charity supporters • Planning, writing and editing quarterly supporters magazine • Managing press enquiries, social media, website • Arranging / support of annual conference and patient information days. Notable achievements: • Launch of campaign entitled ‘the Gene Team Appeal’. Creation of text and content for promotional materials and website to encourage donations for high-level research. Project aimed to raise £350k to fund gene therapy research at University College London’s Institute of Ophthalmology. Appeal reached its target ahead of schedule.



Kerrang! Magazine

• Sub-editor / Deputy Production Editor

  • Aug 2005 - May 2012

  Kerrang!, at this time, was the world’s largest selling weekly music magazine. This role was based in London. • As Deputy Production Editor, managing a team of 13 staff • Management of editorial budget (£750k+ p/a), payroll, cost control and reporting • Proofreading of 72 Kerrang! editorial pages per week, checking facts and grammar and considering libel and defamation issues • Editing / writing in different styles for different audiences, including reviews, news and features, e-newsletters, advertorials and in-house advertising. Writing of standfirsts and captions • Acting as brand guardian to ensure consistency on all platforms • Communicating with advertisers, freelancers, press officers, PR agencies, journalists and publications (national and regional), musicians, band management, brand platforms, readers and publishers. Notable achievements: • Planning and execution of events including Kerrang! Awards, tours and signing tents • Sole Kerrang! representative for a national online forum for the charity Refuge, to help raise awareness of abuse in teenage relationships.



Anglo Plugging

• Promotions Co-ordinator

  • Jul 2003 - Jul 2005

  Anglo Plugging was an award-winning music promotions agency, delivering radio, television and online promotions. The company handled management and promotion for artists including U2, Elton John, The Libertines and Oasis. • Writing press releases and media content • PA to the Director of Promotions – managing confidential information relating to the band U2 • Analysis of radio airplay and reporting on success of promotional activities • Part of Music Week’s ‘Best Independent Promotions Team of 2005’.