Experience

Ballyhoo PR

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • May 2016 - Present

  After years of experience in PR and editorial roles, I decided to set up Ballyhoo PR. Ballyhoo PR specialises in offering cost effective PR and copywriting/editing services to SMEs to help them raise the profile of their business and brand online, in print and broadcast media and the wider business community. Over the years we have worked with a wide variety of businesses from sole traders to big brands. And, as well as providing PR and copywriting services on an ad hoc basis for clients, we have quickly become known for our Virtual PR & Comms Team service, which sees us manage the whole marketing communications mix for our clients on a monthly retainer basis. From organising media appearances, pitching to the media and creating and distributing press releases to coming up with creative media campaigns that cross platforms and integrate traditional PR and comms with social media, video and events. Show less



Freelance

• Freelance writer for newspapers and magazines

  • May 2016 - Present

  I have been commissioned to write articles and carry out interviews for several local, trade and national newspapers, magazines and websites. I specialise in B2B publications and local and regional business news stories. I have been commissioned to write articles and carry out interviews for several local, trade and national newspapers, magazines and websites. I specialise in B2B publications and local and regional business news stories.



Webb Associates PR

• United Kingdom
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Account Manager

  • Mar 2015 - Apr 2016

  Managing the PR activity for a leading UK housebuilder and two smaller businesses. This involved working with local and national press, managing clients' social media accounts as part of a 'social team', arranging corporate sponsorships and community engagement activity, putting together award entries, sourcing case studies and co-ordinating events. Managing the PR activity for a leading UK housebuilder and two smaller businesses. This involved working with local and national press, managing clients' social media accounts as part of a 'social team', arranging corporate sponsorships and community engagement activity, putting together award entries, sourcing case studies and co-ordinating events.



Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• • Jul 2012 - Mar 2015

  In June 2012, my role changed slightly to concentrate on PR, editorial (columns in local press, carry on as Editor of the In Business magazine, compile annual publications, enewsletters and the news section of website), social media, and services to members, handing over the more overtly marketing tasks such as advertising, branding, designing flyers and banner stands etc to someone else. This allowed me to more proactive – instigating and project managing the development of an app, launching a blog and writing a bank of Chamber case studies and turning these into video testimonials for the website and social media channels. I also set up a dedicated Twitter profile for our exporters and secured the Chamber another local newspaper column. Show less

• • Jan 2008 - Jul 2012

  My role covered four principle areas:1.Marketing and PR. Marketing the Chamber's products, services and events to local businesses (B2B) through PR and marketing campaigns (online and offline), presentations, exhibitions and meetings. This included copywriting, putting together eshots and marketing literature, writing press releases, liaising with external suppliers, acting as press officer for the organisation and writing two monthly columns for local newspapers. I also put together departmental operational plans, reports for the Board on our marketing and PR activity and managed the marketing budget.2.Publications. Editor of the Chamber's bi-monthly business magazine, In Business, which went out to just over 5,000 business contacts in and around Northamptonshire. I also put together a weekly events e-newsletter and two monthly eBulletin newsletters – News & Offers and Chamber Training - and several annual publications including a corporate diary, two business directories and an annual review of the Chamber's activity, which was mailed out to members prior to the AGM. 3.Online and mobile. The Chamber sponsored a monthly online business magazine and had a column on the landing page, which I wrote and supplied each month. I was also responsible for managing the content on the Chamber's website and launched and managed the accompanying social media profiles – Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube and Facebook.4.Service to members. The Chamber offers marketing advice as part of the membership package. This saw me regularly meet with companies and advise them on how to market themselves to fellow members and the county as a whole. I also made quarterly presentations at our Members Reception events. Show less



SATRA

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Editor/Press Officer

  • Mar 2005 - Jan 2008

  Originally taken on as an Assistant Editor, I was quickly promoted to Editor. During my time at SATRA I edited three international magazines (Footwear Business International, SATRA Bulletin International and Spotlight), an online version of Spotlight magazine and also dealt with the company's PR as part of a three-person team (generating press releases, creating advertisements, organising and directing photoshoots, writing for trade journals, dealing with the press and much more). Originally taken on as an Assistant Editor, I was quickly promoted to Editor. During my time at SATRA I edited three international magazines (Footwear Business International, SATRA Bulletin International and Spotlight), an online version of Spotlight magazine and also dealt with the company's PR as part of a three-person team (generating press releases, creating advertisements, organising and directing photoshoots, writing for trade journals, dealing with the press and much more).



Hobsons

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Production Controller

  • Jun 2004 - Mar 2005

  I worked within the Publishing and Online division of this international company. I was solely responsible for the production of its biggest guide – The Hobsons Guide to UK Boarding Schools and its accompanying website. My duties included chasing the schools for copy, liaising with external typesetters and proofreading. My website duties included formatting and uploading the final pdf proofs and images onto the site via a remote management system (RMS). I also created several web banners at the request of advertisers. Show less



Mainline Media Ltd

• Corby, Northamptonshire

• Advertisement Production Assistant

  • Oct 2002 - Jun 2004

  My duties included copy chasing, proofreading, flat-planning, liaising with the printers, sending out copy proofs to clients and subsequently amending them for around 30 different magazine and yearbook titles including the Kennel Gazette for The Kennel Club, SIGNMatters for the British Deaf Association and both of the bi-monthly magazines for the Federation of Small Businesses (Business Network and First Voice). Business Network also required some editorial work - chasing editorial from selected companies, giving them advice on layout, word count, pictures to use etc. I also had to proofread articles, features, competitions, classified adverts and directory pages and correct any mistakes, for which a high standard of English was essential. I also designed and set adverts on rare occasions at the client’s request. Show less