Experience

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  Yakara - Automated messaging and payment services.

  • Edinburgh, United Kingdom

  • Business Development Manager

    • Sep 2014 - Apr 2015
    • Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Yakara is a market-leading technology company providing providing on-demand outbound and inbound services to automate customer contact using landlines, mobile and the web.Responsibilities:Responsible for all marketing, communication and PR activities for the company including:• Design of all marketing materials including e-shots, flyers, adverts for trade press, client presentations and promotional materials.• Develop weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly marketing plans and monitor success and • Attend trade shows, conferences and other events on behalf of the company to market Yakara and their services.• Redesign and rewrite of existing website (this project is currently being undertaken but has not gone live yet.)• Write articles for inclusion in trade press and trade websites.• Management of the company’s social media platforms.• Management of the company’s client database, (Daylite.)• Management of the company’s web activity, (including Google Adwords), using Candii and Google Analytics.• Daily management of one member of staff – Marketing & Design Assistant.Responsible for the following business development activity:• Cold calling of potential clients on the back of e-shot campaigns.• Meeting with potential and existing clients.• Attend networking events where appropriate.• Compiling targeted sales campaigns.• Writing proposals for potential new clients.

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  Axcess Financial Europe

  • Edinburgh, United Kingdom

  • Procurement Officer

    • Dec 2013 - Aug 2014
    • Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Axcess Financial Europe is a US based financial services organisation, providing consumer finance and retail products through their four main European brands; Cheque Centre, Cash Generator, The Loan Store and Supercredit (Poland). Responsibilities:• Negotiate commercial / supplier contracts for corporate spend for any requirements with an annual spend of over £65k. Axcess Europe has a generally challenging supply base, and so, commercial negotiation, rather than more traditional procurement routes, are required to ‘sell’ the benefit of working with AE.• Influencing suppliers: Where we have existing/historical suppliers we often have poor contracts currently in place. Responsible for improving the terms with our suppliers and to ensure that this is effectively documented and communicated to our internal stakeholders.• Creation and management of a contract database: Responsible for compiling a contract management database for existing contracts and new contracts in line with all FCA regulations on outsourcing and procurement. Good communication skills are essential for this in order to work with suppliers where the contracts are sub-optimal in order to negotiate new agreements where necessary.• ERP Administration: Administration of CODA Procurement (electronic purchasing system), including; managing the product hierarchies within the live environment, managing purchase item data, general administration of Procurement data and reporting. Responsible for training end-users around the business to use and solely responsible for all internal communication surrounding the implementation of this new system.

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  TMC Professional Ltd

  • Glasgow, United Kingdom

  • Procurement & Marketing Consultant

    • Jan 2013 - Nov 2013
    • Glasgow, United Kingdom

    TMC Professional offers consultancy, training and contractor services in procurement, supply-chain, logistics, management, marketing, business transformation and NLP. As an associate of TMC, I have been engaged on a project-by-project basis for a diverse range of clients. Examples of contracts / works:• Supplier evaluation and consolidation for marketing services spend for a private sector provider of sheltered and amenity housing. Influencing c£3m spend annually across 6 main office locations.• Identify suppliers in use across the corporate estate, identify key internal and external stakeholders and gain agreement to review and consolidate department spend. Report to director level stakeholders on findings and opportunities to leverage spend and to feed into funding strategy for general marketing.• Review supplier usage and segregate spend into sub categories of spend, (communication, revenue generation, brand awareness.)• Identified cashable savings of 7% including; centralisation of agency budget, detailed understanding and tracking of direct mail spend against purpose, (e.g. revenue generation, regulatory communication, consolidation of print suppliers through competitive tender).• Engaged to prepare a tender for the administration of specialist consultancy for a national fire investigation company.• Tendered for a company who could handle the appointment, administration, and payment handling of the associate consultant network either as suppliers, sole traders, contractors or consultants.• I was also engaged to directly negotiate fee rates and pricing for a number of suppliers for various clients. Typically, these engagements are where there is limited scope to change the existing supplier, but where there is a need to improve service and/or reduce costs. On these engagements TMC are paid on the basis of savings from the current pricing.**FURTHER DETAILS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST**

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  Robert Gordon University

  • Aberdeen, United Kingdom

  • Interim Lecturer (Part Time)

    • Sep 2012 - Jan 2013
    • Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    The Department of Communication, Marketing & Media at RGU provide courses in both theory and operational skills required within the sector and are developed in conjunction with organisations to address the needs of industry and to prepare students for a career in their chosen field. This interim role was done on a part-time basis along with my full-time role as a Director of Fundraising & Communications at VSA. Responsibilities:• Delivered modules to 1st and 3rd year BA (Hons) Events Management students across a wide range of subjects including; marketing, event and venue sustainability, corporate events management, budgeting & finance, event operations, organisational behaviour, corporate social responsibility, event sponsorship and fundraising, ethics and the consumer, professional communication skills, project management, and consumer behaviour.• Developed teaching materials for each subject in accordance with the University's guidelines and delivered the subjects in both lecture and tutorial groups.• Tutored student groups to deliver a presentation following the successful completion of a fundraising event for a local charity. I was also part of the assessment group marking the presentations.

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  VSA

  • United Kingdom
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • 400 - 500 Employee

  • Director of Fundraising & Communications

    • Sep 2011 - Jan 2013

    **FULL DETAILS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST**

  • Head of Fundraising

    • Jan 2010 - Sep 2011

    I head up the Fundraising Team looking after Corporate, Community and Trust Fundraising and Corporate and Community Events.VSA is the largest Social Care Charity in North East Scotland supporting individuals and families, young and old in our community. Through a wide range of services, our work helps children and families to build better futures; older people to lead more independent, dignified and fulfilling lives; adults with disabilities and mental health problems to get the most from life; and carers both adult and child, offering support to those juggling everyday life with caring responsibilities We are looking for corporate support, both financially and by companies donating their time or gifts in kind to help us continute the invaluable work we do.

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  Northsound Radio

  • Sponsorship & Promotions Manager

    • Jan 2007 - Dec 2009

    Northsound Radio is part of the Bauer Media Group of companies and is is the number one local radio station for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Responsibilities:• Pro-actively create station sponsorship, promotion and online opportunities for S&P Team and Advertising Executives to pitch to clients.• Working with Sales Director to develop new commercial opportunities for Northsound and identifying new and under exploited revenue streams.• Work closely with other departments including Regional and National teams, Creative Services, Web and Sponsorship & Promotions in order to deliver creative solutions to UK wide clients under the banner of ‘Total Sell’.• Work with Commercial Team to develop revenue opportunities with local clients and advertising agencies.• Take briefs from existing and potential advertisers to develop ideas with the Creative Services department.• Present campaigns to potential advertisers to best match their current requirements.• Delivery and implementation of client’s promotions, events and campaigns.• Responsible for annual local Sponsorship & Promotions (S&P) budget and creation of a plan of activities to ensure the proposed budget is achieved.• Management of a team of three full-time staff including, Sponsorship & Promotions Executives and one Web Editor.• I was also involved in Northsound's charity, Cash for Kids, with responsibility for assisting with the Summer Ball and the Corporate Highland Games.

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  Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

  • Business Development Executive

    • Dec 2004 - Dec 2006

    AGCC is North East Scotland’s leading private sector business organisation, representing more than 1,250 businesses in the private sector in providing a comprehensive portfolio of business services, support and advocacy. Responsibilities:• Business to business targeted sales of the Chamber’s extensive training portfolio including open courses, tailor-made in-company training, management development programmes and IT training.• Developing ideas for new training products in conjunction with exiting tutors and responsible for the development of the following year’s Training Portfolio.• Meeting prospective tutors to discuss potential new training products.• Introduction of new business through previous contacts and development of contacts formed by following up on leads, attending networking events, ‘cold’ calling, and reacting to local business news and events.• Delivering presentations to clients on the range of training products available through the Chamber.• Compiling marketing material for use in delegate packs, events, etc.• Production and development of direct marketing via email and post.• Development of existing customer base and writing sales proposals for prospective clients.• Promotion and cross-selling of other key Chamber products including membership, Westfield Health, Business Bulletin advertising and Chamber Connect Card.• Proof-reading Business Bulletin.• Assisting with events such as Northern Star Business Awards, Business Breakfasts, Networking Lunches, and Chamber Golf Challenge and attending networking events where appropriate.• Due to the nature of the environment within the Chamber, this list is by no means exhaustive.

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  Hays Accountancy & Finance

  • Senior Consultant

    • Aug 2001 - Aug 2004

    **FULL DETAILS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST**