Swansea University

MEDIA, PR & COMMUNICATION

Responsible for European media coverage for the biggest cycle component and accessory manufacturer in the world.

The more glamorous side of the job includes creating exciting product launches and media test opportunities to showcase Shimano products on the world stage.

As well as that I write press releases and statements, coordinate media sample distribution and work on content productions with leading journalists and other influential contacts to achieve coverage for Shimano products.

Shimano Europe Group

PR & Communications Specialist

With a brand name recognised across the UK, Raleigh is a significant player in the industry, albeit one that needed revitalisation after tough times in the 1990s. My role centred around re-establishing Raleigh's place as the nation's favourite bike brand and the most popular cycles and accessories distribution company in the industry. The role covered both consumers (B2C) and 1200 UK cycle stores (B2B) in the performance/enthusiast, commuter and family leisure markets for the 40+ cycle and accessory brands distributed by the company.

Raleigh UK Ltd

Marketing Manager

The Cycling City award from the Department For Transport's Cycling England project aimed to promote cycling as a viable alternative in towns and cities. As the flagship city, Bristol was the benchmark in terms of funding and showcase projects. Using a mixture of new cycle routes and cycling facilities ('hard measures') and promotion and events programmes ('soft measures'), the project achieved its targets of doubling cycling. Through a change in Government the Cycling City funding stream was replaced by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). I joined the Cycling City team a year into the project's inception, working with mainstream teams across two councils to double cycling rates in the region.

Bristol City Council

Principal Officer for Communications, PR and Branding

With 16,000 employees and a population of 430,000, the council needed to keep its staff and citizens aware of its initiatives. My role covered both print and online journalism. I was the editor of Making A Difference, the sub-editor of Our City and a web editor on the council's intranet and internet.

Communications Officer, Corporate Communications

Following the National Government's Beacon award (from the DCLG, the Department for Communities and Local Government), I worked with five private sector partner companies to raise awareness of sheltered housing options in the city and promote best practice to other councils around the UK. The programme of activities I coordinated included national conferences, presentations, brochures, website content management and a DVD, which not only helped service users to understand the complex application system but also helped other local authorities around the UK to benchmark Bristol's achievement.

Beacon Coordinator

In this role I managed the busy design and print schedule for 30 bakery stores across South Wales. I produced a fortnightly point of sale pack for all stores with posters and in-store displayed designed to attract customers. This included overseeing the design office, the IT requirements and managing one assistant. I also branched out into booking seasonal print and radio advertising campaigns to raise awareness of regional promotions.