Detailed below freelance activity since leaving FLA in 03.

Headlands International, Northamptonshire, September 05 – to date

PR Consultant.

Headlands is a market leader in overseas property real estate and has won a host of awards recognising its ethos and excellence in this field. I was tasked with bringing the PR function in house and further raise the profile. In addition to day to day PR activities I also edit and write the newsletter ‘Owners Abroad’ and write editorial features for a variety of trade publications. This was only ever intended to be a short term contract as I have little interest in this sector and do not intend to pursue my career in this industry..

Telegraph.co.uk, Canary Wharf, London May 05 – August 05

Within this period of time I was on the online Sports Editor’s freelance rota as a sub-editor, subbing and occasionally writing short news pieces for Telegraph online. I was mainly on the evening shift from 7pm until midnight.

Motor and Allied Trades Benevelent Fund Jan 05 – May 05

Short-term contract looking at ways of increasing fundraising and PR in the West Midlands region.

Kingpin Media, Chesham Bucks February 04 – December 04

Cover for maternity leave. Kingpin specialise in motor sport and during my time we provided PR for Rockingham Motor Speedway. Corporate writing, press releases and editorial.

Breeders’ Cup, Louisville, Kentucky, USA July 03 – March 04

Promoters and organisers of the USA’s premier horseracing event, Breeders’ Cup wanted a UK-based journalist to spend time within the organisation to assess opportunities to further its image in the UK and Europe. They invited applicants who had covered the event so knew its history. I was available within the specified time scale for the fixed-term contract and was happy to spend time in this area of the US. I spent eight months working within the promotion department, writing features, news releases and targeting appropriate publications. At the end of the contract I spent two months travelling within the US.

I was head-hunted to this role, based on my experience at BVRLA. FLA is the major UK trade body for the finance industry, covering all sectors; consumer, business and motor. Full members (including Barclays, Lombard, GE Capital and First National) provide point of sale, credit card, asset and instalment finance. FLA lobbies at the highest level in Westminster and Brussels. Prime contacts include Ministers, Lords and senior civil servants.

I was responsible for all media relations, PR strategy and corporate comms (including member publications and the website). My role was to promote FLA and thereby promote and protect the interests of its members. I edited, wrote for and produced (on QuarkXpress) the monthly newsletter, Update, and also the weekly intranet news bulletin containing industry news and information that I gleaned from senior colleagues and other sources, including FT. I was responsible for editing and uploading all news items that appeared on the website. I edited the annual review and was entirely responsible for the finished publication. I left the position to go freelance.

Responsible for PR, including media relations and internal communications. The BVRLA is the UK trade association for the vehicle rental and fleet industry, with 1,000 members. I was responsible for establishing and maintaining strong media contacts in the trade, national and consumer press. During my time the profile was raised extensively and we received good coverage from all our output. We successfully managed the threat of negative coverage from a number of industry issues, turning them to our advantage.

As a trained journalist, I was also Features Editor on the trade magazine, Motive, published by the BVRLA, and the role involved writing editorial, sub-editing, commissioning features and some production work. I also produced the bi-monthly newsletter, BVRLA News used as an information tool for members. I wrote editorial on industry-related matters for external publications, including a monthly column for the weekly trade paper, Fleet News.

I have experience of event management as I was part of a two-person team responsible for the BVRLA’s involvement at major shows and the Association’s Awards programme. I initiated the Environment Award to supplement the Vehicle Security Award and I was responsible for raising the profile of the Awards and the presentation ceremony. I commissioned research looking at attitudes to car crime and the car’s impact on the environment to coincide with the announcement of the Award winners. As a peg on which to hang the Awards, it was a successful initiative and we received excellent coverage.

An agency specialising in media relations consultancy, staffed by experienced journalists with PR training. We provided support and consultancy to companies without in-house expertise or to provide project consultancy for in-house PROs. Accounts included charities (eg, Great Ormond Street, RSPCA, TRC) and blue-chip brands (eg, Alfred Dunhill/Cartier/Hackett).

Initially involved with consumer press relations involving extensive overseas travel with the museum exhibition. PR regarded internally as a major marketing tool for promoting Alfred Dunhill as a premier luxury brand, thus became Product PR (Fashion), embracing media relations and brand PR.

The company produced documentaries for main strand TV (including Granada and C4) covering issues of the day.