Tell us a little about your role…
I work for the Government Communication Service (GCS) as Senior Campaigns and Stakeholder Manager for the South of England. I'm part of a regionally-based campaigns team working to make Government's priority campaigns relevant to local audiences.
Which three words best sum up GCS?
Effective, innovative, diverse.
What enticed you to pursue a career in PR and Comms?
Good question - it just kind of happened! But one thing that’s kept me in PR and Comms is the wide range of opportunities and specialisms. It’s definitely a profession where you can follow your interests. There’s an emphasis on personal development too – whether through GCS, PRCA or other organisations – so you never stop learning.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve had to date?
Tell your audiences what they need to know, not what you want to tell them.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the industry at the moment?
We need to adapt to changes in AI, data and technology and use them for good. We shouldn’t spend our days worrying about being replaced by robots, but things are changing rapidly and we can’t shy away from that. There are lots of opportunities too: using data to better understand our audiences, analytics to measure and prove the value of what we do, and ensuring we have the technical skills to succeed as modern communicators.
We all love the South West but what do you consider the key benefits of working in this region?
I should say, I’m from Dorset so might be biased here…
In my job I’m lucky to be able to travel around the region. The South West is (rightly) known for its natural beauty but it’s also home to a huge amount of innovative, creative people and businesses. Every area has its own identity and there are so many close-knit communities who help each other out and have a story to tell. It’s easy to find inspiration in that!
What’s your PR secret?
Be honest with yourself and your colleagues about what’s worked and what hasn’t. Share the lessons you learned with other people. More interesting conversations can begin when we stop pretending every campaign was perfect!