Andrew Dodds Email and Phone Number

Promotion to the College Executive Leadership Team with a wider scope of responsibility not only for Marketing but for Sales, Apprenticeships, Projects and Admissions as senior lead for the Business Development function. Developed fully integrated marketing campaigns closely aligned to overall business strategy and managed the end-to-end customer journey with a real focus on the process of generating enquiries through to securing enrolment, with a concerted focus on conversion throughout the stages of admission. Managed the alignment of marketing and sales effort to maximise business development.Senior responsibility for Apprenticeship provision, involving over 350 local employers, and sub-contracted provision, managing multiple providers that deliver training programmes on behalf of the College. Also senior responsibility for ‘The Edge’ - a Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership training project providing funded workforce development solutions to support business growth, whilst raising the attainment levels of the employees engaged. Managed contacts worth up to £10M, benefiting over 9.000 learners across 2,000 employers.

Promoted to Interim Assistant Principal with additional responsibilities across the business support functions of the College whilst also taking up a secondment as Director of Business Development for Newcastle College Group (which Carlisle College is part). During this secondment I devised the Group Business Development strategy encompassing the six Colleges within the Group, with objectives to build national presence, capitalising on the footprint that extends from Newcastle to London.

Responsible for the development, implementation and management of marketing and communications strategies to enable the College to achieve income and growth targets.Lead for stakeholder relations, events management, employer engagement and schools liaison, developing long-term strategic partnerships. Gathering and analysis of market intelligence to underpin the College strategic plan and identify new opportunities for growth.Also acted as the Marketing Lead on the Cumbria Work Based Learner Provider Forum.

A strategic role to devise and deliver an integrated plan of communications activities to promote Britain’s Energy Coast’s services, its work and West Cumbria’s inward investment proposition to a wide spectrum of audiences locally, nationally and internationally.Responsible for the delivery of a creative and focused marketing strategy using a variety of channels with the production of on-line and off-line marketing collateral, whilst also managing stakeholder relations, public relations and events.Taking the role of communications lead in numerous multi-million pound socio-economic projects in West Cumbria on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Management Partners, ensuring the effective implementation of branding and publicity guidelines. Projects included the promotion of international sporting events in West Cumbria including the Rugby League World Cup and the Tour of Britain cycle race and the launch of new services such as Innovus and the Britain’s Energy Coast Fab Lab. Infrastructure projects included Maryport Harbour, Albion Square in Whitehaven and new office developments on Westlakes Science Park.Enhanced political relationships with participation in Westminster receptions and party conferences. Developed media relations with extensive exposure achieved in print, radio and TV, including the production of a quarterly newspaper supplement.

Supporting the growth and retention of clients, whilst lowering the costs of acquisition. Led the modernisation of the marketing function including on-line marketing strategies with social media and the development and managed implementation of a new website to underpin search engine optimisation and pay-per-click strategies. Developed marketing campaigns to support the launch of new propositions/products founded upon detailed market research and the effective use of the marketing budget for which I was responsible.Managed the design and development of bespoke training programmes for key clients such as ASDA, Tesco, Arla, Scottish Water and Hugh Baird College.Developed national brand identity, supporting a network of training centres throughout England to achieve business objectives.Also responsible for PR and the effective organisation of marketing events which included both Royal and Parliamentary visits, corporate hospitality, customer/industry conferences and national exhibitions. Developed internal communication channels following a complex business takeover. This included the creation of revised brand values, to provide a consistent and coherent theme for internal communications.

Operational management within the savings and current account function, overseeing the daily processing of transactions, the management of key suppliers for outsourced activities and the implementation of key projects, including the introduction of faster cheque clearance, faster payments and internet banking.

Responsible for implementing business strategy across the branch network, working with branch managers to implement business plans and achieve targets, monitoring sales KPI and leading on an organisational development project to embed a ‘sales through service’ culture.