Edward Funnell Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

Adviser and head of communications to leading organisations in transport, education and infrastructure sectors providing stakeholder engagement, marketing communications, issues management, strategic advice, and media relations. Clients: Abellio, Arriva, Eltham College, First Group, Stagecoach, and RSAcademics. Worked in-house at Eltham College, Northern Rail, Greater Anglia and advised trade bodies including CILT, Confederation of Passenger Transport and Greener Journeys.These roles… Show more Adviser and head of communications to leading organisations in transport, education and infrastructure sectors providing stakeholder engagement, marketing communications, issues management, strategic advice, and media relations. Clients: Abellio, Arriva, Eltham College, First Group, Stagecoach, and RSAcademics. Worked in-house at Eltham College, Northern Rail, Greater Anglia and advised trade bodies including CILT, Confederation of Passenger Transport and Greener Journeys.These roles have involved designing and managing bespoke public affairs and stakeholder engagement campaigns, preparing marketing/media materials, writing/editing bid plans.Undertaken many stakeholder engagement and PR/marketing assignments in commercial bids, especially in the transport sector as well as marketing communications for schools. Recent experience (since 2020): Head of Communications @Eltham College: a leading co-educational London day school with >1,000 students and 300 staff: managed a team and provided PR, marketing communications and issues management for the school and reporting to its Senior Leadership Team. Advising Transport Scotland on communications/stakeholder engagement for renationalisation of railway franchises; providing stakeholder engagement and copy writing/review to Arriva Group in its bid for Elizabeth Line contract; and retained by Conduent, a global provider of transport and smart ticketing solutions, to provide UK public affairs and insight. Experienced as a quality assessor and evaluator for the Department for Transport's Rail Directorate.See below for details of additional interim and other roles undertaken since 2010: Show less

Advising leading transport companies to enhance their corporate reputations and/or to achieve specific commercial objectives by providing stakeholder engagement programmes, media relations campaigns, PR and public affairs monitoring and advocacy, and preparation/editorial review of numerous rail bid plans to help companies secure commercial public contracts.Organisations advised have included Arriva Group, First Group, Keolis, MTR, Stagecoach, Transport UK plus Chartered Institute for… Show more Advising leading transport companies to enhance their corporate reputations and/or to achieve specific commercial objectives by providing stakeholder engagement programmes, media relations campaigns, PR and public affairs monitoring and advocacy, and preparation/editorial review of numerous rail bid plans to help companies secure commercial public contracts.Organisations advised have included Arriva Group, First Group, Keolis, MTR, Stagecoach, Transport UK plus Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport and Confederation of Passenger Transport. In other sectors, have advised educational publisher, Galore Park; leading pharmaceutical company, AAH; and several professional services firms. Show less

London Area, United Kingdom

Worked with Senior Leadership Team and managing a communications team to promote the corporate reputation of a leading secondary school with more than 1,000 students: Planned innovative digital communications campaigns to raise awareness and to attract new customersBuilt partnerships with local community organisation to open up educational opportunities Developed integrated communications campaigns including complete overhaul of school website, new school film and marketing… Show more Worked with Senior Leadership Team and managing a communications team to promote the corporate reputation of a leading secondary school with more than 1,000 students: Planned innovative digital communications campaigns to raise awareness and to attract new customersBuilt partnerships with local community organisation to open up educational opportunities Developed integrated communications campaigns including complete overhaul of school website, new school film and marketing collaterals, and providing strategic advice on sensitive issuesPrepared and secured prestigious national education awards including "Sunday Times School of the Year 2024" and Tes awards in 2023. Show less

London Area, United Kingdom

Provided strategic communications and stakeholder advice and engagement for Transport Scotland regarding the renationalisation of two Scottish railway franchises (ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper). Developed stakeholder prioritisation and positioning and key messaging and monitored key issues. Worked in Scotland with officials from Scottish government officials and train companies to progress plans for transition of railways from public to private sector. Developed communications collaterals… Show more Provided strategic communications and stakeholder advice and engagement for Transport Scotland regarding the renationalisation of two Scottish railway franchises (ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper). Developed stakeholder prioritisation and positioning and key messaging and monitored key issues. Worked in Scotland with officials from Scottish government officials and train companies to progress plans for transition of railways from public to private sector. Developed communications collaterals for internal and external consumption and advised senior leadership team on communications issues. Show less

Providing research and copywriting services to support the recruitment of school leaders (especially head teachers and governors). Prepared copy and editorial support for candidate recruitment brochures to attract candidates to senior leadership positions.

York, United Kingdom

Reporting to the Commercial Director, I managed a team of six client and stakeholder managers and the franchise compliance team to develop and maintain successful partnership working and collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across a large franchise area that stretches from Chester and Liverpool to Manchester, Sheffield, to Leeds, York, Newcastle and Carlisle. The role involved issues management and the external launch of the company's Vision

Coventry, West Midlands

Project managing the development and introduction of a new company-wide intranet and advising on internal communications for Britain's largest distributor of medicines and pharmaceutical products to pharmacies and hospitals.

Fixed-term appointment role. I was a member of Communications Directorate Senior Management Team, managing a 12 strong team that coordinates external engagement with wide range of stakeholders and key opinion formers in business, higher education and skills sectors. The role also included arranging ministerial visits and keynote speeches, breakfast forums and regional visits to learn more about corporate and stakeholder concerns.Advised and made recommendations to Ministers… Show more Fixed-term appointment role. I was a member of Communications Directorate Senior Management Team, managing a 12 strong team that coordinates external engagement with wide range of stakeholders and key opinion formers in business, higher education and skills sectors. The role also included arranging ministerial visits and keynote speeches, breakfast forums and regional visits to learn more about corporate and stakeholder concerns.Advised and made recommendations to Ministers, Permanent Secretary, Private Offices and Special Advisers on their engagement with key stakeholders. Show less

Fixed term appointment role.Managed a team of 15 communications managers, planners, and speechwriters. Helped establish a new filming and social media unit to broaden the Department’s ability to communicate with target audiences. Worked closely with Press Office, Marketing and Internal Communications and policy officials and Ministers to develop and implement communications programmes. E.g. ministerial visits to announce electrification of rail lines; new cycling initiatives. Was a… Show more Fixed term appointment role.Managed a team of 15 communications managers, planners, and speechwriters. Helped establish a new filming and social media unit to broaden the Department’s ability to communicate with target audiences. Worked closely with Press Office, Marketing and Internal Communications and policy officials and Ministers to develop and implement communications programmes. E.g. ministerial visits to announce electrification of rail lines; new cycling initiatives. Was a member of Directorate's Senior Management Team. Show less

A really interesting and challenging role, was a Member of Senior Management Team, reporting to Director General and Chairman. Responsible for planning media and public affairs activities. Designed and directed media relations and public affairs initiatives to promote the success and contribution of rail.Drafted policy briefings to act as key information resource in media relations, speeches and submissions to select committees.Acted as a key media spokesman and adviser, handling… Show more A really interesting and challenging role, was a Member of Senior Management Team, reporting to Director General and Chairman. Responsible for planning media and public affairs activities. Designed and directed media relations and public affairs initiatives to promote the success and contribution of rail.Drafted policy briefings to act as key information resource in media relations, speeches and submissions to select committees.Acted as a key media spokesman and adviser, handling press and live interviews on contentious and controversial issues, on national and local broadcast television and radio. Represented the views of train operators to civil servants in the Department for Transport, MPs and opposition spokespeople, organising ‘fringe’ events on rail issues at Annual Party Conferences as well as other parts of the rail industry.Managed ATOC’s crisis communications planning and media relations during two serious rail accidents (Ufton Nirvet November 2005) and Grayrigg (February 2007) Show less

I was Director of their Corporate Division with a number of clients in IT - the newly emerging internet/ecommerce sector and knowledge management arena. We also won the business to position and advise on the launch of what was to be the Oyster card, now widely available on London's public transport networks. We worked closely with Transport for London and London Underground as well as Publicis and Saatchi Design.

In a truly worldwide role, worked at corporate HQ of world's largest veterinary health company - planned communications frameworks and oversaw external and internal communications campaigns in 30 countries across four continents for world’s largest veterinary pharmaceuticals company Designed communications strategy and global coordination for communications, including standards, templates and centrally-led campaigns.Managed media relations activities campaigns for international… Show more In a truly worldwide role, worked at corporate HQ of world's largest veterinary health company - planned communications frameworks and oversaw external and internal communications campaigns in 30 countries across four continents for world’s largest veterinary pharmaceuticals company Designed communications strategy and global coordination for communications, including standards, templates and centrally-led campaigns.Managed media relations activities campaigns for international congresses/trade shows and in national/trade press working closely with colleagues in France and USA.Jointly oversaw Employee Opinion Surveys and change management communications programmes. Re-launched and edited worldwide monthly employee magazine produced in four languages and managed the development of company’s new corporate website and intranet. Show less

A fantastic period of learning and growth as part of a leading and ambitious corporate and financial PR agency. Worked with some great and true professionals. Directed cross-agency teams and managed accounts in financial services, transport, media sectors and professional services. Joined as an Account Manager and left as a Divisional Director.• Planned and implementing corporate, financial and consumer media relations and public affairs programmes for large blue-chip companies… Show more A fantastic period of learning and growth as part of a leading and ambitious corporate and financial PR agency. Worked with some great and true professionals. Directed cross-agency teams and managed accounts in financial services, transport, media sectors and professional services. Joined as an Account Manager and left as a Divisional Director.• Planned and implementing corporate, financial and consumer media relations and public affairs programmes for large blue-chip companies such as CIGNA Employee Benefits, NTL, National Car Parks and Capital Coaches. • Launched financial IT products in nine countries including co-ordination with overseas agency network• Positioned, rebranded and promoted major broadcasting congress in Montreux, Switzerland• Managed an EU ‘Phare’ consumer awareness campaign publicising privatisation in Romania Show less

Having left university in 1988, I joined Edelman PR Worldwide as a graduate trainee and honed my PR skills on a range of accounts in the agency's Corporate, Financial, Health and Public Affairs divisions. In 1990, I went in-house to a broad corporate PR role at National & Provincial Building Society. From there, I joined the glitzy world of Virgin Atlantic Airways as a PR Manager, managing a range of media relations and internal communications assignments, including route launches (eg… Show more Having left university in 1988, I joined Edelman PR Worldwide as a graduate trainee and honed my PR skills on a range of accounts in the agency's Corporate, Financial, Health and Public Affairs divisions. In 1990, I went in-house to a broad corporate PR role at National & Provincial Building Society. From there, I joined the glitzy world of Virgin Atlantic Airways as a PR Manager, managing a range of media relations and internal communications assignments, including route launches (eg Orlando) and on board filming for a BBC programme with the actor Tom Conti. More prosaically, I also revamped and edited Virgin Globe, the monthly magazine for Virgin staff in Britain, USA and Japan. Show less

Coordinated media relations initiatives including new route and aircraft launches, crisis management plans, organised press trips to USA and redesigned internal communications activities.

Ma, European Economic And Political Integration

Activities and Societies: Member of College of St Hild and St Bede and its Rowing Club

Ba, Politics And International Relations, Upper Second Class Honours (2:1)

Activities and Societies: Rowing Club and Medical Society

A-Levels, English, History, Economics & Politics, General Studies