Nikki Wright Email & Phone Number

I am incredibly proud to be heading up Fundraising and Communications at Air Ambulances UK, the national charity supporting the collective life-saving work of the nation's 21 air ambulances charities.

Oxfordshire

In my role as PR and Marketing for the Aston Martin Owners Club I was responsible for the communications strategy with an emphasis on brand, media relations and social media.The overall objectives of my role were to raise awareness of the Club and increase membership through promoting the iconic Aston Martin car, the past-time of motoring and motorsport and encourage social interaction between owners and enthusiasts/Members.I was successful in creating new and innovative content and engagement with particular success in a media relations strategy that has increased coverage for the Club and increased its social media presence, driving more visitors to the Club’s website resulting in increased membership.

I was responsible for the development and delivery of the Charity’s internal and external communications strategy set alongside the fundraising and volunteering strategy to achieve an annual income of over £8m and operational growth.My remit was to deliver the most cost-effective successful strategy to be delivered to a wide variety of stakeholders; staff, service providers, current and potential fundraisers, volunteers and corporate partners, as well as the media and online audiences. The consistent aim was to effectively position the Charity to ensure strong brand presence and deliver an impactful message to continually increase awareness levels and income generation to meet the organisation’s objectives for planned financial growth and operational output.I worked closely with peers across the Charity to ensure a truly integrated approach to achieving the organisation’s short and longer-term goals.I was continuously involved in all aspects communications and fundraising, my experience includes successful input into individual giving campaigns and appeals and the Charity’s corporate portfolio - including spearheading its partnership with Specsavers. It also includes helping to achieve the highest ever number of volunteers giving their time to the Charity.I managed the Charity’s VIP and celebrity engagement programme creating, maintaining and managing relationships with household names including Ben Fogle, Matt Baker, Chris Packham, Rachel Riley, Esther Rantzen, Pam St Clement, Rula Lenska, Stephanie Beecham, Rebecca Wilcox, Karen Hardy and Anton Du Beke. Activities include event attendance, fronting campaigns and appeals, print, broadcast, social media and other digital media features as well as fronting the Charity's popular publications.

Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire

Responsible for the development and delivery of the Charity’s communications strategy. I headed up a team of four staff and several volunteers with the remit to deliver the most cost-effective successful communications strategy possible to a wide variety of stakeholders; staff, service providers, current and potential fundraisers, volunteers and corporate partners, as well as the media and online audiences. The consistent aim was to tactically position the Charity effectively to ensure strong brand presence, resilience and consistency while maximising awareness and income generation to meet the organisation’s objectives for planned for growth. The role involved working closely with the Charity’s Board of Trustees and Chairman on budget, management and strategic decisions. I enjoyed the position of being a key player on the Charity’s Senior Management Team, working with peers to ensure a truly integrated approach to achieving the organisation’s short and longer-term goals.Growth was instigated in the Charity's national broadcast television and broadsheet media presence and I delivered one of the most successful campaigns in the organisation’s history around its 30th anniversary and placing hearing dogs with deaf children.I was also responsible for managing and expanding the Charity’s celebrity engagement programme nurturing relationships with its Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal and other VIPs involved with high profile engagement opportunities, including the Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron MP in celebration of the Charity’s 30th anniversary. Notable celebrities include Ben Fogle, Matt Baker and Esther Rantzen.Other significant achievements included a pivotal role in the Charity’s relationship with its national corporate partner portfolio including Specsavers and Royal Canin, which saw major campaign success bringing mutually beneficial exposure to millions.

Raf Scampton, Lincolnshire

As PR Manager for the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, I managed the Team’s brand strategy and communications campaigns, both proactive and reactive. This included full responsibility for the protection and enhancement of the reputation of the national and international profile of The Red Arrows as the highest profile public facing asset of the Royal Air Force. This involved maintaining the Red Arrows’ iconic brand status which promotes UK excellence worldwide, inspiring a favourable recruitment environment for the service, contributing to defence diplomacy and supporting British industry both in the UK and abroad. I devised and implemented the first-ever Red Arrows communications strategy specifically designed to form part of the overarching Royal Air Force Engagement Strategy, which drew praise from senior military personnel and delivered highly successful results.I led a core team of four personnel and up to 20 event support staff in the delivery of the strategy, promoting the national and international face of the Team.Included in this was a broad range of internal and external public and corporate relations campaigns and a comprehensive media relations programme covering a diverse range of national and regional print, broadcast and online media. I managed the public appearances of the world-famous Red Arrows pilots at over 90 high profile events a year. In addition, I led a busy programme of visitors to the Team’s home base at Royal Air Force Scampton, including celebrities and VIPs.My remit also included involvement with the Team's sponsors including BAE Systems, Boeing and Rolls Royce. My role also extended to managing the Team’s shop and the official Red Arrows merchandising unit, as well as its online store, licensed brand products and official fan club.

Reading, United Kingdom

I strategically planned, implemented and managed some of the highest profile and most successful awareness raising integrated communications/PR campaigns in many years for the Charity, including the 75th anniversary of guide dogs.I developed and spearheaded the Charity’s press and public relations campaigns at international, national and local/regional level, regularly achieving millions of pounds worth of broadcast; significantly more than the organisation had seen of recent times. This included a year long project with Blue Peter following a guide dog puppy in training, the BBC Breakfast Guide Dog of the Year Awards and an ITV documentary about a global fundraising challenge named Seven Magnificent Marathons undertaken by a guide dog owner and sponsored by Lucozade and North Face. In my position of Interim Head of PR I was responsible for PR budget expenditure and for a motivated team of three. I was successful in strengthening the key messages of the Charity’s work to help meet the organisation’s changing aims and objectives. This involved working closely with other department heads to plan and manage work within the communications department to ensure an integrated approach to campaigns across other areas of the large Charity.My role was also key to maintaining successful relationships with corporate supporters, and with agencies and suppliers on the planning and production of campaign materials to support various communications projects. I developed ‘Guiding Stars’, a celebrity recruitment project to grow support from high profile individuals and my role involved organising events with VIPs including the then Prime Minister Rt Hon Tony Blair and David Blunkett MP, as well celebrities to attract younger supporters, including household name bands such as McFly and Girls Aloud.I was awarded a CIPR award for the coverage achieved for the Guide Dog of the Year Awards in partnership with BBC Breakfast.

Princes Risborough

I planned, implemented and managed effective PR campaigns to ensure the Charity’s fundraising targets were met and exceeded.In this role I devised and managed the introduction of its annual awareness week and school fundraising product, Togs for Dogs.I developed, strengthened and maintained excellent working relationships with journalists and editors across a broad range of media.

I was promoted from Junior Account Executive to Senior Account Executive and then Account Manager in very quick succession, reflecting my success in my roles at HPS Group.The main focus of my work was the management, delivery and evaluation of the market-leading Dealership network press and public relations programmes for Porsche Cars Great Britain and Saab Cars Great Britain. This role involved working seamlessly with the PR and marketing teams of both the distinguished marques and managing a general and bespoke programme for 30 Porsche Centres and around 90 Saab Dealerships. The programme unified and aligned the PR and marketing aspirations of the individual dealerships and their head offices, and delivered millions of pounds worth of coverage - enhancing brand performance at both regional and national level for Porsche and Saab.I worked with the National Approved Letting Scheme on national media relations, and spearheaded the PR for the trend-setting loft-style apartment company City Loft Developments on its national consumer press and public relationsI also provided a successful marketing communications programme to the Musicians’ Union.

Ma Charity Management, Not-For-Profit Management

Ba Hons Advertising Design And Hnd Design For Communication, Communication And Media Studies, 2:1 And Merit