Robert Downes - Fsb Manchester Email & Phone Number

Greater Manchester

My responsibilities are to campaign and develop the work and growth of the FSB in the Manchester & North Cheshire region, to ensure the interests of members are represented, and to enhance the status and profile of the organisation through advocacy, media, research, member support and recruitment.My aim is also to promote the aims and objectives of the FSB. Communicating, engaging and listening to the views of the members and backing their interests through liaison with government at all levels - including relevant media. Making a tangible difference on behalf of members locally.• Identify, research, develop and promote policy on issues as they arise, including representing the FSB with members at external meetings and promoting the advantages of membership.• Develop a strong presence in the local and regional media to deliver the key messages on national and local campaigns/policies by working closely with the relevant press department.• Utilise the results of local and national data to identify key business issues in order to support media, advocacy, recruitment and retention activities.• Providing excellent customer service through effective signposting and provision of relevant information if appropriate when dealing with issues raised by members.• Developing proactive working relationships with the recruitment team keeping them informed on local activities and highlighting opportunities.

Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Senior press officer working for one of the UK’s largest providers of back office software for the public, private, and third sectors. Primary role to provide day-to-day support to the PR Manager in the running of the press office for a multi-division plc listed on the AIM stock market, with a focus on promoting and protecting the interests of the business. The role included helping to manage junior members of the team, including PR and marketing executive, with other daily duties including copywriting articles, drafting press releases, case studies, opinion pieces, and blogs. Other responsibilities included media relations, including ‘selling-in’ exclusives, helping to organise press events, identifying and writing suitable award entries for the company’s products within the trade press, compiling monthly reports for marketing managers across the business as to quantifiable PR results, tracking coverage, and providing on-going support to the marketing teams across the business. The principle role of senior press officer position was, first and foremost, to serve as the PR manager’s ‘right hand support’.

Knutsford, Cheshire

Media and PR officer, before being promoted to senior press officer managing the press office alone for 10 months, for a national not-for-profit business support organisation. Daily duties involved writing and distributing press releases to national media, including TV, radio, print and social media, via Vocus PR tool. Responding to inquiries from national, regional, and local media on behalf of the chief executive and public affairs department to promote the aims, objectives and policy of the organisation and its members through tailored quotes and case studies where relevant. Briefing members on how to deal with members of the media when interview opportunities arise to ensure effective communication of message. Compiling informed, concise, and engaging copy for national business publications, from leading industry magazines, trade periodicals, newspaper editorials, and online media. Responsibility for the Forum's blog page and promoting all content through social media to drive web traffic. Conduct broadcast media interviews to raise awareness of the Forum, its policy work, and members. Assisting in development and implementation of existing and new Forum policies in reaction to Government announcements, and to ensure these were true to and consistent with the organisation’s previous campaign/policy work. Assist with work to clearly and consistently communicate the message of the Forum at every opportunity through existing media channels.

Various

Worked my way up from junior to senior reporter. The senior position involved working on two weekly newspaper titles in Trafford, Greater Manchester. Worked as the special education reporter for the last three years in the job, liaising and building relationships with senior teaching staff at all of the schools and colleges in the borough, and dealing with all education stories. Additionally, the post involved more general duties such as attending inquests, court – both crown and magistrates – local authority meetings, public meetings, liaising with contributors, and maintaining a comprehensive and relevant contact list, among them local councillors, MPs, senior police officers, and council officers. Co-ordinating the picture diary for the staff photographers and generally ensuring a steady flow of copy across the news desk at all times were other key factors of the job. Web duties include managing the company’s on-line newspaper by uploading content and relevant images on a daily basis, including rota weekend cover, and monitoring the website/forum constantly for any libel/offensive content and deleting as appropriate.

Media & Cultural Studies

Education record