Shelley Armstrong Mcipr Email & Phone Number

Whickham, Gb

North East, England, United Kingdom

Providing strategic and operational consultancy support to social enterprises, charities and non-profits. Helping to build strategic marketing functions, drive tangible results against business objectives and identify areas for commercial or corporate development.Currently working with clients including: - North East BIC - Newcastle University - National Innovation Centre for Ageing- Northumbrian Water

South Shields, England, United Kingdom

Portfolio holder for communications and engagement on the Board. Providing governance support to the charity advising the CEO and wider board on strategic communications and reputation management issues; informing and shaping the charity's strategic priorities and direction as part of a globally federated charity; and ensuring risk, finances and safeguarding are professionally managed and upheld at all times. Highlights: Scoping the business case and recruiting an external fundraising consultant resulting in 26:1 return on investment. Maximising opportunities to raise the profile of ENE regionally through partnerships, PR and engagement activities, including the development of a multi-audience campaign pegged around the charity’s 15th anniversary, which included the development of a social impact report. Advising on the benefits of the B Corp framework as a model for sustainable ESG focussed development, recruiting a specialist consultant making ENE the first UK federated Emmaus to adopt a sustainability strategy.

Durham, England, United Kingdom

As part of the senior management team, this strategic and hands-on role directed SuperNetwork's events and marketing strategy. It involved deputising for the Chief Executive and working with the board. I also operated as part of a bid-team to secure new contracts. The role managed the communications & engagement team, overseeing strategic communications, brand management, media and influencer outreach, digital and traditional marketing, supplier management, event delivery, and budget oversight (£170k for 2022-2024). Additionally, I provided policy insight and interpretation, crisis management, and convened the innovation ecosystem, managing relationships with key funders and stakeholders, and representing the organization at industry events.Highlights: Annual delivery of the region’s longest-running Innovation Conference, VentureFest North East. This included shaping the programme structure and key themes, securing high-profile speakers and delivering inspiring marketing campaigns that attracted 850 delegates. Developing marketing and brand strategy resulting in reduced website bounce rate (down to 45% from 60%); improved search rankings for key terms appearing in top three results; increased e-news open and click through rates (exceeding national averages at 38% and 9% respectively); increased earned coverage across press and partners via strategic PR. Improved positioning of the organisation through profiling key people and outcomes, including CEO and Innovation specialists (quantity of press coverage increased by 150% between 2021 and 2024).Securing strategically important programmes, including Innovate UK Digital Technologies in North East England Launchpad. Part of the bid team I wrote parts of the bid, lobbied partners for support via testimonials and presented to the contracting panels.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

Newcastle-based addiction recovery charity. As a trustee I held legal governance responsibility and supported the development of a strategy to aid the sustainable growth of the charity. Upon stepping down, the charity had greater visibility of its financial forecasting and a plan in place to grow its income.

PR lead with line-management responsibility for three team members. Duties included overseeing the PR delivery plan in line with the organisation’s overarching marketing strategies for key business areas: Leisure Tourism, Business Tourism, Festivals & Events, and Inward Investment. As social media lead for the PR team, responsibilities included developing content plans for consumer facing and corporate accounts; monitoring and evaluating campaigns; managing an £80k PR budget; contracting agency support; managing partner and stakeholder relationships, including local authorities and 170 private sector members as well as VisitEngland, VisitBritain and DCMS; managing the Press Office function. Highlights:Management of circa 120 national and international media and influencer visits resulted in printed and broadcast coverage about the destination in titles including The Guardian and Observer, The Times, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun, New York Times, Conde Nast, Lonely Planet and many others. Supported high-profile cultural events including Great Exhibition of the North, British Transplant Games, and Olympics 2012. Traverse14 was awarded Best Low Budget Campaign at CIPR PRide Awards, 2014. Initially I picked up an opportunity with VisitEngalnd to leverage partnerships with Sage Gtaeshead and Baltic to secure the conference for the destination. I then worked with organisers and partners across the place to maximise the promotional opportunity securing more than 100 pieces of coverage and achieving social media across three days that reached more than 5 million people. Outstanding Young Communicator 2010 - Finalist, CIPR PRide Awards. Outstanding In-house Team, NewcastleGateshead Initiative - Gold (2009), Silver (2010), CIPR PRide Awards.

Sunderland, United Kingdom

Supporting the delivery of journalism, public relations and media & cultural studies programmes through delivery of seminar tutorials, teaching Introduction to Social Media and Social Media Theory & Practice

Entry level position supporting Account Managers and CEO in the delivery of client PR campaigns. Duties included logistical planning of media visits, drafting press releases, social media management and content drafting for inclusion in publications, including inflight magazines. Highlights: Setting up early adopter social media presence for programmes and clients, including for Durham City Vision’s cultural events programme.Cultural event and light trail, Enlightenment named a Finalist in the Best Campaign £10k & under category at CIPR PRide Awards 2009.

Liverpool/Manchester

Producing features and reviews for online music magazine Gigwise, interviewing upcoming acts at events across Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle reviewing new releases from artists from a wide spectrum of genres.

North West And North East England

Production of features and news stories for newspapers across North West and North East England with by-lines achieved in: Liverpool EchoSunderland EchoShields GazetteEvening Chronicle (Newcastle)

Leeds, United Kingdom

A ten week press and PR placement; highlights include, assisting in the organisation of the northern screening of the BBC drama, Robin Hood, and representing the BBC at regional events.

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Working with the PR Manager to secure airtime for acts signed to the label across the BBC Network and online indie stations including, BBC Radio 1, 6Music and Xfm.

Pgdip, Post-1900 Literature Culture And Theory

Nctj Certificate In Journalism, Journalism, Media Law, Public Affiars

Professional qualification - Modules include media law, public affairs, practical journalism, and Teeline shorthand; work based experience.

Ba (Hons), Media & Cultural Studies And English Literature & Cultural History

Activities and Societies: Head of Music for Shout Fm (student radio station) 2002-2004