Simon Gartshore Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

I am currently responsible for creating and delivering innovative public affairs strategies, policy solutions and influential campaigns on behalf of the City Council and its Westco Trading vehicle. In this position I have:-• Driven and established the City Council and partner authorities’ public affairs strategy to contribute to the public commitments of the major political parties leading in to the 2015 General Election. • Lead on the establishment and delivery of an integrated programme of activities and publications through the autumn Party Conference season to contribute to national policy development and decision making. • Created and delivered a targeted public affairs strategy on behalf of Oxygen Finance ltd, highlighting the benefits of early payment solutions to the public sector. This has been a major contributory factor in Oxygen Finance securing a 200% increase in public sector clients over the past 18 months• Successfully developed the Westco business, producing and undertaking tenders and pitches to secure a range of new business or sponsorship and extending services to existing clients• Facilitated the development of the Leader’s strategic Better City, Better Lives vision for the local authority, ensuring that this was based on an appropriate matrix and policy solutions before communicating these in a high profile publication and speaking engagements• Provided a comprehensive political horizon scanning service to the City Council and client authorities, assessing the impact of new policy proposals or legislation before advising of appropriate responses and a strategy to influence its development on a multi-departmental basis.

I was responsible for leading a high-performing team which provided quality support services to Cabinet and scrutiny members of the City Council. Whilst in post I managed the City Council’s public affairs function, designing and executing successful campaigns to secure and shape changes to housing benefit legislation, safeguard over £100 million of funding to provide public health services in Westminster and protect investment in commercial properties in the West End. I also led and contributed to the establishment and delivery of two major Party Conference programmes on behalf of the City Council.During my time in the position I managed a range of external client accounts for whom I designed and delivered successful public affairs campaigns which secured reforms to public finance rules, persuaded the government to promote the benefits of prompt payment of invoices and delivered a commitment from the Mayor of London to proceed with scoping out an extension to the south London Tramlink.