Stephen Oates Email & Phone Number

Chichester, GB

• Heading-up the national trade body for some 300 of the UK's heritage railways, tramways, cliff railways, museums, rolling stock groups and affiliated groups.The voice of Britain’s heritage rail industry, the HRA's work.
• Representing and promoting members interests in Westminster and within the visitor economy, and advocacy on legislation and other matters affecting our members
• Business support assisting with a wide range of legal, technical, financial, HR, fund-raising and commercial matters
• Staging events for training, development, knowledge-sharing and entertainment
• Preparation, publication and review of a vast and constantly-growing library of guidance notes, safety briefings, technical documents and information papers
• Promotion, retention and nurturing of important skills, and the promotion of apprenticeships Heritage railways make a major contribution to the nation’s visitor economy attracting some 13 million visitors each year..

Havenstreet, Isle Of Wight

• The Isle of Wight Steam Railway (IWSR) is one of the UK’s leading heritage railways. It is a registered educational charity and a ‘Top Five’ visitor attraction on the Island, employing a core staff of 30 and engaging.
• Appointed Chairman in January 2008, leading the organisation to ongoing growth, delivering c. 110,000 visitors per year, annual turnover of c. £2m, and surpluses of c. £200K per year. (I stepped down as Chairman after.
• The IWSR was the first heritage railway to be awarded the Visit England Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme Gold Accolade
• It has been named Heritage Railway of the Year four times and Best Heritage Project in the National Lottery Awards. In 2012 the Railway received The Queens Award for Voluntary Service (the MBE for organisations.
• Twice escorted royal visitors around the Railway - Prince Michael of Kent (2016) and the Duke of Kent (2013)
• Half of a two-man management review committee which led directly to reshaping the management structure of the Railway and the creation of the post of General Manager

Isle Of Wight

In conjunction with my role as Chairman of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, I served as a non-executive director of Visit Isle of Wight - the destination management organisation for the Island

Chichester

• Led a team in engaging with the District’s business community and strategically important employers to seize opportunities for new job growth, and support commercial activity and economic development across Chichester.
• Introduced new projects for the Council which are now enshrined within the Council’s three-year Corporate Plan
• Conceived the need for a 20-year ‘Vision’ for Chichester City Centre - Established the Project Group with public and private sector partners, and authored the Vision document
• Influenced the Council to revisit its’ approach to the visitor economy - Led work to implement a new direction for tourism in and around the District
• Instigated the Councils’ first meaningful inward investment strategy to attract new businesses to the District
• Worked with neighbouring authorities and with relevant agencies and organisations, acting as the Council’s representative on relevant partnerships

• Provided a ‘single point of contact’ media and marketing service to plan, control and implement all advertising, PR, marketing and design for client businesses across the leisure, home improvement and events sectors
• Implemented new incremental marketing service for a leading sporting visitor attraction, assisting in doubling their visitor numbers
• Planned and implemented all advertising, marketing and design for a leading heritage visitor attraction, increasing visitor numbers during the recession by c. 30% and revenue growth of c. 90%

• Responsible for revenues of c. £5 million and operating profits of c. £1 million
• Responsible for 7 radio stations across the South East, with over 100 staff
• 107.4 The Quay named Arqiva Commercial Radio Station of the Year 2007 and Isle of Wight Radio won the Sony Radio Station of the Year Award in 2007

Chichester

• Appointed Managing Director to build and launch the new radio station
• Developed business to 20%+ profit by year 3, and achieved audience figures consistently placing the station number 1 or 2 in the market against BBC Radio 2
• Tight cost and cashflow control - borrowings and overdrafts were never required
• Personally delivered 25% of sales revenue
• Sold at 12 times par value in December 2004. At the time of sale, Spirit FM was widely recognised as one of the most successful local stations in the country

Dorchester, United Kingdom

• Appointed Managing Director to build and launch the new radio station
• Achieved operating profit from first month, with the station consistently in the top 20 stations in the UK in terms of audience reach and share
• Tight cost and cashflow control - borrowings and overdrafts were never required
• Station sold at over 12 times par value in 1998

Isle Of Wight

• Co-wrote the licence application, winning against competition from six other applicants
• Responsible for managing the launch of the station, which included steering its development through a £500,000 public share offer and thereafter undertaking my first operational management role

Economics And Geography

Mrics, Property Surveying