Rachel Wallace CV

Rachel Wallace

59 Distaff Road, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1HNMobile: 07939292820 www.jigsawmedia.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Qualified journalist with a background of BBC Journalism and Senior PR. Reputable success, spanning over 25 years, in delivering External Communications at an international, national, regional and local level, in the public, private, commercial and charity sectors. Engaging presenter and public speaker.

Successful track record as Internal Communications and Staff Engagement Expert, strategic advisor for senior leadership teams and stakeholders, delivering organisation wide internal communications plans that support business objectives. Work alongside and advise intermediaries, clients and their internal communication teams to ensure effective message delivery with partner organisations.

Skilled at producing accurate, engaging and creative copy to tight deadlines. Excellent ability to determine engaging news angle within complex and diverse range of subject matter.

Trusted ambassador and voice of authority, achieving ‘buy in’ and support from senior leadership teams. Five years at BBC Manchester as Head of Communications leading Northern Communications team to deliver multi-channel programme publicity for regional and network programmes. Strategic Lead for internal communications including BBC‘s ‘Move Up North’; Commonwealth Games and PR advisor for BBC Finances throughout expenses crisis. Deep knowledge of print, broadcast and on line media and experience in pitching and placing stories to achieve maximum audience reach.

Extensive experience in crisis management; senior spokesperson protecting organisations’ reputations against negative media speculation and public criticism, and instead creating a positive profile. Examples include explaining Arts Council public art spend, the BBC’s licence fee, protecting BBC programme reputation and services.

Events and conference Manager at BBC, Arts Council and Oldham Council, ensuring carefully targeted business objectives achieved through creative events.

Highly experienced in Digital Communications and Social Media marketing. Strong track record in branding and managing on-line publishing platforms, and social media marketing.

Current and most recent contracts

Internal Communications and Engagement Manager, Oldham CouncilJanuary 2016 - present

Developed strategy and lead tactical communications to stream messaging of Health & Wellbeing campaign throughout all levels of council with over 3,000 staff ranging from refuse collectors to councillors.

Interviewed cross section of council from each department (over 300) to establish current understanding of Oldham Council’s Health & Wellbeing offer. Wrote up each interview to provide base data, case studies, reports and articles.

Continually evaluate and measure employee feedback to ensure communication activities are effectively reaching each corner of the diverse council.

Present at staff conferences and meetings to communicate campaign messages and encourage active engagement.

Rachel Wallace CV [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Established and maintain archive of stories and information to support messaging of Health & Wellbeing programme (branded Fit for Oldham). Messaging used with communications outlets and material, as well as for internal stakeholders, such as Chief Executive, senior leadership team and councillors.

Branded and manage content for Oldham Council’s Health and Wellbeing intranet site, in daily contact with social media team to support digital communications for the programme.

Work with third party suppliers to produce print and promotional material, videography and photography.

Organise internal staff briefings to creatively communicate campaign offer – organised ‘marketplace’ launch event for staff to sample ‘offer’ followed by Fit for Oldham’ awareness week. Staff engagement reached 72%. Currently maintaining high awareness via multi-channel communications.

Place Marketing Manager, Stockport CouncilNovember 2014 – June 2016

Led Place Marketing Campaign to engage with communities of Stockport Borough, to deliver Stockport Council’s external communications strategy in sharing positive messages that promote Stockport as a great place to live, work and invest.

Delivered through partnership working across the borough with private, public and community sectors; management of a publishing platform; and advocacy and community events. Supported by senior council management, key private and public organisations.

Collated bank of stories from across borough. Interviewed over 500 people to achieve five stories per day over 12 month period.

Worked with camera crew to interview and produce short video blogs and films. I storyboarded films, scripted, interviewed and presented to camera.

Worked alongside branding agency to brand and develop the publishing platform (‘We are Stockport’). Tactically managed day-to-day publishing of stories on publishing platform, supported by social media marketing. Within twelve months of going live in June 2015 it achieved visitor figures of +12,000 and a twitter following of +3,000 which I monitored daily activity via Google Analytics.

Selected achievements

Internal communications Developed and delivered the Northern internal communications strategy, targeting

4,000 employees, to support BBC’s Move Up North during its first stage announcements. Project delivery included: leading and organising staff information sessions, advising project leaders; providing targeted feedback across all platforms and project managing an internal communications intranet to ensure proactive and responsive communication through period of transition. (2005-6)

Communications Consultant for BBC Future Finance, providing internal communications advice and support for BBC executives and project leaders. (2006)

Developed and led staff engagement communications for Volkswagen (Gilbert Lawton) during transfer to Inchcape. (2007)

Digital communications Produced and managed content for BBC’s intranet site during ‘Move Up North’ to

ensure staff were fully aware of developments and opportunities during twelve month period of internal staff announcements.

External communications Worked directly with Director General, Greg Dyke, and his senior leadership team to

improve approval ratings in the North of England, leading my team to achieve corporate targets (2001-2005).


As BBC Head of Communications led Northern Communications team to deliver multi-channel programme publicity for regional and network programmes from News, Entertainment, Religion and Factual departments.

Delivered the BBC’s Northern communications strategy for the Commonwealth Games, working with BBC and external partners to achieve international, national, regional and culturally diverse media coverage. Managed corporate ‘opinion former’ events at the stadium and crisis management strategies that increased support and approval of the BBC (2002).

Managed the PR strategy communicating the BBC’s vision for dividing BBC Yorkshire into two TV regions to stake holders including media, politicians and businesses.

Work with clients such as Stockport Council, Brain and Spinal Injury Centre (BASIC) and cultural venues to raise their profile and increase funding potential through project management and media liaison (2008-present)

Crisis management Trusted and experienced leader in crisis management. At BBC protected reputation of

BBC during Hutton enquiry (2004), BBC expense allegations (2006) and controversial BBC Religion programming about IRA (2003)

Training and development Devise and run training courses in media and business relations skills, bespoke to the

employee organisation i.e. Volkswagen, Arts Council North West, BASIC, Stockport Council (2007-present).

Lectured in A Level Media Studies and Communication Studies and GCSE English at Macclesfield College of FE and High Peak College of FE. Achieved high student success rate in examinations (1993-5).

Trained over 300 arts and cultural organisations in media relations skills, resulting in increased national and regional media coverage. (1995-2001).

Advocacy Strong track record as senior ambassador to achieve strong partnerships and

stakeholder engagement. Public speaker for BBC and Arts Council throughout time in posts. Forged and managed unprecedented partnership between Arts Council NW, BBC

Manchester and Granada through the Year of the Artist project (2000). Devised 12 month TV and radio strand profiling diverse range of arts and cultural organisations, created partnerships resulting in artists in residences at BBC and Granada. This project paved the way for annual partnerships between BBC and Arts Council (2000).

Worked in partnership with Arts Council North West to develop inaugural televised arts and BBC conference, art 04, involving Alan Yentob. Continued to develop into annual arts / BBC conferences (2004).

Career historyJanuary 2007-presentDirector, Jigsaw Media. Communications consultant & trainer. Specialist in proactive media relations, crisis management programmes and advocacy campaigns. From November 2014 until June 2016, developed and led communications and engagement campaign to raise the profile of Stockport as a place to live, work, invest and visit. Currently lead an internal communications staff engagement campaign for Oldham Council.


October 2005 – December 2006. Head of Internal Communications, BBC Manchester

Responsible for developing a successful Northern internal communications strategy to support BBC’s Out of London project including: leading and organising staff information sessions, advising project leaders; and project managing an internal communications intranet.

Communications Consultant for BBC Future Finance, providing internal communications advice and support for BBC executives and project leaders within the BBC Finance Advances project.

February 2001- October 2005. Head of Communications, BBC North of England Led the Northern BBC press office in delivering the BBC’s strategy to improve

approval ratings across the North of England, in the context of Building Public Value and Charter Review, through extensive and wide-ranging media coverage for BBC priority programmes and services, in line with audience focus and department priorities.

Developed and restructured the BBC Press office team, transforming an under-performing team to one that worked effectively with Production executives achieving extensive media coverage about BBC programmes and services in the North. (2002)

Managed a communications budget of £400k per annum, and staffing budget of £450k. Developed dynamic and strategic 360-degree communications plans for the four Northern TV regions and 39 local radio stations, including radio and TV re-brands and launches.

Created integrated PR campaigns and crisis management strategies that delivered impact and increased reach with key audiences, e.g. responsible for Commonwealth Games BBC North profile.

Senior BBC press spokesperson, protected BBC’s reputation against negative media speculation. Provided strategic PR and reputation management advice for production heads. BBC spokesperson at conferences and opinion former events.

Advocate with external partners, such as Regional Development Agencies and Arts Council, ensuring co-ordinated communications in cross sector projects.

March 1996- February 2001. Press & Public Relations Manager, Arts Council of England, NWA regional role across the North West of England with overall strategic responsibility for the public profile of Arts Council of England, North West.

Wrote all of the Arts Council North West’s advocacy and publicity documents and website.

Created strategic communication strategies for under-performing North West based arts organisations to raise their profile and maximise potential for grant success.

Project managed regional conferences and events, focused on attracting funding for the arts & cultural sector i.e. Year of the Artist, Debate of the Age.

Trained over 300 arts organisations in writing, media and crisis management skills.

Other employment 1993 to 1996: Independent PR consultant for 12 organisations including Royal

Schools for the Deaf, Accountants, advertising agencies and Movement for Christian Democracy. College lecturer in Communication and Media Studies. At the same time I also taught A Level Media Studies, A Level Communication Studies and GCSE English at Macclesfield FE College and High Peak College in Buxton.

1991 to 1993: Freelance radio reporter and magazine journalist.

Education: Further education qualifications Postgrad Diploma in Radio & TV journalism. UCL, Preston (1992).


City & Guilds Further & Adult Education Teacher’s Certificate (1994). BA Hons in English and Inter Arts. Bretton Hall College of Leeds University (1991). 8 O levels (incl Maths, English and French) (1986) and 2 A levels. Stockport Grammar

School (1988)

Other training Ashridge Business School, senior BBC Leadership course. In-house BBC courses:

Managing Change, Personal effectiveness, Conflict management, Dealing with difficult people, Personal professional development, Staff appraisal and performance management, Equality and diversity.

Personal interests: I love the outdoors. Keen kayaker, walker and runner. Have just completed the Three Peaks of Britain in 24 hours and currently training for coast to coast cycling challenge.

References

Oldham CouncilOpinion of Rachel’s strategic leadership driving an internal communications campaign“Oldham Council appointed Rachel Wallace in January 2016 to lead internal communications for our HR health and wellbeing project. We are a complex organisation with over 3000 employees spread over numerous sites, ranging from refuse collectors and cleaners to senior level office staff. Rachel has impressed me by the way she has come in and effectively engaged with all levels of our council, taking a strategic lead and producing a clear, insightful and creative communication strategy, ensuring organisation wide engagement, and led our communication team to achieve outstanding results. She has interviewed staff from right across our council, and provided an enormous amount of vital data and reports as well as articles for the campaign.

Rachel is clearly knowledgeable in all aspects of communications, that and her vivacious approach has ensured we are on the road to achieving the results we need within People Services to help tackle sickness absence. As well as delivering successful communications, Rachel has added value to the content of our campaign due to her attention to detail and drive to ensure the campaign reaches every single employee.

Rachel is highly respected at Oldham Council as a clear and trusted voice of authority. She is fun to work with, whilst offering deep insight, and not afraid to challenge existing ways of working and offer alternative solutions. She is results driven, and has responded to issues with creative and successful solutions that have resulted in an impactful campaign that I am confident will drive organisational change. I’d wholly recommend Rachel as an inspiring internal communications specialist and excellent writer who I expect would achieve the desired results with any communications project she led.” Dianne Frost, Director of People, People Services, Oldham Council. [email protected]

Message of appreciation from Oldham Council’s Chief Executive for launch of staff Health & Wellbeing Campaign “Rachel,I just wanted to say thank you for all the work that went into today. The event went incredibly well - and I know that doesn't happen by accident. Can you please pass on my thanks to your team involved, and all those involved in the marketplace. Great energy and a great offer.”Many thanks,Carolyn Wilkins OBE, Chief Executive, Oldham Council [email protected]

Stockport CouncilOpinion of Rachel’s ability to drive an external communications project forward




“I worked with Rachel Wallace for almost two years on the We are Stockport project which started life as an idea from the Place Directorate at Stockport Council and was realised into a two year Place campaign for the Borough of which Rachel was an integral part.Rachel has never ceased to amaze me with the level of enthusiasm and resourcefulness in building up the We are Stockport brand and championing it 24/7. She is an excellent writer and broadcast journalist, illustrated in many ‘to camera’ video pieces for the campaign. She epitomised the ‘roving reporter’ for the Borough and was tireless in searching out stories and enlisting supporter story gatherers and endorsers in general to help along the way. She also planned and implemented a promotional programme around the brand to get it out and about throughout last summer. She embraced new ‘drone’ technology to get Stockport viewed from the air, often for the first time in some areas, and worked closely with her part-time and freelance media team to get best results. She helped engage thousands of Stockport people in the campaign and was relentless in the goal of communicating Stockport as a great place to live and work. Rachel is a doer of the first order and I would have no hesitation recommending her into projects that require communications drive, energy and commitment.”Sue Souter, Director of Souter PR and Chair of Steering Group, We are Stockport July 2016 [email protected]

“Rachel has excellent skills in helping to mobilise support for a campaign and has very strong networking skills. She is also very proficient in developing strong relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders and securing support for activities when resources are very limited. She’s very driven, proactive and highly self-motivated. Throughout her time as Campaign Manager for ‘We are Stockport’ Rachel has shown huge enthusiasm, passion and commitment, it’s a pleasure working with her.”Helen Walters, Growth Manager, Stockport Council

"Rachel set up and led the We Are Stockport venture from a standing start to a successful organisation. She has showed journalistic excellence, sound judgement, the ability to work with and enthuse a wide range of people and strong business sense in taking the organisation forward."Councillor Iain Roberts, Former Deputy Leader of Stockport Council and current Councillor for Gatley & Cheadle



Documents

Rachel Wallace CV