Introduction
Hello! Thank you for visiting my website and wanting to learn more about me and my experience.
I would be best described as a marketing & communications "all-rounder". From my academic background in journalism, media and public relations through to my career in digital marketing, I've had experience across a range of different aspects of marketing, including video & audio content creation, social media management, public relations, website management & optimisation, and a lot more.
I've also discovered a passion for photography over the last few years, and I've featured some of my pictures here.
Away from my day job, I'm sports mad, particularly when it comes to motor racing, football and cricket, and you'll often find me trackside at one of the UK's many race circuits or if I'm not there, I'll be at home, with my feet up, watching whatever race or match is on TV!
If you'd like to learn a little more about my story, then feel free to read on. Alternatively, you can read more about my media & pr work, or take a look at my photography!
Where it all started..
After finishing school at the age of 16, I took the route which a lot of people around me wanted me to take, and went on to continue the academic path in Sixth Form, where I studied French, German, Psychology and Drama at AS Level. After what was a bit of a disastrous year, I decided to choose a different direction, and instead of returning to continue my A Levels, I enrolled in a BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology. College was a completely different environment; it was more 'hands-on', provided greater levels of independence, and ultimately, it was environment which suited me perfectly.
As part of this course, I also completed a number of additional qualifications, including one in radio production, and this is where my interest in media and journalism began...
I started looking for additional work experience, focusing on local radio stations. I managed to secure positions at a number of local commercial broadcasters, and also started to produce and present on a hospital radio station, where I racked up over 100 hours of on-air time, as well as helping with outside broadcasts at events in the local community.
University
In 2011, I moved on to university, where I studied Broadcast Journalism at the University of Huddersfield. This gave me an excellent grounding in journalism, providing experience in radio, television, video production and of course in the traditional written area of the discipline too. Whilst at university, I was heavily involved in the student radio station from my first term until the day I graduated, presenting and producing shows, becoming involved with the management team in my second year, and then being elected Station Manager for my third and final year at university.
My Early career
After graduating in 2014, I moved into my first role in the industry, working for a multimedia content company, who specialised in the sports and gambling sectors. There I was involved in writing news stories, creating video content, and producing audio content for some of the biggest names in gambling and sport, including Bet365 and Cheltenham Festival Radio.
From there, I moved into digital marketing, working for an agency in Leeds, before experiencing a turbulent time which saw me go from agency to in-house, back to agency, and then back to in-house again within the space of two years.
More recent times...
In 2020, I joined the marketing team at UK's number one number plate supplier, Number 1 Plates, where in addition to my marketing responsibilities, I was also able to use my passion and knowledge of motorsport to secure a sponsorship deal with British Superbike Championship race winner Dan Linfoot. As a result of this partnership, I was able to gain pitlane and paddock access to Dan on behalf of Number1Plates, allowing me to create a range of content including behind-the-scenes social media posts, videos, blogs, press releases and photographs for use across Number1Plate's platforms. You can find examples below:
Number 1 Plates & Dan Linfoot: Sponsorship Press Release - Local Press (Wharfedale Observer), Regional Business Press (TopicUK), Motorsport Press (Superbike News).
Having moved on from Number 1 Plates in late 2021, I am now Head of Digital at Harrogate-based digital marketing agency Kariba. There I work a number of clients across a range of industries, including Automotive, Home Improvements, eCommerce and Education.