NICOLA BOWEN REES
MCIPR MPRCA MTS TCN BA (HONS)
Tel: 07590 030 258
Email: nbowenrees@btinternet.com
Based: Kent
CAREER
To date:
Basildon Borough Council, Basildon
Jan to Oct 2015
Interim head of communications (on contract through Westco, Westminster City
Council’s trading arm)
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Created holistic internal communications and engagement plan covering major
transformational change involving new HR practices, workforce moves, co-location,
customer services.
Worked collaboratively with Head of HR/OD on 2015 staff survey to improve staff
perception of the council as a good place to work.
As communications head of service, provided guidance, support and speechwriting to
chief executive, leader, cabinet and senior commissioning directors on all press/media
reputational issues/handling, also managing press team.
Introduced a more proactive, research and evidence-based approach for external and
internal digital/offline campaigns and activities, with monthly/quarterly evaluation
reporting.
Managed the council’s communications budget of c. £450,000 and income generation
through sponsorship and advertising.
Management of communications team consisting of media/press, internal
communications, corporate marketing, events and sponsorship, print/design, external
campaigns (digital/offline).
Peterborough City Council, Peterborough
Dec 2013 to Dec 2014
Interim head of marketing communications (on contract through Westminster City
Council/Westco)
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Major role in enabling communications team (15 staff) to move from 80% reactive to
70%+ proactive working, by introducing and embedding strategy, planning, clearer
processes and protocols, more efficient control of the communications budget.
Led the team’s work with IT on a digital strategy for the council to increase online
transactions and engagement, with early successes from a My Peterborough App,
website review and development of new site, increased use of social media.
Led the team’s work on successful evidence/research based campaigns/engagement
for streetscene, fostering recruitment, regeneration, children’s and adult services.
Provided strategic and day-to-day communications/media guidance to senior directors,
heads of service and councillors, including media/reputational issues, speech writing.
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Increased internal communications use of engagement and improved content of
corporate updates.
Instigated early work to introduce wider income streams for sponsorship and
advertising revenue and a make or buy procurement exercise for the council’s print
room hub operation.
Voluntary/part-time freelance work /study
Jan 2013 to Dec 2013
 Part-time freelance marketing communications for SMEs in Kent.
 Commenced online postgraduate diploma in digital and direct marketing via the IDM.
 Voluntary chair of communications for Tourism Management Institute (TMI).
Sulis Projects Ltd, Sevenoaks
Sept 2007 to Dec 2012
Director of Marketing, Communications, PR.
Own marketing communications business, providing services to private and public sector
organisations on interim contract and project basis.
Work included:
Mannamead Destination Marketing (MDM) a division of Deighton International Group),
Southampton
Associate and Head of Marketing Communications for tourism destination specialist (project basis).
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Co-developed bids/tenders and tourism marketing strategies for several key projects in
Georgia, Sierra Leone and UK.
Led market research and feasibility studies for potential tourism tours in the Emilia Romagna
region of Italy, exploring culinary, agro-tourism, cycling, bird watching and heritage themes.
National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), London
Senior Communications manager (extended contract and maternity cover), Office of the
Chief Information Officer for Information, Communications, Technology and Science (ICTS).
 Created and implemented a comprehensive marketing and communications ‘umbrella’
strategy and plan to support major transformation change programmes and projects in UK
national policing, impacting/effecting 43 forces.
 Matrix managed and trained marketing/communications officers assigned to various
programmes and projects.
 Provided communications/media guidance, speech writing to CIO, directors, heads of policy
and attended senor management team boards and meetings.
 Planned and implemented national high-profile campaigns/engagement activities, working in
conjunction with the Home Office, Metropolitan Police and regional police forces, the
Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO), and other government departments.
National Assessment Agency (NAA), London
Interim marketing communications manager - Internal Assessment Campaign and Launch.
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Created internal assessment content, materials and branding for NAA internet and intranet.
Produced and implemented marketing, communications and PR strategy and plan.
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Led successful launch event and provided communications support for initial rollout of
programme.
Ministry of Justice, London
Marketing/Communications Advisor - Corporate Communications Directorate.
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Planned and implemented a ‘top 100’ stakeholder engagement exercise to improve
communications and align activities between senor directors and managers and their top
external stakeholders/partners.
With the Home Office’s strategic stakeholder team, initiated MOJ’s sharing of the Home
Office’s stakeholder database model, saving the MOJ early research and development costs.
Led a review of an under achieving and demotivated marketing team, putting in place
improved ways of working, clearer processes and protocols for publications and branding
guidelines.
Leader of Support Sevenoaks Shops campaign (voluntary) (2010 - 2011)
Devised a voluntary local campaign to support Sevenoaks’ ailing high street and independent
businesses.
Activity included:
 Holding public consultation with retailers and residents and presentations to council
meetings.
 Joint working with council’s economic development team, liaison with Department of
Communities and Local Government on localism, meetings with local MP Michael Fallon
 Co-production of a draft regeneration proposal.
 Media handling with Sevenoaks Chronicle and discussion around introducing a
Sevenoaks Loyalty Card for independent shops (later introduced and highly successful).
My work on the campaign was locally acknowledged as instrumental to the reforming of the
Sevenoaks Town Partnership and I was a member of the new Board in its first year.
The Home Office
June 2003 – end Aug 2007
Marketing and Communications Advisor – Programme and Project Management Centre of
Excellence (PPMSU).
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Created a new comprehensive communications strategy and media plan (endorsed by the
permanent secretary as an exemplar) to support PPM transformational change across the
Home Office group.
Communicated a highly successful range of UK-wide branded seminar, workshop and
engagement events across the Home Office Group and agencies.
Led working and user groups on the development, content and branding of the PPM
web/intranet sites and new online PPM toolkit, acknowledged as excellent best practice
examples by senior management.
Provided PPM communications guidance and media relations support for the Home Office’s
major change reform programme in 2006/2007.
Citib@se, London
April to June 2003
Short marketing assignment while awaiting security clearance for Home Office role.
Lambeth Council, London
Oct 2002 to April 2003
Interim Head of Secretariat for Executive Directorate, Social Services.
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Successfully reorganised and improved an under performing team, reduced staff by two, with
a saving of c.£45,000 per annum.
Reviewed executive board submissions and secretariat processes/protocols and replaced with
clearer, more efficient ways of working.
Devised and managed a ‘first month’ introduction programme for incoming new executive
director within the council and with external partner organisations.
Foundation for International Education, London
March to Sept 2002
Director of marketing development– educational development project.
 Developed short notice campaign to urgently replace lost revenue from USA study abroad
market resulting from 9/11 disaster, with European students on English language courses.
 Secured an agreement with an Italian government organisation for Foundation to host and
teach summer school programmes for Italian students, guaranteeing revenue of c. £450,000
gross.
Short-term contracts
July 2001 – Feb 2002
Global Knowledge, Maidenhead
Marketing contractor - Produced new online and printed IT education course brochure for
international marketing campaign.
CPR Empower, Marlow
Marketing and logistics for prestige Tower of London Event - Created a marketing strategy
and logistics plan for a major Italian pharmaceutical company’s annual event at the Tower of
London with 2000 delegates.
Career break for travelling
Aug 2000 – June 2001
Study Group International (SGI), Brighton
Jan 1997 – June 2000
London region programmes and marketing manager for Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, UK and
British Council.
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Revamped tired London programmes for 6 London summer schools, sourcing and contracting
new venues for accommodation, teaching and cultural activities provision.
Increased revenue and staff performance significantly over a three year period for London
summer schools, with London consistently winning top place (Increase of 20% revenue each
year)
Active on overseas marketing and PR campaigns across numerous countries, increasing
student admission numbers for London and other UK schools.
Paid work placements
While undergoing full time Degree course at Swansea Metropolitan University:
Study Group International
June – Oct 1996
Centre manager for new ‘flagship summer school based at South Bank University.
Study Group International
June – Oct 1995
Centre Manager for adults summer school, based at University College London (UCL).
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After managing successful 1996 London summer programme, offered permanent contract with
Head Office, starting January 1997.
EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations – MCIPR.
Member of Public Relations Communications Association MPRCA.
Member of The Tourism Society and Tourism Society Consultants’ Network (MTS
TCN).
BA Hons Leisure and Tourism Management (awarded by University of West of
England).
Postgraduate course (online) in digital and direct marketing communications – IDM
(2013-2015).
IDM Award for CPD 2014.
Member of DotNative digital community.