Job Title: Communications Consultant

How did you come to choose your present career?

My strengths at school were in English and Science but I didn't have a firm career in mind. I chose a degree which interested me and which developed my science and communications. I graduated with a BA (hons) in Science, Society and the Media.

I returned to Jersey from university wanting to save money to go travelling, and the temping agency I approached recommended a job in the finance industry. This was a not an industry I had previously considered but decided to give it a go. The first interview the agency sent me for was for a position in the Marketing team at RBS International. My communications skills made me a good candidate for the role, and I was offered the job. 

Working in the busy Marketing and Communications team I became involved in everything from brochure production to event organisation to web publishing and I enjoyed the buzzy atmosphere and variety of work. 

A year passed by in a flash and I had soon saved enough to go travelling.  When I returned eighteen months later I began applying to Marketing and Communications departments in the finance industry, but by chance I found out about a Marketing vacancy at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and thought it sounded interesting.  I was invited to an interview, and offered the position of Communications Officer, looking after PR, communications and media relations.  I've always had an interest in conservation, so the opportunity to work there was too good to turn down.

I spent an amazing four years there however after I then felt it was time to move on.  I wanted to progress my career and when a position in the Offshore Communications team at RBS International came up, I knew that was where I wanted to be.  I was delighted when I was offered the job, and in March 2006 I re-joined RBS International as Communications Consultant.

Tell us a bit about your current role?

I'm part of a busy team of three, and our work covers both internal communications and external PR.  In an organisation as large and geographically spread as RBS International, effective internal communications are critical in order to ensure that employees have the information required to do their jobs properly, and to keep everyone aware and engaged with what the rest of the business is up to.

It is important that I am tuned into what the business priorities are, so that I can advise on and plan effective communication strategies to support them.

Our tools include Intranet, newsletters, DVDs, signage and events, so on any one day I could be writing intranet messages about changes to an operating procedure, working with a production company to plan a filming schedule for an internal news programme, reviewing proofs for a poster campaign, or arranging a media photo-call to publicise a newsworthy event. The work is very varied, and no two days are the same!

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy being in a central support function which touches all areas of the business, as this gives me quite a privileged overview of the business as a whole.  I also enjoy the constant challenge of creating communications which are effective and engaging for the broad range of different audiences we have at RBS International, as this gives me the opportunity to use my creativity. 

RBS International is a fast moving and exciting organisation to work for, and although the business is ultimately here to make a profit, there is a genuine focus on customer service.

What training and development opportunities are available to you?

RBS International puts a lot of emphasis on staff development, and positively encourages its employees to take advantage of training opportunities and to pursue professional qualifications in order to develop themselves to their full potential.  I've just enrolled on the CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing, which the Bank is supporting me through.  In the future who knows?  I'm very happy in my current role and new challenges arise every day so there's no chance of getting bored, but I know that if in the future I wanted to change the direction of my career there are countless different areas I could move into.  The Bank is very supportive in this respect, whether it is a new job or a whole new location you are seeking a colleague recently returned from a 6 month secondment in Hong Kong.

What makes RBS International different to other employers?

At RBS International you feel valued as an employee. Every individual member of staff, whatever their level, has the opportunity to make a real difference here. The Bank encourages staff to contribute their views on how the business can be improved and will act quickly on good suggestions.