Helping organisations communicate

Skills and experience of Simon Hinds web writing, publicity, media relations, speechwriting, social media
Email: simongah@blueyonder.co.uk Mobile: 07876 336 807
Organisations need help to tell their stories. I have the expertise to do it.
Simon Hinds can give you communications expertise if you need it for a project, particularly for web writing advertorials. I can offer a unique mix that means communications can have the:

• effectiveness of professional communications,
• newsworthiness of journalism, and
• insights of marketing.

I am trained and experienced in both journalism and marketing communications. I have experience representing SMEs and experience of communications at a high level. I have a history of achievements. I can produce:

• newsworthy press releases,
• persuasive advertorials, features and briefing,
• edited copy,
• written and edited speeches and articles for the web, and
• written and edited adverts and publications,
• promotion through social media, Facebook and Twitter

Examples of successful work include:

• receiving a letter of commendation for successfully publicising a Haringey Council local business project,
• receiving praise from government ministers and a permanent secretary for speechwriting work,
• receiving praise from a Secretary of State for improving a government department?s key journal, and
• increasing the number of visitors to a section of a government website over six months by 15,000.

My interests include: promoting equality, economic development and social regeneration. I am black British. My bottom line is that your communications will be clear, concise, newsworthy and geared to a communications objective. So, get in touch!
Simon Hinds

Key skills:                   writing and subbing
Unique selling points:    training and experience in PR & journalism.
Interests:                    regeneration, business development, and as I am black British, equal opportunities.

Experience 3 years in education and training communications in a further education college, Newham College.
10 years in the Government Information and Communication Service: Information Officer, Highways Agency, Department of Transport; Press Officer, Small Business Service (DTI agency); Assistant Editor, Employment Department; Information Officer, British Antarctic Survey.

3 years in local authority: Commnunications Officer, Stevenage Council; Temp Media Officer, Havering Council; Press Officer, Luton Council, Press Officer, Welwyn Hatfield Council; Publicity Officer, Haringey Council; Temp. Marketing Officer, Tower Hamlets Council.

Freelance writing for: local, Sunday national, black newspapers; community publications
Four years as a general reporter and news editor: The Voice Training Advanced Certificate in Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Three Months Reporters Block-release Course, Stradbroke College, Sheffield.
B.A. (Hons) Media Studies, Polytechnic of Central London.
Information Technology NVQ Level III, Birmingham City & Guilds. Short courses in: web writing, web design and HTML, crisis management, proofreading, subbing, photography, layout and design, speechwriting, e-communications; introduction to/fundraising in the voluntary sector.

Skills and abilities

• writing news and features
• subbing and proofreading
• identifying news values and angles
• media relations
• social media
• speechwriting
• web writing
• shorthand and touch-typing
• photography
• Information Technology
• analysis of media coverage
• marketing communications
• producing newsletters

Praise: From: Cxxxxx-Bxxxxx Carlos -EXEC Sent: 29 February 2012 14:55
To: Hinds Simon -SMKT Cc: Bxxxxx Ray -SMKT
Subject: Yesterday’s Executive Board
Hello Simon. As mentioned to you earlier, I just wanted to let you know that your excellent work in improving the College’s visibility/PR was noted at yesterday’s Executive Board. Well done on achieving such outstanding results, please keep up the good work.

Small Business Service performance report: Mr Hinds ‘…demonstrated that he was a meticulous and experienced press officer. He has made a real effort to develop an ordered and robust media relations service against a sometimes difficult background. He dealt with 90% of press enquiries within agreed deadlines and increased the number of substantive press notices to around one a week. He produced media handling plans for press releases and communication strategies for a number of areas. He has shown himself always willing to overcome a problem and has been willing to take responsibility. He has also shown creativity and is analytical.’