PR and Communications Officer

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is looking for a PR and Communications Officer to support with building the charity’s profile and expanding its reputation and stakeholder networks as well as securing opportunities to promote FCW products. Working on the charity’s internal and external communications whilst protecting its reputation, its staff, volunteers and stakeholders and the brand. Responsible for building FCW’s PR campaigns including getting exposure across all digital channels, relationships with press, and social media partnerships whilst supporting marketing campaigns and other functions of the charity, particularly fundraising, as required.

To apply please submit a covering letter and CV demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role to jobs@finecellwork.co.uk

Please note: Application deadline is 14 July 2022. We will evaluate applications as they come in, contacting leading candidates even before the application period closes.

Principle Accountabilities for the role:

1. Leading on PR campaigns including promoting and supporting the events, fundraising and partnerships. This will include collating and producing content to support internal and external PR for a number of high-profile events.
2. Building and maintaining strong relationships with relevant media contacts and other key stakeholders, utilising these relationships to expand the reach and increase the profile of Fine Cell Work’s work both in prison and post-release.
3. Using a wide range of communication channels, support the fundraising, events and sales teams.
4. Overseeing the development of the Fine Cell Work social media strategy and working with the wider team to produce content..
5. Identifying and resourcing materials required for each event; PR support as required, promotional materials, invitations and specialist-themed production
6. By promoting national FCW sales events, supporting the eCommerce and Sales Manager and the Events team to meet the annual target from sales of products
7. Ensure consistent and clear messaging, tone of voice and house style is maintained across all communication platforms
8. Act as the first – and central - point of contact for all media enquiries
9. Identifying and securing PR opportunities to promote the sale of FCW products. This will include both features and product placement. 
10. Utilising your excellent writing skills to support other functions of the charity, particularly fundraising, as required
11. Keeping up to date with relevant criminal justice news and data to ensure that FCW’s key messaging and communications remain relevant and accurate.
12. Oversight of internal and external communications to manage potential risk and uphold brand reputation
13. Represent FCW at events and external meetings as appropriate

Core Job Context:

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is an innovative charity and social enterprise celebrating 25 years working in prison in 2022.

The charity has a unique working model: we train and pay prisoners to do professional needlework in their cells. This purposeful and creative work has a powerful impact on the rehabilitation of prisoners, giving them confidence, pride, social skills and the independence to stop reoffending. As one ‘stitcher’ recently wrote to us: “Fine Cell Work has helped me turn my life around and given me hope for the future”. Working with over 600 stitchers (92% of whom are men) in 32 prisons, FCW now has an international reputation both for prisoner rehabilitation and for the beautiful products we make.

The prisoners’ hand-embroidered giftware, homeware, cushions, rugs and quilts are sold online as well as at high-end events across the country and have been sold in three continents and commissioned by the V & A and English Heritage, among others.

FCW works with prisoners in our prison textile workshops to do a range of tasks related to the charity’s soft furnishings enterprise, many of which are linked to accredited qualifications.

In 2017 Fine Cell Work launched its Open the Gates programme in a new hub in Battersea, supporting ex-prisoners to get into full time employment or training through offering accredited training courses, work experience and with employment mentors.

Fine Cell Work has its office and workshop supporting prisoners post-release in Battersea which is run by a team of 16 staff supported by a workforce of up to 8 ex-prisoners at any one time and approximately 250 volunteers yearly, 70 of whom teach in prisons. 

Our ambition over the next five years is to create production hubs in five prisons across the country to provide a more cohesive employment training model.

2022 celebrates our 25^th anniversary year, the year is full of celebrations and collaborations all focusing on regrowth to pre-pandemic levels.  Fine Cell Work have focused on rebuilding its networks – customers, donors, volunteers and other supporters – and to fundraise to supports its exciting 5-year plan to grow its impact on the prison regime.

The role will see you collaborate with other departments and teams at Fine Cell Work, working across events, sales and fundraising.  

Essential skills and experience

• Considerable experience in PR and communications and a working knowledge of marketing
• Personable with exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills, you need to be a confident, eloquent speaker and a dedicated wordsmith
• Flexible, adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Accurate, thorough and diligent with impeccable attention to detail
• Demonstrable organisation, project management, administration and co-ordination skills to manage a demanding, rewarding workload
• Excellent IT skills – a competent user of all MS Office programmes, as well as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop

• Experience in using online marketing tools, ideally Mailchimp and Hootsuite (or equivalent)
• An interest in social justice and/or retail with social purpose
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity around the nature of FCW’s service users and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality 

Desirable skills and experience

• An interest in interior design
• A wide network of media contacts
• Photography and image enhancement skills
• Experience of using a donor/CRM database, ideally Salesforce
• Experience working with volunteers or volunteering yourself.