Full-time PR Account Manager Circa £24k

Edinburgh

Hot Tin Roof is a dynamic, independent PR agency, creating iconic reputations for pioneering UK companies.  We help business communicate in a digital world, blending the skills and rigour of traditional PR with the constantly changing, cutting edge digital techniques of social media and online PR.

Now in our tenth year we are primarily focused on B2B PR, specialising in internet and digital technologies, although we do work across a range of sectors and the odd B2C campaign.

Fast and furious, we deliver creative campaigns, designed along clear and simple lines.  From short, sharp projects to heavy weight strategy sustained long term; we have a powerful reputation for getting results and making the news.

We are now looking for an enthusiastic and experienced PR professional to join the team and help across a range of B2B accounts.

Key responsibilities:

With a minimum of three years’ experience in Public Relations, you will be responsible for managing media relations and client accounts. You will have excellent client service skills and proven media relations skills.

The preferred candidate will have experience in B2B campaigns, ideally technology related, and experience of social media campaigns and online PR.

You will be keen to learn to write PR plans, new business proposals and pitch documents, and will have a naturally positive outlook to building new business connections on behalf of the client.

Skills & Experience:

• Experience working with B2B clients

• Excellent media relations skills and proven strength in securing quality coverage

• Excellent understanding of news agenda and impact on clients

• Confident and professional demeanor when dealing with clients and journalists

• Strong copy writing skills

• Strong social media and online PR skills

• Good organisation and time management

• Good knowledge and understanding of digital channels

Personal Qualities:

• Pro-active and takes initiative

• Loves a challenge

• Excellent communication skills

• Team player

CVs with covering letter to sarah@hottinroof.co.uk by 8 June 2012.

Part Time / Full-time PR Account Director Circa £35k pro-rata

Edinburgh

Hot Tin Roof is a dynamic, independent PR agency, creating iconic reputations for pioneering UK companies.  We help business communicate in a digital world, blending the skills and rigour of traditional PR with the constantly changing, cutting edge digital techniques of social media and online PR.

Now in our tenth year we are primarily focused on B2B PR, specialising in internet and digital technologies, although we do work across a range of sectors and the odd B2C campaign.

Fast and furious, we deliver creative campaigns, designed along clear and simple lines.  From short, sharp projects to heavy weight strategy sustained long term; we have a powerful reputation for getting results and making the news.

We are now looking for an experienced PR professional to join the team and help grow the business.  Although we are ideally looking for a part time role we will consider full-time for the right person.

Key responsibilities:

With a minimum of five years’ experience in Public Relations, you will be responsible for leading media relations as well as helping to grow Hot Tin Roof.  You will work closely with the founder MD to manage a small team, lead client accounts, secure new business and grow Hotwire our social media service.

You will be able to run accounts autonomously, will have excellent client service skills and proven media relations skills.  The preferred candidate will have strong experience in B2B campaigns, specifically technology related, and demonstrable experience of social media campaigns and online PR.

You will have a powerful track record of achieving outstanding results for clients, and will understand the need to deliver tangible commercial benefits in PR campaigns. You will have managed integrated PR campaigns and will be comfortable managing client budgets.

You will be able to demonstrate a keen ability to write PR plans, new business proposals and pitch documents, and will have a naturally positive outlook to building new business connections on behalf of the client.

Skills & Experience:

• Experience working with clients in technology, new media, public sector

• Outstanding media relations skills and proven strength in securing quality coverage
• Excellent understanding of news agenda and impact on clients
• Confident participator in meetings with senior executives

• Strong copy writing skills

• Strong social media and online PR skills
• Good organisation and time management
• Good knowledge and understanding of digital channels
• Experience of working with and giving advice to senior executives
• Experience in campaign management and media relations
• Flawless project management skills
• Experience of crisis and issues management

Personal Qualities:

• Self-Starter, pro-active, takes initiative, driven, entrepreneurial
• Loves a challenge
• Excellent communication skills
• Mature, self-confident and will get on with the job in hand
• Team player with the ability to motivate account teams

CVs with covering letter to sarah@hottinroof.co.uk

Hot Tin Roof is fast becoming recognised as one of Scotland’s leading specialists in high tech PR with the announcement today of its appointment by software testing company, Edge Testing Solutions.

The Edinburgh-based independent PR agency will deliver a robust strategy to position the company as a powerful, independent force in software testing.  While seeking to raise the profile and brand awareness of Edge Testing, Hot Tin Roof will also build the reputation of its founders as opinion formers and thought leaders.

Hot Tin Roof’s Director Sarah Lee comments:  “The continued growth of the Scottish software market as well as a significant expansion of the Scottish IT sector has created a powerful opportunity for Edge Testing and we are delighted to be working with them and to be part of their success.”

Edge Testing is Scotland’s fastest growing independent software testing company and its reputation was cemented in 2010 by securing a number of high profile public and private sector accounts including Heineken, Historic Scotland and Ignis Asset Management.

Founders, Susan Chadwick and Brian Ferrie, are respected as two of the UK’s leading experts in software testing.  It is their strong personal reputations in the industry that gives Edge Testing a competitive advantage and has allowed the company to buck the trend of recession and sustain growth since launch, doubling turnover year on year and currently forecasting a 100% increase in turnover to £2.5m in 2011.

Brian Ferrie comments: “We have known Hot Tin Roof for a number of years and are very aware of their reputation for getting results.  We have high expectations and an ambitious growth plan and we trust them to deliver what they promise and to help us achieve our business objectives.”

Ends

For more information contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in The Drum.

Hot Tin Roof, a leading independent PR agency, has been hired by William Purves Funeral Directors, to design and implement a PR strategy for the well-known family business.

The agency will create a high profile national and local PR campaign to raise awareness of firm in Edinburgh and the Lothians as well as the national trade press.

It is essential for every business, even a well-established traditional business like William Purves, to build and nurture a brand that is trusted and recognised.

The firm’s appointment of Hot Tin Roof is part of a broader advertising and marketing campaign delivered by Mighty Small and 39steps that includes a full rebrand, the launch of a new website and a TV advertising campaign.

Tim Purves, Funeral Director explains:  “As a firm we remain firmly committed to the traditional values we have honoured for over 200 years.  It is important to us to work with companies who share our ethics and we believe that Hot Tin Roof has the integrity coupled with the creative vision and the practical skills to help us achieve our business goals.”

William Purves is one of Edinburgh’s oldest and best known funeral directors.  Still privately owned this family run business stretches back over five generations to a 19th century joinery business.

Today from its headquarters, close to Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield Links, five great great grandchildren of its founder work together in the firm.  While its Chairman, John Purves works alongside his son Tim and fellow directors James Morris and Roger Pagan to uphold the principles on which the business was founded.

Sarah Lee Hot Tin Roof’s Director comments:  “We are delighted to be working with William Purves.  We were immediately drawn to the honesty and warmth of the company.  They are clearly passionate about the service they provide for families in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The nature of the funeral business will be uniquely challenging for us but we are very happy and proud to be working with the Purves family.”

For more information contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in The Drum.

Hot Tin Roof, a leading independent PR agency, today announced its appointment by Scottish Enterprise and The University of Edinburgh to deliver a short-term contract for EPIS, the Edinburgh pre-Incubator Scheme.

The agency has been tasked with marking the culmination of this pioneering scheme and the key role played in its success by Scottish Enterprise. The Edinburgh-based agency specialises in technology start-ups and will profile two EPIS case studies: Carbon Masters and Interface3.

Carbon Masters is a carbon management consultancy and the brainchild of Kevin Houston and Som Narayan who met while studying for The University of Edinburgh’s pioneering MSc in Carbon Management.  Having launched Carbon Guru, a suite of sector-specific carbon management accounting tools, Houston has already been headhunted to advise the EU Commission on a major initiative in energy efficiency and the IT industry.

Interface3 is a pioneering multi-touch software company that has developed award winning applications including Chromabeats an e-learning game that aims to revolutionise music education for primary children.

Hot Tin Roof has worked with The University of Edinburgh previously, producing web content for a number of websites including Infomatics Ventures and Theia. The agency has also been involved in providing a mentor for undergraduate companies on LaunchEd and has delivered a number of training courses for the University’s transferable skills programme.

Sarah Lee Hot Tin Roof’s Director comments:  “Hot Tin Roof’s heart lies in the fast paced dynamic energy of the start up sector, so to work with Epis is a real privilege.  Supported by Scottish Enterprise, the programme is unique among UK universities and has a phenomenal track record of producing extraordinary new enterprises.  We are honoured to be associated with it.”

For more information contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in PR Week and The Drum.

Hot Tin Roof continues to carve a niche as one of Scotland’s leading specialists in high tech PR, with the announcement today, officially confirming its appointment by software and services company, Flexiant.

The Edinburgh-based independent PR agency will continue to lead a global marketing and PR campaign to establish Flexiant’s reputation as one of only three independent public cloud providers in Europe and five world-wide.

Cloud computing is one of the fastest growing and most fiercely competitive technology markets and the challenge for all companies operating in this space is to cut through the noise and build reputation.

Gartner’s poll of 1,600 CIO’s in January this year showed cloud computing and virtualisation as the top plan and budget priorities for 2010. With the IDC forecasting that cloud computing will account for nine per cent of total customer expenditure by 2012.

Lack of clarity and blurred definitions mean cloud computing is not clearly understood. A critical element of Hot Tin Roof’s campaign will be to educate the market place about the benefits and applications of cloud computing, ensuring Flexiant communicates a clear and simple message and secures a significant share of voice.

Flexiant’s public cloud, Flexiscale, was Europe’s first cloud platform and was launched in 2007.  Then in March 2010 the company launched its flagship product, Extility, a private cloud that allows licensees to build their own cloud and sell cloud services under their own brand.

Hot Tin Roof has been working with Flexiant’s management team for a number of months to deliver a PR strategy taking the company through the sale of XCalibre to Webfusion in December 2009; the acquisition of FlexiScale technology and launch of new software and services company, Flexiant.

Sarah Lee Hot Tin Roof’s Director comments:  “This is a key campaign for Hot Tin Roof.  It positions us firmly at the heart of Scotland’s dynamic technology sector and we are delighted to be working with such a progressive company.  Flexiant has global ambitions and it is exciting to be working with and be part of such an impressive team.”

For more information contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in The Drum.

Hot Tin Roof has been appointed to lead a national PR strategy for digital agency, CIVIC. This news follows a series of high profile wins in the IT sector including RMD Power and Cooling and Money Dashboard.

CIVIC is an independent creative digital communications agency with major experience in the public and private sector. CIVIC has been at the cutting edge of digital media since the agency’s creation in 2001 and boasts a talented and creative team with an impressive client base.

Hot Tin Roof will execute a dynamic campaign across traditional and digital media platforms. The campaign will be designed to help CIVIC increase its market share in the private sector and explore opportunities outside Scotland.

Sarah Lee, Hot Tin Roof Director comments: “Since launch our roots have always been in digital media, so it’s great to be associated with such a creative digital agency as CIVIC. CIVIC has pioneered the digital industry in Scotland for many years and we are extremely proud to be working with them.”

Using what it calls creative technology, CIVIC blends design with cutting edge digital technology in order to apply strategic brand thinking to websites with the technical ability needed to make that thinking come to life.

CIVIC’s MD, Greig Tosh, says: “Hot Tin Roof has a great reputation and we have worked together very successfully in the past on a number of projects.  Moving forward on a more strategic basis we are looking forward to seeing the impact Hot Tin Roof can have in raising awareness of CIVIC. I’m sure they will deliver a fantastic campaign and I know that our two companies will continue to work well together.”

For more information contact Lucy Smith.

How NOT to treat an intern.


Hot Tin Roof’s star intern, Hilary Gray, explains why she has found the experience valuable…

I have a confession to make. I am a news junkie.

I have always been fascinated with how the media works and how a story becomes a story. In PR, I found a career where I could put this obsession and my love of language to good use. However, although I was sure it was what I wanted to do, I had no first hand knowledge of how the industry works and what was involved in working in PR. Winning an internship at Hot Tin Roof has allowed me to learn on the job.

Graduating into the biggest recession since the thirties was not part of my career plan. It has meant that internships – a traditional route into PR – have become longer and more common and it is more difficult than ever to find a permanent position.

Hot Tin Roof allowed me to dive straight in at the deep end and I was given real responsibility within minutes of walking in the door. On my first day, I started working on a press release and after selling it in to The Drum and PR Week it appeared in print and online.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to practice writing press releases and receive feedback on my writing. I’ve also been able to speak to journalists and, although it was daunting at first, it has really buoyed my confidence.

Since graduation, I’ve immersed myself in the world of digital PR and the skills I’ve picked up have been put to good use at Hot Tin Roof. I helped launch the Twitter profile for the Three Harbours Seafood Festival (@3harbourseafood) and I’ve found online opportunities for clients to provide comment and publicise their brands. I’ve been able to share my knowledge with my new colleagues so we’re learning from each other.

I believe that digital PR is going to be key to the future of the industry and having embraced Twitter wholeheartedly, I am pleased to be one of the co-organisers of this year’s EdTwestival. As the official PR person for the event, I’ll be responsible for media requests as well as finding sponsors and raffle prizes.

I’ve started networking within the Scottish media and have built contacts at several PR firms. I’ve attended the Young Communicator events, run by the CIPR (and sadly discontinued) which enabled me to make contact with others at a similar level from agencies and in-house PR. Tonight I’ll be getting my networking head on again as I’ll be attending the inaugural Twitchicks dinner organised by Victoria Raimes of the Edinburgh Evening News.

Of course, long-term internships aren’t sustainable for anyone and at some point internships need to turn into a permanent job. I recommend trying to get a part-time internship that you can mix with paid work or even a short, weeklong placement. My internship at Hot Tin Roof has been very flexible and I’m pleased to say that it has improved my PR skills. It has allowed me to get my first press hits and helped me stand out from the crowd.

hilaryjanegray@hotmail.com

Hot Tin Roof has been appointed by Three Harbours Arts Festival to raise awareness of its seafood festival, increasing visitors and targeting audiences outside East Lothian.

Despite Scotland’s reputation for world class seafood, Three Harbours Seafood Festival is one of only two seafood festivals in the country.

Launched last year in partnership with the arts festival, Three Harbours Seafood Festival, celebrates delicious, locally sourced seafood and East Lothian’s rich coastal heritage.

The festival will be held at the Greenbelt, Prestonpans, with stalls hosted by local fishmongers, restaurants, wine merchants and organic food suppliers.

The Seafood Festival runs from 28-30 May and kicks off on the Friday night with a good old-fashioned knees up led by the Islanders Ceilidh Band. It also coincides with the fifth birthday celebrations of the arts festival, which runs over 10 days.

After a great start last year, the seafood festival is looking to make the festival bigger and better this year. Visitor numbers exceeded expectations in its first year and Hot Tin Roof’s campaign aims to increase numbers from 3000 to 6500.

Sarah Lee, MD of Hot Tin Roof comments: “This is a wonderful project to be involved in and our challenge will be to build on the local enthusiasm, which has made the festival so successful and draw in visitors from outside the local area.  There is only one other specialist seafood festival in Scotland and our aim is to mark Three Harbours firmly on the calendar of all foodies.”

The campaign will be run both on and offline as Hot Tin Roof works to maximise impact and reach its target audience, targeting national newspapers and magazines and using social media to widen appeal.

Hot Tin Roof has a strong reputation for art as well as food PR having previously worked with The Fringe, the CCA and Museums Galleries Scotland, as well as Centotre, The Living Room, Iris and Eteaket

Adele Conn, founder of the Three Harbours seafood and arts festivals, comments:

“We chose Hot Tin Roof to help us because of their impressive track record in the arts as well as food. But more importantly because of the energy and enthusiasm with they approach their work.  We believe the team at Hot Tin Roof will help us grow Three Harbours into Scotland’s best known seafood festival”.

For more information contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in PR Week and The Drum.

Power and cooling experts RMD have appointed Hot Tin Roof to run a PR campaign aimed at raising awareness of the long-established company.

Having started life in 1932 as a small electrical shop in Glasgow, RMD is now one of the few UK companies that can design, supply, install and maintain power and cooling for cutting edge data centres.

Today RMD continues to innovate in the public and private sector, for global brands as well as the SME.

Among its clients, RMD counts critical services like NATS (air traffic control), the Blood Transfusion Service, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and Thames Valley Police. It has also carried out work for online retailer Amazon, Cairn Energy and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Hot Tin Roof has been brought in to improve brand-recognition and build reputation for RMD in the public and private sector, positioning the company for a period of rapid growth.

Sarah Lee, Hot Tin Roof Director says: “RMD is one of Scotland’s fastest growing businesses and RMD’s uninterrupted power supply keeps Britain logged on and working. Power cuts and terrorist strikes threaten the security of data centres and make RMD an essential service for UK industry. RMD is a sleeping giant, with no brand awareness and we hope to change that over the coming months as we deliver a sustained and effective PR strategy.”

RMD is the latest in a string of technology clients to bring Hot Tin Roof on board. Last month, the Edinburgh-based agency announced it would be working with online personal finance company Money Dashboard. Hot Tin Roof’s hi-tech portfolio also includes usability consultants User Vision, and FreeAgent Central the online accounting service.

Sarah Lee adds: “We have a strong track-record in the technology sector and it is great to work with an established company like RMD alongside smaller start-ups. We are increasingly specialising in technology and are seeing significant growth in this sector at a very difficult time.”

For more information, contact Sarah Lee.

As featured in The Drum.