Communications Assistant in London

Job Title: Communications Assistant

Department: Communications

Reports to: Senior Communications Executive

Direct Line Reports: None

Location: Hybrid, 2 days a week in office and 3 days a week from home. Our office is based at: Fora, 33 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DQ

Type: Full Time Standard company working hours are 09.30 to 17.30, flexibility and non-standard hours are required during events

Salary: Subject to experience

Application closing date: 20 th June 2024

ABOUT THE ROLE

The BFC is looking for Communications Assistant to join the team and work on communications and marketing across traditional PR and digital channels at the British Fashion Council. This position plays a key role in the success of the communications team and supports in delivering the 360 communications strategy. 

The BFC Communications team is responsible for all communications for the BFC Group which is made up of BFC Ltd, BFC Foundation and the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF). The BFC runs an annual communications programme across all activity including London Fashion Week, The Fashion Awards, BFC Foundation Programme & Initiatives (Education, Business Support Etc), IPF Forum - delivering to the BFC Strategy and building reputation. 

ABOUT THE BFC

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is a not-for-profit organisation that strengthens British fashion in the global economy as a leader in responsible, creative businesses. It does this through championing diversity, building and inviting the industry to actively participate in a network to accelerate a successful circular fashion economy. The BFC is a membership organisation, funded by industry patrons, commercial partners and the government. It convenes the UK fashion industry through three strategic pillars: Supporting Excellence in Design; Empowering Growth; Communicating to Activate Positive Change.

The BFC encourages a culture which empowers, values, nurtures, supports and rewards its employees and promotes a positive environment with a focus on team collaboration and open communication.

The BFC is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. They’re more than just words. We are inclusive. We celebrate and champion multiple approaches and points of view. We believe diversity drives innovation. So together we’re building a culture where difference is valued. Our commitment to inclusion drives us forward every day internally and externally.

Everyone is welcome, as an inclusive workplace the BFC encourages our employees to bring their true self to work and we commit to develop your skills and advance your careers in a culture of creativity.

BFC ETHOS AND VALUES:

Our mission is to establish a dynamic, inclusive, and unified network that advocates for British talent, innovation and creativity. Through meaningful and authentic engagement with all stakeholders, we aim to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, stimulate connections, inform, provide access, and promote mutual growth. Through our commitment to excellence, we want to empower our network and pioneer new approaches that drive progress and create lasting tangible impact.

We deliver our strategy through our pillars:

Relentless Innovation: Preparing businesses for positive change by embracing innovation.

Fuelling Responsible Growth: Develop a dynamic, inclusive and unified community that advocates for creativity, innovation and collectively supports the industry to grow and talent to gain access. We deliver this through our annual programme of events for the BFC Community of members and patrons which connects, updates, and promotes them while giving them a voice. The BFC Foundation charity raises funding to support creative talent through our world class designer support initiatives.

Amplifying our Narrative Globally: though storytelling, evolving BFC platforms to amplify excellence in creativity and our role in the UK’s cultural influence focusing on creativity, culture and commerciality. The Fashion Awards and London Fashion Week are best in class here.

THE ROLE

Responsibilities

Business Skills

• Delivering individual tasks whilst maintaining focus on overall objectives
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail and follow-through on all tasks and admin duties
• Research, develop and support on projects as directed
• Comprehensive external and internal liaison and relationship management
• Demonstrates best practice in managing communications and quality standards
• Works as a team to meet BFC’s objectives to maintain integrity and reputation
• Represents the BFC and acts as an ambassador at events, corporate initiatives, networking, etc.

Expertise Skills

• Responsible for media monitoring and evaluating all BFC initiatives and events, as well as additional activities as required
• Producing evaluation reports for all LFW and BFC initiatives, making seasonal and annual comparisons
• Collating and formatting key articles for internal use and external newsletters for sign off by Senior Communications Executive & Communications Executive
• Researching and collating key articles and maintaining news sections of Workplace up to date
• Assist in the creation of a PR calendar, helping to identify monthly events and deadlines
• Supporting team with drafting press releases, quotes and answers to interview questions
• Supporting in drafting briefing packs, messaging documents and presentations; liaising with BFC departments for supporting documents, facts and figures and creative content where needed
• Any other duties that your Manager/Senior Member of the team deems relevant

Person Specification

• Results driven with a commitment to working to high standards
• Excellent communications skills both face-to-face and on the telephone
• Highly organized with ability to manage multi-tasks
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Team player with a hands-on, can do approach
• Diligent, conscientious with high attention to detail
• Pro-active and sociable with a positive outlook
• Level-headed, personal energy, enthusiastic and engaging
• Promotes a positive, professional image in the office, and out with clients and contacts

Professional Experience & Skills

• Graduate with at least 12 months assistant experience in office environment
• Good relationship building and interpersonal skills
• Great communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Pro-active and sociable
• Level-headed, driven, enthusiastic and engaging
• Promotes a positive, professional image in the office and out with clients and contacts
• Advanced IT skills in Microsoft applications essential

Salary & Benefits

• Dependent on experience  
• 25 Days Holiday Per Year + Bank Holidays
• Upon completion of a successful probation period, you are also entitled to our additional benefits:
• Summer Working Hours which means that during July and August, our office closes at 3pm on a Friday so you can enjoy the sunshine
• A half day off on your birthday!
• Private Medical Insurance with Vitality which comes with access to a Virtual GP and an Employee Assistance Programme
• X2 Charity Days off per year to give back to your community. This could be running a marathon or volunteering (this does not need to be Fashion related)
• Enrolment into the BFC Pension Scheme
• Religious Festivals Swapping – to be as inclusive as possible, our employees are able to swap any of the standard UK public holidays based on their own beliefs/identity and instead take these days to celebrate things that are more relevant to them (such as Diwali, or Eid, or Pride etc)

How to apply

To apply for this role, please follow the instructions below:

• Candidates should apply in writing with a covering letter highlighting your relevant experience for this role, attaching your CV to with ‘Communications Assistant’ in the subject
• Application closing date: 20 th June 2024

Please note, all candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK as we are unable to offer Visa sponsorships at this time.

Due to the volume of applicants, we are unable to respond to everyone or provide specific feedback. If you do not hear from us, please assume your application has been unsuccessful at this time.

Successful applicants will be notified by email by a member of the HR team and invited to a first stage interview with the hiring manager.

Upon application, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments for an interview/throughout the application process and we will do our best to support you.