At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead PR campaigns and create compelling stories to boost brand awareness.
- Company: Join VetPartners, a leading veterinary group with a warm and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday, health cash plan, and professional development support.
- Other info: Flexible role with opportunities for growth and travel across the UK.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the veterinary sector while showcasing your storytelling skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in consumer PR, strong communication skills, and a passion for animal care.
VetPartners Limited, (Hybrid - With weekly visits to York and covering stories at our Practices, across the North of the UK)
Established in November 2015, VetPartners is made up of some of the UK and Europe’s most respected and trusted veterinary practices and animal healthcare companies. VetPartners has more than 13,000 employees working in more than 800 sites across the UK and Europe, including its headquarters in York, where its central support team is based. Following European expansion, the group has practices in Italy, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
VetPartners aims to be the veterinary group of choice for employees, clients and pet owners. It aims to deliver its vision by:
- Being a great place to work, focusing on the development and wellbeing of its people
- Providing the best possible care of patients
- Delivering an excellent service to clients
- Developing the business in an ethical, sustainable and profitable way
With our culture of warmth and belonging, our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we pride ourselves in our values of being respectful, supportive, dedicated, approachable and collaborative.
About the Role: VetPartners has a strong reputation in the veterinary sector as a respected and trusted group of veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses. VetPartners is now looking to build brand awareness and visibility among clients and the general public and to highlight what makes us different to other groups. Reporting to our Director of PR and Communications, as PR and Communications Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering a strategic communications approach for VetPartners to raise awareness of the brand among pet owners and the general public. The post holder will be responsible for the planning and execution of a range of external communications activity, plans and campaigns, ensuring alignment with the vision, values, and strategic priorities of VetPartners.
This is an exciting role for a PR all-rounder who will have the opportunity to showcase their strong storytelling skills and writing flair to build emotional connections and brand trust among a consumer audience. Our ideal candidate will bring demonstrable experience of finding and developing stories for the media, delivering successful communications campaigns, and working collaboratively in a communications team.
Your primary role is to drive PR for our veterinary practices, along with our B2C PR activity for VetPartners in the UK and Ireland. You will also be expected to support the PR and Communications Director on crisis communications and sensitive issues, taking the lead in her absence and providing counsel to the senior leadership team, preparing media statements and confidently handling media enquiries to protect the reputation of VetPartners and our practices.
With hybrid working opportunities, this will be a mix of working each week at our York headquarters and from home, as well as regular scheduled travel across the UK. This role requires a truly flexible approach, with a combination of high levels of responsibility and ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
If you love PR, communications and people, we’d love to talk to you.
About you:
- Demonstrable experience in a consumer PR role to help us build a positive brand image and drive brand awareness by creating compelling narratives, stories and campaigns that resonate with pet owners.
- Develop and maintain strong journalist relationships across national, trade and regional media.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a can-do attitude, for effective collaboration.
- Highly organised and results-focused, with the ability to prioritise, multi-task and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to work independently, as well as in a team, and establish excellent relationships with practice teams, colleagues and journalists.
- A demonstrable commitment to professional development and, ideally, CIPR membership.
- Have up to date knowledge of communications channels, tactics and techniques.
An overview of what you’ll do:
- Storytelling & content: Write compelling, accurate, and on-brand copy, including press releases about interesting, newsworthy cases for both our practices and VetPartners, and leveraging data, media statements, pitches, website stories and blogs.
- Media relations: Develop and maintain strong journalist and influencer relationships across national, trade, and regional media.
- Campaign leadership: Plan and execute integrated PR campaigns, aligning with social and digital content for maximum impact.
- Case study development: Source, develop, and place client stories that demonstrate how VetPartners practices provide the best possible care of patients and a great service for clients.
- Crisis communications: In Communications Director’s absence, support our response to crisis and issues, providing counsel to senior leadership and deliver timely, accurate external statements.
Benefits:
- Mon – Fri, 37.5 hours per week
- Hybrid, with weekly visits to the central support office in York, and travel, in covering and featuring activity to our practices in the North of the UK.
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays - with the opportunity to buy a further 10, or sell 5, days' holiday
- WestField Health - a health cash plan that can help you budget for your everyday health needs and give discounts with supermarkets and other retailers
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave
- £250 CPD allowance per annum
If this sounds like the role for you, please apply today!
PR and Communications Manager in York employer: VetPartners
VetPartners Limited is an exceptional employer that prioritises the development and wellbeing of its employees, fostering a culture of warmth and belonging. With hybrid working options and a commitment to professional growth, employees enjoy a supportive environment where they can thrive while contributing to the best possible care for pets across the UK and Europe. The company offers competitive benefits, including generous holiday allowances and a health cash plan, making it an attractive place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the veterinary sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land PR and Communications Manager in York
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like VetPartners. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like VetPartners, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research VetPartners inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace PR and Communications Manager in York
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of VetPartners. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at VetPartners.
How to prepare for a job interview at VetPartners
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
