Rebecca Handley

Experience

• 

  Marks and Spencer

  Nov 2005 - Apr 2011

  Customer Service Assistant

  Key Achievements:• Lead peer training advisor for Menswear and Ladieswear teams for new POS training and order desk. • Coordination of out of store activities – Back to School Campaigns. • Verification of the stock-take process, across the branch.

• 

  Kingston First

  Apr 2011 - Aug 2016

  • Head of Business Development department, including corporate governance, economic development and business engagement• Development of annual business plan and budget, and subsequent KPI’s • Responsible for the introduction of enhanced town centre performance reporting • Development and implementation of a Corporate Communications Strategy• Established a property owner forum incorporating developers and land owners, with a focus on town centre asset management • Co-ordination of new Account Management programme, responsible for engagement with 750 businesses with a presence in Kingston• Introduction of new corporate governance structure• Finalist for Innovate UK Enhancing the User Experience in Retail £1M funding bid• Development and Implementation of new corporate brand and website• Key contributor to Kingstonfirst’s destination marketing strategy for Kington upon Thames, and the creation of a new brand• Responsible for award applications resulting in; Winner of Great British High Street award, Great British Market Award, Urban Food Awards - Best Market Initiative and London in Bloom (Silver Gilt) Show less • Delivery of 2 Outer London Fund projects (Information App and Mobile Information Bikes) managing design, implementation, budget and output reporting• Responsible for visitor communications programme, including digital and print publications; trade shows; PR programme and subsequent budgets. Resulting in £1m of press coverage, 342% increase in engagement via social media and 89% increase in unique visitors to the Visit Kingston website• Representative on the Local Authorities Safety Advisory Group (SAG) working with a range of statutory bodies to provide guidance in regards to public safety at events. Responsible for the submission of all health and safety documentation for town centre events • Responsible for working with BID event suppliers, to ensure that health and safety documentation is of an exemplary standard and ensuring that subsequent health and safety inspections occur at all events• Managed a team of Ambassadors and Volunteer Ambassadors, responsible for the provision of town centre information and event support• Development of Kingston volunteer strategy, focused on the BID’s involvement with volunteers and connections with businesses CSR programmes (inc. John Lewis, Unilever, McDonalds and Barclays)• Part of the renewal ballot team, with responsibility for consultation, proposal development and voter engagement – resulted in 81% yes vote in number and 79% in rateable value. Show less The overall aim was to increase footfall into Kingston by supporting a tourism strategy for the Town Centre. Key Achievements:• Visitor numbers to the Tourist Information Centre increased from 51000 to 83000 over a period of one year. Achieved by the extension of the products and services on offer• Introduction of new income generating services, including Oyster and National Express, as well as local theatre tickets and walks• Design and creation of 100,000 new visitor publications, including walking trails, visitor guides and information leaflets• Trained 80 Olympic Volunteers in preparation for the Olympic Cycle Events taking place in Kingston resulting in a very safe and successful event • The only volunteer inclusive Information Centre to be awarded Visit England Partner status Show less

  • Business Development Manager

    Sept 2014 - Aug 2016

  • Visitor Communications Manager

    Jan 2013 - Sept 2014

  • Tourist Information Centre Manager

    Apr 2011 - Dec 2012
• 

  Basingstoke Together Business Improvement District

  Aug 2016 - May 2018

  Deputy Chief Executive

  • Member of Basingstoke Area Strategic Partnership, influencing the councils current and future strategy. • Project management including the installation and delivery of Town Centre WiFi. • Negotiated the transfer of services from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to Basingstoke Together for a three-year period • Representative on the Social Inclusion Partnership dealing with street attached and homelessness issues in Basingstoke Town Centre. • Key consultee on strategic plans for Basingstoke, representing 500 businesses at both a local and head office level. • Secured Purple Flag Status for Basingstoke Town Centre. • Partner in the EU funded Urbact RetaiLink project, including the development of a strategy for revitalising the retail sector in Basingstoke. Show less

• 

  White Label Creative

  Apr 2018 - May 2018

  Freelance | Events Management
• 

  GO! Southampton

  May 2018 - Sept 2022

  • Deputy Executive Director

    Sept 2020 - Sept 2022

  • Operations Director

    May 2018 - Sept 2022
• 

  Knightsbridge Partnership

  Sept 2022 - now

  • Director of Place and Environment

    Feb 2024 - now

  • Head of Place

    Sept 2022 - Feb 2024
• 

  King's Road Partnership

  Sept 2022 - now

  • Director of Place and Environment

    Feb 2024 - now

  • Head of Place

    Sept 2022 - Feb 2024