Paul Prentice

Experience

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  English Heritage

  Oct 2004 - Jul 2007

  Internal Communications Assistant

  I had sub-editorial responsibility for the online staff magazine, as well as the regular all-organisation email briefings. As the initial contact for the team I provided communications advice and support for people at all levels in the organisation. I had extensive experience of event management and web news editing and ran a series of monthly lectures for EH staff called ‘Lunch&Learn’, and helped with campaign launches and press calls. I also had some budgetary responsibility, including processing invoices and managing expenses. Show less

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  House of Commons

  May 2006 - Jul 2006

  Parliamentary Researcher, Office of Chris Mole MP

  I provided Chris with extensive support for casework resolution, particularly in the areas of immigration and asylum. In several cases, I brought a close to cases which had long-term question marks over them. I helped maintain the daily dialogue with the Westminster and constituency offices, transferring and receiving casework and requests to the MP. In addition, Chris asked me to research several policy areas for media briefings on the environment and long-term research projects on justice issues. Show less

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  RNID

  Aug 2007 - Jun 2008

  Internal Communications Adviser

  As intranet manager I developed a training programme for over thirty intranet editors across the organisation. I write and edit most internal news content, including editing a printed monthly magazine. I pioneered the Chief Executive’s communication in new formats. I chaired a cross-directorate committee on staff engagement and I am the main internal lead on employee engagement for Deaf Awareness Week and work with other Deaf staff to improve general communications channels, including sign language. As a champion of plain English, I encouraged better business writing and helped give managers the tools to communicate better with their staff. As part of the wider HR directorate I have developed and written policies on social networking and corporate culture, and worked with specialist groups within the organisation to promote their cause. Show less

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  Ministry of Justice

  Jul 2008 - Nov 2008

  HR Communications Officer

  I led on print and online projects, to audiences as large as 100,000 people. I looked after the majority of HR content on the Ministry’s intranet, redesigning the HR community’s own workspace. I managed print projects that ranged from wallet cards to leaflets and policies on organisational policies, and delivered a project to supply essential printed HR information to 30,000 people nationwide in HM Court Service and the Criminal Justice System.

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  Independent Police Complaints Commission

  Nov 2008 - Mar 2011

  Internal Communications Officer

  I was responsible for production of all of the IPCC's internal communications output, including editorship of the bi-monthly staff magazine and managing the organisation's intranet news content. I produced most of the copy for the Chief Executive's internal communications. I led on content for a conference for 400 people dealing with internal change and a series of strategic level planning events and smaller scale conferences. I trained a network of editors in online content management skills and had line management responsibilities for one assistant. Show less

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  City University London

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2011

  MA Political Journalism student
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  Freelance

  Apr 2011 - Apr 2015

  Freelance Journalist

  Specialising in the third sector, charities and 'the big society' my reputation has earned me freelance work at publications such as the Guardian and CityMetric, part of the New Statesman family of publications.

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  Associated Press Television News

  Apr 2011 - Apr 2011

  Runner

  As part of APTN's coverage of the Royal Wedding, I worked as a runner helping to produce output to worldwide audiences. As well as physically taking material from producers and camera crews on location to be edited and then broadcast, I was also asked to undertake my own interviews and worked with camera crews by myself. All of this had to be done in a highly pressurised, commercially focused environment.

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  The Media Society

  Sept 2011 - Jan 2013

  News editor and council member

  I edited and wrote most news content for the society's website, including past and upcoming events and other notable news stories. I also edited the work of others who submitted news content for the site. In October 2011 I was asked by the the late former President (ex ITN, BBC and Channel 4 correspondent David Walter) to join the Council.

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  Independent on Sunday

  Feb 2012 - Feb 2012

  Newsdesk Intern

  I research stories to assist the newsdesk journalists in the production of the paper.

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  Bauer Media

  Mar 2012 - Jul 2015

  After being recruited to the editorial team of Britain’s best-selling modern railway magazine as News and Features Writer, I was promoted to Assistant News Editor in September 2013. At RAIL, I specialised in major rail infrastructure projects, as well as covering developments with the High Speed 2 project (co-editing the HS2 Matters section launched in late 2013), as well as political and parliamentary stories, rolling stock and personnel changes within the industry. I maintained and continue to develop excellent contacts with the wider rail industry including within Crossrail, the Department for Transport, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London and the train operating companies. My remit was to write engaging, authoritative and analytical lead stories leading to interest from other media outlets including national newspapers. In addition, media appearances on behalf of the magazine have included contributing to BBC local radio and television outlets on a number of subjects, as an invited expert or panellist. Show less

  • Assistant News Editor, RAIL magazine

    Sept 2013 - Jul 2015

  • News and Features Writer

    Mar 2012 - Sept 2013
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  Rail Delivery Group

  Jul 2015 - Feb 2018

  Senior Media Officer
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  Rail Technology Magazine

  Sept 2015 - now

  Member of the Editorial Board and contributor
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  Southeastern Railway

  Feb 2018 - Jan 2024

  As chief spokesperson for the company, looked after the day-to-day running of Southeastern's press office, acting as the first port of call for incoming media enquiries, proactively researching and writing external media releases, managing filming requests and the communications needs for a number of projects across our part of the railway.

  • Media Relations Manager

    Feb 2019 - Jan 2024

  • Senior Press and Communications Officer

    Feb 2018 - Feb 2019
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  Canterbury City Council

  May 2023 - now

  Elected as one of three Canterbury City Councillors for Barton Ward on May 4th 2023.

  • Member of the Joint Transportation Board

    May 2024 - now

  • Member of the Scrutiny Committee

    May 2023 - now

  • Chair of the Overview Committee

    May 2023 - now

  • Councillor for Barton

    May 2023 - now

  • Member of the Planning Committee

    May 2023 - now

  • Member of the Governance Committee

    May 2023 - now

  • Member of the Councillor Local Plan Working Group

    May 2023 - now
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  Network Rail

  Jan 2024 - now

  Communications Manager

  Looking after Kent and Sussex, but working across the entire patch, which stretches from Exeter in the West, Shanklin in the south, to Margate in the East and London in the north.