Dan Tickle

Experience

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  Girlguiding

  Jul 1997 - Dec 1997

  Public Relations Officer

  As the UK's largest girls-only voluntary organisation, Girlguiding is an iconic and well-loved brand. ​I was tasked with modernising the brand, giving it renewed relevance and an influence in public policy.​Putting empowerment and citizenship at the heart of the brand offering, I worked with Body Shop on 'The Can Do Girls' project, designed to help girls and young women develop confidence and self-esteem.​I also organised the national press events to launch the new uniform which, for the first time, could include jeans. ​In Westminster, I worked to reposition Girlguiding as an organisation advocating for the wellbeing and advancement of girls and young women. Working closely with Theresa May and other high-profile parliamentary supporters, I organised a series of events and receptions to raise the profile of the organisation and advance its policy goals. Show less

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  Mencap

  Dec 1997 - Mar 1998

  Press Officer

  At a time when the future of social care in the UK was under discussion in Parliament and the media, Mencap needed a voice to ensure the UK's 1.4 million people with a leaning disability were represented. With a steady stream of media coverage, I helped keep the issue in the public eye at a critical time, ensuring decision-makers considered the needs of those with a learning disability when reviewing policy.

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  National Deaf Children's Society

  Mar 1998 - Jul 1999

  Press & PR Officer

  NDCS was rapidly growing its income from overseas challenge events, but needed help promoting these products outside their usual networks. Working alongside national advertising campaigns, I led PR activity that succeeded in helping the charity grow awareness of and income from their challenge offerings. ​I produced content including a short documentary on the charity's Cycle Cuba product, which was broadcast on BBC TV. Meanwhile, NDCS also wanted to extend its influence in Westminster. I organised a memorable parliamentary reception, with MPs forced to fingerspell their names to the satisfaction of deaf schoolchildren in order to gain entry. Show less

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  Deafness Research UK

  Aug 1999 - Mar 2001

  Communications Manager

  I delivered a series of campaigns designed to raise the profile of Deafness Research UK while making the sometimes complex work of deafness researchers accessible and attractive to consumer media. From early identification of childhood deafness to the dangers of noise-induced hearing loss, through to tinnitus and hearing aids, the campaigns hit all ages and demographics, appealing to a mass market audience through press, broadcast and digital channels.I attracted high-profile names to front the campaigns, such as Sir George Martin, who discussed how his work with the Beatles damaged his hearing. Well-known media figures were also recruited, endorsing and promoting our campaigns through their columns.The results were remarkable, with media reach increasing by over 1,500% on the previous year. In the first six months, our media coverage included:• BBC TV news• Sky News• Channel 5 News• Watchdog, BBC1• You and Yours, Radio 4• Daily Express• Daily Mirror• Daily Mail• The Times• The Sun• The Sunday Times• The Independent• Numerous national consumer titlesAlongside this, I developed plans to ensure this new high profile translated into income, launching a public information service, with dedicated staff and a newly-designed suite of leaflets covering all of the issues raised by our campaigns. The service enabled us to create lasting relationships with potential donors. Following the launch of the service, we increased the average number of names added to the fundraising database each month from under 200 to over 4,000 people.The increased media influence also helped deliver lasting benefits for deaf children too. With widespread press support for our media campaign for universal hearing screening for newborns, the UK Government announced plans to ensure all babies would in future have access to the gold standard otoacoustic emissions tests as a right. Show less

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  Blue Cross For Pets

  Apr 2001 - Jul 2007

  Head of Communications

  With an annual budget of around £2m, I managed four teams (press office, print and production, shows and events, website and publications) across two sites.With the goal of growing awareness among groups identified as most likely to donate, I began with a brand refresh followed by a new website, increased media coverage, revamped publications, a new online pet information service, award-winning viral campaigns plus a shows and events roadshow. Flagship PR event Take Your Dog to Work Day, commended by The Charity Awards, also attracted celebrity support, which further drove media coverage.At the heart of my plan was an interdepartmental, integrated campaign. With a central concept that a pet's life is only complete when it's loved, the groundbreaking campaign featured:• Sponsorship of the TV channel Animal Planet, with 5, 10 and 15 second brand films each side of popular programmes• Extensive PPC digital advertising• Press ads• Eye-catching outdoor ads, focused around supermarkets in our target areasMonitoring and evaluation, which was built into the campaign from the beginning, demonstrated a 38 per cent growth in target group awareness at six months. Show less

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  No Smoking Day

  Aug 2007 - Jan 2011

  Chief Executive

  By applying a rigorous, insight-based marketing approach to an established public health initiative, I helped deliver some of the most effective campaigns in the charity's history. Intensive research with smokers ensured effective messaging and channel selection. Media coverage also grew, topping 2,000 media stories a year and giving an Advertising Value Equivalent of £1.75m. Independent research demonstrated that this media success resulted in public health gains: in 2008, 59% of UK smokers recalled publicity for the campaign, with 1.2 million people attempting to quit as a result - the highest rate in more than 25 years.In 2010, targeting routine and manual workers, I secured articles in every 'red top' newspaper, leading to shortlisting for the Chartered Institute of Marketing's Marketing Excellence Award, the only not-for-profit to make the cut. ​Academic research conducted at University College London suggested No Smoking Day had become the most cost effective public health intervention for smoking.Additionally, I led on policy and lobbying activity in both Westminster and Brussels, forging links with legislators and civil servants.​Finally, I also diversified income streams, reducing dependence on grants from the UK Government and devolved administrations by growing trading income, licensing revenues and corporate sponsorship. Further income was secured providing marketing services for NHS bodies. As a result, the charity turned a deficit into a surplus and achieved social enterprise status within two years. Show less

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  SPANA

  Feb 2011 - Sept 2020

  Director of Communications, Content & Emergency Response

  I recruited and led one of the most effective teams in the sector, delivering exponential social media expansion and significant media coverage. Within six months, I had chartered a plane to get journalists from six UK national newspapers into the heart of a famine zone. This resulted in 23 national newspaper articles, many full or double pages, that put SPANA in the centre of the national conversation and helped unlock a UK Government grant for the affected region.• Facebook followers grew from 1,700 to 358,000 people, overtaking many of the UK's leading NGOs.• I ensured a constant flow of high-impact audio-visual content. Our films were viewed over 2.6 million times a year on Facebook alone and we were shortlisted for Best Film at the Charity Film Awards.• I recruited and managed high profile ambassadors, including Dame Judi Dench, Paul O'Grady, Dermot O'Leary and Ricky Gervais.• I oversaw the development of several new websites for the charity, implementing an SEO strategy to grow web traffic.• Working closely with supporters and other stakeholders, I led a rebrand, producing new brand guidelines and rolling them out across ten countries, while redesigning and updating the charity's publications.• I led production of SPANA's organisational strategic plan, coordinating input from trustees and senior colleagues.• I managed digital fundraising and press advertising while securing Charity of the Year partnerships and supporting new international market entries.• I coordinated the charity’s emergency projects, responding to the effects of drought, famine, conflict and natural disaster, providing urgent aid and building resilience in communities across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Show less

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  HealthProm

  Mar 2018 - Dec 2021

  Trustee

  HealthProm supports vulnerable children and their families in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Afghanistan, enabling them to overcome the barriers of poverty, social exclusion and disability.

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  Social Enterprise UK

  Oct 2020 - Mar 2021

  Consultant

  At Social Enterprise UK, which leads a movement of over 100,000 social businesses in the UK, I worked with the staff and board teams to coordinate a full review of brand identity and marketing strategy.

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  National Migraine Centre

  Mar 2021 - now

  Chief Executive