UK Finance is the collective voice for the banking and finance industry. Representing more than 250 firms across the industry, we act to enhance competitiveness, support customers and facilitate innovation.
We work for and on behalf of our members to promote a safe, transparent and innovative banking and finance industry. We offer research, policy expertise, thought leadership and advocacy in support of our work. We provide a single voice for a diverse and competitive industry. Our operational activity enhances members’ own services in situations where collective industry action adds value
Job purpose
The Press Officer (intern) at UK Finance plays a key role in the organisation’s busy Press & Campaigns team, acting as a public voice for UK Finance and the UK’s banking and finance sector, helping to promote the industry to media, consumers, government and external stakeholders while providing a high quality service for our members’ press teams.
UK Finance’s press office is a fast paced, dynamic environment, with significant media interaction offering you the opportunity to form relationships with national, personal finance and trade media who you will speak with on a daily basis, responding to their queries.
Managing, delivering and responding to a calendar of proactive and reactive events and news stories form a core part of the UK Finance press office’s busy day. As one of a team (consisting of two Press Office Managers and one Press Officer) you will play an integral role in supporting the Head of Press & Campaigns to promote and protect the reputation of the UK’s banking and financial services industry, helping maintain our ‘forward look’ grid and ensuring we respond to the news in a timely and coordinated fashion.
You will work with people at all levels of the business to research and write press releases as well as honing your writing skills to draft responses to government and regulatory announcements and speeches for the CEO, Chair and senior directors. Keeping abreast of the news agenda is key and you will work with the press and External Affairs team to monitor stories as well as drafting our highly valued, daily News in Brief on a rota basis. You will also be responsible for recording and collating media coverage, providing coverage books to our internal policy and operations teams. This role also involves supporting the team during operational incidents and when reactive communication is required.
In addition, there is the opportunity to work alongside the Director of Communications and Head of Press & Campaigns on industry-wide campaigns, from raising consumer awareness of fraud, to promoting the industry’s work on access to cash across the UK, highlighting the support the banking sector provides to small businesses or working with policy teams to launch various reports and white papers ensuring alignment with the wider membership and the overall policy and engagement strategy.
This role would suit an outgoing, committed and enthusiastic teamplayer who is passionate about news and communications and enjoys making a difference. It’s an ideal opportunity for a bright individual with an interest in financial services who is looking to break into the world of press and PR. You will need a flair for writing and great organisational skills. A ‘can-do’ attitude and attention to detail is a must.
You will become a valued member of our Press & Campaigns team, with various on-the-job learning opportunities that will help you develop both personally and professionally. The internship is for three months, with the potential to be extended, and is paid at the London Living Wage.
The team
A core part of the Corporate Affairs function, the Press & Campaigns team reports to the Director of Communications. The team, led by the Head of Press & Campaigns, is made up of two Press Office Managers, a Press Officer and an intern (which is this role) who is part of our rolling intern programme.
The Corporate Affairs function is a cross-cutting team providing support to policy, operations, data and marketing teams across UK Finance. It is headed up by the Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, who also sits on UK Finance’s Management Committee and also comprises UK Public Affairs, International Affairs and Content, Digital & Design.
Duties and responsibilities
- Support the Head of Press & Campaigns and press team in handling reactive day to day media relations: responding to press calls and drafting reactive lines, coordinating broadcast media bids, preparing press releases and press briefings for the CEO and senior policy colleagues, identifying opportunities to place proactive coverage. There will be ownership of projects so you’ll need to be organised and capable of juggling a varied workload to tight deadlines.
- As part of a rota write the daily Brief, our daily industry news digest which is produced five days a week, 45 weeks a year by the External Affairs team. The brief takes 2-3 hours to put together every day and the aim is for this to land in inboxes no later than 10.30am.
- Work with the Press team to maintain UK Finance’s long term strategic ‘forward look’ grid and coordinate media activity accordingly.
- Monitoring news and breaking stories, developments online and social media and flagging to relevant internal teams. Compile, track, summarise and report on media coverage
- Assist with maintaining contact lists, editorial forward features lists, and event calendars
- Work with the Press Officer to ensure the production of a ‘coverage book’ (a compendium of all media coverage secured by UK Finance), which is then circulated to members and our Board on a regular basis.
- Creatively seeking proactive media opportunities to promote UK Finance and its work.
- Ensuring editorial standards are met and maintained in print and online.
- Work proactively and collaboratively with the commercial arm of UK Finance to ensure our externally produced events and conferences are well publicised and supported in national press, trade media and social media.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists across national, regional and trade outlets.
- Draft articles for trade press, UK Finance blogs (working with policy directors) and speeches.
- Undertake administrative tasks as needed.
What we’re ideally looking for:
- A passionate and enthusiastic communicator, with excellent command of written and spoken English.
- A team player with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a passion for PR and communications. An interest in financial services would be a bonus but not essential.
- Strong writing skills and attention to detail, with the ability to hit deadlines and deliver to the highest standards.
- An outgoing individual who thrives on making connections and building relationships with people, able to get on with people at all levels and from all backgrounds.
- Results orientated, strong interest with the media.
- Determined, enthusiastic and proactive.
- Excellent time management skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- 'Service’ mentality – going above and beyond for team members, colleagues and members.
- Resilient and willing to work longer hours and flexibly when required.
- You will be educated to Degree level or have equivalent experience.
What we offer you:
- A supportive, collegiate work environment within a high profile and well-respected member organisation. Regardless of what level you are, you will have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from senior experts in their field. Our culture is collaborative, and we value diversity, recognition and development.
- The internship is for three months with the potential to be extended and is paid at the London Living Wage.
- Social committee that organises regular events and fundraises for our charity of the year.