As Communications Manager for the Roux Scholarship chefs’ competition, a typical year sees me putting out the press releases for the different stages of the competition, doing the social media and organising the Awards ceremony (for 250 guests) at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, as well as the many stakeholder communications.
The revamp of the website was already scheduled for 2020, but without the usual routine of responsibilities due to the coronavirus pandemic and very little writing work, it has been great to dedicate my time (and put my editor’s hat on again) to the project of re-editing, re-writing and re-structuring the new site, which went live on 21st October 2020.
With design agency Blue Frontier creating the design and many of the templated pages, I was responsible for the following:
- Devised the new sitemap.
- Briefed the agency on feel and design of new site; asking for amendments on initial design elements until happy with result.
- Writing/editing all the winners’ pages to make sure they were consistent with each other, giving more space to these brilliant chefs’ early careers to show potential applicants how the Roux Scholarship can have a huge impact on their career.
- Adding Q&A interviews to most profiles, the winners’ experiences/testimonies being so valuable in inspiring chefs to make their applications.
- Writing/editing judges’ profiles to show how their early careers led to their current success.
- Adding Q&A (some interviews done by phone) to their profiles, with advice for applicants.
- Writing new pages; including competition overview, history, advice, life as a scholar, educational trips.
- Learned and used WPBakery page building programme to build non-templated pages.
- Sub-edited and uploaded all content, chose all pictures, all pull quotes.
- Communications with more than 60 stakeholders, including sponsors, judges, winners, for new content on their respective pages.
- Managed launch through social media/press.
Testimonial from Alain Roux:
“Having worked with Carolyn whilst she was Editor of France magazine, we delighted to appoint her, in 2018, as PR and Communications Manager of the Roux Scholarship. Collaborative and friendly, Carolyn works hard to further the best interests of both brand and client. We highly commend her qualities as a skillful communicator, effective manager and creative thinker who has worked consistently to strengthen bonds and generate new ideas and connections. Carolyn has excelled at modernising the operations of the Scholarship, in particular developing our social media platform and spearheading the creation of a fantastic, modern new website. We have received very positive feedback for its striking new content and dynamic features. It has helped us bring the Roux Scholarship to life. Carolyn inspires respect and admiration amongst all our peers and stakeholders including scholars, judges, sponsors and friends.”
