Gina Barnes
Public Relations Executive, Corporate Communications,
BMW (UK) Ltd
Job description
To create, design and manage BMW and MINI media launch activities to provide journalists with the best possible driving opportunities in the right environment and right location to help generate positive opinions and high consumer awareness for BMW products and services.
To manage the BMW Education Programme to ensure that BMW offers one of the leading education programmes in the UK.
What is your career history with BMW?
I joined BMW in 1997 working for BMW Financial Services as part of the Remarketing Team where I was part of the team organising used car auctions. From 2000-2002 I worked as Press Fleet Co-ordinator within the Corporate Communications Department at BMW UK. In this role I was responsible for arranging for journalists to test drive BMW cars in order to help generate positive reviews in motoring magazines, and on TV programmes and websites. I had always been interested in organising and running events and when the opportunity arose to work in the Public Relations Team I jumped at the chance! I have been a Public Relations Executive for 5 years and love my job.
What qualifications and training do you have?
I have GCSEs, A Levels in English Literature and Theatre Studies and an HND in Multi-Media. Key skills for the job are organisation, excellent attention to detail, ability to be flexible and cope with last minutes changes. A sense of humour is also really important!
What are the main responsibilities in your job?
Project managing the planning, organisation and running of UK media launches for BMW and MINI. This involves travelling around the world, finding venues, booking race circuits, liaising with journalists, managing budgets and lots of hard work to make sure people and cars are in the right place at the right time. I also have responsibility for the BMW Education Programme, managing the enquiry service and developing new and exciting resources for young people.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
When events go well and we receive lots of positive media coverage. My proudest achievement was co-ordinating the press day at the British Motor Show in July 2006. It was a huge project and very hard work but great fun and extremely rewarding.
We have also been very successful with the award winning BMW Education Programme. I really enjoy this part of my job as our work makes a valuable contribution to education, particularly in the areas of road safety and the environment. It's incredibly rewarding to receive positive feedback from pupils and teachers.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in the automotive industry?
Read the papers and magazines and get to know the industry. If you love cars and bikes definitely try to arrange work experience at a local dealership. I never really thought I wanted to work in the automotive industry but now I do, I love it and I wouldn't change it!