Tracy Wilson

Role

As Head of Corporate Marketing, Tracy is a member of the University's External Relations and Communication Services Directorate (ERCS) senior management team.  

In line with our aim to become recognised as the enterprise university, open to individuals, business and the community, delivering economic, social and cultural benefits for the city and the region, Tracy's primary objective is to deliver effective corporate marketing and communications activity that contributes to an enterprise culture and infrastructure, mutually beneficial relationships, institutional reputation, income generation, student experience and graduate employability.

Tracy achieves in this multi faceted role by working with externally-facing colleagues and teams across the University, and partners across the city and region with a focus upon:

• Improving access to information about the University
• Communicating, internally & externally, the positive impact/contribution of our collaborative activity,  supporting strategic corporate messaging for enterprise, employability and sustainability
• Supporting the development of long term mutually beneficial partnerships, recognising the lifetime value of relationships
• Facilitating greater co-ordination of University activities to enhance delivery of and reputation for successful partnerships, locally, regionally & nationally
• Aligning with relevant funding streams and faculty/directorate plans, particularly through business partnering

Key areas of activity include:

Coordinating the planning and delivery of the University's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2012, chairing the ops group - see www.plymouth.ac.uk/150

Regular programme of city engagement ensuring the University’s pivotal involvement in well coordinated and publicised city and region-wide initiatives, fully leveraging commitments – for example, Plymouth Enterprise Week (Global Entrepreneurship Week), Active Partnerships with Plymouth Albion and the Life Centre, Business Awards sponsorship etc

Strategic oversight of corporate events to ensure delivery standards underpin our enterprise mission and excellence in external relations - leading and supporting key corporate events such as the VC Enterprise Awards

Managing the Web team and working closely with the Press and PR team managing and delivering effective internal and external communications 

Oversight of community engagement activities including Community Open House linked with Plymouth Lord Mayor's Day and, in 2012, the Olympic Torch Relay and Open Space working with UPSU

Through business partnering, providing marketing and communications expertise in support of faculty and other directorate colleagues

Chairing Collaborative Marcomms, facilitating co-ordination of externally-facing University teams to enhance delivery of and reputation for events and successful collaboration, and attending other cross-University meetings such as OVC Sustainability Exec and Advisory Group, including those with external partners such as the Marine Building Executive Group 

Aligning with priorities under relevant funding streams and faculty/directorate plans, such as HEIF 

Managing the Administration team within the External Relations and Communication Services Directorate, acting as Enterprise Enabler and until recently H&S Coordinator

 

Qualifications & background

BA Hons Business Studies

Chartered Institute of Marketing Chartered Marketer & Diploma holder

4 years in Newspaper Sales & Promotions role with Westcountry Publications Ltd (now South West Media group)

10 years as Marketing Manager for Bond Pearce Solicitors based in Plymouth but with responsibility for marketing activity from their other offices in Exeter, Bristol and Southampton

Head of Marketing & Regional Support for University of Plymouth Enterprise (now Research and Innovation) from October 2001 until May 2004, then moving to the Marketing & Communications department as Head of Commercial Marketing - now External Relations and Communication Services.

Supporting family farm holiday business in Cornwall - was a winner in the university's Business Ideas Challenge  for www.farmerjames.co.uk

 

Professional membership

Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma holder and achieved Chartered Marketer status through CIMs Continuing Professional Development programme.

 

Roles on external bodies
Tracy is a founder member of the Plymouth Enterprise Week Co-ordination Group and has been involved in various initiatives with city partners during the recent economic challenges, sitting on the Destination Plymouth Strategic Events Group which complements delivery of the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2012.

Tracy represented the University of Plymouth on the Universities-SW Marketing Special Interest Group and their business campaign advisory group until 2009, during which time she led our involvement in the INSPIRE funded VideoSW project - involving the university in 4 out of 15 films promoting cutting edge research through global broadcast media.  She sat on the Devon & Cornwall Business Challenge sponsors committee from 1996 until 2005, initially representing Bond Pearce and then later the university - a competition seeking to identify, reward and promote winning businesses in the region. This experience fed directly into the VC Enterprise Awards launched in 2009.