With 11 years’ experience in marketing and 20 years in the hospitality & beer industry as a whole, I also have a degree in Law (LLB Hons) and lots of experience in branding, marketing, social media, events, new product launches, operations + HR.
I’m a full member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing and a member of The British Guild of Beer Writers. I’m also a qualified beer judge and have judged at the World Beer Awards as well as CAMRA beer festivals. I’ve created, organised, and marketed several beer festivals and food and drink markets, and have completed all but the final exam to become a Beer Sommelier.
In my spare time, I’m constantly learning and improving my skills, and also organise blind beer tasting sessions and bottle shares. I set up Craft Beer Newcastle back in 2016, to let people know about the fantastic range of breweries, bars, and bottle shops in the North East of England. This extended during lockdown to a #BuyLocal campaign to help support all of the regions’ food and drink businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
My business is insured with Dinghy, to give you extra peace of mind when hiring me as a freelancer.
Qualifications + Completed Courses
• MCIM – Member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Award in Marketing (Distinction) – CIM
• Email Marketing & MailChimp – NESMA
• How To Judge Beer – Beer & Cider Academy
• Advanced Couse – Beer & Cider Academy
• Foundation Course – Beer & Cider Academy
• National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders – NCPLH
• LLB (Hons) – Northumbria University
Experience
• 20 years working in the pub + brewery sector
• 11 years working in marketing on a variety of projects (including digital marketing, branding, social media, events + beer festivals)
• 4 years running my own website and blog, Craft Beer Newcastle
• 3 years of freelance HR consultancy
• Voluntary work for Food & Drink North East (FADNE) looking after Local Heroes NE social media (March – July 2020).
• Beer writing for local publications and festival guides
• Guest contributions to beer blogs and publications across the UK
• Tryanuary national social media coordinator (2019) +local champion (2018)
