DIARY STAFF
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Iain Mason Director of Membership and Communications
Hello Iain, how long have you been at SELECT? I’ve been at Te Walled Garden since July 2019, but had worked with the association in another capacity for around two years before that.
What were you doing before you joined SELECT? Tell us a bit about your background Before SELECT I was an account manager at Connect, a creative agency in Paisley. SELECT was my main client, so I edited CABLEtalk and helped create a range of animations, brochures and other collateral, which meant I had a good grounding in the association’s work. Before that, I was a journalist for 22 years, working for Te Sun in London and Te News of the World in Glasgow.
What does your job entail? Tell us more about what you do I work with Membership Manager Sandra Bennett to ensure the Membership team continues to fully serve Members’ interests. I also oversee our many campaigns, delivering the latest updates to Members and raising our profile with the public and wider industry. We now have many digital and print channels at our disposal, so it’s essential we use them effectively to highlight the great work that SELECT does. I also oversee the Branch Updates, Toolbox Talks and the SELECT Awards.
What’s a typical day like for you at work? Tere’s the usual mountain of emails, speaking with the Membership team and, at the moment, checking the news for COVID-19 updates and adapting our own communications accordingly. Other tasks include gathering and writing content for CABLEtalk and other publications, liaising
with our PR partners and coordinating campaigns for the months ahead. I’ve also been closely involved with the CICV Forum for the past five months, so I’ll spend time writing, reviewing and issuing communications for them too.
Do you get the chance to meet SELECT Members? Before lockdown, yes. It was good to attend Branch Updates, meet Members and listen to their views. Hopefully when lockdown is eased I can continue with that. Te SELECT Awards was another great way to meet Members – and it was certainly different being there as an organiser, rather than a guest!
What do you know now that you didn’t before working at SELECT? Having worked closely with SELECT for two years, I thought I knew what it did. However, when I started it became clear that the association has a much wider reach than I imagined. SELECT is involved in so much behind the scenes, it’s vital we
communicate just how hard it works on Members’ behalf to improve the industry and help their business.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job? Before lockdown, meeting Members. In the past few months, it’s been hearing how SELECT has given them the help and support they need. Trade associations come into their own at times like these, and it’s been good to hear that Members think we’ve listened and responded properly.
What impact have the lockdown and working remotely had? I’ve missed the office and my colleagues. But thanks to modern technology, I think it’s been business as usual. Tere’s been a lot of uncertainty and change, but everyone has responded professionally, which I think has been reflected in the service we’ve been able to provide. ‘Above and beyond’ has been our mantra from the start and will continue to be in the months to come.
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:
Cheese or chocolate? Chocolate Dog or cat person? Dogs, definitely First car owned? Mini Metro. It lasted about four months. Favourite film? It’s A Wonderful Life Favourite TV show?Black Mirror Favourite holiday spot? Greek islands Dream date? Salma Hayek Favourite colour? Navy blue One thing people might not know about you? I once worked as an oyster shucker in Key West.
Please note: All 2020 SELECT events are currently cancelled and will be held online where possible. Please contact
memberservices@select.org.uk or call 0131 445 5577 for further information.
46 CABLEtalk AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
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