Media and Communications Adviser

About the CBI

Founded 60 years ago and representing some of the biggest names in business, household brands and globally traded corporations that employ people in all sectors and across every region and nation of the UK, the CBI is the voice of business. The CBI represents 850 members who themselves comprise 1,100 separate registered companies and 150,000 trade association members. Find out more about some of the businesses in membership here.

The CBI is committed to ensuring a safe, supportive and inclusive people centric culture where our people can excel to achieve their full potential and be their best authentic selves in an environment where ethical values and respectful behaviours are at the very heart of who we are in our everyday interactions.

Role Summary

Based at our head office in London, the Communications Adviser will report to the Head of News, as part of a close-knit press team. This role is a 6-month fixed-term contract to cover a career break for the permanent post-holder. This role is ideal for a junior journalist looking to move into communications, a PR professional wanting to take the next step in their career, or someone who has a post grad qualification in journalism or PR coupled with a keen interest in business and politics - who will be able to provide support to deliver the full spectrum of the CBI’s media activity, across all platforms.

This role is a pay band 5 and receives an on-call allowance.

What you’ll get from this role:

The CBI is committed to ensuring that all colleagues, no matter their length of contract, have access to the significant development opportunities. While working this contract you will:

• Write press releases for issue to national media on ‘front page’ news issues.
• Draft op-eds for major media outlets
• Apply your creativity to our 140k+ follower LinkedIn and X channels
• Deal with enquiries from national print and broadcast journalists
• Help prepare spokespeople for TV and radio appearances and accompany them to studios.

You will liaise closely with policy experts in different teams across the CBI including Economics, Net Zero, Future of Work, UK Competitiveness and Tech & Innovation. You will be 'in the room’ for decision making as the UK’s preeminent business body determines how to best represent its members when responding to breaking news and important government announcements CBI employees on a fixed-term contract are entitled to the same CBI Benefits as permanent staff. You can see some of these listed here, but additional benefits include expensed flu jabs, core and specialised Learning & Development opportunities, private medical insurance, and expensed eye tests, amongst lots more!

Key Responsibilities

• Writing press releases, articles, statements, social media posts and CBI materials for publication in the media, on the CBI website and across social channels
• Handling day to day media enquiries, including arranging TV, radio and print interviews, and briefing journalists on and off the record on CBI policies and related issues
• Supporting the remainder of the media team in execution of key communication outputs
• Providing media support to colleagues across policy and economics teams
• Help organising press conferences, photo calls, media roundtables, including with CBI member companies, plus arranging ad hoc media events
• Arranging a wide range of media interviews for CBI and member spokespeople, preparing relevant briefing materials, Q&As and ensuring spokespeople are fully briefed
• Working to create opportunities in the national, international, online and regional media, for placed articles and features, including for broadcasters
• Attending and providing media support for flagship events during the year including the CBI Annual Conference and Annual Dinner
• Developing and maintaining relationships with media, as well as key internal and external stakeholders, including the CEO, Chair, Directors, Nations & Regional Directors, as well as CBI members, sponsors and government departments
• Supporting the press team in developing content for existing channels including Twitter/X and LinkedIn, to ensure CBI messages reach a wide audience of key stakeholders
• Supporting the wider media team with occasional administrative tasks Be part of an out of hours press office rota.

Knowledge & Experience

What an individual must know or understand to be able to fulfil the role’s requirements

• Proven experience or training in media relations, journalism, social media or public affairs
• Knowledge of national, regional, trade and digital/social media
• Knowledge and interest in current affairs/business, economic and political environment, and demonstrable experience in applying this to your work.

Skills

Below are the CBI skills and levels of skills expected for this role based on the pay band it sits within. View the CBI Skills Framework for further information, including descriptions and indicators of each skill.

• Good organisational and team working skills
• Excellent creative writing skills
• Good all-round communicator
• Sound judgement, strong news sense and political nous
• Ability to create media opportunities – national, regional, online and digital – which help the organisation secure strong coverage
• Ability to work under pressure/meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work as a self-starter in a close-knit team
• Ability to be flexible/ think laterally in problem solving
• Willingness to work out of hours when called upon on a rota system

​​​Diversity & Inclusion  

At the CBI, we are committed to attracting diverse talent that represents the society we live in.  

We encourage applications from all, regardless of age, sexuality, socio-economic background, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, or beliefs. We are committed to building a culture of belonging and inclusion and this is reflected in our policies, practices, and internal employee-led networks and supported by our executive leadership team.  

We are a family friendly organisation, and we encourage flexible working as we want our employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Currently our employees are hybrid working, but we encourage colleagues to collaborate and innovate, by working together in regional and national offices. 

Our employee-led networks are: REE Network, LGBT, HAND, Women’s and Working Families and we have qualified Mental Health First Aiders who support our employees in having good mental health.