We launched a new feature last year so that you can get to know our team a little better! Over the coming months we’ll be asking members of staff from across VisitScotland to tell us a bit about themselves and their roles, as well as some of their favourite places to visit in our beautiful country. In the next of the series hear from Sarah Henderson, our Corporate Communications Graduate.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Before coming to work at VisitScotland I was commuting to the Scottish Borders where I worked for a charitable sports and leisure trust as a marketing and communications officer. My portfolio included looking after all the libraries, art galleries and museums owned by the organisation and I got to help on some bigger projects including the reopening of the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum and the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
I studied English Literature at university and I’m still always juggling a few books at any given time, preferably in a cosy café with a good coffee. It’ll be one of the first things I do when restrictions lift again!
What is your role at VisitScotland and what are your main responsibilities?
Being part of the VisitScotland graduate scheme means I work across the Corporate Communications department including industry, internal and press. It’s been a great way of working with lots of people in the organisation and gaining more experience of the tourism industry and comms specifically. It’s been fun to get involved in quite a range of projects and campaigns from Year of Coasts and Waters activity to researching the best vegan cafés for consumer pieces. I like the variety and getting to work with such a friendly and supportive team.
It’s not been business as usual at VisitScotland this year. How has your role changed during these unprecedented times?
The comms team became busier than ever once we started working from home and my workload on VisitScotland.org in particular has increased, with constantly updating and developing content to communicate with businesses across the industry.
More recently it’s become a priority to get key funding to those businesses. At VisitScotland we're responsible for administering nine Scottish Government funds and are moving our focus from marketing to marketing and support for the next three months. I’ve been helping on multiple funding strands to get them up and running on our website.
At the moment we’re unable to travel within Scotland. When restrictions are lifted, do you have a favourite place that you can’t wait to visit again or is there anywhere new that you’re desperate to see?
We used to go to North Berwick fairly regularly as a quick trip at the weekend from Edinburgh, so I can’t wait to get back there again. It feels like it’s so close yet so far at the moment, but I’m looking forward to some long fresh beach walks with an ice cream in hand.
