Who we are Welcome to Ascot where tradition meets innovation and excitement is the heartbeat of our business. We are a destination for over 500,000 guests each year where passion, elegance, and celebration converge, and it is our team of behind-the-scenes heroes that bring every intricate detail to life. As one of the world's leading racecourses, Ascot is renowned for its rich heritage spanning over 300 years. But we are not bound by the past; we're driven by the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. From hosting our flagship event, Royal Ascot, to pioneering sustainable practices, we are committed to building a global lifestyle brand, wrapped around the world-class horse racing we stage. At Ascot we believe in preserving the beauty of our surroundings and minimising our ecological footprint. From eco-friendly initiatives to community engagement programs, we strive to make a positive impact on both the environment and the lives of those around us. What we are looking for We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Brand & PR Manager with a strong understanding of both brand management and proactive public relations functions. This role will drive brand awareness and engagement by creating compelling narratives and ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all communication channels. You will work closely with the wider marketing team and commercial department to elevate Ascot's image, enhance relationships with key stakeholders, and create engaging campaigns that resonate with our diverse audiences. This role is based in our offices at the racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire. What you’ll be doing An energetic and confident individual with a background in brand management and PR, we're looking for a creative and pro-active individual who is on the pulse with current sport and lifestyle trends and is ready to hit the ground running. Excellent organisation, attention to detail and a can-do attitude will stand you in good stead in this fast-paced team. Reporting to the Brand & Creative Lead, you will be responsible for managing third party agencies (mainly brand and PR), overseeing an exciting brand refresh project, and developing campaigns and strategic plans that help to build our audience, both domestically and globally. You will champion innovation and think creatively to implement and evolve a high standard across all brand touchpoints. Marketing works closely with the Partnerships team to ensure we offer all brands innovation and value from the relationship. This role will require elements of commercial acumen to identify opportunities for increased exposure through newsworthy collaborations that elevate brand experiences and drive audience growth. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES – BRAND MESSAGING & CONSISTENCY Oversee the brand refresh project in 2025 with a view to rolling out in full in 2026 and beyond. This will require excellent communication and project management and will involve working with senior stakeholders across the business Maintain a strong understanding of Ascot’s brand and ensure all communications align with the brand’s tone, voice, and messaging Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to ensure cohesive brand messaging across all touchpoints, from marketing collateral to event materials – advising and approving as required Provide strategic brand insights and recommendations to drive brand evolution PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES – COMMS Educate the business on core messaging (Royal Ascot, Ascot Racedays, B2B, conference and events, fine dining, sustainability, charity, etc.) to ensure uniformity in internal and external comms Act as a conduit between the marketing department and wider business to identify relevant stories and support the development of engaging content to build our brand globally Work proactively with the Senior Broadcast Manager to ensure Ascot makes the most of broadcasters to distribute key messages and showcase Ascot’s broader lifestyle offering PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES – PR Create and implement Ascot’s year-round proactive PR strategy, working with Ascot’s agencies and internal teams – social media, racing, partnerships, and wider marketing department Work proactively to secure lifestyle coverage across traditional media, online content and broadcast to support sales and brand objectives Prepare and/or proofread copy (media releases, listings, editorial, etc.) Manage PR events – both onsite when hosting guests and for external events – working in partnership with Ascot’s PR agencies where relevant Oversee the daily schedule of lifestyle-focused broadcast interviews during Royal Ascot with the support of agencies and partner brand teams Proactively approach, host and build relationships with consumer lifestyle media to deliver valuable editorial coverage and direct relationships between the racecourse and media PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES – TALENT Lead Ascot’s relationships with key talent, influencers and authoritative digital media to place content that engages target audiences, supports commercial objectives and maintains brand positioning Oversee contractual agreements are in place and fulfilled to ensure ROI Identify new talent that supports the brand positioning and target audience engagement Own raceday hosting programmes and act as a brand ambassador when hosting guests, keeping track of invitations, RSVPs and dispatching of tickets and/or gifting where necessary PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES – OTHER Managing budgets and activity spend where necessary Collating and compiling reports to feed into wider department and business updates to demonstrate ROI Skills and experience you can bring Proven experience and able to demonstrate success in a Brand, PR, Marketing environment preferably within sports, entertainment or luxury brand Competence with Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) Passion for sports and willingness to learn about the professional racing industry is important Ability to form solid relationships with relevant media What you can expect from us A best-in-class welcome with a tailored induction and racecourse tour, as well as a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development Access to a range of wellbeing support for yourself and your family including a dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and Healthcare support app with 24/7 virtual GP access Opportunity to make an impact in our Volunteer week with a day out of the office to support local community and charity partners End of year offices closed (extra 2 days annual leave added to your entitlement) Time Off in Lieu (toil) for working weekend race days Clothing and hat hire Complimentary race day entry for friends and family Exclusive discounts in local shops and cafes Exclusive discounts from selected partner brands and suppliers And let’s not forget, invitations to our monthly social nights as well as annual parties and afternoon teas to celebrate our most special occasions throughout the year. What sets us apart from the rest We take pride in our commitments to make a positive change for now and future generations to come, whether through our Diversity and Inclusion strategy and training programmes, our award-winning ‘Racing To Zero’ sustainability actions, or our forward-thinking employee benefits including flexible working and menopause policies, as well as health and EAP support access. We are also proud of our community outreach which includes a volunteering week for all employees to spend time supporting local charities. Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision We are committed to ensuring guests from all backgrounds and communities feel welcome at the Racecourse and are working to ensure our internal teams are nurtured within a supportive and inclusive environment. Our mission is to eliminate discrimination and prejudice of any kind at our venue and throughout our business. By educating and implementing meaningful actions across all that we do, we can make certain that Ascot is a place for everyone to enjoy. As an equal opportunities employer, Ascot Racecourse is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our company. How to apply Applications will close on 25 April 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a suitable candidate be identified. For assistance with your application or should you require an alternative application format, please contact [email protected].