I am the Web and Marketing Assistant for the Royal Collection and I work as part of the Public Relations and Marketing team based at St James's Palace.

How did you get your job with the Royal Household?
I started working for the Royal Household as a seasonal warden at the Buckingham Palace Summer Opening during my university holidays. I then applied for an internal vacancy as maternity cover in the Buckingham Palace Visitor Office. When this contract ended, I applied for the new permanent role of Web and Marketing Assistant in the Public Relations and Marketing section.

What did you do before joining the Royal Household?
I worked as an office administrator for a pharmaceutical company for 18 months, before going to University to study English.

What experience and qualifications do you need to work within PR and Marketing? How would you advise someone looking for a job in this area?
Obtaining work experience within the industry is invaluable, either as a vacation job or an internship.  Experience of writing for different audiences and of design and production is also useful. To carry out a web-editing role, knowledge of web design and content management systems is also necessary.

Describe a typical day.
I divide my time. I spend part of the day working on the Royal Collection web site, both maintaining and developing content and pursuing our web-based marketing strategy. I also provide support for the marketing team with development work, print and advertising, market research, attending trade fairs and liaising with the travel trade. My daily schedule can therefore be tremendously varied and a flexible, hands-on attitude is required.

What is the best thing about your job?
The work undertaken by the team, whether supporting the programme of Royal Collection exhibitions or encouraging visits to the palaces and residences, is extremely varied. The web-site side of my role is very rewarding as changes can be made instantly and customer feedback can be easily monitored, so it's a great way to try out new approaches to marketing. Meeting our visitors and discussing their needs is also hugely rewarding, both at our sites and at the trade and group fairs that we attend throughout the year.

What training and support are available to you?
Development goals are set each year with my manager to ensure I am progressing within my role, and the Royal Household provides regular training courses covering a wide range of skills. I have also received specific training to develop my website skills and have attended conferences to keep up-to-date with new technology and e-marketing trends. 

What opportunities do you get that you would not get elsewhere?
I feel that I am working for an art collection that is truly unique, and which visitors can enjoy in both the historic settings of the palaces or in a gallery environment. Seeing the reactions of visitors to the Royal Collection and the palaces is a constant reminder of the unique nature of my job.