We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kimberley Hutchinson, Brand Manager at Your Workspace as part of our Feature Friday series.
WOD: Tell us about your background, including what attracted to the workplace sector and why?
KH: “I have been a marketing professional for over 10 years and have worked across many industries during my career including at London City Airport and within the hospitality industry, however never the workplace sector.
Not having an experience in the marketplace, I felt it was a good opportunity to add another string to my bow and take on a new challenge to further my career. I have quickly grown to love the industry and really enjoy the diversity and excitement of the sector. Its fun yet very innovative, it’s a sector that is always pushing the boundaries and moving forwards which is inspiring.”
WOD: Could you tell us a bit more about your role as Brand Manager at Your Workspace and Simplicity entails…
KH: “As Brand Manager at Your Workspace, I am responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the department across our 4, soon to be 5, corporate brands. One of which is our award-winning smart locker brand Simplicity. The role is extremely varied, and no two days are the same. From managing all our company websites, organising and attending trade shows and exhibitions, writing scripts for speaking opportunities and writing award-submission for coveted industry award events such a Mixology. My position is fast paced and varied which is what I enjoy and thrive on.”
WOD: What have been the main challenges you’ve experienced as a marketing professional due to the pandemic?
KH: “Fortunately, Your Workspace and my role largely been unaffected in a negative way by the pandemic. In fact, we have just experienced our busiest year yet and my role is twice as busy as when I first joined the company 2 years ago. This is not only great for our company but also for the industry, businesses are still investing in their workplace and the world of e-commerce which can only be a positive and encouraging thing.
I guess however I would have to say the main challenges I faced personally during the pandemic was the lack of face-to-face colleague and industry peer interaction. I am a very social person and enjoy the buzz that comes with being in the office. The impromptu corridor conversations that can only happen in the office and the chance to bounce ideas around was something I missed greatly.”
WOD: Can you provide some examples of recent projects you have worked on? These could be campaigns, events, pieces of content you’ve produced…
KH: “I have worked on the following campaigns in the past 12 months:
Tender project: Your Workspace appointed a place on the NEUPC contract.
Events: The Workspace Design Show and WorkTech London 21 both of which I helped organise and attended.
Awards: I successfully wrote and secured Your Workspace the Project of the Year – Storage title at the Mixology South awards last year. This was a highlight of my career and a first for Your Workspace.
I helped to engineer and launch the Sample Simplicity concept in 2021, the first initiative of it’s kind in our industry.”