Adam Driver - PR Manager (Greene King Brewery)
BA (Hons) Journalism (2008)
Before university: King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds
After graduating I began work at Greene King Brewery, in the customer services call centre. This gave me a good foundation in communication with various people, either in the pubs, other breweries or drinkers. I did this for a year in total, and used it to fund backpacking travels to Asia and West Africa. Some amazing memories include a voodoo festival in Benin, motorbiking through Laos, relaxing on deserted Thai beaches and watching a sunset in the Sahara desert.
Back at Greene King I worked my way up from PR & Events Assistant and am now PR Manager looking after brands such as Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen. I love the pace of my job, with contact with journalists and sub editors each day, as well as exciting projects including leading a new website and supporting Greene King IPA’s status as Official Beer of English Rugby, as well as being closely involved with Harlequins, London Wasps and Sale Sharks rugby clubs among others.
I intend to work for Greene King for a few more years, gaining valuable experience before moving up the PR ladder, probably in London. Agency work is looking more likely, although I would love to keep in touch with my journalism roots and continue to work closely with journalists and sub-editors.
The best thing about my course at Staffs was the inclusion of NCTJ exams in the curriculum – subbing and shorthand have come in especially handy. Newsroom work was also vital and has been instrumental in improving my writing skills and learning to work to deadlines. It’s also worth mentioning the amount of interaction on GK News (student magazine) with both colleagues and the public gave me great journalistic experience.
Adam is pictured with actor and legendary Englishman Brian Blessed, brand ambassador for Green King’s Abbot Ale. |
