What is the SYP UK Committee?

Posted on November 22, 2020 in UK

With the applications open to volunteer for the SYP I wanted to discuss what the UK Committee is and what positions are available on the team. The UK Committee is a relative baby compared to some of the regional branches – it was created in 2017. Because of that I feel the positions on this team can be a little mysterious compared to those ON regional teams. With this blog I am here to shed light on what the team does and what each role entails.

What is the SYP UK Committee?

Firstly, in a nutshell, the UK Committee is responsible for the general running and direction of the SYP as an organisation. Strategies on how to attract new members and partners, decisions on if new branches should be created and where, what budgets each branch is allocated, these decisions and more are dealt with by the UK Committee. If you want to be involved in such discussions on the organisation’s overall strategy, the roles below are those you want to be looking at.

Secondly, it is useful to know that to serve on the UK Committee you can be based anywhere within the UK and Ireland. Whether that is in London (like me), Killorglin, York, Dundee, it doesn’t matter.

Now let me reveal more about what each position on the UK Committee is responsible for, what systems they utilise, and what skills you can develop in them to help your career develop. If you have any questions about these applications read the FAQs here. If your question isn’t answered or you have specific questions about the positions mentioned below, do get in touch via sypchair@thesyp.org.uk.

A reminder also that applications close at 11.59pm on Monday 30 November.

Carl,
Outgoing SYP UK Chair (previously Website and Alumni Officer)

UK Alumni Officer

Sadly, not everyone chooses to renew their SYP membership. This is where the Alumni Officer comes in as this role centres on attracting such people back to the community. This involves developing an alumni list within Mailchimp and informing contacts on new partnerships and upcoming discounts we have on offer. On top of this, the Alumni Officer creates events and socials to demonstrate how we can continue to support them as they progress in their careers should they rejoin.

Systems utilised: Mailchimp, WordPress, Zoom (and similar platforms)
Skills developed: Organisation, promotional marketing, communication with third parties and customers/clients, networking, administration

UK Communications Officer

SYP members receive a monthly newsletter outlining current SYP activity. These newsletters include information on new discounts, upcoming events, news on current job roles available, and much more. The UK Communications Officer is tasked with creating this mailing. They also help create press releases regarding important organisation news to disseminate to partners and the wider publishing community.

Systems utilised: Mailchimp, WordPress, Canva
Skills developed: Communication, analytics, promotional marketing, administration

UK Digital Content Officer

This is a new role for 2021. What is also new will be a Resource Centre for the SYP website for members to access. This area will contain career advice for those looking to enter or progress within their careers. The UK Digital Content Officer will be responsible for leading the development of this project. That includes liaising with regional teams to create an upload schedule, as well as sourcing contributions from across the industry.

Systems utilised: WordPress, CRM
Skills developed: Writing, project management, communication with internal colleagues and external contributors, web development, administration

UK Events Officer

Similarly to the regional branches, the UK Committee also organises events. These include the organisation’s annual AGM, as well as panels and awards linked to our partnerships – the bi-annual Kim Scott Walwyn Prize, for example. When in-person events resume, the UK Events Officer will also be responsible for organising On the Road events, which are those hosted in locations not covered by our regional branches. In 2019 we visited Bangor in Wales.

Systems utilised: WordPress, Zoom (and similar platforms)
Skills developed: Organisation, project management, promotions, administration

UK Inclusivity Officer

The SYP, much like the publishing industry in general, needs to evolve and truly represent the society we live in. The UK Inclusivity Officer is part of our drive to make sure these are not just empty words, but are actioned. This role is responsible for creating processes and strategies at the SYP to ensure we are working productively towards our inclusivity aims. We want to meet the needs of every member. Every few years we run an inclusivity survey to discover how we can improve on these aims, and in 2021 this process will be undertaken. The results will shape how the SYP improves and srtives to be more inclusive in the coming years.

Systems utilised: WordPress, CRM
Skills developed: Project management, leadership, communication, analytics

UK Membership Secretary

The UK Membership Secretary is the main contact for all SYP members. This role involves welcoming new members and making sure they are provided with up-to-date information regarding the benefits membership offers. The UK Membership Secretary liaises with partners in order to update the website with new offers and promote these via the Member Welcome Pack. The UK Membership Secretary also takes the lead in discussing new ways to attract new members to the SYP.

Systems utilised: WordPress, Stripe, CRM
Skills developed: Communication with external partners and customers/clients, project management, analytics

UK Mentorship Scheme Lead

In 2020 the SYP Mentorship Scheme was expanded. Previously only those based in or around London, Oxford and Scotland were eligible for mentorship schemes via the SYP. That has changed. Schemes are now in operation across the whole of the UK and Ireland. The UK Mentorship Lead is responsible for coordinating the launch of the 2021 Scheme with the other regions and seeking mentors to take part in the UK Committee’s strand – which is open to those based outside of the catchment areas of the regional branches. This role can change the lives of those offered mentorship. Imagine being part of that…

Systems utilised: Mailchimp, CRM
Skills developed: Project management, communication with external contacts, promotions

UK Social Media Officer

The SYP UK Committee has a number of social media channels, and the UK Social Media Officer is responsible for managing these. This role is also responsible for liaising with regional Social Media Officers to ensure that our voice is consistent and we support the likes of #BookJobTransparency.  The UK Social Media Officer is the first voice to share the SYP’s new initiatives and channels, and works closely with the UK Communications Manager to create press releases and explore how best to reach new audiences.

Systems utilised: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, WordPress, Canva
Skills developed: Social media skills, analytics, communication, design, CRM

UK Treasurer

The UK Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the budget for the entire organisation. This position involves working alongside the UK Chair to allocate budgets to the regional teams, and regularly liaising with each branch to monitor income and expenditure. If new platforms, projects or branches are in the pipeline, the UK Treasurer is responsible for projecting the cost-effectiveness of such endeavours.

Systems utilised: Excel, Stripe
Skills developed: Budgeting, internal communication, project management, leadership

UK Website Officer

The SYP website is currently being developed to improve the user experience. In 2021 it will be necessary to build on this development work to ensure the website is functioning optimally. Exploring ways to develop the website and what is on offer to members is going to be important to the continual development of the SYP – especially whilst in-person events aren’t possible.

Systems utilised: WordPress, CRM
Skills developed: Web development, analytics, project management, design, communication

Above is a brief overview of the roles within the UK Committee. If you wish to apply to volunteers, you can do so here. Applications close at 11.59pm on Monday 30 November.