Growing up in Yorkshire, Vicky Bramham, Head of Client Services for Edelman Health, dreamed of becoming a writer. But a work placement at Lynne Franks PR (the agency that famously inspired AbFab) took her life in a different direction. Here she explains how she balances work with life as a mum of 10-year-old triplets and why she chose to join Edelman Health not once, but twice, becoming a ‘boomerang’ returner in 2021.
I was always a reader. I loved creative writing and in my teens I wanted to become a journalist. I studied English and French Literature at university and while I was there I helped out in the communications department to earn a bit of extra money. This led to a work placement a Lynne Franks PR. It was a real eye opener. I moved from North Yorkshire to Notting Hill and the office was old school crazy.
I worked on lots of accounts – including managing supermarket trolley dashes for Asda competition winners – but what I really enjoyed was working on the consumer health brands. It was great to combine my interest in science, which I’d enjoyed at school, and my writing skills. When I finished my placement I knew I wanted to work in healthcare PR and I joined a small agency and worked my way up.
I had worked at several healthcare agencies before joining Edelman’s health team for the first time in 2016. During my time, I was promoted from Director to Senior Director and loved working on the big global campaigns the team handles. But after three years I was approached about an MD job at a different agency. I was attracted to the challenge and the chance to learn new business skills. It was brilliant and I learned so much, but in the end I knew I wanted to go back to a more client facing role.
Finding the right role
I was offered a few different opportunities, but I knew I wanted to return to Edelman. I missed working on innovative, impactful health campaigns, access to the unique global network of expertise and the friendly, supportive culture in the team. I’d kept in touch with Eleanor Read, the MD of the health team, and had a chat with her about coming back. She listened to what I was looking for and fortunately she was able to shape a role for me that was a great fit for my experience and aspirations.
2021 was a strange year to come back as most of it has been remote and things don’t stand still at any agency so there were lots of new people to meet. But it’s testament to the culture that there also lots of familiar faces still on the team. It felt like coming home.
Everyone understands you have a life outside of work
As the mum of three young boys (as well as chief looker after of a dog, cat, gecko and fish!) another thing that attracted me back was the team’s genuine respect for everyone’s personal life. It can be hard balancing being a parent with a busy career, but here there’s an attitude that all that matters is that you get your work done. If you need to tweak your hours to fit around the kids or other responsibilities outside work, take a morning off for a doctor’s appointment or leave early for a carol concert that’s fine because everyone understands that people have a life outside work.
We’re a strong team and we look out for one another. Everyone has a line manager who regularly checks in with them and ensures that work is being distributed fairly. We have each other’s backs and all watch out to make sure everyone is OK.
What’s so great about Edelman’s health team?
If someone were to ask me whether to take a job on the health team here, I’d say yes. You must be willing to roll up your sleeves and work hard when you need to, but you will get to work on the best health campaigns, with fantastic people and have a lot of fun along the way. There are plenty of opportunities for career progression, so if you’re passionate about healthcare PR and enjoy a fast-paced career then this is the place for you.
If you’d like to have a chat with Vicky about working at Edelman you can email her on vicky.bramham@edelman.com.
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