Emma Wrafter from the British Safety Council talks us through her day

Emma Wrafter, PR manager, joined the British Safety Council in March 2010 after working at The Children’s Society as communications and corporate account manager for four years. She previously worked for BAFTA in marketing and events covering the northern region. She manages the communications team which cover press, publications, campaigns and social media promoting the British Safety Council’s international mission to keep everyone healthy and safe at work.

6.30: Wake up to the sound of squeaking and thudding and it takes me a moment to realise that yesterday’s purchase of cat toys may, in hindsight, have been a mistake. Cats Peter and Lion are using the toys as a new provocative and very annoying call to provide them with sustenance.

7.30am: Up and out. This morning I’m off to Eton College to meet Parker Liautaud, a 16-year old student who has big ambitions to be the youngest person to ever ski to the North Magnetic Pole. The British Safety Council is appealing to our 7,500 corporate members to support his expedition through our mission to raise awareness of key environmental issues. This meeting is to work out a media strategy in a very short time scale. Parker needs £100,000 with just three weeks for us to help him!

9.00am: Checking emails on the train. We’re in the process of planning for two big campaigns this year so lots to do. One directed at young workers – Speak Up, Stay Safe. Our statistics show that every 40 minutes a young person is seriously injured in the work place. It’s a serious issue and one that is not well understood by parents or young people. But for next year we’ve already had pledges of support from huge corporate giants, like First Group. 

10.10am: Never been to Windsor but as I step off the train at my destination into a fantastic shopping mecca in the shadow of the historic castle, I resolve to come back for a more cultural experience. One quick taxi ride to the hallowed and slightly Harry Potteresque Eton College and I’m meeting Parker for the first time.

11.00am: Parker is impressive. He has a strong mission and really wants young people to engage with environmental issues. We go through engagement channels for his campaign. Last year he took an expedition to the North Pole; he was sponsored by GE and provided them with millions of pounds worth of PR. It would be great to get one strong corporate supporter but time is limited...

12.00pm: A laborious and very, very cold train and tube journey back to the British Safety Council HQ in Hammersmith. Brrr.

1.45pm: Back just in time for my meeting with Louis Kennedy who is one of the biggest providers of CRM materials in the charity sector – think Children in Need, Comic Relief and the PG Tips monkey. I’ve known Richard Wood for years after I looked after the Basil Brush plush toys at The Children’s Society. It’s always a pleasure to meet with them and their new innovations. This time he brings colleague, Suki from Every Click to discuss a brand new fundraising tool, Give as you Live. We’re very interested.

3.30pm: Call from Sky New Radio about Christmas Crackers. Apparently the UK in its wisdom has decided to ignore EU recommendations meaning that it is now an offence to sell aforementioned crackers to under 16s. Would love to comment but it’s not our area of expertise so I give them the contact for the press team at RoSPA.

4.00pm: Check our Twitter account @britsafe. This has been a great way for us to communicate to our members and professionals working in the health, safety and environment industry. We report on the stupid elf ‘n’ safety stories that plague us and the HSE all year. However Christmas seems to bring out a few scrooges as we see numerous stories about Christmas lights banned due to H&S. Apparently this year George Osborne isn’t allowed a Christmas tree because of H&S. Bah humbug!

4.30pm: Internal announcement of a new executive director post for Neal Stone, who is promoted to new role – director of policy and research. This coincides with one of our objectives next year, which is too set up a think tank to further influence and inform health and safety legislation, policy and debate. Quick brainstorm on how best to disseminate the information and start writing up a press release. Lord Young’s resignation and the consequences also inform this session.

5.00pm: Feedback from the team on some case studies that they’re putting together for me.

5.30pm: Call from a well-known production company who are working on a project for a mainstream TV channel. It wants us to provide consultants with personality for the project. Quick scan of our contacts and I speak to one of our favourite health and safety people who seems up for the challenge!

6.30pm: Quick dash home to feed the cats and tortoise and then off to meet friends and relax over a nice steak and a good glass of red. Who said health and safety was boring!