The role of Chief Executive is taken by Vicky Martin, formerly Director of Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust in South Yorkshire - a 600-acre Grade 1 landscape with 26 listed buildings and monuments, gardens with 3 national plant collections, residential and farm tenants. In her time at Wentworth, Vicky guided the estate to the finals of the National Lottery Awards, in the Best Heritage Project category and led the development of a £3.7M project.
Vicky has also been involved in the launching of significant tourist experiences in the UK including the Steam Railway at Exbury Gardens, Southampton, in 2001, the Tree Top Adventure Walk and lakeside amphitheatre at CONKERS, South Derbyshire, in 2004; Wollaton Hall, Nottingham in 2007; and the Rotunda at Wentworth, South Yorkshire in 2010.
As well as her work within the tourism industry in the UK, Vicky is also the England representative on the EUTO (European Union of Tourist Officers) board, a role in which she developed a week long study programme entitled ‘Attractions and Events as Catalysts for Regeneration and Social Change’ – very apt to her future post at Heartlands. This year she is taking a delegation of UK tourism professionals to the Marche Region in Italy to learn about entrepreneurship and social tourism.
Speaking of her appointment, Vicky Martin said: “Heartlands is an ambitious but inspirational project and I am honoured to have been chosen to launch the site to the community and beyond. It is a truly visionary social enterprise, and with an innovative mix of cultural and commercial uses – it will be a unique and extraordinary place to visit, live and work.”
The role of Marketing Manager for the Trust has also now been filled by Kate Turnbull, who joins Heartlands from the British Academy in London, where she managed the media and marketing activity. Kate’s background includes roles in the Press Team at Which? Magazine, as well as overseeing the press and marketing activity for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (including Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park) and Historic Scotland (caring for 345 historic attractions across Scotland including Edinburgh Castle and Skara Brae).
Kate Turnbull, Marketing Manager for the Heartlands Trust said: “The first time I saw Heartlands appearing in front of me above the village of Pool, I was in awe. It’s not long now until we launch, and there is a lot to do, but I have been made to feel so very welcome by the Cornish community, I can’t wait to ensure Heartlands achieves everything they want and need it to.”
The Heartlands development, which is being funded through a £22.3m grant from the Big Lottery Fund and funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, will create 20 new jobs in total, which will be recruited by the Trust throughout summer 2011 ahead of the development opening towards the end of the year.
Malcolm Moyle, Chair of the Heartlands Trust said: “With the completion and opening of Heartlands now in sight, it is great to have two outstanding people in post to manage the development going forward.
“The Chief Executive and Marketing Manager will be responsible for delivering our vision for Heartlands and will be key to its long-term success.”
This latest step in the Cornwall Council led development, has been welcomed by Cllr Carolyn Rule, Chair of the Executive Board, she said: “Heartlands will deliver so many benefits to the local and wider community; the creation of quality jobs is just one aspect.
“To now be in the position of having recruited both the Chief Executive and Marketing Manager is a huge milestone in the life of the project. We are looking forward to recruiting the additional roles over the next few months and building the best possible team here at Heartlands.”
Ends
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