Creative Lead

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Lead

🔹 Company: aps Events and Media

🔹 Location: Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (Remote & On-site)

🔹 Category: Events & Media Production

🔹 Date Posted: May 22, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (2-3 days remote per week)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Creative development and delivery of impactful multi-disciplinary design work across various media platforms
• Collaboration with internal teams to create captivating designs and manage multiple projects
• Ensuring brand consistency and quality control while working within regulated, corporate parameters
• Staying up-to-date with industry trends and suggesting areas for improvement or innovation

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a creative individual with a strong background in design and experience working within brand guidelines, ideally gained in an agency environment within the events industry.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Develop and deliver impactful multi-disciplinary design work – from creative event concepts and branding to presentation design, motion graphic storyboards, large format print, and immersive digital experiences

✅ Produce creative solutions that meet the brief, deadline, and budget, ensuring brand consistency and quality control is applied throughout

✅ Manage numerous projects with the ability to adapt quickly in a reactive environment without losing creative momentum

✅ Collaborate with internal teams to understand client requirements and translate them into creative solutions

✅ Advise and guide project and other media teams regarding resources, timescales, and cost to ensure expectations are managed

✅ Ensure project and media teams are kept up to date with progress and highlight ‘bottlenecks’ or where projects may be overrunning

✅ Work with internal teams to create captivating designs for new business pitches

✅ Assist with mentoring team colleagues, helping to develop their skills

✅ Participate in brainstorming sessions to share new design perspectives and ideas

✅ Ensure relevant project management software is up to date with relevant information, actions required, changes, and so on, to enable accurate reporting

✅ Stay up to date with industry and latest design trends, suggesting areas for improvement or innovation

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively and take direction while managing multiple projects with conflicting deadlines.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: Significant experience (5-10 years) within an agency environment, ideally within the events industry

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in creating concepts, stage, exhibition design, print process, experiential, and digital – ideally in healthcare
• Proficient in design packages - Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and PowerPoint
• Excellent attention to detail and an excellent command of UK English grammar, spelling, and punctuation for quality checking
• Excellent communication skills and confident in presenting to internal stakeholders and clients
• Ability to work collaboratively and take direction
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple projects with conflicting deadlines
• Experience of using project management software, ideally Synergist

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of Cinema 4D and After Effects

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the healthcare industry and familiarity with international clients will be at an advantage.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £35,000 - £45,000 per annum (based on experience and industry standards for a Creative Lead role in the UK)

Benefits:

• Work from home for part of the week
• Great benefits package
• Opportunity to work in a beautiful parkland setting with wildlife spotting and local high street access

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and remote work options

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Creative Lead role in the UK, with consideration for the candidate's experience level and the company's size.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Events & Media Production, specializing in global events (live and virtual) and creative media, primarily within the healthcare industry

Company Size: 51-200 employees, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment with opportunities for growth and development

Founded: 1982, with a rich history and established reputation in the events industry

Company Description:

• Passionate and creative people working together to produce outstanding experiences through technology
• Full 360 service offering, from huge scale live events to virtual meetings, video production, and web design
• Never settling for ‘ok’ and always striving for excellence

Company Specialties:

• Events and Conferences
• Web and Video Conferencing
• Creative Media
• Interactive and Collaborative Solutions
• Technical Production

Company Website: http://www.thinkaps.com

ASSUMPTION: aps Events and Media is a well-established company with a strong reputation in the events industry, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment with opportunities for growth and development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level to senior, with opportunities for growth and development within the creative team and the company as a whole

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Creative Director and works closely with project teams and other media streams

Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 2-3 days of remote work per week and the remainder on-site at the company's headquarters in South Manchester

Growth Opportunities:

• Mentoring team colleagues and helping to develop their skills
• Participating in brainstorming sessions to share new design perspectives and ideas
• Staying up to date with industry trends and suggesting areas for improvement or innovation

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the creative team and the company as a whole, with a focus on mentoring and collaboration.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Beautiful parkland setting with wildlife spotting and local high street access

Office Location(s): South Manchester, Cheshire

Geographic Context:

• South Manchester is a vibrant and diverse area with a mix of urban and rural environments
• Cheadle Hulme is a suburb of South Manchester with a strong sense of community and a variety of amenities
• The company's headquarters is set in acres of beautiful parkland, offering a peaceful and inspiring work environment

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and remote work options

ASSUMPTION: The company's headquarters offers a unique and inspiring work environment, with opportunities for wildlife spotting and access to local amenities.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR team
• Creative test or portfolio review
• Final interview with the Creative Director and other key stakeholders

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creative portfolio and design skills
• Attention to detail and quality checking
• Communication and presentation skills
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Time management and organizational skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Include a portfolio of your best work, showcasing your design skills and versatility
• Be prepared to discuss your design process and creative thinking during the interview
• Research the company and be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with their values and mission

ATS Keywords: Creative Development, Attention to Detail, Presentation Skills, Design Skills, Technical Ability, Project Management, Collaboration, Brand Consistency, Quality Control, Time Management, Organizational Skills, Adobe Creative Cloud, Communication Skills, Mentoring, Brainstorming, Industry Trends

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to involve a creative test or portfolio review, as well as interviews with the HR team and other key stakeholders. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process and creative thinking, as well as their alignment with the company's values and mission.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, PowerPoint)
• Synergist (project management software)
• Cinema 4D and After Effects (advantageous but not essential)

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and have experience using project management software. Familiarity with Cinema 4D and After Effects would be an advantage but is not essential.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Passionate about what they do
• Creative and collaborative
• Strive for excellence and never settle for ‘ok’

Work Style:

• Creative and innovative
• Collaborative and supportive
• Adaptable and responsive to change

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you share the company's passion for creativity and excellence?
• Are you comfortable working collaboratively and taking direction?
• Can you adapt quickly in a reactive environment without losing creative momentum?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should assess their alignment with the company's values and work style, as well as their comfort with the required work arrangement and environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects with conflicting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Working within regulated, corporate parameters and brand guidelines
• Adapting quickly to changes and maintaining creative momentum
• Ensuring brand consistency and quality control across various media platforms

ASSUMPTION: This role may present challenges related to managing multiple projects, working within brand guidelines, and maintaining creative momentum in a fast-paced environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role differs from related positions in its focus on creative development and delivery across various media platforms, with a strong emphasis on brand consistency and quality control
• Industry-specific context: The healthcare industry has specific regulations and guidelines that may impact the creative process
• Career path comparison: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the creative team and the company as a whole, with a focus on mentoring and collaboration

ASSUMPTION: This role differs from related positions in its focus on creative development and delivery across various media platforms, with a strong emphasis on brand consistency and quality control. The healthcare industry's specific regulations and guidelines may impact the creative process, and the role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the creative team and the company as a whole.

📝 Sample Projects

• Creative event concepts and branding for global healthcare events
• Presentation design and motion graphic storyboards for virtual meetings and webinars
• Large format print and immersive digital experiences for exhibitions and trade shows

ASSUMPTION: Sample projects for this role may include creative event concepts and branding, presentation design and motion graphic storyboards, large format print, and immersive digital experiences for various media platforms.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the creative process and collaboration within the team?
• How does the company support the professional development of its creative team members?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does the company ensure brand consistency and quality control across various media platforms?
• What are the most challenging aspects of working on projects within the healthcare industry?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should ask questions that demonstrate their interest in the role, the company, and the industry, as well as their understanding of the required skills and responsibilities.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Include a portfolio of your best work, showcasing your design skills and versatility
• Prepare for a creative test or portfolio review, as well as interviews with the HR team and other key stakeholders
• Follow up with the company within one week of submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.