Careers Spotlight Series: Get To Know…James Jordan

“Get to Know” is our regular careers spotlight feature, which provides insights into different PR sectors and roles. 
 
Today we hear from James Jordan, a UK infrastructure specialist with experience in both the private and public sectors, whose current role is Community & Engagements Advisor at Yorkshire Water. He is passionate about contributing to the transformation of the water industry and all UK infrastructure, for the benefit of people and the environment. 

How and why did you begin working in comms and PR?
It was a journey of discovery! I started out in a technical role working on HS2 but I soon realised that a career in infrastructure PR/Comms gave me the chance to make more of a positive difference. I saw a real opportunity for improvements across the industry and I wanted to play a part in that. 

My life-long love of reading the news was also a catalyst. I had the joy of riding the Tube to school everyday, while religiously reading the Metro in the morning, and the Evening Standard on my way home. I was endlessly amused by the vivid stories told by journalists, and it's something which grips me to this day. I feel lucky that I've had plenty of chances to shape the stories that people read about over the past eight years, including in national news. 

While I no longer take the Tube, I do get to drive over the majestic M62 from Manchester to Bradford, and Times Radio is ALWAYS on in my car! I'm also an avid reader of the Northern Agenda (Reach Plc) newsletter. Shout out to all the journalists who work tirelessly to keep us updated every day, because I draw a lot of inspiration from them.

Tell us about your job and specialism.
My current job involves supporting the delivery of capital investment projects in the water sector. Put simply, we try to make sure all people are told about investment and infrastructure delivery at the right time and in the right way. This helps minimise disruption and makes sure people understand why we're doing what we're doing. 

As many people will know, the water industry is in a time of major change, and there's a lot of information people need to be aware of, whether it's sewer upgrades, leakage fixes or building new wastewater storage to improve the health of our environment. A total of £8.3bn is being invested in Yorkshire's water infrastructure alone over the next five years, so there's lots to be done. 

We also have vital education to do in our communities, to prevent blockages and encourage water saving behaviour. This will all contribute to an improved water network of the future. 

Describe an average day in your work life.
Honestly, it's difficult to pinpoint what an 'average' day looks like in this role, and I love that aspect. I could be out and about speaking with our site teams, capturing content with our videographer, organising a stakeholder visit or sat at my desk mulling over a communications strategy. I enjoy the variation my job gives me, and I think most people working in PR/comms like that.

Is there a piece of work you are particularly proud of?
I'm really proud of raising the profile of schemes which will deliver meaningful improvements to Yorkshire Water's performance. It's important that customers understand what changes we're making and why they're needed. Some of the infrastructure being delivered is on a big scale but not always visible to the public, so we've worked collaboratively with our in-house photographer and videographer to showcase what we're doing on our social channels. People have really appreciated these updates. 

Do you have any advice for other professionals in your field or hoping to work in your field?
My advice would be to follow what genuinely interests you. Having a passion for your sector or subject area will shine through in your storytelling and advocacy, which will ultimately advance your career and inspire others. 

I really think I've really found this spark again, since moving into the water sector, which is fast-paced and delivering much-needed change. But I'll always have an interest in all aspects of infrastructure delivery, including transport, where I started out!