The Insider’s View
Whatever we create at Future, whether it’s our events, our websites or, of course, our magazines, it’s aimed at people with a passion. Our focus is on sharing and encouraging that passion, with high-quality, carefully targeted content. From the very start, we’ve been innovative and imaginative, integrating new media into magazine publishing to provide a total experience for clearly defined groups of people. In particular, we target those people whose passions lie in technology, games, music and entertainment, sports and hobbies, motoring and lifestyle.
If you’re looking for a job with Future, you might be wondering what we’re like to work for. According to our employees, we’re dynamic, fun, creative, challenging, friendly, exciting and innovative, and we got that way by listening to them about their needs. For example, we have an increasing number of staff working part-time or with flexible arrangements to help fit in with their family commitments, which is just one of the ways in which we’re continuing to be the kind of company people want to work for.
For a greater insight into how getting a job with Future could be the start of a successful and varied career with us, why not read what some of our employees from across the business have to say about working at Future…
• Dan Lewis – Editor, Redline
• Helen Forsyth – Senior Ad Manager, Performance Auto
• Ian Miller – Group Art Director
• Jamie Hibbard – Editor, Metal Hammer
• Josse Vander-Bilson – Manager, Editorial Production Studio
• Karon Trainor – Health and Safety Services Manager
• Katherine Bebbington – International Licensing Manager
Dan Lewis – Editor, Redline
Dan was drawn to Future because Bath’s a great place to live – but because he reckons his job is also his hobby, we’re not sure how often he gets out of his car…
“I joined Future in May 2000 having previously been Editor of Fast Car magazine – it was owned by another publisher back then, although now it’s owned by Future. I’d always thought Bath was a great place to live and the company benefits on offer were better than those available at my previous employer. Now I’m here, I can also say that the general working atmosphere is certainly better, too.
“As Editor of Redline I’m responsible for the editorial content and direction of the magazine. I manage the team and ensure that we produce the magazine within budget and deadline. I also have an input into promotions, marketing and show activities.
“A typical day is spent commissioning work, briefing designers, coaching/chasing writers, liaising with our advertising sales team or other external contacts, doing something or other with a project car and talking to feature car owners. All these tasks will usually involve taking and/or making a million and one phone calls and emails.
“I feel I’ve been well supported at Future and I’m enjoying my career here. If I took up all the training opportunities that are available to me I’d spend more time on courses than I would actually doing the job!
“The thing I love the best about my job is that I spend all day working on a subject that I’m passionate about. My job is also my hobby, so I’m now getting paid to do something I used to pay to do!”
Dan would describe the culture at Future as: Relaxed, ambitious, challenging.
Dan’s best day at Future was: When Redline had its first 100,000 selling issue – but that’s closely matched by a couple of the Future parties!
And his favourite Future magazine: Call me cheesy, but it has to be Redline!
To return to top of page click here
Helen Forsyth – Senior Ad Manager, Performance Auto
Helen started with us in 1998 as a sales executive on PC magazines. Since then she’s worked on games, music and car titles. Next year, who knows?
“I joined Future just over seven years ago after working for a small but ambitious publishing house in Devon. I began my media career with Sightings, a magazine for UFO enthusiasts, and made my way over to the PlayStation titles, which was much more fun. Once I had made a name for myself, the Ad Director at Future took me on. I was attracted by the size and market credibility of Future; I felt it could give me a quality of training and opportunity I couldn’t get elsewhere.
“I began as Senior Sales Exec on PC magazines, then crossed to Games and was promoted to Deputy Ad Manager. Next was a sideways move to Cold Business Manager back on PC titles, followed by a return to a completely sales-based role as Account Manager on the Music portfolio. Promotion to Ad Manager brought a move to Redline, and from there I moved to my present post, which basically entails selling ads and keeping a large sales team motivated, focused and earning.
“The challenge and the people I work with are the best things about the job. I also work with senior management on reviewing, improving or adding to the business plan and working out how to beat the competition – and then doing it.
“I’ve always pushed for my own career progress, but Future has provided training to help me on everything from basic sales to strategic thinking and people management, along with plenty of feedback, so I can continually get better and better at what I do.”
Helen would describe the culture at Future as: Real, fun, hard-working.
Her best day at Future was: Eighteen months before it happened, I told anyone in senior management who’d listen that, as the Ad Manager of Redline, my team and I would put ad revenues up by 43% for the following year. Nobody really believed it could be done, but I was given the freedom to try by management and the support from my team to go for it. Eighteen months later with the money in the bank, taking my team to the pub at 11am on the day we got the last booking in was the sweetest moment! And just to make it extra special, the MD hand-delivered us all lots of bottles of champers to celebrate!
And her favourite Future magazine: The magazines I work on now, Redline and Fast Car – but I’ve always had a soft spot for Total Guitar.
To return to top of page click here
Ian Miller – Group Art Director
Although he’s had two sabbaticals during his time at Future, Ian has also managed to work on a lot of magazines across the business. Most of all, though, he loves training other ‘crayons’ to create great-looking magazines.
“I’ve been with Future for 12 years, starting as Launch Art Editor on Total Guitar. When I joined, I’d been Art Editor on a couple of music industry B2B titles. I’d admired Future’s music magazines and this was my chance to work on a consumer newsstand title, on a music launch, in Bath.
“After working on 24 issues of Total Guitar, which is still a market leader more than a decade on, I became Senior Art Editor across all our music titles. In 1999 I was really lucky to get the chance of a six-month secondment at Future Germany, helping them to start up the business and working on the launch and redesign of several titles. I then took my first sabbatical before coming back to manage the Graduate Art Training Scheme in 2000 and being appointed Group Art Editor of Games.
“Following that I took on the varied and challenging role of overseeing the company’s migration from QuarkXPress to InDesign, a role which took me off magazines for a year, but involved lots of on-the-ground training of our art people. Once I’d overseen the switch to InDesign, it was time for (another!) sabbatical, after which I took on the roles of Group Art Director of Technology, Games and Music in Bath and Consumer Electronics in London. Phew…
“What the job actually entails is steering design development across the business, making sure it fits the overall strategy of the Group Publishers and the company-wide Publishing Board. The best part of it is the training – encouraging other ‘crayons’ to think more commercially and instilling the craft of creating great-looking magazines. I’ve had some brilliant training myself – especially the Core Management Skills course – and I’ve been lucky to have some great mentors, but you make your own opportunities. Perhaps the best opportunities have come from working on and developing ‘underdog’ rather than ‘glory’ magazines, improving them and enjoying their subsequent success.”
Ian would describe the culture at Future as: I love the culture – it’s as if I never left art college!
His best day at Future was: There have been many, but when I presented logo ideas to Microsoft in Seattle for the launch of Windows Vista: The Official Magazine, it agreed to rewrite its brand guidelines to accommodate my masthead. One of the world’s biggest brands taking ‘advice’ from little old me! That was kinda cool.
And his favourite Future magazine: Digital Camera – because our magazines are about passion and community, and Digital Camera takes reader interaction to a new level. The team actually gets out there taking photos with its readers, which is amazing!
To return to top of page click here
Jamie Hibbard – Editor, Metal Hammer
Long-time Future staffer Jamie started out as an Editorial Assistant after getting off his bike and looking for work.
“I joined Future in July 1995 as Editorial Assistant – later Staff Writer – on Mountain Biking UK. It was my favourite magazine, so I obviously wanted to work on it. But Future in general was just full of really cool people who believed in me enough to give me a shot. After that, it became clear that if you have the will and commitment, you can achieve whatever goals you set yourself.
“In 2000, I crossed over to Metal Hammer, again as Staff Writer, and worked my way up to Reviews Editor, News Editor and finally, in 2004, became Editor. And if I can go from Editorial Assistant with no magazine experience to Editor in nine years then anyone can!
“In the time I’ve been here, I’ve had training in every area to get me to Editor level. The ones I can remember are:
• How To Handle News
• Getting The Most Out Of Interviews
• How To Get A Magazine Section Out And Like It
• Magazine Publishing Law
• Introduction To Libel
• Improving Other Peoples’ Copy
• Effective Flatplanning
• Step Up To Management
• Feature Writing
• Getting The Most Out Of Contributors
• Setting The Tone
• Competitor Focus
“There’s also an Editors’ Conference every year, which is really good (and fun). Generally, the whole atmosphere at Future is one of encouragement where you’re allowed to grow at your own pace and there are many excellent magazines, which you can progress on to, if not within the one on which you start.
“So what do I do? Where do I start?! I choose cover artists, come up with cover and bag ideas, handle general brand and team management, negotiate deals, proof-read… although a typical day would depend on what area of the production cycle we’re in. One thing is certain, though – every day means working with a really cool team who are 100% passionate about what they do and have everything at their disposal to produce a magazine that’s going where it’s never gone before.”
Jamie would describe the culture at Future as: Fast, fun, frolicking.
His best day at Future was: Getting the job of Editor was something of a high point.
And his favourite Future magazine: Metal Hammer and www.metalhammer.co.uk!
To return to top of page click here
Josse Vander-Bilson – Manager, Editorial Production Studio
Josse keeps coming back to Future, after starting here as a games writer in 1993. Now he and his team of 12 handle 35 projects a month, but he still finds time to get his hands dirty.
“This is actually my third stint at Future – this time round I’ve been here since January 2005. I originally joined as a writer on a videogames magazine back in 1993. I soon moved up to Production Editor, then Deputy Editor within games magazines, before taking a sideways move to a new market as Deputy Editor of Computer Arts magazine, where I stepped up to become Editor. I was there from 1996-2000, growing a market-defining title almost from a fledgling bi-monthly launch, including a branded website, an associated live event and launching a sister title. The work included coming up with content ideas, sub-editing, sourcing products, industry PR and managing the team and budget. Then I spent a year as Editor of MacFormat, taking up the challenge of reinvigorating a tired specialist computer title. I oversaw the redesign, the reposition and several team changes during tough times for technology publishing. I then took some time away from Future, working for the contract publishing wing of another publishing house, then freelancing before returning for the launch of Your Family Tree magazine.
“Now, as Manager of Future’s Editorial Production Studio, I’m responsible for all aspects of a busy in-house team of sub-editors. We offer subbing services to the many newsstand titles across the company’s whole portfolio. Naturally we’re responding to the various magazines’ ever-changing needs as they face the demands of cyclical industries, recruitment gaps, launches, redesigns, holiday cover and regular deadline workload.
“Managing the staff, budgets and clients for up to 35 live projects per month means the amount of time I spend getting my hands dirty with magazine pages is limited, but rewarding. I really enjoy the problem solving aspect – making sure every magazine gets as close as possible to the cover they want! – but I love the pride Production Studio team members take in their work. We’ve already established a successful track record for recruiting well and delivering tailored training regimes to help our team become the best magazine subs going. My own training has included courses in writing, interviewing, sub-editing, proof-reading, libel, intellectual property rights, management skills, innumerable computer applications, client handling and time management.
“There’s an underlying ethos to look for opportunities to progress and better yourself, develop new skills and drive greater value into the company. Internal moves and promotions are commonplace and encouraged – if employees are learning something, moving forwards, feeling challenged and fulfilled, they tend to work best and deliver results.”
Josse would describe the culture at Future as: A dynamic, challenging meritocracy.
His best day at Future was: Realising that three experienced magazine professionals with little more than a passing interest in the subject could create a market-leading genealogy magazine from scratch in a limited time and on a ‘sensible’ budget. Your Family Tree was a small risk for the company, provided great reward for all involved, and is still going strong under its launch editor.
And his favourite Future magazine: Cycling Plus. It knows its readership and delivers to them better than any other magazine I can think of.
To return to top of page click here
Karon Trainor – Health and Safety Services Manager
Sorting out everything from blocked toilets and broken coffee machines, to carrying out Health and Safety assessments – no two days at Future are the same for Karon.
“After working as an Administration Manager for a mortgage brokerage, I moved to Future in November 2001. It seemed like a professional company and a friend worked here. I deal with facilities and Health and Safety, so my job varies from one day to the next. I handle any maintenance issues, such as arranging plumbers to sort out blocked loos, and carry out Health and Safety risk assessments. We have seven buildings, so I visit them regularly to check that staff are okay and that everything is working. I deal with most things that crop up – even getting business cards, train tickets and arranging travel when other staff are on holiday.
“I really enjoy meeting and dealing with the staff and suppliers, problem solving and helping people when they have an issue, and I’ve been encouraged to train and take more responsibility. Since I’ve been here I’ve gained two Health and Safety qualifications as well as attended IT courses.”
Karon would describe the culture at Future as: Friendly, fast-moving, innovative.
Her best day at Future: My best day is difficult to pinpoint because every day at Future is different and has its memorable moments!
To return to top of page click here
Katherine Bebbington – International Licensing Manager
Former photographic gallery director Katherine works with clients from Brisbane to the Baltic. How much does she enjoy Future? She can’t even pick a ‘best day’, that’s how much!
“It was the winter of 2004 and I'd been working as the Gallery Director of the Cass Sculpture Foundation in London. I knew very little about Future beforehand other than a recommendation from a friend, but my first interview really impressed me. The meeting was with a board director and he was very open, informal and friendly and gave me a good feel for the type of company Future is and the approachability of the people running the business. Having previously worked at another of the UK’s largest magazine publishers, it was important to me that at Future the culture was dynamic and friendly with opportunities to progress.
“As International Licensing Manager, I’m responsible for commercial client account management, developing our licensing business in Scandinavia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, India, the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and liaising with our US office. The job entails many elements of the magazine business, including budgets and business plans, contract and fees negotiation, international travel, meetings with overseas publishers, first contact with companies we don’t currently deal with in the above territories, sales, copyright and marketing.
“The best part of it is the people I work with, both internally and externally. We have some great clients who are a delight to do business with; even when there are problems our strong relationship means an open and constructive dialogue. Every day is different and every country unique – it has to be one of the most interesting jobs at Future.”
Katherine would describe the culture at Future as: Friendly, open, dynamic.
Her best day at Future was: I’m not sure I’ve had one day that stands out. Every time I close a deal on a new licence is a great day, but that’s also my job and I like what I do.
And her favourite Future magazine: I have four favourites – T3, Digital Camera, Health & Fitness and Total Film.