My Objective

A responsible, adaptive and articulate person capable of taking on and developing new and innovative ideas. With the ability to lead; while confident as part of a team, I feel that I am a considerably positive addition to any company. 

I aim to streamline and guarantee maximum efficiency and output in any existing system that I encounter, I like to use my own initiative to push forward new ideas to improve workflow and profit, bringing forward outdated systems. 

I consider presentation and accuracy of work an important and essential aspect of any project, integrating and implementing Computer/Information Technology to assure that the element of design and creativity is present. I see myself as a perfectionist. 

A quotation from a past appraisal...“Adaptable to a wide variety of business situations and capable of initiating positive contribution to team effort whilst maintaining an apt sense of humour” 

My primary goal is to provide my employer with value for money, ensuring that my team and my own workflow, enthusiasm and motivation are consistantly at 100%. Secondary priorities are to build on my existing skills, enjoy work whilst remaining committed to giving my best at all times, getting the most out of life and guaranteeing job satisfaction.

Core Skills and Abilities

·         120 words per minute typing speed

·         ASP, HTML, SQL, VB, Javascript, CSS, Coldfusion (CFM)

·         Full ‘from memory’ knowledge and tutoring in all Microsoft Operating System and Office applications, Photoshop, Macromedia applications, all adobe applications incorporating Flash, Photoshop, Premiere, Quark.

·         Advanced ability in multimedia production, creation of broadcast quality video with audio editing for presentation, pod-cast or advertisement purposes.

·         Extremely competent at building client-business relationships and forming a bond between contractor and client.

·         Ability to manage a team of developers providing guidance where required

·         Full computer hardware upgrade, maintenance and building.

·         Highly adaptive to new software packages, languages, skills and protocols

·         IIS, DNS, ODBC, Name Servers & Web Server Administration

·         Implementation of Networking, Communications and Wireless technologies

·         Proven IT Tutoring and Teaching skills

·         Server/Firewall Administration, security, patching

Work Experience

Group IT & Web Manager ([snip])

10/2004 – Present:  Ston Easton, Nr Bath, Somerset 

Whilst working for Net Performance, I was invited by senior [snip] management  for interview as Group IT & Web Manager. They were impressed with my communication, account management, application development and technical management skills provided to [snip] whilst managing their account within Net Performance.

With the approval of my director at Net Performance, I joined [snip] and suggested that the group purchase Net Performance as an in-house web development and support company. The acquisition proceeded and I continue to manage the developers, projects and client base within Net Performance (hence the 'Present' status of my past Net Performance role).

I immediately planned and implemented the replacement of antiquated hotel and IT systems with modern up-to-date functional applications. I took it upon myself to manage many contractor accounts and build on existing relationships, re-negotiating contracts to obtain a better deal and working with software houses to bring forward software development. With previous experience in telecom systems, I proactively managed our telecom companies, responsible for day to day maintenance, training and support. 

[snip] web presence consists of 32 websites, it is my responsibility to ensure that a sufficient backup system is in-place online and that a disaster recovery plan exists. I manage two dedicated servers co-located within secure data-centres. I am also responsible for uptime and bandwidth monitoring as well as contractual issues and SLA application.

I implemented a remote visual/audio support tool removing the need for site visits when minor technical problems occurred allowing me to manage remote networks as far reaching as Scotland from the HQ in Somerset. I most recently introduced Wireless internet access for customer and administration use, integrating with the hotels PMS systems without user intervention. 

I am also lead developer working on system critical intranet and extranet applications, also producing video and audio content such as recording and editing podcasts for each property, and constructing video presentations/productions to aid the group's sales force.

Business Development Manager

10/2003 – Present: Taunton, Somerset 

In early October I was invited via referral to apply for the role of Business Development Manager, responsible for client relations, new business, project management and as lead developer. My initial task to improve the workflow and profitability of the business. I accepted the role and began to streamline the IT infrastructure to increase staff productivity and improve work efficiency. I familiarised myself with our client base and took a lead on existing projects to ensure smooth launch and subsequent client relations. 

I implemented a strict process to ensure that the company became profitable which resulted in its acquisition by [snip] shortly after I joined the hotel group.

Police Officer (Voluntary/Special)

6/2003 - 6/2006:  

In addition to my present employment and outside working hours, I decided to apply to Constabulary as a voluntary Special Constable – upon successfully passing the PIR intelligence, logic, physical and combat tests with an impressive score, I was accepted. 

I found this role supplemented my regular employment by providing the physical activity that my regular job may perhaps lack. The paperwork, accounting and statement writing that the job involves also helped to encourage my documentation skills used to accompany development. My role as a Special was secondary to my primary employment, and carried out in my own time. 

Unfortunately, due to a workplace relocation to Bath I no longer have the social time available to continue my voluntary work and sadly had to leave the force mid 2006. I do hope to return in the near future, one again as a Special.

Lead Developer & Manager

7/2001 - 6/2003: Taunton, Somerset 

Looking to further my skills in project management and development, I was offered a post at the [snip] in Taunton, Somerset. The [snip] are market leaders in Marine Charting services and renowned world wide for the quality of their products, and the skills of the workforce that produce them. 

I joined the newly formed Web-Team as a B2 grade officer (as the youngest recruited management level ‘B2’ of 900 employees) with the initial task of revamping the corporate website (www). Through this and subsequent websites that I was able to personally manage and develop for the [snip].  I have been able to greatly enhance my management skills, refining my personal corporate discipline, familiarisation with policy, and the fundamentals of the ‘Internal Market’ infrastructure that many large companies are beginning to adopt. I have also become acustomed to documenting and reporting aspects of my work, to ensure compliance ISO 9001. 

During the 2002-2003 PDR reporting period, I was also nominated for an ICA (Individual Contribution Award) for outstanding performance in the top 10% of the workforce.

Lead Developer

1/2000 - 7/2001: Lyme Regis, Dorset 

[snip] provide consultation and software design for the financial industry. I was employed to bring the web and graphic design skills in-house. 

We engineered many Intranet based applications to assist the trading industry to train their staff, before entering into a real-time live-data environment. Due to the high specification of the system hardware used by the financial trading organisations, much of our work had to be ported cross platforms from NT/Windows based language to Java (Sun Microsystems, Unix etc) before handover. 

I reported to an IT Manager, responsible for a number of daily issues, including server maintenance, graphical design and management of the company’s corporate identity, on screen and in print. 

[snip] approached me with a view to retaining my services on a freelance basis. With the permission of [snip], I continued to work on updates to the CW website as a contractor in my own time.

IT/Online Manager

1/1998 - 7/2000: London/Dorset/Somerset 

I joined [snip] in early 1998 having been offered the job personally. I had planned a year out before heading to University. The company had just merged with a London based Entertainment company  and the opportunity was too good to refuse. 

The company were also set to move premises to a specifically built office building in Bishops Lydeard, I began immediately to plan, setup and implement the new network and server installation, removing the outdated coax-style backbone via Novell and upgraded to the more efficient Cat-5.Upon successful completion I next setup the callcentre drone terminals and planned the new realtime credit card processing system – the successful planning and installation led to an increase in productivity and improved the order taking system substantially. 

Following the successful deployment, my primary task was to create the companies first online presence. Utilising ASP/VB I developed the entire site, allowing real-time database interaction, online shopping/order processing, and a whole host of new and conceptual features, providing a superior shopping experience to users. 

I was then to build a team and recruited a junior to train and help to provide user training for the new infrastructure and secure online administration panel. The panel allows company employees to securely update stock/product information data in realtime. The new website I had developed took over 17,000 unique visitors during January 2001. 

As my role grew, I was given the responsibility to pro-actively seek, contact, and manage affiliate companies/suppliers interested in partnering with CW. My clients included [snip]; most frequent discussions related to technical implementation and contractual arrangements. I pro-actively worked to improve the success of each arrangement whilst providing detailed statistics to both client and internal management. My work took me to Canada on occasion to manage and work with our subcontracted development team in Toronto – I worked 2 days a week from the London based Gresse Street office.

Private Tuition (student: )

1996 - 1998: During college studies. 

During the evenings whilst studying A-Levels at college, I worked in the evenings with an 11-year-old Dyslexic child. Throughout the 2 years, I was able to encourage [snip] to grasp the basics of the Window operating and filing system, implementation of MS Office applications, whilst also aiding his abilities in reading/writing and spelling. 

[snip] computer initial knowledge/ability prior to tuition was nil. After 2 years, when I unfortunately had little time to continue tuition, [snip] level of ability had grown above average, when compared to fellow class members at his new Secondary school – he is now excelling in IT.

Education

9/1992 - 6/1998  GCSE, Holyrood, Somerset

§      Achieved Passes in 9 GCSE level Examinations - 1 x ‘A’, 2 x ‘B’, 4 x ‘C’, 2 x ‘D’

6/1996 - 6/1998  A-Level (Oxford & Cambridge), Holyrood, Somerset

§      Advanced Level Graphics     June 1998         ‘B’

§      Advanced Level Music         June 1998         ‘E’

9/1998 - 9/1999  HNC in Advanced Graphics, Somerset College of Art & Tech, Somerset

§      Managing & Developing self – MERIT

§      Working with & relating to others – MERIT

§      Communicating - MERIT

2000 - 2002  Learning Tree Professional Training, London Central

§      ColdFusion Development, Learning Tree, London

§      Introduction to XML, Learning Tree, London

§      ECommerce Certified Professional, Learning Tree, London

§      XML for B2B Application, Learning Tree, London

§      E-Commerce Web Development, Learning Tree, London

Trinity College of Music - Initial in PianoForte, Taunton, Somerset

§      Passed with Distinction

Royal School of Music - Grade 1 PianoForte, Taunton, Somerset

§      Now rated Grade 7 PianoForte

Hobbies & Interests

I most recently managed to place 29th out of 112,000 in a Vauxhall sponsored ‘Sports Driver of the Year’ tournament that took me to Barcelona for the final. I have always had a keen interest in motor sport and try to get to the track whenever possible. 

Being a keen explorer of culture and foreign life I recently visited Egypt, I experienced scuba and ventured into the hills to explore the Bedouin culture and life. 

I am very musical and have the pleasure of owning my own Yamaha piano that unfortunately takes up much of my spare room; I have worked through my grades and achieved a grade 7 performance rating. 

I am keenly interested in radio controlled aircraft and own a hangar’s worth of planes and helicopters that I regularly fly at BMFA (British Model Flying Association) sites around the UK. 

My interests in IT were primarily evolved out of the office, I have a keen enthusiasm with IT related applications, personal graphic design and helping out with the occasional family or friend’s computer related troubleshooting issue. 

My other various hobbies include Website/Internet Authoring, Graphical Design, Automotive and Car Maintenance, Musical instruments and composition (13 years Piano), Computer Tuition, Air Rifling, Bowling, Ice Skating, Theatre, Go-Kart Racing, Track Days and of course Socialising!