Experience

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  Self-employed

  • Colchester, United Kingdom

  • Content Writer and Wordsmith

    • Jan 2020 - Present
    • Colchester, United Kingdom

• 

  Ink Drops Boxes Ltd

  • Colchester, Essex

  • Director - and keeper of the emerald ink and squirrel paperclips

    • Oct 2012 - Present
    • Colchester, Essex

• 

  Vool - The Vegan Pop Up Shop

  • Colchester, United Kingdom

  • Chief Organiser of Voolish Activities

    • Nov 2017 - Nov 2020
    • Colchester, United Kingdom

    The pop up vegan shop springing up across east anglia with wonderful vegan goodies and groceries. Also online at vool.co.uk

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  Essex Library Services

  • United Kingdom
  • Libraries
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Audience and Digital Development Manager

    • Jun 2015 - Jan 2019

    Oversight of social media, web presence and e-newsletters. Also responsible for delivery and development of learning activities, online resources, e-books, e-audio and e-magazines as well as reference print resources. Maxtrix and line management of staff including team delivering design work and online enquiries.

  • Reader Services Development Manager

    • Jul 2010 - May 2015

    Development of services to support readers including promotions, displays, and training. Work on offer to reading groups, and social media. Management of staff both as a line manager and commissioner. Delivery of Essex Book Festival in libraries and support for it's move to becoming an independent organisation.

  • Audience Development Officer

    • Apr 2007 - Jun 2010

    Working on a commissioned basis to develop and promote library services. Creation and development of promotions and services, maintenance of the Ask Chris website, input to and delivery of FISH!, support for Essex Book Festival and Summer Reading Challenge.

  • Specialist Manager (Secondment)

    • Oct 2009 - Mar 2010

    Undertook a variety of projects for Service Development team including Disability Equality Training, organisation of team building day, and updates to Essex Book Festival website. I also shadowed Specialist Managers during team meetings, service planning and recruitment.

• 

  Essex Library Services

  • United Kingdom
  • Libraries
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Service Development Officer

    • May 2004 - Mar 2007

    Promotion and development of library services particularly to socially excluded groups. Generation of ideas for promotions, production of promotional materials such as press releases and in-house publications, organisation of talks and events including work on the Essex Book Festival. Development and delivery of staff training, making partnerships, shaping of new services through evaluation and consultation.

  • Librarian

    • Oct 2003 - Apr 2004

    Responsibility for managing stock areas including new Asian language collection, planned and implemented a programme of stock displays, enquiry work including use of online databases, led two author events at the Essex Book Festival 2004 organising publicity and staff.

  • Sunday Librarian

    • Jun 2002 - Apr 2004

    Provided enquiry services during Sunday openings. Assistance with local studies collection including microfilm reader and People’s Network.

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  City of London School

  • London, England, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Librarian

    • Apr 2002 - Oct 2003
    • London, England, United Kingdom

    Day to day duties included enquiries, interlibrary loans, reservations, journal retention, press cuttings, supervision of users and computer bookings. Achievements included creating a programme for pupil librarians, setting up a catalogue for school archives and beginning to make digital copies of the school magazine to improve archive enquiries.

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  Loxford School of Science & Technology

  • Education Administration Programs
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Learning Resources Manager

    • Jun 1999 - May 2002

    Provided library services to 1500 students and 100 staff members.Reinstated regular library service, developed and delivered a library skills programme, managed library assistant on a day-to-day basis, selection and management of stock including online resources, planned and ran promotional activities such as Book Week and Twinning with an American Public library. Control of budget including income from fines and photocopier.

  • Sixth Form Study Supervisor

    • Jul 1998 - Jun 1999

    Running sixth form study area as a satellite to the main library, administrative assistance to Head of Sixth Form. Maintaining collection related to careers, higher education and sixth form subjects. Providing assistance to students with academic work and university applications. Created and maintained student database to easily locate students and to provide statistics. Management of hard copies of student records.

• 

  Creative Hands Design

  • London, England, United Kingdom

  • Administrative Assistant

    • Jul 1997 - Jun 1998
    • London, England, United Kingdom

    Responsible for the day-to-day running of the design studio. Obtaining quotes and sourcing materials, producing invoices and statements, ensuring job stayed within budget by through regular costing reviews, producing minutes and company communications, representing the company at events such as the Design show.