Experience

The Association of Illustrators

• United Kingdom
• Artists and Writers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Awards Coordinator

  • Mar 2023 - Present

• Awards Assistant - World Illustration Awards

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  General assistance with all administrative aspects of running the awards.Updating of databases and spreadsheets relating to the awards.Management of awards data and images.Helping to organise and plan events, webinars and meet ups.Compiling reporting information for sponsors and partnersEnsuring that information on AOI website is accurate and up to date.Drafting and scheduling monthly awards newsletters.Keeping WIA’s mailing lists up to date.Contributing to an active presence on social media for WIA.Posting all longlisted and shortlisted projects to the WIA’s Instagram Account.Compiling and distributing images and press releases to media outlets.Showcase, Catalogue, Awards Night and Touring Exhibition, assisting with:Requesting, organising and compiling digital content for the showcase.Requesting, organising and checking information and content for the catalogue.Assisting with the planning and delivery of the virtual awards night event. Preparing and managing guest lists for events.Preparing addresses and data for the catalogue mailout, sending trophies and certificatesCompiling and distributing touring exhibition information to partners, and potential partners.Posting of trophies and certificatesAssisting with events during the awards programme such as meetups and webinars. Show less



Helen Ridley Illustration

• Reading, England, United Kingdom

• Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  Product and Print Design and Development for printed stationery, cards, gift wrap, decorations, accessories and homewares. Sourcing Management and Negotiation for product and packaging materials. Online Sales Management and Fulfilment via own website helenridley.com, Etsy, Thortful, Printful and Spoonflower. Sales Manager at art fairs and markets to increase brand exposure and expand revenue streams. Marketing Manager and Content Creator for social media, newsletter, blog and Facebook ads. PR Management and Promotion, securing press in Stylist and Outdoor Swimmer magazine. Website Management and Maintenance for helenridley.com Financial Management and Bookkeeping. Bespoke Portrait Commissions for Pet and Family portraits. Show less



Habitat

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Technologist

  • Jun 2019 - Dec 2020

  Quality Assurance Technologist for Textiles, Home Accessories, Kitchenware, Furniture Manage technical aspects of product development - quality, make, testing and risk assessments on homewares products across diverse categories and materials. Ensure ‘critical path’ dates and milestones are achieved in product development and production so products launch to time & specification. Build relationships with international supply base from Europe to Asia and beyond. Communicating on key product delivery, reporting back to the business on performance, informing company supply base strategy. Conduct technical and ethical factory site visits across a wide range of manufacturers from small scale artisanal UK suppliers, to large scale textile and hard goods factories in Asia and Europe. Manage and Mentor Assistant Technologist on including training, processes, regulatory requirements, software & ways of working. Coordinate & deliver seminars and training sessions to aid wider business understanding of Quality Assurance function and product information, to improve the customer experience. Create manuals & process documentation to improve team & company efficiencies and supply base relationships. Analyse customer feedback and returns, actioning insight to improve customer experience & drive down returns. Show less



The White Company

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Home Technologist

  • Mar 2012 - Jun 2019

  Kitchen and Dining, Seasonal, Utility and Storage, Bathroom, Bedroom Managed quality, make, testing and risk assessments on homewares products across various homewares categories from textiles to ceramics, furniture, home accessories and kitchenware. Managed relationships with international supply base from Europe to China, India, Thailand and beyond. Yearly reporting on supplier performance to inform company supply base strategy. Analysed customer complaints and returns and actioned improvements to drive down returns, and improve customer experience year on year. Conducted technical and ethical factory site visits across a wide range of manufacturers from small scale artisan UK based suppliers, to large scale textile and hard goods factories in China, India and Europe. Worked cross functionally to ensure critical Path dates and milestones adhered to in product development and production timelines to ensure timely product launches. Created manuals and process templates and documents to improve team and company efficiencies and improve supply base relationships. Trained new and existing team members on in house processes, software and ways of working. Conducted seminars and training sessions to help wider business operations understand QA function and product technical information to improve the customer experience. Show less



Ted Baker

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Production Co-Ordinator - Mens' Accessories

  • May 2011 - Mar 2012

  Critical path management for new product development and production. Building and maintaining international supplier relationships. Trim and fabric sourcing and management. Product cost negotiation. Customer complaint analysis and actions for improvement. Managing and reviewing product testing and factory audits. Compilation, analysis and presentation of Waste Packaging Data from suppliers. Negotiating discounts for faulty product, delayed delivery, short shipped stock Critical path management for new product development and production. Building and maintaining international supplier relationships. Trim and fabric sourcing and management. Product cost negotiation. Customer complaint analysis and actions for improvement. Managing and reviewing product testing and factory audits. Compilation, analysis and presentation of Waste Packaging Data from suppliers. Negotiating discounts for faulty product, delayed delivery, short shipped stock



tms

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• QA Enginneer

  • Apr 2011 - May 2011



Monsoon Accessorize

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Product Technologist

  • Feb 2011 - Mar 2011

  _Bags, Jewellery, Hair Accessories, Bags, Watches, Belts, Textiles, Seasonal Products_ Product Risk Assessments. Product Review, Analysis and Sign Off Test report analysis and approval Customer Complaints and Returns analysis and reporting. _Bags, Jewellery, Hair Accessories, Bags, Watches, Belts, Textiles, Seasonal Products_ Product Risk Assessments. Product Review, Analysis and Sign Off Test report analysis and approval Customer Complaints and Returns analysis and reporting.



Harrods

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Quality Assurance Advisor -Harrods Signature Product Development

  • Mar 2009 - Oct 2010

  Product development and approval to ensure technical compliance. Supply base and factory liason to improve product quality and maintain critical path. UK factory technical and ethical site visits with corrective action plan follow up. Product inspections at warehouse and on- site at factories. Working with international wholesale partners to set and maintain tolerances Documenting new procedures to improve efficiencies - customer complaints and product inspections. Product development and approval to ensure technical compliance. Supply base and factory liason to improve product quality and maintain critical path. UK factory technical and ethical site visits with corrective action plan follow up. Product inspections at warehouse and on- site at factories. Working with international wholesale partners to set and maintain tolerances Documenting new procedures to improve efficiencies - customer complaints and product inspections.



Woolworths

• South Africa
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Junior Technologist

  • Jul 2008 - Dec 2009

  Quality Assurance. Homewares_ Quality Assurance. Homewares_



Ralph Lauren

• United States
• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buying Assistants Administrator

  • Mar 2008 - Jun 2008



AllSaints

• United Kingdom
• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Design Team Assistant

  • Mar 2007 - Jun 2007



House of Fraser

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyers Assistant/Administrator

  • Mar 2007 - Mar 2007