Experience

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  Clarity Umbrella Ltd

  • Ipswich, United Kingdom

  • Owner & Founder

    • Sep 2019 - Present
    • Ipswich, United Kingdom

    Clarity Umbrella was set up by an experienced team of umbrella company professionals who all have one vision in mind for the business; to provide the best customer service for all clients; employees or agencies / end clients. At the end of the day, we are handling your finances, so we know how important umbrella employment is to everyone involved in the chain. We will ensure great communications, we will be efficient in our workings and we will deliver compliance at every step of the way. Tax legislation is thousands of pages long, so we make sure we are the experts so you don’t have to worry!With over 8 years in the umbrella industry as an “employee”, and following a redundancy due to relocation, Clarity was born. Whilst managing ContractorUmbrella, I built an amazing, hard-working and loyal team who stood by me through thick and thin. I decided it would be a travesty to see such talent go to waste and so I set up Clarity; a PAYE umbrella payroll business with one goal in mind; to provide the best customer service to all of our contractors and agencies to build relationships that last!The business is renowned for transparency, honesty and simplicity! We will not offer 6 different solutions, we will not entice with marketing gimmicks, and we will provide a service that is top notch, a business where you don’t become just a number! We will provide Clarity for the industry! The business is built on recommendations and I always play a very hands-on role; I will always be at the end of the phone!Clarity is a business that I am proud to have started with a team that I know I can rely on, a team that are loyal and a team that hold my values to heart too.Join Clarity Umbrella today and let us take care of your umbrella journey!

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  All Umbrella Companies Are Equal Ltd

  • Ipswich, United Kingdom

  • Founder / Director

    • Apr 2013 - Present
    • Ipswich, United Kingdom

    All Umbrella Companies are Equal has been set up to provide an unbiased resource for UK contractors, agencies and umbrella companies alike. Over the last 10 years the sector has grown enormously thanks to the increased demand for flexible workers, which is great for contractors, but which has also led to confusion surrounding take home pay, compliance and future tax liabilities. Promises of 80%, 90% or even 95% take home pay are backed up with 'opinions' from QC's and guarantees that the scheme is compliant with UK tax law without saying which tax law (tax guidance currently runs to around 14,000 pages!).

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  ContractorUmbrella Ltd

  • United Kingdom
  • Accounting
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Managing Director

    • Mar 2016 - Sep 2019

    The UK's most open, honest and transparent Umbrella Company for contractors and freelancers. ContractorUmbrella Ltd is 100% committed to Customer Service and has set standards that are envied throughout the industry. We don't make idle promises, we won't blind you with science, we are here to make your life as a contractor just that little bit easier. Fixed margin and unbeatable customer service makes us the no. 1 choice for contractors.

  • Sales and Marketing Director

    • Jan 2015 - Feb 2016

    I graduated with a degree in design management, specialising in sales & marketing & has over 17 years of B2B and B2C marcom’s experience. ContractorUmbrella has an established & trusted reputation and Lucy is keen to ensure that all clients are provided with transparent information, both online and offline, in order to build confidence & long term relationships with the team.ContractorUmbrella Ltd is the UK's Most Trusted Umbrella Company providing the employment solution for UK Contractors & Freelancers. Independently voted as the Best Umbrella Company by readers of Contractor UK.We guarantee contractors total peace of mind, absolute compliance and complete security. We are one of the longest standing and most respected umbrella companies in the UK, but you don't need to take our word for it, take a look at some of our employee testimonials online.

  • Sales & Marketing Manager

    • Feb 2013 - Jan 2015

    Driving sales through effective marketing and promotions. At ContractorUmbrella we pride ourselves on offering customer service and professionalism that is second to none. As Sales and Marketing Manager, I work to ensure that all of our contractors and agencies know who they can turn to for a compliant employment solution.

  • Marketing Manager

    • Aug 2012 - Feb 2013

    My work at ContractorUmbrella is key to building brand awareness and raising the profile for the business, retaining existing business and gaining new contractors. This includes work on PR and exposure for the business, ensuring that we are seen as experts in the industry. Perception of umbrella companies has taken a hit in the few years where offshore schemes have tarred even the 'compliant companies'. We are now working to prove the value that a compliant umbrella company to give to both freelancers, contractors and agencies.About ContractorUmbrella.The hassle free umbrella company providing the employment solution for UK Contractors and Freelancers. Independently voted Best Umbrella Company for 2012 by readers of Contractor UK. Contractor Umbrella providing you with the security of knowing that you are working with the biggest specialist contractor umbrella service provider in the UK.

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  Out of Site, Out of Mind

  • Ipswich, United Kingdom

  • Owner

    • Dec 2015 - Jul 2019
    • Ipswich, United Kingdom

    Out of Site, Out of Mind was born out of a desire to ensure businesses and individuals have access to a cost effective websites without having to compromise on creativity or style.Consider that 36 million adults, that's a staggering 73% of the population in Great Britain, access the Internet every day. Access to the Internet using a mobile phones or tablets has more than doubled between 2010 and 2013, from 24% to 53% and in 2013, 72% of all adults bought goods or services online, that's up from a staggering 53% from 2008.So what are the implications of not having a presence online? Consider the business that you could be missing out on. In this day and age being without a site, you could truly be out of mind. One website could give your business exposure to over 36 million adults in the UK alone; who could say no to that?

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  The Business Woman's Network

  • Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich

  • Co-ordinator for Ipswich & Felixstowe

    • Jul 2016 - May 2018
    • Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich

    I am so pleased to be part of the growing Business Womans Network, with our events launching in Ipswich in September 2016 at the wonderful Hintlesham Hall. Since attending the BWN in Colchester, I was so impressed at the way in which the group worked together and the community that it creates, so much so that I couldn't wait to be a part of it. So about the BWN: the BWN is about networking to increase confidence, Sales & Success With No Membership Ever! Our strapline "As passionate about your business as you are!" rings true, so whether you are running a successful business or looking to start up, then get yourself along to one of the BWN meetings and see how easy it is to network with like-minded individuals.

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  Ant Group Ltd

  • Ipswich, Suffolk

  • Head of Corporate Communications

    • Jun 2008 - Aug 2012
    • Ipswich, Suffolk

    As the Head of Corporate Communications, I have played a pivotal role for the past three years helping the business to achieve its ambitious marketing and sales targets, ensuring the business fully exploited both offline and online marketing opportunities.A brief summary of the role:• Management and updates to the corporate identity / brand ‘evolution’ • Management of the Groups’ portfolio of corporate presentations, catalogues and other promotional assets• Print management for the group, using my knowledge of litho, digital and flexo print• Website content management• Hosting and DNS management• Ongoing development and implementation of online strategies, including e-commerce • Creation and distribution of press releases and other online marketing efforts (email marketing, banner ads, landing pages)• Development of the Groups’ Social Media presence• Monthly reporting to senior management, analysing promotions, traffic, and email performance with the use of Google Analytics• Ongoing website optimisation with the knowledge of SEO• Google Adwords Campaigns (PPC) • Management of third party service provider relationships eg web developers, copywriter, photographers, etc.• Project Coordination with external design agencies where necessary

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  Creative Company

  • Account Director

    • 2007 - 2008

    Creative Company; a traditional design and digital media agency with a wide variety of clients across the county. As the only account manager within the company, I was tasked with managing all clients / projects within the studio, providing detailed proposals, budgetary management, day-to-day running, scheduling, and production management across both traditional and new digital media. Working across the board extended my knowledge to include a detailed understanding of the world of digital design and programming. For many of my clients I worked on assisting with content management suites for updates to their own websites or intranets, work on Search Engine Optimisation and targeted e-marketing campaigns. I also worked alongside the managing director on new business enquiries, repeat business and sales forecasting for the business. I was also responsible for all invoicing and budgeting for all client accounts, be it design or production based. The role required great organisation and negotiation skills, with the ability to communicate with people at all levels.

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  Creative Action Design

  • Account Manager

    • Apr 2002 - May 2005

    CAD invested in me to add a senior management level to the structure of the company. My role was varied, and it allowed me to broaden my knowledge across a number of disciplines, including the following:CLIENT LIAISON / PROJECT MANAGEMENTSUPPLIER NEGOTIATIONS / AGREEMENTSINTERNAL / EXTERNAL MARKETING / BRAND MANAGEMENTRESOURCE MANAGEMENTBUDGET MANAGEMENT / SALES FORECASTING

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  Conran Design Group

  • London

  • Studio Manager

    • Jul 2000 - Apr 2002
    • London

    The studio management function was set up to provide an interface between the designers (how long does it take to come up with the right idea), the account management function (well serviced client = loyal client) and the commercial needs of the business ... through process, planning and productivity.