Experience

Eggbase Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Data Analyst

  • Aug 2023 - Present



Here Be Creations

• York, United Kingdom

• Artist and Designer

  • Jan 2019 - Present

  This is my own solo business to create bright and colourful artwork for sale on household and personal products around the world. I have learned to be self-motivated and active in this role as it is a lonely business being a self-employed artist and creator. I use traditional media (pencils, paints and paper). Though this is often in sketching out ideas and planning a design series. Final art is mostly produced using digital media. Corel Graphics Suit and Corel Painter being my key applications though I use Sketchbook on my tablet also. This includes: image production type setting font creation desktop production In Corel applications I can also use my knowledge of Visual Basic to create code to automate and speed up my workflow. This has resulted in 500+ designs and illustrations at time of writing - 26/09/22 - for upload to online markets Redbubble and Society 6. Corel Draw also gives me a good desktop publishing application to mock-up, write and complete advertising for social media. I use Excel and Outlook to plan advert campaigns and track dates for publishing and promotions. Social platforms are giving increased visibility for my work, and I use their tools to post completed works and promos. Meta and Deviant Art are my key platforms though I do use others (Twitter, Pinterest Linked In). I have a target of 3 posts a week and to not repeat any previous post, this allows me to keep designing but maintain a presence on social platforms. I have recently experimented with YouTube creating: product reviews of items purchased from Redbubble and looking at quality and print production art demonstration videos illustrating a process of working and production for my illustrations Though early days I do hope to continue with this. I have used my knowledge of website design (HTML and CSS) to produce and maintain my own unique website with a great artistic feel and flow. I continue to update and adjust this site to keep it fresh and in touch with my current work. Show less



Forestry Commission

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Support Officer

  • May 2015 - Dec 2018

  SkillsPlanning – I maintained project portfolios and work in progress documents using SharePoint, Trello and JIRA project management utilities. I ensured these portfolios were updated after meetings, with actions required by team members.Teams – I liaised with key stakeholders in forestry sector both internal and external to bring development projects to completion. Sharing knowledge and information to ensure all understood progress and expectations. I ensured all involved in projects were clear on their tasks and actions and any relevant deadline dates.Training & Support - I organised and provided system training (theory and practice). I gave support for applications dealing with any issues and updates required. Included a series of video tutorials.Communication – I managed information, meetings and agendas between the stakeholders, 3rd party developers and customers. Maintaining minutes and tasks to document the full project development over its development period.Microsoft Office – excellent knowledge of the Office suite with good Outlook and Visual Basic knowledge for coding and macros.UAT – I created, maintained and administered UAT documents for system development projects and performance testing.Work with the Development manager and Analysts on new systems and processes being introduced in the Forestry Commission. I worked extensively on the new Felling Licence Online system and Public Register - providing electronic system applications for customers and agents.I created a bespoke Excel Application (PW14) to help Field Teams process large data quickly and provide CSV files for easy import into the Felling Licence Online system. Managed the bug report for the PW14 Excel Application to ensure errors were cleared quickly preventing any delay in work processing and the approval of Felling licence Agreements. Show less

• Admin Manager

  • May 2012 - May 2015

  I managed a team of 5 Admin Officers in the York administration hub - this was a promotion in situ.As approving officer, I had to check all documents related to forestry grant payments. Ensure the correct work was being paid in the correct year. This was monitored and approved via propriety software. I held monthly team meetings with my Admin to ensure my team were up-to-date with changes to payment years, processes and application management. Through these meeting I maintained a training needs assessment for all admin.I made sure all work coming in the office was correctly date stamped and distributed to required staff to ensure workloads were manageable by all my team. I trained all staff in the local office on new ways of working and new system development due to changes in processing and new software.I brought extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office and electronic file management to help the York teams transition to electronic storage of files and documents.I liaised with the Field Teams to help manage workloads of the Woodland Officers and my Admin Staff at critical times of the year.I attended and contributed to meetings with the national Admin Teams. Taking minutes, actions and dead-lines for work between teams. I gave feedback on proposed changes to process, procedure and practice. I created guidance notes on key admin business practice to help all teams work in a more unified manner across England. I managed the closure of the York Admin Team in 2015 due to reshaping in the Forestry Commission; work hand-over and sorting the 4000+ files: sorting, sifting files to be destroyed ready for relocation to the Hub assigned our workload. I took part in and contributed to meetings to ensure a smooth transition of workloads by the required deadline.I was the local IT support officer for all IT issues, printers, network, Microsoft Office for 26 staff in the York office - this was not part of my normal duties. Show less

• Administrative Officer

  • Oct 2008 - Apr 2012

  I accepted and made initial checks on paper and electronic Licence/Grant applications. I input details of the application into Forestry database systems.I refused any applications incorrectly completed and returned with written details to the applicant. However, I often called applicants and discuss over the phone, this would result in quicker resolution and applications to progress.I liaised with applicants in my land areas to build a relationship and assist in the application process. I often went on site visits with Woodland Officers to meet applicants face to face and build on relationships, discuss upcoming applications, give advise on how information is presented.I maintained application date management to ensure applications do not expire and are completed within statutory periods. Throughout the applications processing period I would monitor a cover sheet for key dates; mapping process, public register completion, awaiting applicant feedback etc.I created and maintained a spreadsheet for each Woodland Officer I worked with holding key information and resumptions. This allowed me to hold files in the filing cabinets and not on my desk. I later transitioned and assisted my Woodland Officers to an Outlook diary giving them the ability to see workloads for the week ahead where ever they were – the Woodland Officer no longer needed to be in the office to pickup their resumptions.I accepted and checked grant payment forms ensuring agents/landowners completed grant payment applications correctly giving correct information and agreement to work done. I would forward larger payments to Woodland Officers so they could check the sites to ensure all works had been completed. These were a priority as they had to be cleared and paid within 28 days of receipt.As frontline staff I gave call support; dealing with customer and application advice, documenting illegal felling actions reported to the office, general enquiries.More detail on request. Show less



Complete Business IT Solutions

• Yorkshire

• Retail Manager

  • 2001 - 2008

  Managed the retail store, customer liaison, product sales, till and cash up Dealt with PC system repair, software advice/repair Stock control, buying and negotiating prices from trade suppliers Built and maintained the CBITS website Microsoft Office advice and support Support and advice for staff with their own work loads Managed the retail store, customer liaison, product sales, till and cash up Dealt with PC system repair, software advice/repair Stock control, buying and negotiating prices from trade suppliers Built and maintained the CBITS website Microsoft Office advice and support Support and advice for staff with their own work loads