professional background
Sep 09 to date Freelance L&D Consultant
Learning Anorak – an independent L&D consultancy offering customised solutions.
Currently providing services to Capita L&D and Kineo.
Jul 05-Sep 09 Learning Solutions Designer/Consultant
Capita Learning and Development – a division of Capita, a FTSE100 company employing 29000 personnel in over 300 business units. Primarily focusing on business process outsourcing and professional services.
Primary responsibilities
• Consultancy support to clients
• Solutions design
• Delivery of workshops to internal staff
• Research of emerging technologies
Key achievements
• Led design and development of blended learning solutions for several key clients, both internal and external
• Co-presented to 4ps on behalf of Capita’s successful bid to provide online learning resources for their PFI support programme; provided consultancy support to client and designed resulting blended learning solution
• Provided wide ranging consultancy support and designed learning solution for National Strategies in the implementation of a profound change to internal processes and systems. Identified key areas overlooked by the client
• Co-designed and delivered workshops on blended learning to delivery consultants within Capita L&D, and on blogging to LEA consultants
• Developed reputation within global community of practice - widely read, quoted and referenced. Member of several key online communities of practice
• Kept abreast of emerging technologies and developments in the world of blended learning, including the use of Web 2.0 technologies
Nov 02 – Jun 05 Trainer: IT and soft skills
Christie & Co – commercial property brokers and surveyors employing 300 people in 20 locations throughout the UK and in mainland Europe
Primary responsibilities
• Needs analysis
• Drafting of learning strategy
• Design and development of learning resources and materials
• Delivery of classroom based learning
Key achievements
• Developed automated online TNA tool for IT skills – 97% response rate
• Devised training strategy to bring all staff up to minimum IT proficiency levels as stipulated by board
• Designed and delivered (to staff at all levels) software workshops that exceeded expectations in terms of attendance levels and positive reception from attendees. Consequently meeting IT proficiency targets in under 2 years.
• Created support resources for simultaneous company-wide rollout of new hardware and upgrade from Windows/Office 98/97 to XP
• Introduced presentation skills, relationship building and communication training programmes for senior management
• Challenged and revised management views on appropriate use of PowerPoint in presentations. Became integral to the process of developing visual aids for management presentations to clients or at conferences, etc.
• Introduced online nuggets covering FAQs to the helpdesk. Since management was not prepared to provide resources for elearning, these were developed using PowerPoint and SnagIt and hosted within Outlook Exchange
• Participated in analysis phase of new central system developed by Capgemini. Developed user manual. Co-ordinated UAT phase. Coached assistant trainer for this project
Jun 2000 – Jun 2002 IT tutor (part time)
West Kent College IT Centre – a satellite IT centre attached to West Kent College in partnership with Tektra, offering City & Guilds courses
Primary responsibilities
• Facilitation of guided learning sessions
• Delivery of workshops
• Mentoring of tutoring team
• Invigilation of assessment sessions
• Marking
• Internal verification
Key achievements
• Designed and created workshop and presentation for enrolment drive, resulting in close to 100% sign-up rate
• Developed new workshops to address issues omitted from Tektra self-study manuals. These were introduced at all WKC learning centres
• Provided individual support to learners with special needs including one with profound deafness and poor reading skills who passed the assessment on the third attempt
• Mentored fellow tutors, several of whom had no prior teaching experience, forming a cohesive, mutually supportive tutoring team
Apr 90 – Jun 00 Freelance training consultant
Romeis Results CC (self-employed) – independent training consultancy to large corporates and third party training provider on behalf of specialist training organisations
Key achievements
• Developed tailored frontline skills courses for Peninsula Beverage (Coca Cola SA)
• Delivered regular customer service workshops on behalf of Business Presentation Skills (Pty) Ltd
• Enjoyed strong reputation with several organisations who became regular clients, including Kelly Temps, Fattis and Monis, Berger Stores
• Authored user manual for Berger Stores, backoffice system rollout. Later re-engaged to author user manual for point of sale system. On that occasion, led training aspect of rollout, including developing and running train the trainer programme. Participated in the field installation and training programme. On the strength of this project, offered the opportunity to head up new affirmative action programme (declined due to the demands of a young family)
Early career (details available on request)
• Learning Centre Co-ordinator and Trainer, AdvTech Apr 89 – Apr 90
• TV presenter/model/actress, freelance Aug 87 – Mar 89
• Admin Assistant/events organiser, Beacon Bay Municipality Jul 85 – Jul 87
• Asst Sales Administrator, CTM Frame Group Apr 84 – Jun 85