Debbie Aston Email and Phone Number

Executive Assistant to the Company Director and chief Architect. We work with some major clients including M&S, Select Service Partner and MOTO, providing architectural services for retail outlets in railway stations, airports and motorway service stations. I have responsibility for day to day office management including being first point of contact for clients. I have a thorough knowledge of our business so am able to provide excellent customer service and build rapport. I am responsible for raising and payment of invoices, organising payroll and generally facilitating the smooth running of the business. I organise the director’s meetings, book transport and hotel accommodation and liaise with clients and contractors as necessary. I type up reports, draft letters and take minutes as and when required and will undertake site visits and attend meetings as necessary. I process online Planning, Building and Listed Building applications and specialist Network Rail Landlord's Consent applications on behalf of our Clients. Much of my client communication is via email using Office 365 and I regularly use Excel and Word and am familiar with Powerpoint. I have some knowledge of Vectorworks, a computer-aided design (CAD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software program used by architects for drafting, technical drawing and 3D modelling. I am proficient at sourcing the web for specialist products and information. I relish working flexibly and on my own initiative.

As Assistant Manager my role was very diverse and I undertook a range of responsibilities. I prided myself on providing excellent customer service, liaising with a wide range of customers both in-house and on the phone, fulfilling requests, answering queries, taking payments in cash and via a card machine. A good knowledge of literature was essential to give customers the best possible services well as good computer skills and knowledge of a range of online applications free to Library users including Ancestry.co.uk .Working as part of a tight knit team was important when organising and assisting with regular free activities including Rhymetime and Storytime, and during school holidays, art and craft sessions. I helped devise and run these events using skills obtained from previous experience as a teaching assistant. This came in use when overseeing small groups of up to six customers who attended the Library's free BBC Webwise Computer learning courses which we ran on a regular basis.It was equally important to be able to work on my own initiative between customers undertaking general maintenance of stock including shelving and filing using the Library’s Dewey system, keeping the Library attractive and inviting to customers with well-stocked, up to date displays. I also kept the customer database updated, adding and deleting library users as necessary, amending details, including records of fines payable etc. and fulfilled order requests using the Council's SAP system. We had close links with local schools and I regularly assisted in mounting displays of artwork, running seasonal competitions, and giving out prizes. Whilst there I further developed my marketing, publicity and customer care skills by successfully completing a Library specific "Frontline Opening the Book" Marketing course and attending regular training sessions.