We are a dedicated and accomplished team offering a creative approach to design. We strive to combine our expertise and innovative thinking to create fresh and diverse designs, that are based on a keen understanding of architectural heritage and location.Most importantly, the needs and wishes of our clients are central to us. We listen to each brief carefully and work closely with our clients, offering our 40 years of technical and design expertise, to ensure we can maximise the aesthetic and practical potential of every project. We have a very high Planning Approval success rate, currently 99%, which is a reflection of our experience and knowledge of Planning Systems and Policies. We have developed good relationships with Local Authority Planning Departments across the North of England, which have helped us to understand the nuances of distinct Planning issues in diverse locations. We have particular expertise in working on complex designs in greenbelt, open countryside, barn conversions, Class Q, Conservation and Listed Buildings. A fully accredited member of the RIBA’s Chartered Practice, we work primarily across the North of England in areas in and around Cheshire, Manchester, Yorkshire and Liverpool. We incorporate Senior Architects, Architectural Technicians, Interior Designers and CGI Visualisation, to deliver design excellence and first rate client service. Whatever the Project, we will approach it with great enthusiasm and creativity.

I was working at The Hill Group (an international firm of head hunters and recruiters) on a maternity leave contract. My day-to-day duties involved:• Overall responsibility for the smooth and efficient running of the office in the MD’s absence.• Responsibility for an Admin Assistant who assists and reports to me.• Credit Control: chasing debtors, raising and issuing invoices, paying suppliers and checking and managing internal expenses.• Updating and maintaining various financial spreadsheets for the business, including preparing information for monthly accounts, weekly cashflow, WIP and checking/updating/verifying figures on PT Web.• Preparing payroll information monthly, ready for processing.• Conducting daily reviews and weekly management meetings with the MD.• Responsible for the arranging of all travel, accommodation, agendas and currency for the MD, staff and candidates, including registering places on international conferences.• Managing and troubleshooting all IT issues in the office.• Key point of contact with all suppliers, including stationery, landlords, MRI and IT companies.• Ensure the office is following legal procedures and manage all legal matters for the MD.• Conduct desk clears monthly with every member of staff and arrange/manage the training of staff when appropriate.• Assist in the recruiting of new staff, then reference check and onboard as necessary.• Carrying out ad hoc project management as directed by the MD.• Planning my work on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.

I was at Bodycote plc in Macclesfield on a maternity leave contract. I assisted the Company Secretary, General Counsel and HR Director and my day-to-day duties involved:• Diary Management, assuming overall control of Directors’ diaries and organising of meetings, appointments, interviews and conference calls.• Setting up various quarterly meetings and co-ordinating travel and accommodation requests from colleagues worldwide, who would be attending.• Co-Ordination and booking of all national / international travel and hotel accommodation.• During client visits, arranged lunch and refreshments as necessary.• Created, maintained and controlled confidential and secure filing systems, including all company secretarial documents and company Deed packs.• Typing of legal documents including NDAs, Share Purchase Agreements and Confidentiality Agreements etc. Co-ordinated the signing of all legal documents and witnessed as necessary.• Ad hoc research assignments and project management, including assisting and being first point of contact in the launch of the company’s Anti-Bribery and Corruption training course.• Accessing and downloading documents from Companies House website.• Uploading and data inputting to Blueprint One World management system (company secretarial).• Responsible for updating and maintaining in-house databases and spreadsheets of company properties and businesses worldwide.• Support the CEO’s PA during busy periods.

• I was responsible for the management and development of information systems across the organisation and co-ordinating all aspects of staff support connected with its delivery, including training and support to facilitate new initiatives. • This support encompassed the design, implementation, development and maintenance of admin procedures, systems, manuals, forms and associated paperwork for use at national level, to ensure a unified approach. • I strived to find better, simpler and smarter ways to improve systems and look at processes around that for the customer. • As a member of the Management Team, I oversaw generally, the provision of administrative support for the company and provided effective leadership to manage and motivate staff, to ensure the implementation of policies, procedures and reporting across the business were communicated efficiently and effectively, creating solutions to problems as they developed.• I regularly travelled for my job, visiting the regional offices around the country and attending meetings, including the monthly Operations Meeting in London, where I was responsible for noting and distributing the Minutes and following up all Action Points.• I was responsible for reviewing multi-site office functions to understand best practice and then streamlined, leading to the establishment of a Central Helpdesk function, which realised significant cost savings for the company. • Solely responsible for recruiting six administrators to the Helpdesk.• I was responsible on a day-to-day basis for liaising with and matrix-managing the Central Helpdesk function. • I was responsible for all aspects of the Weekly Reporting in the business, including collating and updating the regional information into one overall spreadsheet. I then had to disseminate and analyse this information and report on it to the Finance Director and Operations Director, who in turn reported to the rest of the business.

• Overall co-ordination of office management / control in Directors’ absence.• Responsible for the admin needs of nine Engineers.• Placement of Purchase Orders, including sourcing of products where necessary and negotiating best price / discounts.• Co-Ordination and booking of all national / international travel, accommodation and car hire.• Assist in the presentation of Company information for Pre-qualification and Tender documents including PowerPoint Presentations.• Organisation of corporate events and hospitality.• Source and liaise with suppliers, including Landlords/Cleaners/Stationers/Printers/Insurance Broker/Security/office equipment providers.• Timesheet collection / processing and cost input to cost-to-complete spreadsheets.• Purchase and Sales Ledger.• Credit Control: chasing debtors, raising and issuing invoices, paying suppliers and checking and managing internal expenses.• Accounts spreadsheet input (Excel).• Sole responsibility for running salaries, from working out payments, liaising with the accountant and relaying all info to Head Office Finance Director for payment.

LAB was a firm of Management Consultants and Chartered Accountants. As Office Manager and PA to the CEO and Directors, my duties included:• Overall responsibility for the smooth running of the office in the Directors’ absence.• I was responsible for a Group Secretary who assisted and reported to me.• Diary Management, assuming overall control of Directors’ diaries and organising of meetings and appointments.• Receive and make business calls and liaise with clients on a day-to-day basis.• Typing of Due Diligence and similar reports and creating/amending PowerPoint Presentations.• Co-Ordination and booking of all national / international travel and hotel accommodation.• Responsible monthly for the chasing of debtors by phone and in writing.• During client visits, arrange lunch and refreshments where necessary.• Organise annual company Cocktail Party for up to 100 guests.• Source and liaise with suppliers including landlords/cleaners/security/computer company• Responsible for ordering of all stationery and office consumables.• Assisting the CEO with the renewal of Company insurance policies.• Group Administrator for the BUPA health insurance policy.• Responsible for all aspects of the Company’s mobile phones and cars.• Maintaining Company personnel records.• Interview and help recruit new staff as and when required.