John Fox Email & Phone Number

Bradford, Gb

The Financial Governance and Management project is now an official programme of work. The focus of the work is to build a sustainable network of local Age UKs through: training and development of resources - building and embedding knowledge; and high level support delivered directly or through specialist third party support.

Field Based Member Of Staff Working From An Office In Bradford

Seconded to work on a new two year project incepted by the Deputy CEO, under the sponsorship of the CFO - Financial Governance and Management (Network). The projects overall aim is to support the Charity’s objective of developing a sustainable Network and focusses on two key areas: Financial information -understanding, and addressing financial risks; and, Quality and Capability of the Network’s Trustee Boards and SMTs to understand and use financial information & to enable Trustee Boards to fully recognise their roles and responsibilities in Financial Governance. The Project will devise appropriate solutions to mitigate risk, meet all parties’ needs and achieve systemic change. As Project Manager I have undertaken and developed & implemented the following:• Launched a VAT Helpline in partnership with a professional / specialist organisation• Financial Dashboard Reporting Tool to highlight historic operational performance trends and key performance indicators. Bespoke report based on public domain information for each local network partner created and shared. Dashboard adopted by a number of local Age UKs in to their own financial review process.• One – to – one support including Financial Control Reviews based on Charity Commission guidance documentation• A workshop programme focussing on Financial Governance Essentials and key issues identified through our engagement with the network such as cost recovery.

Field Based Working From An Office In Bradford.

Following a restructure now working as part of the wider Partnership Affairs team. At a headline level the role falls in to two parts: To help Age UK to understand more about its local partner network (independent charities operating under the Age UK brand); & to act as one of the key support conduits to share the wealth of knowledge & data within the network back out to the local partners. Key outcomes include:• Devised and built a rolling four year financial risk assessment model of the network of local partners. Undertaking financial and wider risk analysis of the network enabled us to better target our resources and proactively engage with our partners.• Working with the Partner Information Manager developed a local partner data and insight dashboard for colleagues across the Age UK group and supported the development of a shared service directory for the network.• Undertook financial assessments for grant and programme applications, as appropriate, and drafted financial profile reports to aid collaboration and potential merger discussions between local partners.• Commissioned the Annual Partner Information Return (PIR) and analysed and reported on the findings. Developed its key focus to highlight the collective achievements of the network based on its shared ambitions.• Created and managed the network task and finish group to support the ‘Local Database / CRM Solution’ review – solutions that enable local partners to provide certain core data in a common format. Identified potential suppliers, developed supplier criteria and review process, and implemented an RFI process using the in-house eSourcing platform. After the supplier review created guidance documentation and supporting materials and launched to the network.

Leeds, United Kingdom

Leading a new team of eight to deliver business & organisational development support to 50+ independent charities operating under the Age UK brand in the North; Developed the support offer based on knowledge and intelligence gathered; Through this engagement maintained oversight to ensure grant investment from Age UK Group was maximised; Facilitated & organised knowledge sharing; and, managing the Leeds hub office and a budget of £550,000.Managed risk – operational, financial & reputational including safeguarding & service delivery failure; Ensured managed to agreed standards and maximised on support available through the Age UK Group to manage and minimise.Analysed information, wrote & presented business cases for financial & specialist business support to ensure Partner’s future sustainability, or to support Partners to fill service gap areas thereby maintaining local outreach.Led on local communications implementing a monthly newsletter and drafting bespoke communications as required by the Age UK Group.Implemented reporting structures & utilised intelligence gathered to create peer learning & shared interest networks, events and workshops.

Barnsley

Development, management & delivery of all closure of service communications in line with contractual obligations & BIS guidance; Acting as liaison & feeding ideas into discussions with national office & BIS on service change marketing materials toolkit & communications plans. Lead workshops on intelligence & knowledge sharing to support Local Authority & Local Enterprise Partnerships strategy & service development.Planned final closure communications, integrated into overall closure plan & delivered to agreed schedule.Coordinated production and distribution of all final legacy reports for partners.

Barnsley

Lead marketing, communications & partnership team of 14 through a major period of change; implemented new ways of working to meet revised service delivery requirements with no paid for marketing budget. Wrote monthly performance and intelligence reports and delivered to the board.Produced final service period marketing and communications plan with principal focus on social, online communications & PR; Presented to & approved by the board. The plan delivered all key performance requirements well before service closureEnsured marketing and communications activity delivered all last financial year contractual key performance targetsProposed and drafted operational reference handbook to support teams understanding of new service delivery model and confirm key performance indicators.

Built effective working relationships with Local Authorities and Strategic Partners in York & North Yorkshire, acted as an ambassador for the brand & as the key conduit for partners into the organisation; Ensured partners committed to actively engage & work with Business Link through local delivery plans & service level agreements; Created from these relationships mutually beneficial activities & a flow of referrals that ensured outcomes and targets consistently achieved.From scratch built strong working relationships with local authority economic development teams & other identified key partners. Successfully developed & implemented local delivery plans with nine local authorities to ensure national service delivery model flexed to deliver on local economic priorities & to support key business sectors. Monitored & reviewed on a quarterly basis & ensured key outcomes & targets consistently achieved.Initiated joint working activity including events like Meet the Buyer for North Yorkshire County Council & district partners; &, innovative projects such as skills audits to inform future needs for the AEM sector in Scarborough & for the businesses of Ripon on behalf of the Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership.Picked – up & re - built failing partner relationship putting in place contract & performance monitoring procedures to ensure value for money was achieved.Drove & led the partnership team through the internal high performance accreditation process resulting in all four standards being achieved.

Managed a team of three to create & implement effective marketing & communications plans in line with strategic & operational objectives & brand values, raising awareness & understanding of service offer to new & trading businesses, enabling the organisation to achieve its annual targets.Utilised market segmentation & business intelligence to initiate information service product developments such as hints & tips factsheets & sector e – news to drive business engagement opportunities to successfully deliver targetsManaged £450,000 marketing & communications budget, forecasting expenditure on a monthly basis & ensuring the timely, accurate & legitimate procurement & authorisation of expenditure with a range of outside marketing & communication service suppliersDevised & implemented communication plans to identified stakeholder groups including producing the annual organisational progress reports & quarterly service updatesSuccessfully initiated online SEO & other promotional initiatives doubling website traffic significantly increasing registration rates & download activityDelivered four high profile entrepreneurial speaker events attracting over 350 potential new entrepreneurs. Maximised on investment by filming each presentation & creating a DVD. This enabled engagement with a further 1,000 trading & potential new businesses.

York

Part time (evening) post lecturing to CIM Marketing Certificate Students for the Communications module. Over 85% of students passed the module.

Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Managed UK wool research & development facility & the staff of 19 for New Zealand parent company. Oversaw business & product development for its carpet & smart textile technologies & the Wools of New Zealand & Woolmark carpet brands.Built & maintained customer relationships with leading sports brands, Nike, Infineon (O’Neil), Northface & Burton Snowboard for trialling Softswitch smart textile technologies.Organised trade exhibitions & presented at conferences in the UK, Europe & USA, supplementing this profile raising activity with PR for trade publications.Founder member & director of the Technical Textiles Executive to focus & drive collaboration in this specialist market with significant growth potential for the UK.

Bradford

An evolving role starting with responsibility for the production & purchase of marketing & promotional materials, moving on to developing the UK carpet market to encompassing duties for market & all product development in the UK and USA. The focus of this was to maintain & drive raw wool fibre usage through the supply chain on behalf of UK farmers to maximise their returns.Researched the USA carpet market, identifying & targeting manufacturers & retailers, resulting in five new ranges being launchedManaged the production of 750,000 carpet brochure inserts in to the UK home interest media & sold concept in to 20+ manufacturers who supported this high profile promotional activity with financial contributionsBuilt & maintained relationships with UK carpet retailers to ensure promotional activity had in – store visibility & introduced free - phone telephone service to deal with sampling & stockist enquires to give measurability & longevity to the carpet inserts campaign.Developed UK carpet Manufacturing brand licesees to 44 with over 290 ranges carrying the brand. Managed major market research project to evaluate potential for wool based house insulation product in the UK on behalf of the Board and project partners.

Short Course Cpd Programme (October - November 2018), Building Financial Sustainability & Re-Imagining Organisations Programme

This course helps charity professionals and Trustees to reflect on the changing landscape and develop strategies to evolve or reframe.

Focus Programme - York And North Yorkshire

Cim Professional Diploma In Marketing, Marketing And Communications

Hnd, Business Studies