I started at Hatton Country World in August 2023 working initially cutting the extensive lawned areas using a SCAG Turf Tiger ride-on mower. I also use petrol strimmers to tidy up edges and control weeds throughout the site.During the autumn months when the grass stops needing regular cutting my duties expand to include using the leaf blower to regularly clear pathways of leaves. I also repair livestock and perimeter fencing and assist with general repairs throughout the park.Hatton Country World organises and holds various themed events throughout the year including Pantomimes, Easter, Halloween, Fireworks and Christmas events. During the set up/build and break down I assist the Events Team moving vital parts of the sets and equipment in and out of storage.

As the delivery of Design changed and became more digitally focused the industry needed more designers with skills working for a responsive market using multiple devices. Now in addition to being able to design for traditional print media gr8 Recruitment source candidates who have skills designing across websites, online advertising, social media, smartphone apps and all digital media. Although the way design is now consumed by the end user the core skills of a good designer are still key so gr8 Recruitment assess all candidates on these skills above all. In addition to creative candidates gr8 Recruitment source Studio/Production Managers, Project Managers, Account Managers/Directors and Marketeers for a variety of clients across the Creative, Advertising and Marketing industry.

After spending two years learning the recruitment ropes with Canto I decided to set up my own creative recruitment business. Working initially from home I quickly set up from scratch a client database and won new business in a very competitive market. Over the following years I developed a well known brand in creative recruitment, moving to premises in Redditch in 2003 and taking on two consultants in 2005/6 to cover account handling and marketing roles in the Midlands and the South West. Utilising my design and creative direction skills in print and digital media I created the SCR brand, corporate identity and website and also produced monthly emailers, press advertising and brochures. In addition to being a fee earning recruiter, I handled the day to day running of the business, preparing invoices, monitoring credit and cash flow, mentoring and training my team, updating blogs, editing websites and maintaining SEO to ensure good search engine rankings. I also embraced social network marketing and promoted SCR via Twitter LinkedIn and Facebook. By 2008/9 SCR was well established as one of the premier creative and marking recruitment consultancies supplying freelance and permanent staff across the Midlands and South West with permanent/freelance billings split approximately 75/25.

I moved into recruitment after 15 years in the creative industry, as this career offered me a new challenge, whilst being able to use my knowledge of the industry. My responsibilities included: Assessing candidates CVs for suitability and arranging and carrying out candidate interviews. Viewing and assessing candidates portfolios and work and giving advice to candidates. Writing and editing CVs. Matching suitable candidates to vacancies. Liaising with Candidates and Clients. Visiting clients and taking briefs. Creating new vacancies. Writing job advertising for press and internet.

I started with this company as a graphic designer/artworker and worked my way up to the position of Senior Designer, working across a variety of projects for print. As the company grew, I was involved with all areas of the design and creative industry including:• Design for print• Exhibition design• POS/POP• Sales Promotion• Web design/Multimedia• Copywriting• Production/Trafficing• Repro/print production• Meeting clients, presenting work and taking briefs• Costing projects and preparing invoices

I moved to a slightly larger studio called LSA where I met the guys who were to set up Design One in 1988.

After leaving Solihull Technical College I was lucky enough to go straight into a job with a small design studio called Robert Allen Associates.