Keeping the wheels turning - no matter the problems.

Fuse is a SaaS based Learning and Development Platform. Although Fuse has many technically competent members of staff, they are all devoted to the care and development of the platform. I was brought in to be the internal technical person for the company globally.

I was recommended to Lightfoots by a contact of one of my suppliers who also worked with them. I have managed to setup “the best IT department we’ve ever had” to quote the senior partners.Although there had been considerable investment in IT, the use of it was particularly lacking and the relied upon solution was to throw money at the problem.We have a nice clustered Hyper-V environment with multiple replica sites in and around Thame.I have so far managed to:• Save around £90,000 in printing costs by introducing PaperCut and stopping the use of individual desktop printers.• Set up two new offices – one in Thame and another in Princes Risborough – and convert users over to iGel thin clients accessing Remote Desktop Services rather than traditional PCs.• Re-build the company BCP from the ground up and test it.• Construct a complete IT DR plan with a 15 minute RPO and 4 hour RTO. Again, this was tested and found to work.• Re-align the company software licensing and get us through an intense Microsoft License Audit.• Bring in a proper IT budget and purchasing system.• Facilitate the introduction of a new helpdesk system (SysAid)• Introduce proper network monitoring.

IT Manager responsible for the installation, upkeep and maintnence of the global network infrastructure.I was headhunted by RONIN Corp to rebuild the IT department. Management had tried outsourcing all IT support but the experiment failed. The result after two years was a completely undocumented network that was almost unsupportable and required daily restarts and downtime to keep it going. RONIN is a multi-national research service with a large call centre running 24/7. It also provides research panel services to clients via bespoke web portals with a heavy emphasis on the IT and Medical professions.I had to completely rebuild and re-document the network whilst keeping everything running with the added complication of having a minimal budget to work with (my predecessors had squandered the entire IT budget and there was nothing left by the time I arrived). Despite this, when RONIN moved to new offices in January 2015 I was able to ensure the entire move took place over a single weekend with zero downtime.

IT Manager responsible for all data/information systems setup and maintenance.I was headhunted by Market Probe (a global market research company) in November 2004 and joined the company the following February. The in-house call centre ran on a 24/7 basis so it was a real challenge to find ways of performing maintenance without disrupting the business. I was responsible for the ongoing maintenance of all IT systems

Started as a DTP operator, creating all required documentation. In May 1997, I was singled out for promotion to Systems Administrator. I was at this time responsible for all CATI script programming, database cleansing and sample management as well as the IT systems and data backup. Eventually I became the company's IT Manager. Achievements whilst at Maven• Managed the company’s Year 2000 assessment project.• Developed all Procedure and Training Manuals for the IT/DP sections towards MRQSA (ISO-20252) accreditation; we passed first time.• Created the company Business Continuity Plan in conjunction with the HR and Finance Directors and wrote most of the required emergency procedures.• Designed, wrote and maintained the company Web and Intranet sites.• Trained up new members of staff: As the company grew, it became necessary for me to hand over some parts of my CATI work since my IT support duties were taking up more of my time. • Managed the budget for my department (£40,000 pa).• Performed regular appraisals of my department staff.• Held regular communications meetings with both Senior Staff and our Investors to determine future company policy and direction.• Created and ran the IT side of the induction programme for new staff• Attained FAST Silver award status for Maven. This involved my passing two formal exams and setting up an approved audit process as well as the creation of a company Acceptable Use Policy.• Increased research call centre turnover by 20% by initiating the change over to a web-based interviewing system. By the time I left, the system was accounting for 80% of the company turnover.• Developed a set of IT Service Level Agreements for both internal and external use (i.e. our internal end-users and our external clients/suppliers).• Developed a secure web-based reporting system that defied all hacking attempts by the Ministry of Defence (in order to see how secure their data would be if they became a client).

Studio based commercial and adverising photographers.Used mainly SInar 5x4 and 10x8 cameras.Studio mainly used Bowens lighting system.In-house film processingIn-house printing (colour and B/W)Clients included SmithKline Beecham, Mars, Terrys, McVities, Transworld Publications.Main duties were to setup, light and shoot packshots for clients then process film and print as required.The firm also purchased a computer system for the production of slide presentations for corporate events. I was responsible for the running of this system.