Optima Training (UK) Limited have been sparking great business ideas with coaching, meeting facilitation and training since 2003.We work with clients who share our values and behaviours so that we can build a successful business, where success is being able to look ourselves in the mirror and like who we see, find the right balance between work and play and still be doing this ten years from now.Whether it’s coaching, training or meeting facilitation – our aim is for you to have lightbulb moments that will impact on your business, your teams and individual performance.That’s why we facilitate the kinds of meetings you want to attend, deliver leadership and management training that relates to the real world (your world) and do the kind of coaching that impacts upon you and your business.

Following an organisational restructure, my role was transferred into the JLR Learning Academy within the Human Resources function, which broadened the remit from Purchasing to include the other professional specialisms of IT, Finance, HR, Legal and Commercial.This was a challenging time for the business, resulting in significant reductions in training budgets. Consequently, my own focus shifted to the development of digital content for deployment on the learner experience platform, and the design and development of eLearning solutions. This included:• Creating a range of digital materials and associated assets to support the roll out of a Lean Thinking programme within Purchasing, which was intended to improve commercial activities and supplier management post nomination. • Working with stakeholders across Engineering, Purchasing and Supplier Technical Assistance, I created two eLearning modules to support the implementation of new approaches for the inspection and reporting of production parts. • Producing an eLearning course covering the ‘Fundamentals of International Trade’ to raise awareness of the impact of Brexit on Customs, Duty, VAT and the correct use of Incoterms®.

Working within the Business Transformation and Operations team of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to develop and deliver new classroom and e-learning. The focus was technical training suitable for a diverse learner community within the Purchasing Function.As this was JLR, most of the work is confidential. However, during this time I was able to deliver significant cost savings for the delivery of core curriculum items. This included streamlining the Purchasing Induction from a two-days event to a single day, reducing the delivery team from fourteen to five people. Average feedback for the session was improved from 86% to 93% as a result. Cost efficiency of Strategic Thinking was improved by 50% having demonstrated that this two day course could be delivered by a solo trainer - having been designed for two facilitators. I was responsible for the design, development and deployment of technical e-learning for a range of subject areas. At the same time, I took responsibility for the design and delivery of the Purchasing pages within the new Learning Academy - an online collaborative learning platform launched to support organisational learning objectives.

MS (Distribution) UK Limited offer professional wireless and networking solutions. Started on an interim-basis through Optima the nature of the work undertaken, and to comply with IR35 requirements, this became a full-time role.Responsible for improving operations, the initial focus was to help transition to a new operating model after the retirement of a founding Director. Unfortunately, my time here also coincided with one of the most turbulent and difficult periods in the Company’s history, and many of the important change programmes we sought to implement could not be completed due to lack of funds. Initially intended as a five-year commitment, the decisions to reduce the workforce by a third and sell a majority share to a third party investor, in an effort to bring financial stability, meant that the Company could no longer justify my position and we parted ways before our journey could be completed. Work included:Introducing new methods of performance feedback and employee recognition, staff empowerment initiatives and putting staff reporting and feedback mechanisms in place to deliver improved employee engagement. This contributed to being nominated as Employer of the Year in the local Cherwell Business Awards, being shortlisted as a finalist in the first year of entry.Overhauled the approach to training scheduling and delivery, renegotiating associate agreements and providing better visibility of future courses to customers. In addition to formulating Company strategy on behalf of the Directors and translating this into actionable operational plans, I also oversaw the management of the warehouse, working with the Supervisor team to introduce new ways of working to increase efficiency. I introduced a more structured approach to reporting and worked to introduce best practice across many facets of the organisation, including establishing some fundamental approaches to financial reporting and management.

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-terrain vehicles and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques. My role here involved helping to embed new skills and ways of working within the Purchasing function; contributing to the continued growth and success of the business. Responsible for developing training plans, content and materials creation, and supporting the delivery of in-house training within a dynamic environment. Work included:Facilitating a two-day session to induct new staff into the Purchasing function. The success of the business required us to deliver inductions for thirty to fifty people each month over an eight month period. Developed and delivered a Purchasing Orientation session as part of the Graduate intake. The session and all associated materials were created specifically for that cohort and received very positive feedback from attendees. Developing video and other distance learning materials for ongoing support of new starters within Purchasing, shared via internal content platforms.

Project manager within the Irfab research team of the PRA. Undertaking multi-client and single client studies on surface coatings and related materials. Work included:Global Industrial Coatings Market 2010 – 2020 Responsible for project management of study examining impact of recession on the global industrial coatings market. Produced seventeen separate market chapters as part of the work. Introduced new report structure, more robust data collection methods and more detailed forecasting of coatings demand. Responsible for project management of team, third party contractors and research partners. Also provided editorial services and lead copy writing.

Working as an Operations Manager within Pera Business Intelligence, a team of 30 information specialists providing secondary market research to clients in both the public and private sectors.Responsibilities included: management of key commercial projects, delivery of staff development and training, project reporting and liaison with key programme stakeholders.Work included:Fiscal Stimulus InitiativeWorking on UKTI Programme to assess opportunities presented by national government funding to offset impact of recession. Provided Specialist cover during initial programme phase and produced initial report on opportunities for UK business in Australia. Responsibilities included: working with internal management team, liaison with UKTI team, managing production of research reports to UKTI Specialist Team, resolving internal team issues in support of Programme Manager and production of final programme report to UKTI.Assessing Production Facility LocationsLed the team responsible for assessing potential locations for a new factory in Europe on behalf of US company. Responsibilities included: liaison with internal stakeholders, undertaking research to support project, producing reports to client management team, liaison with national inward investment teams and facilitating funding support.R&D Partnerships PEFRedesigned the Partner Enquiry Form (PEF) to make more accesible to overseas audience. Work conducted on behalf of the UKTI and involved liaison with client stakeholders.

Employed on fixed term contract to provide project management services to the commercial division of the University.Work included:HEFCE Employer EngagementProvided project management of initial Skills for Business programme - a £4.2 million project funded by HEFCE to promote employer engagement. Responsible for establishing project setting and reviewing budgets, reporting to Steering Committee and other key stakeholder groups, liaison with Heads of Faculty, key academic staff and establishing Employer Engagement team. Resulted in validated framework for the development of commercial offerings.Website DevelopmentProvided project oversight of development and implementation of a new commercial services website. Responsible for liaison with internal stakeholders and web design teams. Managing third party contractors and copy writing.

Managing Director of a company developing and supplying tailored vocational support materials to the Further Education sector. Working with Colleges to maximise the potential and impact of work-based learning under the Train to Gain initiative.Responsibilities included: business development, liaising with college senior managers to define content requirements, liaison with education assessors to ensure appropriate levels of provision, managing team of copy writers, creation of content and publication of tailored learning materials.

Working within the Pera Knowledge Centre to implement quality processes and systems. Using awareness of secondary research techniques to develop successful client relationships and tailoring service delivery to specific requirements.Responsibilities included: maintaining quality of all client output, managing key client accounts, identifying new revenue opportunities and developing new business.

After successfully delivering a 67% increase in contract value during my secondment to British Airways, I was offered the opportunity to work with the Account Management team developing new client opportunities on behalf of the Pera Knowledge Team. During this time, I successfully secured new business accounts with organisations such as Virgin Atlantic, British Gas and Visteon, achieving the highest sales contribution in value terms and securing high levels of repeat business by developing business relationships based on realistic deliverables.

Undertaking a range of secondary research projects on behalf of commercial clients and public sector programmes. Also involved in the development and delivery of training under the Information4Innovation programme, which was funded by the East Midlands Development Agency.Work included: product market-readiness assessments, validation of product development funding requests, CSR supplier audits, global sourcing and verification of supply chains, provision of market overviews and making recommendations on market entry strategies.

Seconded to British Airways Procurement research team. Responsible for providing business intelligence services across a range of product categories within the airline.Work included: provision of economic forecasting data, selection and validation of price variation formulae indices, providing business intelligence for category planning and managing information flows between all relevant stakeholders.

Provision of secondary research and technical reports to clients of the Membership Division. Work included: customer identification, supplier financial analysis and technology market overviews.

Provision of restaurant management and customer services. Worked in various stores around the North of England. Implemented innovations in staff development resulting in Burnley becoming a regional centre of excellence for training and development of new management recruits.Responsibilities included: stock management and control, staff recruitment, staff development, work scheduling and shift planning, health and safety and local marketing strategies