Michael Collard Email & Phone Number

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Content management system updates for clients, and training given to clients to publish web content on various web platforms. Expertise given in relation to digital marketing. Including website, email campaign and social media analytics. Advice given to companies regarding content production in both mediums of English and Welsh.

United Kingdom

Support the Strategic Communications and Digital Team Manager with planning and developing our online digital presence both internally and externally for the Department for Economy, Science and Transport.• Manage, develop, plan and implement delivery of the online presence both internally and externally.• Provide advice on best web practice regarding website practice, structure, creating content and ensuring it is fit for purpose• Work closely with colleagues to develop content for internet and intranet ahead of publication to ensure deadlines are met. • Plan, design, create and edit both internet and intranet content in a clear and timely manner - – being willing to challenge inclusion or exclusion of content.• Provide creative ideas and advice to colleagues on digital communications including guidance on the most appropriate channel and messages.• Monitor and manage all operational digital issues including social media presence• Manage any new developments offering clear and credible advice on correct further action.• Proactively seek to develop knowledge of business areas and share own expertise and knowledge • Keep up to date with best web practice and internal guidance from the Central Web team and disseminate to other practitioners within the department.• Attend monthly Central Web Team Meetings, and Departmental Intranet Team Meetings – and provide feedback if appropriate.• Liaise Central Web Team on ad hoc projects to ensure our area of the website is up to date and running smoothly.• Support Communications Officer/s with all technical aspects of the sector e-newsletters, and internal e-newsletter, including template work and photography resizing.• Provide monthly evaluation reports on web presence to the Strategic and Digital Communications Manager.• Cover work of Departmental Web Manager and Departmental Intranet Manager as and when required.• Deputise for the Strategic and Digital Communications Manager as and when required.

United Kingdom

• Managed and coordinated communication, event, PR & Campaign requirements within and complementary to the ICT and e-Business framework.• Assisted on the delivery of the Digital 2014/2015 events. • Assisted on coordinating and delivering pan-Wales and regional events, activities including but not limited to:o coordination of exhibitors, sponsors, key supporters and speakers from initial contact through to the evento communications planning and delivery to promote event awareness and understandingo delegate acquisition including planning, database management and registrationo event logistics management including pre-event planning, staff briefings and leading on all aspects of on the day event deliveryo production of electronic information and event materials including coordinating design, copy, proofing and delivery• Coordinated and developed relationships with key stakeholders too ensure awareness and understanding of the support programme and o support delivery of the activities across the regions and o encourage collaborative working across Assembly departments and with external partners.• Developed communication and engagement channels to exploit all opportunities for the unit e.g. stakeholder events, fora, external online presences etc.• Designed and delivered support activities for the unit.• Assisted with communications for event and associated activities.• Responsible for alignment to the ICT systems where and when appropriate (including other IT systems that might be developed).• Project managed as appropriate based on the needs and demands of the team.

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Managed the strategic direction and development of wales.com and associated web sites / social media to ensure that key developments and content are in line with the international engagement agenda including the Wales brand. Produced a rolling outline plan for the development and content of wales.com and associated media – which included: • Developing new functionality in accordance with research (e.g. user testing/regular statistics) and requirements identified in consultation with colleagues providing service delivery for the international engagement agenda (e.g. country pages); • Working with others to identify and take advantage of key milestones and events which provide profile raising/campaign opportunities for Wales (e.g. London 2012: St David’s Day).Managed the delivery and updating of the plan on an ongoing basis, and provide progress reports to the Management team as required.Maintained a watching brief for Wales.cn and provide advice where appropriate to ensure that its use/development does not conflict with wales.com’s strategic direction.Managed relationships with external agencies.Managed agreed annual budget for digital activity.Oversaw day to day activity on Wales.com to ensure that content is regularly updated, making sure that what is being produced is consistent with the strategic direction and purpose of wales.comIntroduced and oversaw working arrangements for how and by whom content is authored and published to ensure that there is full absence cover. Provided advice, written guidance and training where appropriate to ensure that all colleagues who may produce content for wales.com are able to do so to the standards expected.Worked with Welsh Government overseas offices to determine when and how they use wales.com and associated social media to promote Wales and what, if any, other web/social media presence they require to represent Wales in market.Managed staff members.

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Supported the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) web team in delivering a high quality communications service to the department.• Published high-quality digital content across web and social media channels based on target audiences.• Worked on and advising others on a range of web projects from small content restructures to new websites• Wrote web content in plain English, optimised for the web and according to house style• Gained an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of subjects to make informed decisions about the best way to present information to users• Edited web content making sure it remains accurate, relevant, current and optimised both for users and search engines• Understood user needs, grappling with complicated legislation and turning it into clear, clean, crisp web content that still has enough depth to be useful• Advocating for the user and acting as a guardian for the site, making tough decisions and pushing back on change requests that don’t contribute to meeting user needs and incorporating change requests that do• Managed relationships with subject matter experts to make sure content is accurate and advise on the principles of good content design• Managed a small team of web editors and lead on planning, prioritising and allocating work• Reviewed the work of other editors to make sure consistency and excellence is maintained across the site• Monitored and updated social media platforms channels and responding - where appropriate - to social media posts• Other reasonable duties related to delivery of the e-Communications Strategy as requested by the Departmental Web Manager

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Supported the management, development and delivery of Visit Wales’ Digital Marketing Platforms.Lead on the day-to-day delivery of an ‘always on’ marketing monitoring tool.Aggregated core marketing statistics into one dashboard and providing insights and report to key stakeholders.Contributed towards the effective digital marketing and distribution of tourism products. Worked with Visit Wales colleagues and a variety of public/private sector partners including the tourism industry to ensure that appropriate digital marketing campaigns are developed and rolled out to the consumer• Managed the aggregation of data feeds from numerous marketing sources into one centralise ‘always on’ measurement and marketing evaluation tool.• Monitored and evaluate the data and provide regular meaningful insights and recommendations to the wider marketing teams.• Supported the Web Technical Manager in the ongoing delivery on projects related to the National Tourism Open Platform, a large scale searchable database of Welsh tourism products.• Maintained the integrity of the data within the database and provide support for applications linked to the database. Prioritising service requests, faults and change requests calls.• Communicated with customers on the progress and issues associated with support calls and enquiries.• Wrote features and blogs as well as update and maintain existing content. Ensuring content is accurate, appropriate and subject to a thorough sign off process.• Aggregated a range of online content including images, video, copy and ensure it is categorised and has appropriate metadata tag information.• Co-ordinated the creation and implementation of web content to be distributed ‘on and off page’ – in bought, earned, and owned media. Thereby manipulating the network to drive traffic to relevant Wales content and increase awareness of Wales.

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Provided advice and guidance to content contributors to ensure that their internet and intranet content is quality assured and complies with central standards, defined DDA/W3C compliance checkpoints and Welsh Language Scheme.• Lead on the general content maintenance for the DCELLS web presences in compliance with central standards, defined DDA/W3C compliance checkpoints and Welsh Language Scheme. • Managed the general content maintenance for the DCELLS intranet.• Lead on the general content maintenance for the Learning Skills Observatory (LSO) website.• Reviewed and repurposed internet and intranet content where required to comply with DCELLS house-style and accessibility regulations.• Migrated legacy content from one content management system (CMS) to another where necessary.• Managed lifespan of online content from its creation through to its archived state.• Ensured the consistency and functionality of the DCELLS sections of the Welsh Assembly Government’s website adhering to the Central Web Team's Quality Assurance guidance.• Monitored and evaluated content contributor activity and performance.• Managed the DCELLS web team e-mailbox and Weblog database.• Other reasonable duties related to delivery of the e-Communications Strategy as requested by the Departmental Web Manager.

Higher National Diploma, Psychology, Ongoing

Certificate Of Higher Education, Foreign Languages, Literatures, Linguistics And Psychology

Studied Italian and Spanish at beginner level. Am now studying the 'Investigating Psychology' module. Once completed I will be awarded.

Certificate Of Higher Education, Music Technology, 3Rd Class