Rob Locke Email & Phone Number

Exeter, Devon

Hi Orbit is a service-focused company dedicated to empowering small businesses with skilled technical resources. We specialise in:Design and Technical Architecture: Crafting intuitive designs and robust architectures tailored to client needs.PHP and Laravel Development: Delivering scalable and maintainable web applications using industry-leading frameworks.Python and AI Development: Developing and integrating AI solutions, including data analysis, machine learning models, and automation.DevOps and Support: Providing end-to-end infrastructure management, deployment strategies, and ongoing technical support.In addition to offering bespoke services, Hi Orbit also provides SaaS products and website solutions under our brand. Our commitment to excellence ensures our clients achieve their digital transformation goals with cutting-edge technologies and reliable support.

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

As CTO and developer at OCD Solutions, I spearheaded the architecture and development of a distributed, scalable platform designed to empower powersports dealers with actionable business insights. Leveraging the Laravel suite of solutions (including Nova, Cashier, and Forge) alongside a VueJS frontend (Vuetify), I led the platform’s journey from concept to a high-quality, production-ready solution.Key Contributions:Technical Leadership: Designed and implemented a robust system architecture to support large-scale data integration and processing.Platform Development: Delivered a seamless, user-friendly interface that provided dealers with critical business metrics and analytics using Laravel Nova and a customer facing interface using VueJS (Vuetify).Third-Party Integrations: Integrated multiple dealer management systems and Google servicesAI and Automation: Incorporated image recognition using YOLO and Python for image verification.Data Processing: Developed complex data processing pipelines and optimised queries to handle large datasets efficiently and Laravel Queues to create a scalable platform.End-to-End Delivery: Managed every stage of the development lifecycle, from initial planning to deployment and ongoing maintenance.This role required a blend of strategic oversight, hands-on technical expertise, and a commitment to delivering value-driven solutions that transformed how our clients operated.

Detroit, Michigan, United States

At Financial Lock, I served as the lead developer and technical specialist, overseeing the evolution of the company’s identity theft protection platform. This role involved not just maintaining but strategically modernizing the system to align with emerging technologies and business needs.Key Contributions:Platform Modernisation: Led the transition from Laravel 5.2 to Laravel 11 through a comprehensive rewrite that enhanced system stability, scalability, and functionality.Solution Design: Reimagined platform architecture to address limitations of the original system, incorporating modern frameworks and development practices.Feature Development: Designed and implemented new features to improve user experience for both resellers and customers.Technical Strategy: Provided strategic recommendations to drive continuous improvement and ensure the platform remained competitive.DevOps and Maintenance: Managed system operations, deployments, and ongoing technical support to ensure platform reliability.This role required a deep understanding of Laravel, PHP, and MySQL, as well as a proactive approach to solving complex challenges and delivering a robust and secure platform that met the needs of Financial Lock’s diverse user base.

Exeter, United Kingdom

As the founder and director of Kodal Ltd, I led a thriving web development agency specialising in bespoke Laravel applications, eCommerce solutions, and technical consultancy for clients in the UK and USA. This role encompassed a blend of leadership, technical expertise, and business development.Key Contributions:Business Leadership: Managed all aspects of the business, including client acquisition, finance, and project management, growing the team to 12 employees.Technical Architecture: Designed and implemented scalable solutions tailored to client needs, focusing on Laravel for robust and maintainable applications.Custom Development: Delivered bespoke web applications, eCommerce platforms, and CMS-based solutions using Laravel, Magento, and WordPress.DevOps: Streamlined deployment processes and infrastructure management, ensuring secure and efficient project rollouts.Team Development: Built and mentored a skilled team of developers, fostering a collaborative work environment.

Exeter, United Kingdom

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Exeter

Wessex and associated groups of companies provide equipment rental and product sales for many lines of products from washroom supplies and equipment to watersports leisure equipment such as kayaks and standup paddleboards. This contract role as CTO my responsibilities were to design, plan, cost and implement a consolidated, streamlined system that would deliver a complete end-to-end solution (ecommerce to financial systems to warehouse management).

Twickenham, United Kingdom

WorldStores is the UK’s largest online retailer of products for the home and garden with a catalogue of over 800,000 products and a turnover in excess of £90m. Worldstores operates many websites under the “part of Worldstores” brand.Since starting at Worldstores over 3 years ago I have successfully built from a small team of seven to a large team of around thirty people (spread across seven teams). I have managed all aspects of the IT department and I have provided leadership and direction both managerially and technically. I have professionalised many areas of IT with the introduction of various processes and Agile Scrum. My responsibility covered all the diverse aspects of IT, from development to managing support teams and Infrastructure.I have been a key player for many of the IT strategies and technical direction and have proactively suggested and driven changes from technical design to evaluating and instigating migration to new platforms (both software and hardware). I work with budgets for projects and recruiting and am comfortable managing and motivating small to large teams. I work closely with business, providing regular updates and can easily bridge the the technical gap between developers and business with clear communication skills which allows me to work on all levels from boardroom to mentoring and coaching my team.

Twickenham, United Kingdom

WorldStores is the UK’s largest online retailer of products for the home and garden with a sales run rate in excess of £60m & over 200 members of staff. We offer 350,000 products to our customers, with 70% of them available to be delivered next day or day of choice. Our flagship store Worldstores.co.uk offers a comprehensive selection from all our specialist stores.

Newton Abbot

Services included developing a one-stop-shop for our customer base, orientated around our software product ResMania. These services include: PHP/JS/Web development, support, design services and web hosting.As technical lead, developer and director my objectives were to work closely with my team, enabling us to choose the correct technologies/tools and to oversee the project status. Due to the team size this had always been a very ‘hands-on’, technical based role employing my wide range of IT knowledge and skills. Responsibilities and achievements included:-• Technical Lead (responsible for application, code, database design).• PHP and JS product development.• Team and project management.• Oversee all business operation.• Business development and planning.• Implementing an automated hosting solution for our products based on Amazon EC2 and other hosted cloud services.• Linux Support.• Providing consultancy IT services.

Perpignan (Perpinyà) Area, France

Webformatique produced several online products for reservation of properties, hotels, vehicles and other rentable items.This was a diverse and interesting role that has provided extensive experience of a software business and the full software lifecycle from concept to release then finally marketing, selling and supporting products.Responsibilities and Achievements included:-• Team and project management.• Oversee all business operation• Provide software designs (UML case diagrams and GUI mock-ups).• PHP and JS product development.• Produced & maintained the company websites and online e-commerce using Joomla & Magento.• Provided regular budget and progress reports to the directors.• Business development.

Plymouth, United Kingdom

DRDL was the Southwest's largest employer and responsible for many government contracts for maritime

Plymouth

Senior Systems Analyst worked as part of the infrastructure team. Achievements included:-• Adding monitoring system that integrated with Tivoli Management suite, using shell script and SNMP to report server/infrastructure status and report to Tivoli.• Worked as part of the Exchange 2000 migration team, migrating 11,000 users from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 Active Directory and Exchange 2000. Producing scripts and automation where required in order to streamline delivery.

Bristol, United Kingdom

HP Consulting, Internet Business Acceleration group provided consultancy services to customers such as City of London Telecommunications, Tesco's, Easy Rentacar, F1 Jordans.Worked as part of the team providing support and consultation services to customers. With over 700 servers throughout Europe.

Exeter, United Kingdom

BT.com provide many online services. Short term consultancy position to advise, plan and implement a Windows based solution in order to host the AskBT service (based on the AskJeeves software) and the Broadbase service.

Plymouth, United Kingdom

DRDL was the Southwest's largest employer and responsible for many government contracts for maritime

Education record

Education record