Sam Tomson Email & Phone Number

England, United Kingdom

Using both my vast experience and love of both photography and videography, I started to create content for social media platforms alongside my role at Microsoft which then rapidly grew throughout 2020 lockdown when I was able to focus on engaging and bringing together a community with similar passions for various pop culture fandoms. Over the years I have worked with brands to bring products to life with fun, engaging, high quality photography and videography content across multiple platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest.As a result, content creation is now a fundamental part of my day-to-day life with a loyal community of over 30,000 people. This in turn has given me incredible opportunities to work with a number of high-profile brands such as Disney UK, LEGO, Warner Brothers, Sneak Energy and many more!

Reading, United Kingdom

Business Development Manager working within the Microsoft Surface Commercial team, enabling Partners to optimise their pipeline and provide access to the necessary resources to actively grow their hardware and software solutions.• Manage and support current Microsoft Partners and E-tailers.• Analysing current pipeline status with a number of registered deals, enabling Partners access to resources that will assist on forecasting and closing the deal.• Working with Global Authorised Device Resellers to grow their Microsoft Surface proposition and driving further opportunities within the customer.• Increase sales for Microsoft Partners across multiple products and services.• Delivering both virtual and in-person training on a variety of Microsoft hardware and software solutions such as Surface devices, M365 and Autopilot.• Work alongside Marketing Teams to develop campaigns and increase both sales and partner engagement with Better Together Sales Academy.• Supported and delivered training at a number of large scale events such as BETT 2020 and ITC20.• Develop and implement a number of projects encouraging digital transformation and growth.

Aligned to and responsible for visibility and growth of the Nokia Mobile brand within Dixons Carphone consumer retail and development of vendor upskilling programmes.• Collaborated with Carphone Warehouse to gauge their needs for an inclusive engagement programme, developed and implemented a 6 month social media proposal to drive interactions with our training application and ultimately increased sales throughout the wider store estate.• Developed and implemented a 3 month social media training programme in partnership with Google to promote and train Retail Professionals on the Google Family Link App, linking that back to Nokia devices and tracking uplift and ROI with sales.• Instrumental in the design of Gamification training, regionalised and delivered to key device sellers in Philippines, Southeast Asia. Utilising data from these call centres, I was then able to produce a ROI report to showcase the training efficacy to our Client. • Attended weekly meetings at Carphone Warehouse HQ (Acton) to analyse device sales, identify areas of improvement and implementation of upcoming marketing and promotional activity. This information was then used to structure the Field Team activities and training.• Planned, budgeted and delivered major calendar events such as CPW Peak Conference, Regional/Divisional Manager conferences and various Call Centre activities, completing all relevant Risk Assessments and working effectively with 3rd party agencies to ensure success.• Produced several detailed Excel documents to track progress of the Social Community Projects using data obtained through our training app, converting that into ROI presentations for the Client.• Built relationships with key Divisional Contacts, working with them to plan their end goal and propose how our brand could assist in driving those numbers.

Midlands, United Kingdom

Established the foundations of a returning name in mobile with the launch of both new smart phone technology and the redesign of old classics.• Creating awareness and advocacy of a returning brand, collating feedback from product performance and insight on what could be improved.• Meticulous time management and journey planning to ensure equal time distribution and support between both registered companies and individual stores.• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Regional Management, Store Management and RSP's from an estate of 50+ stores at any one time.• Utilising strong relationships in store to maintain brand compliance.• Reactively identifying fluctuations in store performance and tailoring a training plan to stabilise and improve this over a set period of time.• Heavy presence on social media to directly engage, interact and showcase work to the Client, building relationships and addressing and issues/questions that may arise.• Developed and showcased several on-brand key product demonstrations to peers to deliver as a part of our in-store training.• Proactively creating and delivering on-brand training content for product launches and campaigns.• Organising, creating and delivering larger group training sessions, utilising Gamification to make the sessions engaging and memorable.• Supporting and communicating with the UK team to ensure we all work efficiently and gather feedback on best practice in stores, taking the lead on Nokia Showcase reports where I curated weekly content to send to the Client.• Designer and Administrator of the Field Team’s social method of feedback, designed and structured by myself and the responsibilities delivered to the team during our launch event.

Midlands, United Kingdom

Improving the retail experience for both customers and employees, focusing on 4 key accounts - Windows, Office, Surface and Xbox within a number of retailers.• Meticulous time management and journey planning to ensure equal time distribution and support between each store.• Building and maintaining strong relationships with influential management and RSP's from 20+ stores at any one time.• Proactively identifying fluctuations in store performance and tailoring a training plan to stabilise and improve this over a set period of time.• Heavy presence on social media to engage and interact with Active Sellers, Evangelists and Store RP’s, building relationships and addressing and issues/questions that may arise.• Proactively delivering training content for product launches and campaigns.• Utilising strong relationships in store to maintain brand compliance.• Management of the 'Microsoft Elite' brand advocacy programme within my territory which included recruiting, 1-2-1 mentorship and actively engaging them in projects both inside and out of working hours.• Organising, creating and delivering larger group training sessions, utilising Gamification to make the sessions engaging and memorable.• Lead Territory Manager on Microsoft Showcase reports, curating content from the UK team to be sent directly to Microsoft each week.- Supported several supplier events such as Microsoft Meet Up’s, creating interest and promoting the events to store RP’s as well as ensuring an enjoyable evening with product demonstrations and assistance for the Evangelist team.- Presented public-facing live streams.- Successfully completed Learning and Development workshops (including soft skills).- Designed, created and delivered my own independent gamification training that utilised store fixtures to support learning - this went on to be adapted and used by the Microsoft Global Training Team.

West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

As a Microsoft Elite Ambassador I improved brand advocacy for Windows, Office, Surface and Xbox within my store which was heavily competitor-focused, restoring balance and hitting KPI's set by both Head Office and Microsoft.• Progressed from a Christmas temporary contract to Microsoft Elite Ambassador within 3 months of employment.• Provided regular updates via social media (Yammer) on key wins and outstanding performance in store which was visible to Senior Level Executives.• Chosen to be the stores Microsoft Specialist, which entailed colleague training on both software and hardware, as well as organising and delivering training events outside of working hours.• Created learning resources and delivered product training.• Take responsibility of the Computing Department, ensuring that it is compliant to store plans, including all merchandising and advertisement of key weekly deals. • Assisting in the training of new employees, making them familiar with company policies, procedures and products as well as recognising strengths and areas of improvement throughout the team.• Monitored both store and individual performance, making sure that the team were hitting KPI's and providing extra coaching and support where needed.• Dealing with customer concerns and recognising the best available solution. • Providing all customers with an outstanding level of service, taking them through the Customer Journey to recognise what product is best suited to them.

West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

Tamworth, United Kingdom

• Developed important leadership skills as part of a team, planning and organising the daily duties and then delegating them where necessary.• Carrying out daily duties, while demonstrating the ability to multitask to ensure safety and wellbeing of guests.• Strong communication skills between other colleagues/supervisors/managers.• Problem solving in a swift yet calm manor to ensure that the issue is dealt with properly.• Ability to work in all weathers, as this is an outdoor role with plenty of walking and being on your feet throughout the day.

Ba Honours Degree, Contemporary Creative Practice: Photography, Second Class Honours Upper Division (2:1)

Foundation Degree, Digital Media Production: Photography, Distinction