Education

MA Design Management - Distinction

DeMontfort University, School of Design and Manufacture

1994 - 1995

BA (Hons) Industrial Design & Marketing - 2:1

University of Teesside, Institute of Design

1991 - 1994

2 "A" Levels, 9 "O" Levels

Beverley Grammar School

1982 - 1989

Structural Engineering Course (Evening Class)

York Technical College

1999 - 2000

Employment History

April 2006 to date: Technical Designer, Alifabs Cabinets & Ancillaries Ltd

Alifabs is an established company, which provides Cell Site construction services to the mobile telecomms industry. This role is a senior appointment in a new division of the business which is based in Malton, North Yorkshire and is focussed on the design and manufacture of cabinets and ancillaries providing infrastructure products and solutions for communications, power and other customers. This outward facing role includes whole process management from initial concept discussions to volume delivery for customers such as T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2. Each project requires a multi-disciplinary approach in order to manage the design of structures, power distribution, data and signal cable systems, thermal management and transport packaging.

Key responsibilities include:

- product concept development, with the aim of improving product quality and margin over life cycle;

- delivery of product information in appropriate formats to customers and sub contractors;

- specifying and sourcing new components, managing long-term component supply strategy including potential new supplier evaluation and selection;

- organising workflow and managing suppliers to meet customer delivery deadlines; and

- training of assembly personnel as part of new product introduction.

As part of the expansion of Alifabs into this new business sector, I have been involved in planning and establishing a new production facility as well as managing personnel, equipment and logistics.

August 1999 to March 2006: Portastor

Portastor is part of the Shepherd Group and specialises in bespoke equipment buildings and street side cabinets.

November 2000 to March 2006: Project Manager, New Product Development

The role focussed on long-term project work which aimed to improve margin by introducing lower unit cost designs, reducing processing time and raw material usage, numbers of components, assembly time, and improving structural / mechanical performance. I was responsible for developing and carrying out test programmes to ensure that new products met British Standards. Designed and tested an innovative composite building concept based on roll formed components.

Within this period I was seconded from September 2003 to March 2004 to manage a team of six working on a series of composite Stainless Steel 60-year life electrical hardware housings for rail side sites including several multi section complexes and BR1615 trackside buildings (end customer - Network Rail). I was also seconded from October 2002 to March 2003 to work on a Site Secure Personnel Accommodation project for our sister company, Portakabin.

August 1999 to November 2000: Project Engineer for Enclosure Solutions

I was responsible for all design and technical work relating to enclosure solutions. I managed a team of draughtsmen and up to six projects concurrently. For a growing part of the overall business logical and efficient work methods and processes had to be devised and implemented. Authored a manufacturing standard to provide a benchmark reference for all departments. Hardware integration work led to authoring manuals detailing electrical power, RF, and link configurations. As part of this position I worked closely with the Sales Engineer and with T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, Ericsson, and Nortel to ensure their needs were fulfilled.

March 1996 to August 1999: Product Designer, PTI Limited

The company specialised in design and assembly of bespoke disk drive enclosures, producing injection moulded plastic, sheet steel, and low technology electronic product for volume manufacture.

This role focussed on solely owned projects for OEM and in-house external drive enclosure products. Detailed project briefings were regularly taken directly from the Managing Director and I designed a wide range of metal, plastic, low tech. electronic, consumable and packaging parts. I prepared costed bills of materials prepared for precisely specified products. Each product package was pursued in detail against deadlines, and commercial restraints in this BS ISO 9001 registered company. I was responsible for managing sub-contract component manufacture in the UK, Far East, and the US for products requiring approval by safety assessors e.g. UL and CSA.

Key Skills

o A hands-on achievement driven, methodical approach to Project Management

o Good communication at all levels

o Commercially aware

o Able to planning for long-term goals without losing sight of details

o Apply a goal oriented, calm approach to challenges, facilitating commercially focussed progress

o Thorough approach to technical detail, documentation, and cost monitoring

o Business concept/process development awareness

o Utilising IT systems and software experience to maximise their benefits in efficiency and work control

o Self-starter, working efficiently alone or with a team

o Welcome challenges and learning, to promote business advances