Jo Forsey

Experience

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  Leeds Pre-school Learning Alliance

  Sept 1999 - Jan 2005

  Pre-school Development worker

  The PSLA supports nurseries as advisors, and head-hunted me to become a development workerin order to replicate my own small business success through advising other nurseries. Dutiesincluded business development, management and project management. Previous to this I set up my own childcare business after qualifying with a childcare diploma. Four years in thebusiness was thriving, operating five days a week and with one of the first OFSTED Outstandinginspections in Leeds. During the same time period, I also became a qualified freelance trainer. Companies such asHolistic Partnership utilised my training skills in areas including business and management, policywriting, risk assessment, marketing, innovation in the workplace, play, child protection and manycreative courses. Show less

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  Leeds Play Network

  Jan 2005 - May 2007

  Training Development Officer

  Focused on expanding the client base, creating contracts, overseeing financial and project needs,and developing new training.Designed and delivered 6 large scale training and play events across Leeds reaching 5000 +families.Trained over 1000 workers to improve their skills and knowledge.

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  Healthy Living Network Leeds

  May 2007 - May 2013

  Managing Director

  Having progressed within the charity from Community Development Worker to CEO, I wasresponsible for creating and then leading projects supporting community health, wellbeing and skillbuilding, getting back into work, budgeting also creating from scratch a local community hub and shop space in the local shopping area. Throughout this I was working to extremely tightbudgets and under heavy scrutiny from the regulator.Over my six year tenure, I developed the charity from a state of financial decline to a thrivingorganisation with many projects, a good reputation and a position of financial stability. Doing soinvolved focused leadership and project management, creating and maintaining a strong customerbase and overseeing and managing all financial proceduresBeing able to report and present in a range of formats to varied providers and restructuring and re-organising much of the financial and monitoring systems was a crucial part of the success. Going back to basics and really looking at our target audience and our unique selling points, then marketing using a variety of media was also vital. I was also able to innovate in times of need and introduce new ways of working including reaching into new markets, developing new relationships with a range of companies and setting up a social enterprise as a new funding stream. During this time, strong relationships were also built with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), Area Management and the business sector. A number of large events were also organised and promoted, linking with agencies and businesses across the city. At this time I was also a representative on a number of boards and steering committees including the CCG and WNW Health Partnership advising commissioners and being a voice for the locality. Show less

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  SUN BRANDING SOLUTIONS

  Apr 2013 - Oct 2015

  I have been responsible for delivering several strategic process changes by using Six Sigma andLean methodology to eliminate inefficiency including:A recent project across the whole business involved the replacement of an existing, timesheet,record keeping and task management system with a new system. This involved large scalescoping with all teams, streamlining and improving the present processes and then creation andimplementation of a new system. The implementation of this had to be planned and communicatedthoroughly in order to minimise any disruption and impact on the existing business processes. Thiswas done through a series of trials, evaluation and removal of any negative impacts before a fullroll-out.Analysing the current processes for recording work in progress (WIP), order book and streamliningrecording processes to ensure accurate and efficient data, invoicing and credit control.Scoping and creation of a client services portal to provide at a glance live information to theinternal and external teams in order to answer queries and support customer service.Other achievements in the rolesScoping internal and external needs, writing user stories to create the spec required fordevelopment of a new system which is responsible for resource management and managementinformation on a production department of 200+ staff across three locations and two continents.Monitoring budgets and cost management.Analysis of new applications, both internally developed and off-the-shelf to ensure the needs of thebusiness were fulfilled. Introducing new applications to the workforce and the wider client base andproviding ongoing review and support.Creating good practice guides in a range of media to ensure consistent usage of the system andprovide clear guidelines on the why, what and how of using the system.Creation of Marketing plans for launching new products in line with strategic businessobjectives.I am currently finishing my Green Belt in Six Sigma. Show less I came to Sun Branding in May 2013. The business wanted me to use my experience from otherfields to support business improvement. I achieved the following:Audited current delivery process, recommended and implemented changes across all levels ofstaff leading to efficiency gains and increased ownership and accountability across the department.Benchmarked all work items undertaken by the team, analysing costs and revenue against budget.Identified areas of low margin, proposed resolution plan and led the team in implementing them,resulting in increase in net margin per head.Created and implemented an internal cross-charging currency for all activities, in order to improvework allocation, consistency of delivery and price, and increased profitability.Created a range of appropriate reporting for management and board to ensure visibility of progressagainst KPI’s to keep the business on track. Identified and addressed areas of concern as well asreporting on them.Restructured communication systems, meetings and development plans for staff. Whilst I feel Ihave shown I am a strong capable leader, I am also a team player who has pulled the teamforward to enable change to happen successfully through involving all the team from start to finish. Show less

  • Product Owner/ Business Improvement Coordinator

    Jul 2014 - Oct 2015

  • Project Manager

    Apr 2013 - Jul 2014
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  Paperworks (Harrogate) Ltd

  Nov 2015 - now

  Chief Executive Officer