Experience

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  Michael page

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2000

  Consultant

  Recruitment consultant, specialising in sales and marketing roles across sectors.

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  Em (executive match)

  Jan 2000 - Aug 2002

  Head of research

  Manager of the research department within a Search and Selection business. Responsible for recruiting, training and "launching" an internal team of 15 researchers, as well as the ongoing search for, and delivery of, external candidates to colleagues.

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  Lsc group yorkshire

  Oct 2003 - Jun 2011

  General manager

  A specialist Facilities Management company, helping clients in areas of maintenance, compliance and safety. The company was also an NICEIC approved electrical contractor capable of completing all electrical works on any type of building, but specialising in safety inspection and testing.

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  Sunglass time (europe) ltd

  Aug 2011 - Jan 2013

  General manager

  Responsible for the day-to-day operations (including sales, marketing, purchasing) of a specialist fashion accessories retailer (Turnover £5m). The company faced a number of financial challenges, and my role was to "stop losses and steady the ship". This was achieved, and thereafter the role also included an exceptional project for the marketing and preparation-for-sale of the business. Sale successfully completed.This role gave full exposure to all functions within the business, and required me to save costs at every opportunity, as well as to grow revenue opportunities wherever possible. The highlights included:Full P&L and management responsibility for 25 shops, 100 staff in 10 European countries.Comprehensive review of all contracts, in particular the lease portfolio, resulting in decision to close down 5 shops and renegotiate remaining leases (resulting in 5% savings and cashflow easing)Explore any opportunities for revenue growth, including the creation of a mobile "pop-up" retail unit to increase seasonal sales (average revenue growth of 19% across months in use)A "systems improvement review" led to a redesign warehousing processes to improve stock rotation, availability and distribution (resulting in £12,000 saving)Improved internal communication with all shops and shop staff, including regular training on new, business-critical KPIs (the company survived and became an attractive acquisition to new owners). Please see below for testimonial from Aidan Cooney, which relates to my work at Sunglass Time. Show less

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  Luxottica retail

  Jan 2013 - Jul 2013

  Interim european project manager

  Transfer to new job following the successful sale of Sunglass Time (Europe) Ltd to Luxottica UK, part of a EUR 6bn turnover business, operating retail brands such as Sunglass Hut and David Clulow. In addition, Luxottica own the brands Ray-Ban and Oakley. This Interim Area manager position for Europe was essentially a large change management project to integrate one business into the other.17 shops were transferred into two distinct divisions of the parent company, and various legacy systems (IT, reporting) were integrated and explained to the new stakeholders. Enduring regional management responsibility for 7 shops across mainland Europe. Show less

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  Bizenko social enterprise

  Aug 2013 - now

  Managing director / transformation consultant / general manager

  I am a director of a social enterprise that addresses the gap between the worlds of education and employment.The purpose of the organisation is to introduce innovative, strategic thinking into career planning, an area which has traditionally been stuck in the past and which is very heavily oriented towards the application process. We support clients with option building and preparation-for-employment. For testimonials from satisfied customers, please review the seminar page of the bizenko website http://www.bizenko.co.uk/seminars/ Show less

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  Armstrong watson

  Sept 2016 - Sept 2020

  Strategic business adviser

  I work with ambitious companies, helping business owners and leaders to maximise the potential within their organisations. My goal is to help them work around their daily distractions in order to ensure efficiencies are realised. Using a range of training and development tools to identify and nurture the good things they have, and allowing owners the structure required to resolve the challenges that all business face. I run a range of activities with clients, including seminars, bespoke training and coaching to drive business performance and convert strategic plans into reality. Show less

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  Oxford innovation advice

  Oct 2020 - Jun 2023

  Strategic growth manager at oxford innovation advice

  At Oxford Innovation Advice we provide end-to-end business support that helps economies grow.As a strategic growth manager, I support our ambition to help local economies flourish by designing, mobilising and delivering programmes of business support. We work with ambitious businesses, helping them to innovate, develop and scale. Our support helps our clients to generate sustainable economic growth for the areas in which we both operate. I'm part of a team that delivers the Strategic Growth Programme support, focussing on SMEs in the Leeds City Region. Show less

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  Exemplas

  Nov 2023 - now

  Programme manager

  Innovation, leadership and growth support for SME organisations in West Yorkshire.