I'm a totally genuine, honest and down to earth lad that is very open, non bitchy with a mature outlook on life. I like to think I have a great sense of humour, even tho a little smutty at times and quite blunt and direct. I'm told I'm fun to be around and most people find me a source of entertainment. I have a bit of outrageous side that only close mates get to see, but I can often be seen with me top off, jeans far low low, not leaving much to the imagination, grinding with a friend or two in some bar or club lol. I can be a little mad at times, but its all in the name of fun!
I'm a very romantic, loving, caring and sensitive guy & adore cosy nights in, wrapped up in the arms of special man.
I put a LOT of effort into making good friendships, as I'm a firm believer in what comes around goes around. Our friends after all, are the hub of our lives and quality people brings about a quality life.
I'm independent, strong minded, driven and motivated. I know what I want out of life and try my hardest to obtain it, without loosing sight of the strong set of morals and principle that guide my life.
I love to to spent time with friends, enjoying their company, but at the same time, being independent I'm not scared of my own company.
I tend to like being in control, but I'm always able to listen to others points of view and ideas, take them onboard and compromise when needed.
I love watching more or less any thing apart from soaps ie Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller and Comedy movies, and even cartoons and animated adventures. Always better when surround by a few good friends, a Chinese and a couple of bottles of wine.
As well as having close relationships with friends I also have a strong relationship with my family, especially my mum, and although I don't get to see her or the rest of my family much I miss them all and care about then. My mum is probably my best friend, I can trust and rely or her like no other and her love is unconditional. We get on really well and I can tell her anything without being grudged, and I think I have my mum to thank for being who I am and I'm proud of that, so thanks mum!
I don't take drugs, smoke or even drink that much, and I don't consider that making me boring, rather it shows that I am content with myself and my life.
I prefer my friends to be people similar minded although I do have friends which do some or all of the above, so I wont rule anyone out for being a friend as long as your habits are not pushed on me or I'm judged for not doing it. Everyone needs different friends, party friends and those to rely on, I am more the latter, tho I can still be found stone cold sober, top off dancing on the stage in Essential so I can party when I want too :-)
A lot of my time is spent on my business, which so far I run completely by myself, so I take on the role of: Web designer (Dreamweaver & FrontPage & Actinic), Accountant (Sage Line 50 Financial Controller), Customer Services, Marketing, Stock Control & Packer and everything else in between. Its hard work and rather complicated, but fun at the same time as I'm constantly learning and improving on things.
Apart from the gym, I enjoy laser quest, skiing, ice skating, cinema, eating out and of course going to the pub/club. I consider myself far from being a scene queen, but I do love dancing to decent music.
I have a strong interest in computers and modern technology, a bit of a gadget man ! but far from being a geek!
My main passion however is in the field of horticulture, I love growing tropical, rare and unusual plants (Banana's, Tree Ferns, Ginger lilies, Orchids etc) and I used to have a 40ft undercover tropical garden. (Still waiting to be taken away to the Eden Project)
I'm also interested in Health & Beauty and have extensive knowledge on herbal supplements and alternative medicine as well as the biological makeup of the body and its functions. I'm very keen on the anti-ageing products out there both supplemental and beauty product wise.
I have also done a spot of modelling and have written over 70 poems, one published so far. (all on this site)
I love watching Sci Fi too :-) most things go lol and because I don't get much spare time I like a bit of chill out time and escapism.
Recently I have been wanting to try or do different things, from visiting museums, art galleries, national parks, zoos etc to out door pursuits such as horse riding, caving, camping and stuff like that.
Below is a copy of my CV showing many of my other skills and knowledge. Personal Statement Ø Key Skills : Pro-active, open vision, creative thinker, drive & initiative, communication, conviction & dedication team player, empathy, flexibility and planning and organising. Ø My Goals : Quality focus, customer satisfaction, work well under pressure, achieve deadlines & the progression my career. Ø Personal Skills : I’m a happy, cheerful person who is polite and genuinely caring and considerate. IT SkillsØ PC building, upgrading and hardware configuration.Ø Installing, configuring & use of operating systems: Windows 95 & 98, WinNT 4 (Workstation), 2000 (Workstation), 2000 (Advanced Server), XP (Professional Workstation)Ø Software Knowledge (Various versions i.e. 97, 2000-2004): MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS-Access, MS-Publisher, MS-Front Page, MS-Power Point, MS-One Note, MS-Outlook and Outlook Express, MS-Schedule+, MS-Works, MS-Internet Explorer (inc. Internet use and email), Quicken 6, 98, and 2000 (Home and Small Business Finance Package), MS-Money, Lotus: Notes, Aim-Pro, 123 & Organiser, Act 3, 2000, 5-6, Actinic ECommerce Package, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Sage Line 50 Financial Controller, Various linking software between Actinic & Sage and various other applications.Ø Other: Centrex telephone system inc. CCMIS, Wallboards & Racal recording equipment.Ø Basic Skills: HTML, web design & Google optimisation Other Experience, Skill & Knowledge (Within current Role)Ø Initiating, progressing and completing projectsØ Initiating meetings with other business areasØ Attending meetings on behalf of my department or in place of Team ManagerØ Create, update and manage shift rotaØ Create, maintain and improve on business and personal relationshipsØ Make improvement suggestionsØ Pro active approaching to workØ Train and develop less experienced colleaguesØ Attend and run open forums with our customers Education And QualificationsØ 2002-2002 - N.V.Q Level 2 in Customer Services (Completed within Norwich Union)Ø 2000-2000 – Wordnet Administration (Completed within Norwich Union)Ø 1999-1999 - CLAIT 2 in Business Integrated Systems. (Norwich City College (Evening Class))Ø 1994-1995 - A’ level in Biology & English (Fakenham College)Ø 1993-1993 - N.V.Q Level 2 in Business Administration (Fakenham College)Ø 1992-1993 – G.C.S.E’s: (Fakenham College) English Literature – C English (Oral Communication) – 3 Mathematics – C Business Studies – EØ 1988-1992 – G.C.S.E’s: (Fakenham High School) Science: Agricultural – B Science: Dual Award Part A – C Science: Dual Award Part B – B Music – E French – F Further TrainingØ Microsoft Word 97 (Introduction) 11.3.98Ø Microsoft Word 97 (Intermediate) 20.3.98Ø Microsoft Windows NT (Getting Started) 13.3.98Ø Microsoft Windows NT (Up and Running) 18.3.98 Home Study / Correspondence College.
CII Certificate – IT for Insurance Professionals. (Starting soon)
Employment
June 1st 2004 – May 1 st 2005 (Permanent - Full Time)
Genesis Communications – Technical & Data Support Technician
Responsibilities:
Ø To act as direct first line support for technical & Data issues on mobile and data devices products & services offered by Genesis Communications.
Ø To act as second line support for other members of staff who have queries on mobile & data devices.
Both roles require a working understanding of mobile and data products, as well as in house system usage.
It is necessary to liaise with various departments within the company,y as well as external technical support teams from network providers (Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and Orange) in order to achieve resolution of customers queries/problems.
August 19th 2000 – October 3 rd 2003 (Permanent - Full Time)
Norwich Union (Customer Support Technician within Business Solutions Supporting Norwich Union Direct
Service Line Responsibilities:
(The below has been simplified due to the complexity of the job)
Ø To support 10 NUD Call Centres country wide in a virtual environment dealing with system problems of various nature over the phone and on site.
To Log ALL calls to the helpdesk on fault reporting software (Assyst)
To diagnose and resolve calls on first contact or:
1) Raise and pass to colleagues in relevant call centre if on site attendance is required
2) Raise and pass to Second Line Support Teams
3) Attend on site if required within own Call Centre
4) Raise and pass to own job queue for further investigation
Ø To complete job requests sent via Lotus Notes within SLA’s and manage own caseload.
Ø To Liaise with 2 nd Line support teams, any other areas of the business and the customer, keeping all parties fully aware of job progress with any ETA’s.
Ø To keep all records and notes up-to-date.
Ø To maintain and improve current procedures and to try to be pro active
Ø To take ownership of MAJOR Incidents and liase with service management to seek prompt resolution
Ø To allocate and delegate work to colleagues on specified ’Service’ days
Ø To cover other sites when colleagues are on holiday/sick etc.
Ø Supporting Software:
§ Microsoft: Word, Excel, Access, Power Point
§ Lotus: Notes, Ami Pro, 123, Organiser
§ In house applications: i.e. CTI (Computer Telephony Interface) and others
§ Mainframe applications (various applications used with NU and NUD) including Huon V4
§ CCMIS (Call Centre Management Information System) – Used to control all aspects of calls coming into the call centre.
Ø Supporting Hardware (inc. Set up):
§ Printers (Lan, Mainframe and Local)
§ PC’s, Monitors and peripherals
§ Telephones & Headsets
§ Wall Boards (Display for chosen call information generated from CCMIS)
§ Wordnet Machines
Ø To set up and maintain all aspects of staff profiles, both Lan and Mainframe. This means setting up staff with various accounts and administration levels to enable them to use the many different applications available at varying levels depending on job type.
June 19th 2000 – August 18 th 2000 (Permanent - Full Time)
Norwich Union (UKGI(I)Claims Intranet Co-ordinator/UKGI(I)Claims Error Management Prioritisation)
Intranet co-ordinator responsibilities:
Ø Point of contact for new site requests within UKGI(I) Claims
Ø Decision - The Pulse(Communication) or Einstein(Reference)
Ø Guide site developer/administrator through site request process.
Ø Check to make sure there is no duplication of information on The Pulse/Einstein
Ø Monitor the sites usage (where possible)
Ø Share best practice with other co-ordinators
Ø Input into future Intranet developments and prioritisation.
Ø Promote and encourage usage of sites relevant to business function
Ø Monitor site development
Ø Locate and report site errors to site owners to maintain site functionality
Error Management - Prioritisation responsibilities:
Ø Locate and prioritise Claims related errors via N200 Release Control
Ø Attend weekly meetings to discuss and prioritise above
April 1st 1997- June 18th 2000 (Permanent - Full Time)
Norwich Union (Personal Incident Manager - Barclays Insurance Claims Department)
Ø I am responsible for the control of my workload. Reviews for claims have to be set for realistic time scales but kept within easily manageable parameters. A proactive approach to claims handling is employed.
Ø Good customer relations have to be maintained in order to reduce complaints and retain customer satisfaction. Phone audits are used to ensure consistency, manner, helpfulness and various other pre-determined criteria.
Ø Technical knowledge is also vital in this job.
I have had further training beyond my position, in the areas of supervision and management, including Media Capture and the Esperant system. I also have the responsibility for working out staff’s working hours. I have been a member of the Process Improvement Forum (PIF), which is responsible for the management of continual improvements within the claims department. New ideas are researched and implemented. I have also been actively involved in providing systems demonstrations to visitors within the department.
I have also been the liaison manager between the Barclay’s Claims Department and The Claims Control Consultants, our computer repair and supplier company. I mediated between the two and disseminate information to the department as well as take up complaints and issues regarding the company.
I was also responsible for the proposal, setting up, designing and implementation of a website for the Barclays Claims Department on behalf of Norwich Union, Barclays and Barclaycard, this includes designing presentations and information packs for the proposal of the site.
I was responsible for all areas in the implementation of the site, from research to designing (with the aid of Norwich Union Systems and Business Solutions Staff) to organising other staff and project teams. I had to liase with Regional Managers, Relationship Managers within Norwich Union, Barclays and Barclaycard as well as Project Managers, staff and the Business Solutions Group. (On hold due to CGU and NU integration)