I set up this consultancy and have used it as vehicle to offer a range of services covering Business & Technology and Recruitment Consulting, Web Design/Development and Hosting, Creative Advertising, Marketing, Branding etc.

My activities/assignments etc. have included:-

• Various Website Design and Development assignments.
• Business and Technology consultancy to Internet Café and Private Mailboxes operation – included supporting clients through initial Business Planning/Forecasting, Interior Design of Premises, Branding, Marketing (inc design and production of DM material), Selection, sourcing, installation, configuration and on-going support of all IT systems inc design of hybrid cable/WiFi Network, Website design etc.
• Business and Technology Consultancy for new Estate Agency – As above + Recruitment of sales staff.
• Business & Technology Consultancy and investment in launch of on-line VOIP services provider – www.iberfonica.com
• Various Ad-Hoc recruitment exercises – Mainly for Sales & Marketing staff.
• Sales of numerous Web Hosting and Application Hosting contracts.
• Regular writing of Computing and Technology related articles for Newspapers, Magazines, BLOGs etc. (i.e. www.webtechtalk.eu)

I was responsible for the start-up, from Conception through to launch and beyond, of one of Spain’s fastest growing Wireless Broadband ISP’s (Wi-Surf.com) and VOIP Providers (Wi-Call.com). I grew the business from a one man operation started in a garden shed, to a 40 staff strong business with c700 on-line customers spread throughout the Costa Blanca in Spain from Valencia to Murcia.

I was responsible for ALL aspects of the business including:-

• Technical Directorship - Inc. Overall strategy, Design and Implementation of the wireless WAN and LAN systems (inc. field and internal/management Systems etc.) for a commercial WiFi network operating in various locations/environments from Valencia to Murcia in Spain.

Also responsible for overall Strategy, Design and Implementation/set-up of all internal IT and Communications systems inc. MS-Windows 2003 Server Network, Exchange Server, SQL-Server, Security, Backups, Telephone Systems, PABX, VOIP Integration etc. etc.
• Technical Support – Set up, staffing, management etc. of a professional 1st, 2nd and 3rd line Tech Support function supporting all external/WISP and internal IT systems and VOIP services
• Sales & Marketing – ALL aspects from personal Sales through to recruitment and management of major Direct Sales Team. Also personally designed and produced ALL Direct Marketing Material, Advertising (i.e. Newspaper, Radio etc.) and Press Releases/Relations.
• Recruitment – Design & Implementation of all recruitment strategies, processes and campaigns etc. as well as hands on involvement in interviewing etc. Positions covering Technical, Admin/Support, Finance, Sales etc. Took from 0 – c40 staff in an extremely challenging environment.
• HR – Design & Implementation of all processes inc. development of Remuneration Packages, Training programs etc.
• Product Development – Personally responsible for the Conception, Development, Path to Market etc. of ALL Wi-Surf and Wi-Call Product/Service offerings
• Web Design & Development – Personally responsible for the initial development of the company’s main web portal the site for the VOIP service, inc all e-commerce aspects.
• Business Process Design & Implementation – All areas
• Customer Services – Design and Set-up of Customer Services Desk
• Finance – (Full P&L Control, Design and Set up (with FC) of all Processes inc. Billing, A/R, A/P, Credit Control etc.)
• R&D – Covering all areas of WISP Technology and services inc. WiFi, VOIP, WiMax, Satellite Broadband, and IP Networking etc. etc.
• Supply Chain – Developed and maintained a Europe wide Supply Chain for all aspects of technology and general supplies
• Service Provider Partnerships – Established and maintained ALL major Service Provider Partnerships covering VOIP, Satellite Broadband, and Web Hosting etc.
• General Day to Day Company Management – ALL aspects
• Sourcing of Venture Capital

Wi-Surf was sold to a Venture Capitalist in August 2006.

I started SkillFlow initially as a Freelance Consultancy vehicle.

Whilst freelance, my assignments included an Interim Management/Consultancy role with Level Five Solutions (IT/Web Consultancy) in London, which included working initially on the set up and development of their recruitment function (Contract & Perm), followed by 6 month period spent in Stockholm, Sweden project negotiating and managing the successful acquisition and integration of an ERP based Recruitment Agency.

Subsequently (2002) I opened SkillFlow as a Professional Recruitment Agency, initially as an investment/ “funding only” exercise, run by an old colleague from within the recruitment industry. My personal involvement in SkillFlow, however, rapidly progressed through necessity into a role that involved hands-on Management of the company (all aspects inc. Finance, IT/OA systems etc.) and hands-on involvement with Business Development (Strategic & Tactical) and key Account Management.

SkillFlow operated in the market areas of general IT, Telecoms, Construction, Sales & Marketing, Defence, and Rail, covering Contract, Permanent, Retained/Exec Search etc., SkillFlow reached a level of 8 perm staff inc. 5 Consultants, c25 Active Contractors plus regular Permanent placements – T/O c125k Per Month , c50k GP, with c15k Net profit.

I also personally Designed, Developed, Implemented and Managed ALL of the company’s IT/OA systems which included LAN/WAN networks (cabled and WiFi based, VPN etc.), Recruitment Management Systems, company websites, supplier relationships etc. etc.

When I moved to Spain, I continued to support/mentor and take a hands-on involvement of SkillFlow, in tandem with developing Wi-Surf in Spain (above). I spent, on average, 3-4 days a week in London/UK until mid 2005, then c3 days every two weeks.

In Feb 2006, the need to focus full time on the Wi-Surf business in Spain, led me to accept an offer for the Contractor Base/”Business” of SkillFlow from a company that had worked alongside SkillFlow for some time.

I was headhunted to join MDA/Dart as Sales Director tasked with the “re-engineering” of the operation to enable it to effectively compete in the current recruitment marketplace.

I was responsible for managing c50+ sales plus support staff etc., located across 6 UK offices.

On joining I designed and, with the owner/Chairman’s agreement and support, proceeded to implement an on-going change program within Dart that was aimed out revitalising a clearly demotivated and underperforming sales force.

This covered all areas of Sales inc. Strategy, tactics/methodologies, processes, Target Markets, KPI’s etc., Delivery inc. Research/Resourcing etc., Sales/Delivery Support and involvement/integration with the development of supporting IT systems.

This rapidly proved successful with a clear improvement in overall moral and performance with steadily increasing results visible in all areas from base level sales/canvassing to interview, offer and placement levels across the UK.

Unfortunately, six months into the role, the owner/Chairman took a decision to restructure the business in a way that made I felt made my position untenable and I therefore took the decision to leave.

I initially joined Alexander Mann to take over the Product Development and Launch of a new Internet Based community for IT professionals.

After a short, successful period on this project, I was asked to take over and revitalise an ailing “Joint Venture” recruitment business based in Guildford in Surrey.

The business was loosing c£5k per month and required a total “overhaul” covering processes, staff management and motivation, staff training, sales strategy/direction etc.

I took the team and successfully developed them, in an extremely short period of time, into Alexander Mann Solutions’ top performing teams in terms of recruitment sales etc.

I introduced them successfully into the ERP market across Europe and Scandinavia and took the business from an operating loss to a c£45k Per Month Net Profit in 6 Months.

This was achieved through a complete overhaul of the Sales strategy and subsequent tactics/Activities, re-training and focusing of all sales/delivery staff, introduction of KPI’s and monitoring processes for both staff and management/team leaders, introduction of new target markets (i.e. ERP), penetration into mainland Europe and leading by example through personal sales etc.

I was headhunted to start an IT recruitment consultancy for the owner of a high street agency group in the South of England.

I took the business from initial conception through to a fully functioning professional recruitment consultancy turning over c£70k Per Month Turnover (c£20k GP) inside 6 Months. Monthly net profit was on target to be achieved by month 9.

This was all achieved through the Development and implementation of an overall UK/International Sales Strategy, subsequent personal Sales (Permanent & Contract), recruitment, training and management of one experienced and one Trainee Consultant.

I also personally Designed, Developed, Implemented and Managed ALL of the company’s IT/OA systems which included LAN/WAN networks (cabled and WiFi based, VPN etc.), Recruitment Management Systems, company websites, supplier relationships etc. etc.

During this period, whilst under restrictive covenant from Insight Resources (below), I operated as a “Freelance Consultant” offering a range of Recruitment and Business Consultancy services to various clients in the UK and Europe.

Responsibilities included:-

Strategic & Tactical Recruitment Consultancy for specific clients in the UK and Europe, Management Consultancy for two client businesses, Personal Sales/Business Development, Account Management, Troubleshooting, Project Management, Business Management.

During this period, I turned over c£87k, with a net of c£60k (working from home, low overheads etc.).

I formed this professional IT recruitment consultancy with a partner, based in West Sussex.

We took the business from initial conception through to a fully functioning professional recruitment consultancy, operating internationally and with a range of high quality/Blue Chip clients (Perm and Contract) turning over c£3.5m with c£150k Net profit.

I was responsible for all aspects of the management of the company, particularly Sales/Business Development, IT, Legal/Contracts, Branding, Advertising & Marketing etc.

I achieved a regular average of c£250k per annum in personal sales and was also responsible for the company’s biggest ever deal. This was the winning of a full agency management contract with a major, Blue Chip Management Consultancy that gave Insight total responsibility for all recruitment into their IT practice (c160 Permanent recruits annually plus Contract/interim). Financially, this gave Insight a guaranteed £10,000 per month retainer plus recruitment fees etc.

I also personally Designed, Developed, Implemented and Managed ALL of the company’s IT/OA systems which included LAN/WAN networks (cabled and WiFi based, VPN etc.), Recruitment Management Systems, company websites, supplier relationships etc. etc.

In October 2006, I sold my shareholding to my then partner.

During this period I worked for various professional recruitment consultancies in roles ranging from Trainee to Regional Manager.

Activities included general Recruitment Consultancy (Perm and Contract, Campaign Development/Management, Agency Management, Exec Search etc.), Sales/Business Development, Account Management, Sales Management, Project Management, Business Management (to Regional Manager level), Staff Recruitment, Training, Contract/SLA Development, International activities, UK/Europe (Holland, Belgium, Germany).

During this “apprenticeship” period, I consistently achieved and surpassed all of my sales/revenue targets whilst developing a range of other business and management skills.

Starting in Computer Operations covering NCR Mainframe and Mini Computers, my responsibilities also covered IT, Networking, Data Communications, PC Support, Staff Management, Staff Recruitment and Staff Training