
Learning and Development Adviser, E-learning at Eversheds LLP
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Learning and Development Adviser, E-learning at Eversheds LLP
Birmingham, United Kingdom
An e-learning/blended learning specialist with over fifteen years’ practical experience of promoting, designing, implementing, integrating, evaluating and marketing the use of new learning media within a leading financial services institution and other international organisations. The provision of exceptional levels of customer service, excellent interpersonal skills, a consultative business approach, creative flare and lateral thinking ability has ensured the consistent achievement of business results and the provision of effective solutions and strategies in a variety of industry sectors and geographic markets. Equally comfortable with strategy and product development, training project management and hands-on implementation. Regard training as the means to achieving business results and not the end-result itself. Acknowledged as a “pathfinder” in exploiting learning technologies as they emerge, realising their true potential as part of an overall training strategy.
Applying new and emerging technologies to support the achievement of corporate business goals.
(Partnership; Law Practice industry)
October 2008 — Present (1 year 3 months)
• Developing a firm-wide learning technologies strategy
• Deploying a short-term (tactical) rapid e-learning authoring tool to create over 40 new online modules in eight months.
• Coaching internal subject matter experts on the fundamentals of e-learning instructional design techniques.
• Researching a longer-term strategic collaborative rapid e-learning authoring tool
• Selecting and deploying the Adobe Connect Pro web-conferencing system to deploy webinar-based training solutions throughout the firm, both domestically and internationally.
• Producing a large number of webinars, involving the coaching of novice presenter-facilitators, and the adaptation of existing presentations and/or classroom materials for use within the virtual classroom, to deliver highly interactive sessions – over 60 events in eight months.
• Selecting and deploying a range of short professional skills e-books to provide a tactical solution to support the firm’s soft skills training requirements.
• Creating an RFI and RFP – and managing the process - for the procurement of a range of generic soft-skill e-learning modules to underpin the firm’s new blended learning approach to delivering professional skills training.
• Assessing opportunities to use podcasting to support major programmes such as Client Service Excellence.
• Developing a strategy and methodology for the use of blogs, wikis and discussion forums, as part of a Sharepoint-enabled e-learning 2.0 approach.
• Selecting and implementing a new learning management system to consolidate all e-content on one platform.
• Managing the re-launch of the internal L&D intranet pages to promote an entirely new learning approach.
(Professional Training & Coaching industry)
March 2008 — September 2008 (7 months)
• Recruiting and briefing a team of graphic artists and website developers to translate my marketing website concepts and concepts to a finished (“live”) site in just two weeks.
• Designing a complete set of trade show materials, including stand banners and marketing collateral.
• Designing and implementing a regular e-mail/e-zine marketing campaign, including authoring selected articles.
• Managing external PR activities.
• Developing the concepts for a range of behavioural type assessment packages for the corporate market.
• Developing a range of webinar support services.
• Signing a partnership agreement with a US organisation to offer their online action planning tool in the UK.
• Hands-on business development activity and management of both direct and indirect sales channels.
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Professional Training & Coaching industry)
May 2005 — February 2008 (2 years 10 months)
• Determined the requirements and policies for an enterprise-wide content management system.
• Designed blended learning curricula in a range of subject areas for major European corporate clients.
• Developed facilitator-supported blended learning model to improve the learning effectiveness of our training solutions.
• Integrated a range of generic e-learning modules into a programme to offer an extended post-workshop learning path.
• Developed a range of rapid e-learning modules to support instructor-led training programmes.
• Introduced, designed and moderated online webinars on selected public and in-company training programmes.
• Implemented an online learning transfer (action planning) tool within selected public programmes.
• Contributed to the AMA International Group’s global blended learning strategy, as part of a team of three.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; E-Learning industry)
March 2002 — April 2005 (3 years 2 months)
• Developing an in-built online evaluation methodolog
• Developing a new proprietary 360-degree feedback instrument.
• Composing the invitation to tender and specimen contract for the development of an e-learning course for a major UK voluntary organisation and facilitating the entire tender process and coaching the client’s team in the management of the subsequent development of the course.
• Developing the e-learning strategy for a major UK professional institute
• Undertaking the UK’s first ever survey into blended learning best practices, in conjunction with Training Magazine.
• Undertaking the first international survey into training method effectiveness and efficiency, in conjunction with Training Magazine (UK) and Training & Development Magazine (US).
• Project managing the outsourced development of e-learning course content development for a major chemicals company,
• Delivering blended leadership, influencing skills and presentation skills training programmes
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; E-Learning industry)
November 1997 — January 2002 (4 years 3 months)
• The acquisition of high profile corporate contracts for flexible learning consultancy, including developing a corporate-wide learning technologies strategy for a major US financial services group, re-launching the learning centre in a major UK utilities company, developing the e-learning strategy for a major UK financial services organisation, determining the return on investment for a learning centre at a major UK insurer, selecting the learning management system for a major Scottish banking group and marketing the use of computer based training in a major retail business.
• Working with The McGraw-Hill Companies’ own Corporate HR team on implementing e-learning in The McGraw-Hill Companies worldwide, developing the strategic approach
• Writing a white paper on measuring the return on investment for online soft skills training that was published and debated on the TrainingZone website.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Banking industry)
January 1994 — November 1997 (3 years 11 months)
• Researching, composing and successfully presenting a business case for the required capital expenditure of £125,000 to complete the integration.
• Managing the upgrade of the 115 TSB Bank LRCs to the standard of the Lloyds Bank OLCs, ensuring compatibility across the combined network.
• Commissioning a new learning management system
• Undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the courseware contracts and following a courseware review and negotiations with suppliers, achieving a significant reduction in annual costs (from £115,000 to £75,000).
• Researching, composing and successfully presenting a business case for the required capital expenditure of £500,000.
• Managing the upgrade of the existing 124 OLCs to a standard compatible with the new systems, ensuring future proofing for the next three years and designing and directing the process for the installation of the extra 132 centres.
• Developing a return on investment model and targets for multimedia training
(E-Learning industry)
1994 — 1997 (3 years )
(E-Learning industry)
1994 — 1997 (3 years )
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Banking industry)
October 1990 — December 1993 (3 years 3 months)
As a member of the Graduate Management Scheme, I performed a number of roles in the retail network, including:
• Deputy Operations Manager, Chester (1993-94)
• Retail Outlet Manager (two appointments), Chester/North Wales Area (1992-93, 1994)
• Area Director’s Assistant, Sales and Marketing Co-ordination, Liverpool Area (1992)
BSc (Hons) , Economics , 1987 — 1990
E-learning, m-learning, blended learning, learning technologies, rapid e-learning, live e-learning (webinars), collaborative learning/working, social networking for learning, informal learning, behavioural preferences.
Institute of Management Consultancy, Associate (AIMC), British Institute of Learning & Development, Member (MBILD)