nicola dowds

* Annual turnover £1m, 5% increase in profit achieved within 6 months * Stock loss managed and reduced by 13% within 6 months. * Overall increase on individual department footage and like for like sales. * Trained and developed two members of staff to achieve recognised management capabilities. * Produced and expanded training facility for regional area.

* New store - High security risk– 20% lower stock loss result compared to expectations. * Maintained low staff turnover within a fast paced discount retailer. * Trained and developed staff under difficult demographic circumstances.

* Created window dressing and internal merchandising format adopted by all Long Tall Sally stores. * Instigated personal shopping programme. * Developed stock holding system.

* Developed menu system to suit a wide range of dietary requirements. * Implemented function and event catering facilities to increase turnover. * Revised opening hours and streamlined staff requirements. * Introduced staff appraisal and personal development procedures.

* Developed and trained two assistant managers to LHM capabilities. * Managed two licensed premises simultaneously, situated in Edinburgh and Carlisle. * Successfully managed the closure of one premises based in Glasgow.

* Managed 16 licensed premises, 8 of those included restaurants. * Achieved to Gold level NVQ in Hospitality / Licensed House Management * Successfully coordinated one refurbishment. * Efficiently acted as trouble shooter / floating manager licensee within the Edinburgh area.

* Ownership, development and maintenance of the only global safety information database within the business, providing training, help facilities and steering group function. * Content manager of internal website. * Organiser of bi-annual Safety Conferences and Annual Safety Award ceremony and dinners. * Research & review consultative documents. Highlighting current issues of particular concern / risk and the solutions available, advising the relevant businesses, preparing FirstGroup responses. * Control central documents and group policies. * Issue and collate responses from monthly rolling actions resulting from Safety Council meetings. * Work closely with Group Safety Director assisting where necessary. * Maintaining relationships with safety colleagues throughout UK Rail, UK Bus, FirstGroup America, & First’s European companies.

* Manage and maintain diary, travel and expenses for Global Safety Director and his directorate of 6. * Develop and maintain relationships throughout department within UK, USA, Canada, Germany and * Ireland. * Simultaneously provide support for group Public Relations and Communications director and his * directorate covering annual leave. * Plan and execute bi-annual Safety Conference being held offsite for 150 people.

* Provide executive standard PA support to 8 Global Leaders / Senior Directors across 3 J&J operating * companies in the UK, travelling when required. * Efficiently provide support for international VIP colleagues whilst travelling in the UK * Received `Platinum Encore` award for ‘results that have a measurable impact on a division, affiliate * company or operating group – reward USD 500 (highest internal award from Johnson & Johnson)

* Successfully managed an extremely busy VIP diary, on average 60 appointments per week, prioritising tasks, developing the forward planning of diary and event management, and introducing a system to * ensure transport and advance booking of accommodation. * Formatted and prepared all correspondence to a level commensurate with Senior Director Military level output. Completely revised the processes for the storage, retrieval and management of the Assistant Chief of Staff’s personal correspondence and presentations. * Coordinated area administrative support for principal visits, briefs, meetings and conferences. * Facilitated the redesign of the area’s website, transferring existing files onto new database, introducing an alert system which notifies colleagues of announcements and notices. * Training lead on usage of new filing system for data storage and maintenance.

* Processing 10 different workflows with a target based performance requirement. * Training, floor walking and supervising existing and new team members on procedures.

Administrative, safety and accounting procedures for showrooms and production plant.

* Managing Safety Communications project - part of larger Safety Programme to deliver culture change and transformation. Expected delivery of all products September 2016, continuing support for change over set period of time. * Manager of current global safety database. * Maintain internal safety information pages

* Part time position, 3 days per week. * Feb 2013 * Nov 2015 * SME * Injury Prevention Database * global safety data repository * Planned and executed training via web conference to global business * Worked with external providers and PM to deliver database * deadline June 2014 * Event Management * Awards dinner & conference for minimum 150 at external location. * Maintain and develop global database system and provided support for users. * Feb 2011 * Feb 2013 * Provide P.A support to 2 Directors and 8 managers. * Event Management * Awards dinner & conference for minimum 150 at external location. * Maintain and develop global database system and provided support for users.

Prince2 Project Management - Foundation and Practitioner level

GSCE, O'Grade, Higher level education

Prince2 Foundation & Practitioner qualified Activities and Societies: Member BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT - Business Analysis, programme and project management