Ben Weatherburn

Project based mathematical and statistical model building and process development. Understanding the macroeconomic drivers underpinning Long Term Forecasts by commodity and segment, and developing and maintaining these into operational forecasting models to mitigate risk. Applying complex statistical techniques, advanced programming skills (eg SAS) and forecasting methodology for model builds. Leading work groups across the business trialling new software and representing the company as a primary contact with external partners. Involvement in the interviewing and recruitment of new staff to the wider team. Managing senior stakeholder expectations from both an operational and project based viewpoint.

Delivering volume forecasts by commodity and segment from month ahead to a five year horizon. Production and ownership of a set of volume assumptions applied to operational forecasts then circulated to the wider business. Responsibility to deliver forecasts and reports to meet deadlines with supporting commentary. Represented the Long Term team at regular stakeholder meetings and forums to communicate changes. Undertake project work on top of operational responsibilities to improve forecasting assumptions using modelling and data linkage techniques and developing programming skills (eg SAS, vba). Understanding other roles within the team and expanding industry knowledge to ensure all processes are covered when resource is low

Primarily responsible for the creation of the customer number element of the long term forecasts, and explaining volume variance between forecast iterations attributed to the ever changing customer base. Forecast production was a strongly analytical process, ensuring there was no unexplained variance between iterations. This would involve discussion with the wider business and research into internal data stores to ensure explanations were accurate. Findings were then presented monthly at a stakeholder forum. Additional work included model maintenance to ensure they met the company standard, and process development to improve reporting output and reduce operational workload across the team.

Sales of sportswear, mainly of shoes. Good customer service skills required as well as knowledge of products to build confidence in sales pitch. Communication with other staff also essential in retrieving products from warehouse to shop floor in a short time frame.

Working in the Environment, Sustainability and Housing team in the Statistical Directorate. Proof reading publications before release. Handling statistical data and uploading dynamic datasets to website. Project work on reformatting environmental datasets.

Numeracy skills and good customer service required for checkout work. Meeting tight deadlines which ranged from getting deliveries out on time to maintaining an acceptable items per minute scan rate set by the business. Ability to quickly recall numerical codes (representing fresh produce) into the till from memory.

Pet Shop sales- responsibility first and foremost to maintain the well being of livestock and fish, make sure their living environment is clean with plenty of food and water. Essential to spot signs of disease or injury as early as possible. Sales to customers had to be backed up with good knowledge of the livestock/fish ie how social the animal is, how to maintain a healthy aquarium etc.

Dissertation: Improving Patient Flow in Morriston Hospital A&E Department (Using discrete event simulation software to model a hospital department, and applying a scenario based analysis to advise recommendations). Statistics, Opeational Research, ANOVA, Regression, Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis, Factor Analysis, SAS progamming, Vba, Simul8, Simulation, Dynamic Programming, Game Theory, Time Series Analysis, Queueing Theory, Supply Chain Management, Scheduling, Optimisation.