Gordon Warren
Profile:
An experienced & organised manager; employer; planner; trainer; coordinator; administrator & production worker, having worked with a wide range of people & organisations in varied settings, including in administration & co-ordination; as a qualified trainer, assessor & youth/community development worker; and within a production/warehouse environment, with many transferable skills & the ability to quickly adapt with flexibility to new experiences, roles & circumstances.

Over 11 years experience in a Production/Warehouse environment, picking, packing, labelling, assembling, shrink-wrapping, palleting, recording & dispatching of food & confectionery gift packs, hampers & orders; netting-bag & heat sealing machine operation; and over eight years as key worker for a product bagging machine and the learning, operating, maintaining, running, adapting to new processes & co-ordinating staffing for it.

Committed to quality, continual development, building effective relationships & partnerships, and working with creativity, equality & respect to support organisational operation & development; and to enhance, develop & support paid, voluntary & trainee workers, to be better at what they do and to support the improvement of working processes.

Worked creatively & participatory, particularly developing & providing training & learning opportunities, having knowledge & understanding of employment & legal issues; health & safety; quality assurance; monitoring, recording and evaluation.

Self-motivated & highly organised; analytical & methodical; with attention to detail; and ability to research, absorb, communicate, record & report information accurately & concisely, including using IT.

Experienced working to deadlines, agreed time-scales & managing own diary & time; with minimum supervision on own initiative (and responsibility within a team), whilst following guidelines & procedures with regular communication and a sense of humour balanced with a focused & mature outlook.

Career History: 

Aug 24 - Present  - Early Years Educator
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Sept 2011–Nov 2011   - Fosters Traditional Foods Ltd 
Jan 2013-May 2024 - Production Operative (‘Bagging Machine’ key worker)
- Working within an often fast-paced production environment.
- Picking, packing, labelling, assembling, shrink-wrapping, palleting, recording & dispatching of food, sweets & confectionery gift packs, hampers & orders.
- Continuous quality checking, attention to detail & achievement of targets.
- Identifying & setting-up new jobs and recording job progress, time & completion.
- Securing & alarming the building, especially after late-night shifts.
- Operating shrink-wrapping, netting-bag & heat sealing machines.
- Being key worker for over 8 years for the introduction of a new product bagging machine and the learning, operating, maintaining, running, adapting to new processes & co-ordinating staffing for it.
- Using initiative, especially when working in the absence of key staff.
- Through vigilance have noticed many actual or potential mistakes/errors or quality issues, helping to avoid loss of company time, money, and reputation. 

Nov 2011–Jan 2013   - Alzheimer's Society 
National 'CRS Trainer'
- Leading development, delivery & evaluation of training/learning for a new 'Salesforce' based ‘Computerised Records System’ supporting service provision for staff in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, with extensive travelling, overnight stays, minimum supervision on own initiative, following guidelines/procedures with regular communication.
- Following evaluation of initial pilots, I initiated a re-designed training structure more appropriate to the day-to-day reality of staffing & organisational needs that enabled the speeding-up of the planned implementation by one year; reduction of original training roll-out costs by 50%; and easier involvement of existing staff to facilitate specific local implementation of roll-out, consequently bringing a hastening of my specific role's redundancy.
- Throughout, I carried out analysis of training needs; designed training & e-learning programmes, materials & evaluation tools; conducted telephone conferences/webinars; and created written User Guides & Video Tutorials.
- Project was the winner of the ‘Cloud Pro/IT Pro Awards 2012’ as private sector ‘Cloud Project of the Year’ for the implementation and roll-out of CRS.

Aug 2011–Nov 2011  - Bright Assessing - National Training Provider  - NVQ Assessor
- Assessing adult learners and those on Apprenticeship through direct observation & discussion in a variety of roles, including customer service, business administration, sales and team leading, for 'Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service (BTEC)' and 'Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service (NVQ)'.
- Online assessing using a variety of technology; conducting practical assessments; providing feedback & support.
- Marking knowledge based assessments (including skills tests and case studies).
- Working from home & field based; and managing own diary & working autonomously.
- Following policies & procedures at all times and keeping accurate & well managed records.

Jun 2008–April 2011 - Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (vinvolved team, Leicestershire & Rutland)
Part of v, the national youth volunteering programme - Promoting, Developing & Increasing volunteering opportunities & participation for 16-25 year olds) 
- Project Co-ordinator/Youth Volunteer Development Manager.
- Project co-ordination, administration & partnership working; networking, promotion & representation; website management; and development of project policies & procedures.
- Recruited five staff; directly supervised one; and oversaw & co-ordinated the project team.
- Devised & managed the £600,000 budget; reporting quarterly on spending, outputs, outcomes & targets.
- Identified, developed & promoted 5242 short-term & 4531 part-time Volunteering Opportunities (exceeding funding targets by over 3000); and 119 full-time volunteering opportunities.
- Provided information, advice, guidance, support & training on employment; health & safety; safeguarding; reducing barriers; funding; and volunteering policies, procedures, good practice and legal requirements.
- Developed a county-wide multi-agency forum with over 150 contacts and organising five half-day events.
- Developed & processed evaluation systems & online surveys.
- Achieved the ‘REACH' quality standard for youth participation from the national ‘Youth Action Network'.
- Development & promotion of Sports Volunteering; supporting clubs; and involvement in County-wide sports partnership & strategy development & implementation work. 

Mar 2008-Jun 2008  - In2Sports Ltd - Leicestershire 
Sports Instructor
Devised, planned & delivered multi-sports sessions for children & young people, particularly all Physical Education PPA cover with minimum supervision & using own initiative in two Primary Schools, including breakfast, Lunchtime & After Schools Clubs, and pre-school gym sessions, working with 300+ children a week (2-11 yrs).

Nov 1989-Feb 2008 - Leicestershire AIDS Support Services (LASS) - Training & Development Manager
- Instrumental in development of organisation, specifically Volunteering, Training & Learning, initially as a Volunteer & Management Committee member for 2 years & employed for 18 years, becoming a key & influential employee, public representative & respected trainer & volunteering development manager, receiving ‘Honorary Life Membership’.
- Created, managed, administrated & delivered an extensive Volunteering Training & Learning Programme for 500+ volunteers, with quality recognised as East Midlands ‘Make A Difference’ Volunteering Award Winners; ‘Investing in Volunteers’ accreditation; and praised in national research regarding avoiding volunteer/staff ‘burn-out’.
- Developed, managed, administrated & delivered health & social care related training of 50+ courses a year for 17,000+ multi-agency participants; including organisational training and lectures/workshops for college courses; and many partnership training, awareness-raising campaigns & events.
- Recruited, interviewed, inducted & supervised many paid staff & hundreds of volunteers.
- Practice Teacher/work-based assessor for Youth Work, Health & Social Care & Social Work Student Placements.
- Developed & implemented Monitoring & Evaluation systems with regular reporting.
- Managed PQASSO 'Quality Assurance' recognition.
- Designated Health & Safety Officer.
- Formulated Health & Safety policies, specific training & responses, including personal safety & lone working.
- Devised & implemented marketing, promotion, sponsorship, press releases & extensive media work.
- Extensive devising of policies, procedures, leaflets, booklets and articles, including with Social Services, NHS and Local Authorities, often presenting complex medical & legal information.
- Developed ‘Open College Network' accreditation of Volunteering Programme; tutored, supported & assessed student learning; and external moderator for other ‘Open College Network' courses.

Jan 1992-Sep 2004  - Freelance Training - Various 
Trainer/Consultant
Various freelance training & consultancy, including 'Nottingham City Council - Social Services'; 'Busy Bees Consultancy'; 'Arden Films'; 'Rotherham Borough Council'; 'Nottingham AIDS Information Project'; 'Nottinghamshire County Council - Social Services'; 'Charnwood Community Council'; ‘Care & Repair’; 'Coleshill School'.

Jun 1989-Nov 1989 - Voluntary Action Leicester (Leicester Volunteer Bureau) -  Volunteering Development Officer
Recruiting, interviewing, placing & supporting volunteers; providing information, advice & guidance; identifying opportunities; and promoting volunteering through information, talks, presentations & training, especially to longer-term unemployed & younger people on Employment Training programmes; and promoting good practice with organisations. 

Sep 1986- May 1987  - Hornsey YMCA - London 
Youth & Community Worker
Devising, facilitating & delivering sports & drama/movement sessions for young people at YMCA and within local schools, including regular work in the centre's crèche and play-scheme for 5-14 year olds in a local school.

Jul 1986 - Sep 1987 - London Central YMCA - London 
Youth Worker/Tutor
Developing, maintaining & promoting the Junior & Summer Programmes; co-ordination of staff; snack bar stock ordering & staffing; general face-to-face work; facilitating educational, social & sporting activities; providing drama-related sessions & weight training courses with young unemployed to help build confidence, self-esteem & promote health.

Jan 1987 - Sep 1987  - Croydon YMCA - London 
Circuit Training & Pre-School Gym Instructor
Devising & delivering fun & developmental movement, exercise and gym sessions for pre-school children with their parents; and also planning & teaching circuit training sessions for adults.

Sept 1983 - Nov 1989 - Professional Actor & Drama Worker 
Various
Various short-term acting, drama-related & community arts paid & voluntary work & activities, including a five-month season as an actor-teacher in a professional young people’s theatre company, devising & performing new & classic work, including as Aladdin in a traditional pantomime, and presenting drama & educational theatre workshops.

Jan 1980 – July 1983 - Royal Court Theatre - London 
Front of House Theatre Usher (Part-time)
Regular ushering; bookshop staffing; programme & confectionery selling; general security & customer service with a major central London theatre. 

Apr 1979-Sep 1980 - Society of Civil & Public Servants
Clerical Officer
Significant clerical, administrative, co-ordination, liaison & customer service responsibilities within a busy section office of a major Trade Union HQ, directly with members & with senior internal/external officers & Executive Committee members; and assisting with national conference planning, organisation & administrative support. 

Oct 1978-Apr 1979 - Department of Employment - London 
Clerical Officer
Clerical & front-line customer duties in a busy & challenging Unemployment Benefits Office, including front-line customer enquiries & responsibility for issuing payments. 

Education:
- ’Preparing to Teach in Lifelong Learning Sector’ (PTLLS) – Level 4: ‘UpSkilled Ltd’/EDI, Leicester, June 2011.
- 'ITD Certificate in Training & Development': Thames Valley University, Distance Learning 1992-1994. (Planning, design, management, delivery & evaluation of training). 
- ‘NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement’ (previously A1) assessor qualification: ‘Bright Assessing’, Nov 2011.
- 'Certificate in Youth & Community Development': Leicester Polytechnic, Leicester 1987-1989. (Professional Youth Work status/JNC qualification). 
- 'Certificate in Physical Recreation': Polytechnic of North London, London 1986-1987. (Theory & practice of sport and physical recreation). 
- 'Diploma in Community Theatre Arts': Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama, Sidcup, Kent 1980-1983. (Professional training, including Theatre-In-Education, community arts, educational theatre and youth drama). 
- 'NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity’: North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, 2005.
- A Level Law (Grade B): Gateway College/NEC (AQA), Leicester 2001-2003.
- Economics O Level (Grade C); English CSE 1 (O Level Grade A-C equivalent): Elliott School, London 1972-1978.
- ‘OCR Level 2 National Certificate in Adult Numeracy’ (GCSE A-C equivalent): July, 2011.

Personal:
- Nationality: British / USA (Dual Citizen)
- Eligible to work in the UK: Yes
- Driving Licence: Yes (and Car Owner)
- Regular radio presenter with 'Harborough FM', the full-time community radio station for Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire. (2014-Present).

Additional:
- ‘Training the Trainers’ – Designing, delivering & evaluating learning and training (FPA, 9 days).
- ‘Training the Trainers’ – Design and delivery of training & learning (VAL, 3 days).
- ‘Health & Safety for Managers' (IRPC Hinton Group Ltd, 2 days).
- 'IOSH Working Safely' (Corporate Risk Systems/Loughborough College, 2 days).
- 'IOSH Managing Safely' (Corporate Risk Systems/Loughborough College, 3 days).
- UK Athletics Level 2 Coach (from 2005 - on hold) & Qualified FA Level 1 Football Coach (from 2008).
- Trainer with Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland ‘Safeguarding Adults’ multi-agency initiative (2005-2011).
- ‘Fleckney Parish Council’ – Parish Councillor, including as Vice-Chair; Chairman for 4 years; and Chair of - ‘Human Resources Committee’, including health & safety; recruitment; appraisals; probationary reviews; employment, personnel and youth issues (2001-2014).
- Experience of ‘Microsoft Office’, including ‘Word’, ‘Excel’, ‘Powerpoint’ and ‘Outlook’; ‘Libra Office’; and been a trainer for a computerised ‘Salesforce’-based client management system.

Professional Memberships Achieved (currently on-hold):
- ‘Associate Member’ of 'Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)' - 'AssocCIPD'.
- ‘Member’ of the ‘Institute of Training & Occupational Learning’ (ITOL) - 'MITOL'.
- ‘Associate’ member of the ‘Society for Education and Training’.
‘- Equity’ (Actors/Performers Union).

References: Available on request