Economic Development Officer
October 2009 - Present
Responsible for providing policy and operational support on matters relating to economic development, labour market, skills and employment and national / European funding issues, assisting with the drafting of the Work and Skills Plan for the Mid-Lancs Multi-Area Agreement and providing support on the Local Economic Assessment

Objective 2 Programme Manager (European Funding)
June 2006 – October 2009
Responsible for the day to day financial and administrative management and implementation of a £4 million European funding programme, ensuring that commitment and spend targets were achieved. Managed one member of staff; oversaw the appraisal and approval of projects; carried out the monitoring and auditing of projects, ensuring that the projects adhered to European rules and regulations; processed and approved quarterly claims for grants; provided advice, guidance and training to project managers for all aspects of European funding; produced quarterly reports for the Programme’s Management Committee and the regional Government Office; managed the Technical Assistance budget and claims; liaised with the public, private and voluntary and community sector.

Action Plan Co-ordinator
October 2005 – May 2006

Claims / Monitoring Officer
August 2004 – September 2005

Responsible for the day to day management of Co-financing Project, including monitoring and evaluation, liaison with Learning and Skills Council and Training DynamiX (sub-contractor).

Consolidating NTO Workforce Development Plans into reports for Yorkshire Forward, and working on NVQ project, encouraging people to undertake fast track NVQs.

Assisted Training DynamiX in submission of funding bids for Co-Financing in Northumberland and Tyne & Wear.

Independent adviser on Objective 3 Scoring Panel. Also produced report on Equal Opportunities, evaluating the quality of responses by applicants and making recommendations for improvements.

Successfully bid for projects under the new Objective 3 programme 2000-2006 (North East, East and West Midlands, South West, Yorkshire & the Humber).

Managed a number of European Social Fund projects within the Objective 2 areas of England and Wales, delivering outcomes against targets in the 1997-99 Programme.

Regional Representative on Objective 3 and 4 Committees in the North East (1998-2000) and East Midlands (1999) and member of North East Objective 3 Working Group.

EMTA Manager responsible for liaison with One NorthEast and East Midlands Development Agency (1999-2000).

Administered a diverse range of projects within the Objective 2 Programme for European funding for the region, as well as various trans-national projects, delivering in all cases the promised outcomes within the planned timetable. Within the European Information Centre, developed a Scanning Service targeted to the needs of specific clients which provided them with updates of European legislation relevant to their business enabling them to remain competitive.