Employment
I have always percieved myself as a hard working and determined individual. My very first job was in fact a paper round, delivering the New Forest Post to over 300 houses every week. I had this job when I was in School from 2012 - 2015. Putting myself out there and being employed has always been very important to me.
Semantic Ltd
Web Developer and Account Manager (July 2017 - Present)
This was the start of my Web Development career. I joined Semantic straight after I finished my Extended Diploma at Brockenhurst College. Prior to joining Semantic as a full time Web Developer, I did 2 weeks Work Experience during the Easter Holidays of 2017. This is when I knew that Web Development was something that I wanted to pursue.
In 2020 my job role at Semantic changed to be more Account Management focused. This included managing over 10 retainer clients.
During my time at Semantic I have had the honour of doing great work for great clients, some of these clients include:
- Bath Rugby
- Bodmin Jail
- Blackpool Tower
- Chessington World of Adventures Resort
- Crystal Maze Live Experience
- The Dungeons
- iFLY
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centres
- Merlin Promotions
- SEA LIFE Trust
- The Silverstone Experience
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park
See full Semantic client list here.
Since joining Semantic I have learnt so much, growing and maturing as both a Web Developer and a person. Check out my Semantic profile page here.
I have been doing great work for great clients - I have been honoured with some of the feedback I have recieved. I take great pride in my LinkedIn recommendations.
| Who? | Testimonial | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Izzi, Account Manager - Media Buying at Saltwater Stone | “Always keen to help, Dan takes our briefs and then turns them around in next to no time. The ‘extra mile’ is so appreciated and he keeps me updated every step of the way from start to finish. His friendly and professional manner make it a joy to work alongside him on projects. Even if I have the smallest of questions, Dan is always on hand to give a helpful and educational answer taking the time to explain things clearly.” | 2021 |
| Nicola, Digital and Social Media Marketing Manager - Bodmin Jail | “I've been working closely with Dan for the past 5 months and have found him to be incredibly responsive, friendly, professionally and patient. Nothing is too much and it's been a pleasure having him and the Semantic team aboard.” | 2021 |
| Had, former colleague at Semantic | “Dan is a complete ninja at what he does and I was super impressed by his good humour in the face of issues, his tenacity and, his efforts to ensure everyone was aware of what was going on. Dan makes things easy for everyone he works with, helping his clients whilst communicating clearly and effectively with everyone around him. He is always there and always willing to help. I really hope I get the chance to work with him again. I imagine he will be someone people are climbing over themselves to work alongside in the future!” | 2021 |
| Karen, Strategic Marketing Consultant - Bodmin Jail | “It was a pleasure to work with Dan. Experienced and very professional. Always proactive with new ideas and willing to explore different routes and angles.” | 2021 |
| Callum, Managing Director - Dream Challenges | “Dan is always on the pulse and often knows what we need even when we haven't worked out a solution yet. Nothing is too big an ask and Dan always goes out of his way to make something work for us. He has been along our side from the beginnings of a total brand overhaul, new website and continuous evolutions since. He isn't just a professional, he is a nice guy too!” | 2021 |
| Katie, Senior Brand Manager - UK partnerships at Merlin Entertainments | “Dan is absolutely great to work with, our requests at any time of day are never too much for him and he is always there to help. Dan manages multiple projects for us and never fails to keep us up to date on progress whilst also providing valuable advice and recommendations that really make a difference. Dan makes the whole process an exceptionally smooth operation. Thanks Dan!” | 2021 |
| Amanda, Marketing and Fundraising at Merlin's Magic Wand | “I've recently joined a new team as the Marketing Exec, and Dan has been the go to web designer for all my thoughts, ideas and feedback. He's incredibly diligent, knowledgeable and professional. No ask is too much for him, and he's supported me with highly technical and safeguarded information with ease.” | 2021 |
| Fionnuala, Marketing Executive - Dream Challenges | “Dan is an absolute gem to work with. As the Content Marketing Executive for Dream Challenges, a company that uses Semantic's services, I do most of the work on our website and whenever I have a query or we come across a bug, Dan is always extremely efficient to respond and fix the issue.Dan is not only very helpful and professional; he is also very personable and so it is always a pleasure to get in touch with him. I feel very lucky to have Dan as an associate and recommend him to anyone thinking of working with him.” | 2020 |
| Carol, PA at Marwell Zoo | “Dan has been a constant source of support to me and our organisation, he is so responsive to requests, often at very short notice.Following the closure of attractions such as ours earlier this year we then had to work quite swiftly to reopen the zoo complete with all the regulatory Covid 19 protocols in place to communicate to the general public and our members along with launching a revised online booking system. This involved a considerable amount of work on our website and Dan was with us every step of the way ensuring that all was ready to go on reopening day and beyond. I can’t recommend Dan highly enough, his attention to detail and the solutions he helps us with as our needs change is quite remarkable.” | 2020 |
| Nicola, Marketing and Fundraising at Merlin's Magic Wand | “It is not often you find an organisation who go above and beyond with their service. Semantic were certainly one of those and its the dedication of their staff that makes it so. I was lucky enough to have Dan as one of our contacts and we could not have asked more from him. With regular changes and updates to our work nothing was too much trouble for him and any work done was handled in a timely manner. Nothing was to much trouble. Dan made transitions run smoothly and we could always count in him for his friendly and professional support.” | 2020 |
| Georgina, Marketing Manager - SEA LIFE Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary | “Dan originally helped me set up our work website as a brand new site 2 years ago, he is incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and made the whole process so easy. Since then he has been there for support at any time of the day, nothing is ever a bother to him. I cannot praise Dan enough, customer service wise or his knowledge. He is always open to looking into my requests, big or small, and is always punctual in getting back to me with ideas or solutions. I would highly recommend Dan and can't thank him enough for his support over the past few years!” | 2020 |
| Alistair - Amakuru Trust | “I worked with Dan on the complete overhaul of our existing charity digital presence and he made what I expected to be a long and stressful process very easy and we have been blown away by the website he has delivered. From our initial meeting he managed our expectations very well, consistently providing insight into innovative content and features for the website - most of which we didn't think would be deliverable but he has made it happen which is incredible. Throughout the process he kept us updated on the progress constantly and was always at the end of the phone or email if we needed anything. He brings a fresh approach to web design, if you want to take your digital presence to the next level Dan is your guy.” | 2020 |
| Georgina, Marketing Manager - SEA LIFE Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary | “I just wanted to pass on how fantastic Dan has been, he literally was helping me when a page was down on our site on a Sunday evening and is always so helpful with any of my requests/support needs so I just wanted to pass that on to you - great customer service!” | 2020 |
| Katie, Senior Brand Manager, UK Partnerships - Merlin Promotions | “No request or query is ever too much and Dan is always there to help and advise where necessary. They manage multiple projects for me and they will always meet a deadline with impeccable attention to detail and an outstanding service.” | 2020 |
| Grace, Marketing Executive - Chessington World of Adventures | “It’s been so great working with you, you’re an absolute star and have saved the day countless times! Thanks so much for everything!” | 2019 |
| Fionnuala, Marketing Executive - Dream Challenges | “As always, Dan was incredibly efficient creating and publishing a change we wanted for a tight deadline. He was clear with what it would look like, how it would work, where to find it and checked twice before publishing to ensure we were happy with the change. Thank you!” | 2019 |
| Steph, Senior Brand Digital Manager - Chessington World of Adventures | “Thanks for saving the day on multiple occasions this year, it’s been great working with you!” | 2019 |
| Carol, PA at Marwell Zoo | “Thanks for bailing me out with my website issues, it’s much appreciated.” | 2018 |
| Chris, Marketing Contractor at Merlin Privacy | “The usual speedy, polite and excellent service I have come to expect.” | 2018 |
| Courtney, Promotions Marketing assistant at Merlin Promotions | “Dan – you never cease to amaze me, you are superman!” | 2018 |
| Katie, Digital Marketing Executive - Warwick Castle | “SUPERSTAR - it’s been a pleasure working with you Dan! Honestly, you guys are just the best!” | 2018 |
| Mary, Marketing Executive - Warwick Castle | “You’re an angel sent from heaven above” | 2018 |
| Mina, Assistant Brand Manager - Chessington World of Adventures | “Semantic are absolutely wonderful, the passion of David and Dan shines through in their professionalism and quality of work - second to none, always! | 2018 |
| Kayleigh, Senior Marketing Executive - LEGOLAND Discovery Centre | “The team are always super responsive and Dan in particular is a star!” | 2018 |
| Steph, Senior Brand Digital Manager - Chessington World of Adventures | “A real joy to work with, the Semantic Team, specifically Dan, David and Neil (whom I work with) are highly skilled professionals who are passionate, motivated and a true extension of our team here. A big thank you to you all for all you do for us” | 2018 |
| Characteristic | How? |
|---|---|
| Curiosity and Inquisitiveness | As a developer, when your code works (or it doesn’t) you need to not be afraid to ask “why” and keep digging till you find the answer. Web developers need to be willing to experiment, whether it’s with learning a new language or approaching a project or task in a new way. |
| Flexibility | The Web industry can be unpredictable, so being able to adjust to the needs of your business or product when they change is important. As a developer, you need to have the ability to switch contexts or the scope of a project unexpectedly, and then go back to pick up where you left off. |
| Love of Learning | There’s always something new to learn. As a developer, you need to stay current and up-to-date with the industry and new technologies. When an issue arises, you need to be able to investigate its cause and learn about the problem before you can solve it effectively. |
| Pragmatism | Problems you might encounter with a project as a developer can be unique. With that in mind, being able to understand that the best solution and “correct” solution aren’t always the same is important. Wanting to get to the bottom of a problem is very important! |
| Team Player | As a developer, you’ll not only work on your own, but more importantly with other web developers. You may also find yourself working closely with a marketing, support or sales team, or working directly with clients. So you must be able to work well in a team. |
| Excellent Communicator | Finally, being an excellent communicator is vital. You need to be open with your team and communicate what you're working on and issues that you may run into, so your team knows what's going on. As a developer, you need to also understand some clients won't understand what you're talking about, especially when you get technical. When this happens, you need to make sure you slow down and try getting your point across differently. |
Totton Health And Leisure Centre
Leisure Attendant (January 2015 - August 2017)
During my time at Brockenhurst College, I was a part time Lifeguard. I joined Totton Health and Leisure Recreation Centre straight after I finished my GCSE's at Applemore College. Prior to joining Totton Recreation Centre, I also did 2 weeks Work Experience in the Summer of 2014.
At Totton Recreation Centre I was working contracted shifts, between 15 - 20 hours a week and attending Staff Training once a month to keep my NPLQ qualification valid.
Please see the reference from my trainer here
| Characteristic | How? |
|---|---|
| Reliable | A lifeguard must be reliable! This is because they are trusted with ensuring people are safe in and around the swimming pool. You wouldn’t want an unreliable lifeguard looking after your safety. |
| Good communicator | Lifeguarding requires excellent communication skills. Sometimes lifeguards have to negotiate tricky situations if customers/patrons are unruly. In addition they must be able to act in an emergency and communicate with fellow lifeguards and emergency services to communicate a rescue or medical treatment. |
| Leadership | Lifeguards may be required to take charge of an emergency situation such as co-ordinating the rescue of a swimmer in difficulty. This will require leadership and team working skills. A lifeguard rarely works on their own, so being able to step into a leadership or team role is vital. |
| Professional | Being professional encompasses treating the job with respect. Turning up on time, with the correct uniform and right mental attitude is all part of being professional. This is a vital characteristic of a lifeguard. |
| Highly skilled | It goes without saying that a lifeguard needs to be good at what they do! Lifeguards learn a variety of practical skills including water rescue and spinal injury management. They need to continually refresh and update their skills to ensure they remain proficient. |