Immram Content

Skills

The classics

First-class talent for language – writing and editing
A broad knowledge base and strong research skills
A calming influence on stakeholders

The modern world

Working knowledge of HTML and CSS, proficient with the GOV.UK prototyping kit and a basic knowledge of the scripting languages
And I can manage service content using Git
I’ve been working in and with agile teams over the last 5 years, so I'm very comfortable with that
Plenty of time using and looking after content management systems (WordPress; Drupal; custom builds) and working with the GDS publishing and feedback tools (Publisher, ZenDesk, Feedex)
I’ve managed complex document collections that mix Markdown, XML templates, HTML, PDFs and Word documents.
I work with Google Analytics and other data sources to supply evidence for user needs

Dinosaur knowledge

Thorough command of InDesign through to CC and comfortable with the rest of Adobe's suite
Great with Word and functional with the rest of the Office gang
I can work with print shops

Employment history

March 2023 – Content Lead, Extended Producer Responsibiity for Packaging programme, Defra

I co-ordinated both service and GOV.UK content across this major Defra project. On the service, I was departmental contact point and co-ordinator for content designers from a supplier, making sure their work was consistent and met the service standard. I was also closely involved in the service assessment. On the guidance side, I drafted, edited, planned structure, managed stakeholders and ensured it joined neatly to the service. I also assessed a generative AI/LLM guidance solution.

September 2021 – February 2023 Senior content consultant, Government Digital Service

I returned to GDS to support the Mainstream GOV.UK content teams. I wrote and reviewed content, with a focus on ensuring that newer content designers met GDS standards. I rolled out Welsh mainstream publishing to the Ministry of Justice/HMCTS. I also helped build and publish the initial Government response page following the invasion of Ukraine and supported the agency’s work on central cost of living content.

February 2021 – September 2021 Senior content designer, Future Farming programme, Defra

I joined this project to create the guidance for the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, a scheme offering farmers subsidies for good environmental outcomes. This required creating and co-ordinating several kinds of guidance, including the standards a user has to meet, detailed technical information on how to meet them and help with an application. The work required delicate stakeholder management.

August 2019 – February 2021 Senior content designer, Government Digital Service

I again wrote and edited content for GOV.UK. I was hired to help with updating central government content for Brexit, and did so across a range of topics, including visas and healthcare. The engagement was extended because of the pandemic. We were responsible for publishing a large number of fast, accurate and clear updates on life-or-death issues.

2016 – August 2019 Content designer, Department for Work and Pensions

Agile feature teams all the way - delivered through close collaboration with BAs, developers and designers. Lot of variety here, and a lot of user research trips.

building a public-facing service and administrative back-end
rewriting letters; creating tools to help claimants find work
editing guidance for DWP staff; content auditing
helping with the revision of GOV.UK guidance

2015– Content designer, Government Digital Service/Home Office

I wrote and edited content for GOV.UK. I also took over content design on the new passport renewal service, and contributed to various other projects around the organisation: for instance, creating an HTML version of the Budget, editing business cases, helping with short-term research projects.

2013– Content designer, Office of the Public Guardian

I helped edit and write the content (microcopy and small– and large-scale guidance) for the Lasting Power of Attorney online tool, a GDS digital exemplar and the first to meet the Digital by Default service standard. Plus:

helped with the transition to GOV.UK
worked on their Google Analytics
rewrote their form letters and helped transfer them to a new back-end system
worked on a major print guidance rewrite
dealt with any number of smaller editorial, writing and technical jobs.

Before that?

It's less relevant. Sub-editing, hack work, tutoring, TEFL, proofing… if it's made of language, I can do it. Ask me if you really want to know - I'll send a formal CV