Profile

Post-university life can be daunting. For me, supportive, wise people helped a lot. I now draw on 35 years’ experience to help others.

I live in a small town in central France, where I work as a freelance copywriter and occasional French-to-English translator. I help French and English businesses create content and get their messages across in a way that has flair and reflects their brand.

Before joining Graduate Mentor, I frequently acted as an ad hoc mentor, helping students produce capable CVs and prepare for interviews. And, after 12 years honing writing skills and focusing on succinct communication, I feel I’m in a good position to help others.

Prior to being a freelancer, I spent 12 years working in Westminster for two national trade associations – covering the chemicals and airports sectors. My job was to put their members’ views to civil servants and politicians, with the aim of obtaining favourable policy. As an aside, officials were always glad to take on board ideas that fitted ministers’ political objectives but were otherwise un-lobbyable – something that, despite my job, gave me faith in the way the UK is governed! The work involved a mix of both written, sometimes public-facing, work, and face-to-face communication. At the same time, I completed a distance-learning MBA at Herriot Watt’s Edinburgh Business School.

This period taught me a lot about writing in a way that was both clear and hard-hitting, as well as what works and what doesn’t when trying to influence people face to face.

Before this, I spent eight years practising as a chemical engineer, which I have a master’s degree in from the University of Cambridge. I worked in research and development for Yorkshire Water at a time of very high capital spending that followed years of neglect of the water sector’s infrastructure. I also had a brief stint with a consultant/contractor giving advice and designing new plant.

Writing clear specifications for contractors to build new plant demanded precision and attention to detail – a single mistake on the equipment specified could cost a client dearly.

It would be a privilege to help you develop and succeed.