Simon Dew

Personal Information

Education

University of Manchester, Manchester (September 1988 - June 1991)

3 A Levels, 1 O(A) Level, 9 O Levels

Current Employment Details

SanScrip Ltd., Stafford

Senior Technical Author (June 1996 - date)

SanScrip Ltd. provide high-quality training materials for PC-based applications and operating systems to organisations around the world. My duties include:

• Writing, editing and managing development of workbooks and other training materials
• Managing the technical writing team; recruiting and training technical writers
• Discussing development issues with customers and suppliers, e.g. print companies
• Ensuring materials meet international standards: ECDL 3.0, Advanced ECDL 1.0
• Developing Visual Basic tools to automate production of complex documents
• Web development (company Intranet and web site — visit www.sanscrip.com)

I also manage the company's computer network: the Windows NT server, PC hardware and software (operating system and applications), e-mail server and clients, firewall and proxy server, automatic data backups and anti-virus systems.

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Windows (3.11 to 2000) and Windows NT Server (3.5 and 4.0)
• Microsoft Office (4.3 to 2000): Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
• Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual Basic for Applications, Internet Explorer, FrontPage
• Web Design skills: HTML 3.0 and 4.0, dHTML, XHTML, Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Publishing technical documents in various formats: Word, HTML, Acrobat, PostScript
• E-mail servers and clients: Microsoft Exchange, FTGate, NTMail, Pegasus
• Other: WordPerfect for Windows, Lotus SmartSuite, Dr. Solomon's, Sophos AntiVirus

Employment History

Opsis Computer Training, Manchester

Technical Author (January 1996 - June 1996)

While SanScrip underwent a change of management, I left to work as a freelance technical author. My main client as a freelance was Opsis Computer Training, Manchester.

Duties included writing, editing and organising training materials and system administration. I returned to SanScrip Ltd. when their management reorganisation was complete.

SanScrip, Stafford

Technical Author (July 1993 - January 1996)

I started as a trainee technical author at SanScrip and quickly became a full member of the courseware writing team. Duties included:

• Developing and maintaining the company Style Guide for Technical Authors
• Liaising with U.S. consultant to translate course materials into American English
• Planning, writing and editing course materials and marketing materials
• Giving technical support for courseware to customers
• Helping in design of marketing material and courseware
• Maintaining the company's telephone system
• Updating the database of prospective customers

Other Work Experience and Positions of Responsibility

From June 1991 to July 1993 I worked as a professional folk musician and did voluntary work for York Health Authority's Department of Speech and Language Therapy.

While I was at university I worked with the Manchester University Conservation Volunteers. Prior to that I worked regularly with the South Staffordshire Conservation Volunteer team.

I was on the committee of the Manchester University Folk Society from 1989 to 1991, holding the position of Vice-Chairman in my final year at university. I also stewarded at the IVFDF folk festival in Manchester in 1994.

Interests and Activities

I play saxophone, flute and mandolin at a professional level in a number of folk bands, specialising in traditional English and French dance music. My own band has appeared at major folk festivals and has released one CD. I run the band's web site at www.jabadaw.com. Other interests include hiking, Iyengar yoga, camping and vegetarian cookery.

References

Full contact details for referees available on request.

[Simon Dew's Home Page]