CF Project Support

22/08/2021

Mums Wellbeing and nappy change area

Take a break and put your feet up while your kids draw or read, before heading back out to see the awesomeness that is Prestwich Clough Day.

with The Mums' Wellbeing Group and Red Spotty Dog

06/07/2021

Anyone else looking for work? What stories do you have for me?

I have been doing a lot of job hunting lately. With the ongoing uncertainties I am looking at permanent roles as well as short term contracts. I came across an interesting looking position at the Department for Education this evening, but I got bored and distracted by the lengthy application form. Then I got hyper and wound up writing this as the Personal Statement before dropping the application ... 🙄😆🤪

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Hi. I am sure you have read lots of these today so I will do my best not to bore you.

I am a business transformation specialist with a successful career in both permanent and contract roles. I supply full-life cycle services, from the initial analysis to the technical specification and supplier management, through to the testing and acceptance phase and finally post-launch support. One of my main superpowers is translating users' needs and desires into technical documentation that developers can follow and vice versa, ensuring that the client has a system and processes that they understand and that meets their needs.

On a recent project I was described as a unicorn by a client, as I have the rare combination of technical acumen and people skills. These were essential on that assignment as it involved high performance team workshops, requirements gathering and an evaluation of complex business processes and systems.

During 2020 I launched a successful new alternative provision that delivers quality education to students whose needs cannot be met by local schools. I am currently carrying out a GAP analysis against the Independent School Standards as the provision has grown so quickly that it will soon be required to register with the DfE as an independent school.

I train and mentor small business owners in analytical thinking and planning to help them realise their goals. My personal favourite techniques are vision boards and "post-it parties". The combination of the physical paper with the mental exercise really helps clients to visualise their objectives and to see that sometimes the best solutions are procedural rather than following the instinctive drive to add more, newer tech.

I am an expert in the full Microsoft 365 suite including advanced Excel and Access, and I can deliver training in it too.

I am looking to move back into a permanent role after the uncertainties of the last 16 months. I am hardworking, loyal to my team and able to lead or support as the project requires.

One thing I am not great at though is writing about myself. If you would like to know more, please invite me to interview so I can talk your ear off and show off my inner geek.

Thank you for your time. Good luck with the recruiting.
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02/07/2021

Help keep our community healthy.
Pick up after your dogs.

28/06/2021

Does anyone else feel boring? I am in several amazingly supportive mums' groups and every day I come across more inspiring women that I could never possibly compare to. And for a moment I feel glum and dull.

Then I take a leaf out of this monkey's book. Cheer them on, hitch up my big girl pants and dive right back into whatever I was doing.

It's okay to be comfortable with a quiet life - not that life with my two could ever be called quiet! 😄

Like many women I have struggled with imposter syndrome for several years. This time last year I (virtually) attended a MIB International event where the guest speaker was the awesome Stina from Warrior and Queen. That night I started doing daily affirmations. I started to believe in myself and in doing so I found my calm. I found me.

And this me likes to be a bit boring. The world is too much right now and I'm not a fan of oysters anyway. I'll take the school runs and picnics in the park over TED talks and jet setting. For now... 🌍🤔

21/06/2021

Hands up if you have (or have had) a child isolating?

My daughter's class bubble is currently self-isolating. It is hard to explain to a 5yr old why they can't do their usual classes but she is taking it well. 🩺🏠

Normally she has cooking classes with Cook Stars Manchester Central & East on a Friday which she absolutely loves. Thankfully Sim was able to join Sarah's Zoom class on Saturday instead. This amazing cheese and bacon gratin was the result. Look at that proud face! 😍🥘

We are having lots of lovely cuddles, reading books, doing school work and having fun. This morning she joined in with Spanish on Zoom with Lingotot North Manchester. 📖🖍💃

It isn't what we had planned, but then what is these days?? We are getting through it, one day at a time xx

What do you do to cope with having the kids at home? Wine is an acceptable answer! 😉🤯😄🍷

06/03/2021

What jobs do you do?

What is the best role you have ever had?

In a business networking group I'm in we were just asked what jobs we did before setting up our own businesses.

I have been doing what I do since leaving uni in 1998. Or from 1994 if you count my degree and work experience which were the foundation for it all.

What is it I actually do? I listen to people, find the problem areas in their processes and systems and help them fix those. That's it in a nutshell.

And actually I have been doing it a lot longer than 27 years. My early school reports call me a mother hen, always helping others. I can't help it, it's in my blood. You should meet my mum 💕.

I wonder what path my little princess will choose. Her brother wants to be a roboticist and to change the world. Of all the jobs I do, being their mum is definitely the one I cherish the most 😍.

So what's your favourite role?
What would you do if you could?

Cathy x

04/03/2021

24/01/2021

Fresh new look 😀

19/01/2021

16/01/2021

What do you do when you have run out of hats? When most of your reasons for being are no longer available or important?

Reframe your thinking, refocus your mindset, realise what is actually most important to you and live your best life xx

04/01/2021

This is a great article that came up in my feed from Zdnet.

[The year ahead in DevOps and agile: time to instill a sense of urgency

For DevOps and agile to move forward in the year ahead, it's important that the business understands what's in it for them. 'One of the biggest challenges to pursuing DevOps is a lack of urgency.'

By Joe McKendrick for Service Oriented | January 3, 2021 -- 12:00 GMT (04:00 PST) | Topic: IT Priorities

Let's face it -- we've been talking about agile for two decades, and about DevOps since 2009. Everybody wants to embrace these business-paced approaches to software development and delivery, but confusion and disappointment has been the rule for many enterprises. In a year which will be marked by rebuilding in a post-pandemic ...]

Read more link in comments

17/12/2020

What's your word for 2021?

What's mine?

I have been thinking about it since Julie asked in the workshop on Tuesday and I still don't know.

What word sums up my goals and drive for the next year?

This morning I hosted a planning workshop for 50 small business owners. I asked them to choose a word for 2021 this was mine. What’s yours? #2021