Thomas Earnshaw

Based at Halifax with travel around the North of England; After moving back to the North of England, I have been working within a small team at Direct Data Systems in Halifax. This has broaden my experience from that of a very corporate environment to that of a small/medium business and all that is different. I have learnt many new skills and the knowledge to successfully diagnose and solve issues and repair a multitude of devices. I have also taken on more of a role in first line support both on the phone and email solving the majority of cases without follow up work or site visits. Direct Data Systems (DDS) have clients from such areas as car dealerships, schools and legal areas and therefore a mixed user base.

Following a restructure of the IT team in the UK I was promoted to IT Coordinator for the south of England managing two technicians and relocating to London from West Yorkshire. Accounting for over half a billion pounds of sales a year, the four stores of London, Southampton and Milton Keynes provide a challenging landscape in todays IT environment. Overseeing a team of technicians and reporting to the UK IT Deputy manager, it is my responsibility to ensure that day to day IT needs and requirements are looked after and that major UK and global projects are completed on time and on budget. From dealing with customers and coworkers on the shop floor to liaising with openVMS specialists in Shanghai; every day is different and a flexible approach is needed.

Continued to provide local IT support to large retail sites in Leeds and Gateshead whilst taking on extra responsibility to provide support to other regional technicians throughout the UK. I further assisted senior project leaders with major system updates and rollouts including complete WLAN installations across all units and other large scale changes.

Providing local IT support to large retail sites in Leeds and Gateshead maintaining hardware, software and bespoke systems. Providing education to end users in generic operating systems and office applications as well as in house IKEA software for new starters and major rollouts.

Provided logistical and sale merchandising plans for retail warehouse at new and rebuild stores for IKEA. Using AutoCAD and JDA Space Planning tools to ensure the optimum use of space and logistical efficiency whilst following the IKEA concept.