Curriculum Vitae     Personal Details
Name	Richard John Norton Sims
Address: Telephone: Date of Birth	Hockley, Essex 0788 7791913 1962

Employment History

Aug '03 -                   2TA Limited                                            Hockley Essex

                               Director

                                    I set up 2TA Ltd  in 2003.  The Company has traded without the requirement for bank loan, or overdraft, with an expanding Client base through word of mouth and web based contact.

                                    2TA Limited continues the service started in my freelance capacity and has included the provision of project management services on commissions throughout the UK including Marks & Spencer, Mme Tussauds, Williams Music and Mathiesons.  Working within large projects, under international principal contractors has ensured we remain up to date with all relevant Health & Safety and contractual requirements.

                                   2TA Limited has also provided direct turnkey design and contracting services for shop fitting and domestic clients on projects up to £50,000.

                                   More recently we have been heavily involved in the provision of joinery development and drawing services for architectural joinery and internal fittings for Grosvenor Estates, and other high end international locations, together with the provision of Operation and Maintenance manuals for various end users including Apple and M&S.  

Oct '08 - Apr '11           Gmund Heritage Ltd  t.a. Porsche Club Great Britain        Moreton-in-Marsh  Glos.

                               Communications Director (Voluntary Position - un paid)

                                    I was co-opted on to the Board of Gmund Heritage Ltd and ratified by vote in April 2009. Porsche Club GB supports 15,000 members throughout the UK, has freehold office premises in the Cotswolds and turns over in excess of £1,000,000 including the activities of the wholly owned Motorsport subsidiary. We are the only UK Club recognised, and sponsored, by Porsche Cars AG.   

                                    My role included promoting the Club through advertising and events and developing branding for events and sponsors. I played a notable part in the layout, and logistics, of National events where my building management background, and practical skills, provided a significant asset to the Team. 

                                   In addition to maintaining an overview of our 128 page full colour monthly magazine, and web content, I also produced a number of videos for sale to members and the general public. This has extended into a regular video blog spot and included a feature on international news television.

                                   Balancing the commitment to Porsche Club GB along side that of maintaining a living and developing 2TA Ltd proved a significant challenge.   

May '03 - Jul '03       Richard Sims t/a 2TA                              Hockley Essex

                               Freelance Joinery Consultant

                                    Following my departure from ESJ, a number of former Clients asked me to assist them in projects to be carried out with immediate effect.

                                    Over 3 months of working in a freelance capacity I acted as Project Manager for Mme Tussauds in the modification of an enclosure for their Hulk display including supervision and sourcing of site works for Tanner & Hall Interiors on the project. In addition, I carried out site surveys and produced layout drawings, also sourced and supplied glass worktops and mock suede covered panels for ProLine Construction.

Jul '97 - Apr '03         Essex Specialised Joinery Ltd                  Maldon Essex

                               General Manager

                                      ESJ was a high quality commercial joinery manufacturer employing 35 staff & operatives with a turn over of approximately £2 million.

                                    As General Manager I was directly responsible to the Managing Director and deputised in his absence. I developed and maintained a completely new client base providing, and installing, bespoke joinery both within the City and nationwide; a field in which ESJ had limited previous record. This avenue generated £1 million annual turnover, with significant repeat business. The remainder of the company’s workload was provided by one directly associated client.

                                    Bespoke joinery clients included, Mme. Tussauds, Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer, NatWest, Concessionary Duchateau (Leonadis Chocolates), Food Standards Agency, Transco and Price Waterhouse Cooper, in addition to projects with contractors including Ibex, Spectrum, StructureTone, Richmond Solutions, Beck Peppiatt & HBG.  

                                    Over my five years with ESJ, I introduced CAD based setting out, computer based estimating, estimating analysis, and contract data logging systems. I was further instrumental in the setting up of the FlowCast PU moulding system, Velstone solid surface production and structural glass bonding systems.

Jan '85 - Jun '97        Killby & Gayford (Joinery) Ltd                   Billericay Essex

                               Killby & Gayford (Joinery & Security) Ltd

                               Killby-Tann Ltd

                               Director

                                    KG(J&S) provided high quality internal joinery and security fittings predominantly to the banking industry. A solely owned subsidiary in a group of five companies  turning over £30 million, of which KG(J&S) and Killby-Tann contributed £10 million and employed 60 staff and operatives.

                                    Joining the company as an Assistant Surveyor, over 12½ years I progressed through to Estimating Surveyor, Project Manager and, ultimately, Director of both Killby & Gayford (Joinery & Security) Ltd and Killby-Tann Ltd.

                                    My principal role was in the commercial and practical aspects of the companies’ main banking clients, (NatWest & Barclays) working directly with these clients in the design, development, production and implementation of banking counters and associated banking furniture and equipment. In addition to this I was further involved in a number of banking projects with multiple sites in France & Spain.

                                    During my period with the company I also presented seminars and “Road Shows” on physical and ballistic protection to many professional bodies including RICS.

                                    I further introduced and developed computer based estimating, estimating analysis, and contract data logging systems, these almost unheard of in the industry at that time.

Jul '79 - Dec '84         WT Nash & Sons Ltd         Rochford Essex

                               Joiner & Setter Out

                                    A medium sized, family run architectural joinery company.

                                    I joined the company as an apprentice Joiner when I left school and received training in a diverse range of additional skills including wood machining, site fixing and setting out. Prior to leaving, was further involved in marking up and production planning.

Education/Training

1997            Awarded Associate of Chartered Institute of Building (ACIOB)

1988            CIOB Membership exams passing all grouped and 1 of 2 non grouped subjects - circumstances precluded re-sitting the one non-grouped subject.

1986            CIOB Certificate of Competence - Computing

1985            Higher National Certificate in Building Studies - 10 Merits in 12 subjects

                   Awarded Licentiateship of City & Guilds (LCG)

1983            Diploma in Building Studies -  2 x Distinctions 3 x Merits

                   NFBTE Certificate of Excellence

                   Southend Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Merit

1982            NJC Certificate of Completion Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship

                   City & Guilds Advanced Craft Carpentry & Joinery  - 2 x Distinctions 1 x Credits

                   AW Hardy Trophy for Carpentry & Joinery Craft Studies

1981            NFBTE Certificate of Excellence

                   Southend Chamber of Commerce Award for Best Joinery Apprentice

                   City & Guilds Craft Certificate Carpentry & Joinery – 3 x Distinctions

1980            City & Guilds Numeracy & Communication - 2 x Distinctions 1 x Credits

1979            GCE Examinations 3xA, 2xB, 1xC

                   CSE Examinations 2 x Grade One, 1 x Grade Three

1978            GSE Examinations 1xC

Interests

Motoring                  I have been an active member of The Porsche Club of Great Britain since 2002, a Director from Oct '08 to Apr '11 and am a Club Forum Moderator and  944 Assistant Register Secretary.

Motor racing             I raced a Westfield (Lotus 7 derivative) for 5 years. While now “retired” I still occaisionaly take part in track days.

Photography             I am a keen photographer and have had pictures published in club and news stand journals.   

Car Mechanics          Having maintained and developed my Westfield racing car, I am now modifying a 20 year old Porsche 944 Turbo for road and track-day use, together with a V8 SWB Land Rover for Off Road Trials and “Green laning” events.

Writing                    I have written a number of published articles for both The Porsche Club and Westfield Sports Car Club magazines.

Computing               Spare time projects relative to work including, CAD 3D graphic modelling, Website generation in base HTML programming language, Excel & Access based bespoke applications including base programming.

Music                      I play guitar with a fairly diverse repertoire from “The Shadows” to “Pink Floyd”.

R/C Helicopters        As frustratingly difficult and challenging to fly as they are to set up and repair. 

• Time served Carpenter & Joiner, also with a broad experience through working with many other materials and products.

• Experienced in running projects in excess of £1 million.

• Adept in producing AutoCAD drawings, including 3D, through to full manufacturing details, together with specifications and take-off schedules

• Conversant in all aspects of project development from conception, cost planning, development (both practical and economic) through to manufacture, realisation, use and (now with CDM) disposal.

• Communicates well with clients and designers, with enthusiasm and diligence, to provide direct solutions to their requirements.

• Enjoys logistical “challenges”.

• Whilst not directly sales orientated, has developed client bases through technical consultation and service.

• Approaches management of people with calmness, patience, fairness and good humour, consequently seldom resulting in conflict.

• Takes considerable pleasure in seeing “a job well done”.

• Works well with professionals of a similar mind.

Revised 11 November 2013