CV 2021 - Neil Cadwallader-Kemp

CV 2021
                          NEIL CADWALLADER-KEMP

Profile
A highly professional and experienced creative with exceptional design, project management,
planning and team leadership skills. Excellent communication and client relationship building at
all levels. A relaxed, resourceful and passionate approach to customer service along with a high
standard of discipline, commitment and integrity.

Skills

 •   Strong organisational and Project Management skills
 •   Creative, with technical ability and an eye for detail
 •   Able to work autonomously or as part of a team to achieve desired results
 •   Good communication and client relationship building skills
 •   Time management and planning and ability to multitask projects
 •   Commercial awareness and understanding of the marketplace
 •   Determined, focused and dedicated with strong loyalty values

ITC Skills

Employment History
In-toto Kitchens Ltd

• National Installations Manager - UK
December 2019 - February 2021

I had been until recently working from a home office as the National Installations Manager
covering nine showrooms across the UK.

Pre-lockdown 2020, I started to bring together an installation team to oversee the daily
operations of projects. However, due to Covid 19, this had a drastic effect on resources and saw
team members on furlough for extended periods. The continuation of surveys, purchase orders,
and specifications continued mainly by myself, ensuring targets were met and with the workflow
across the installation teams for all showrooms was achieved.

Managing the expectations of customer service, I endeavoured to develop relationships with both
customer and supplier. Motivating and developing my team was paramount during this uncertain
period to keep up morale and continuity.

 о   Ensure sufficient levels of subcontract labour available to meet customer demand.
 о   Work effectively to achieve departmental KPI targets.
 о   Maximise profits through efficient working practices.
 о   Ensure projects are set up correctly by attending meetings and checking drawings.
 о   Ensure the smooth running of each project by maintaining good relationships with
     management, checking pre-installation and ensuring customers are informed at every stage.

о Actively manage the resolution of any issues and escalate immediately where necessary.
  о Ensure adequate levels of labour are contracted to cover the schedule of installations.
  о Ensure installations are fitted to the correct specification and high levels of fit quality are
    maintained.
  о Ensure self and subcontractors are working safely in line with HSE policies.
  о Efficiently manage the remedial budget in line with KPI targets.
  о Ensure good time management through effective journey planning and smart working
    methods.
  о Professionally ensure present self at all times both in attitude and appearance.

Images Courtesy of In-toto Kitchens

Symphony Group

• Area Installations Manager UK - Oxfordshire
March 2017 - December 2019

Symphony is one of the UK’s largest privately owned suppliers of fitted kitchen, bedroom and
bathroom furniture. From a home office, my area encompassed Forty private development sites
across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. I visited building sites and managed twelve
fitting teams across these counties and liaised daily at all levels with key staff and management.

  о    Provide a high level of service to clients.
  о    Manage and Coordinate sub contract fitters to meet the demands of the work.
  о    Coordinate Installation teams to meet the demand and quality of the service requirements.
  о    Recruitment of sub contract labour to provide adequate fitter capacity.
  о    Ensure area performance targets were achieved.
  о    A professional manner and promotion of the company image.
  о    Work within fast track building process.
  о    Work effectively to achieve departmental KPI targets.
  о    Hands on approach.
  о    Excellent interpersonal, organisational and time management skills.
  о    Experience of Managing people, and able to communicate confidently at all levels.
  о    Self motivated and able to work as part of a dynamic team.
  о    Able to work under pressure to maintain deadlines.
  о    Personally presentable at all times.

Images Courtesy of Symphony Group

Design Matters

• Senior Designer / Business Manager - Buckinghamshire
July 2016 - November 2016

Short term contract for an established kitchen company in Buckinghamshire that specialised in
both retail and Accessible kitchens. The range and style of furniture for each project is generical
of a German design or Bespoke furniture hand made here in the UK. The client base operated
within a Geographic location that warranted a desirable kitchen for their end-user, so products
used were often high-end specifications such as Miele, Gaggenau, Fisher & Paykel and Quooker,
amongst others.

Images Courtesy of Design Matters

Unfitted Limited

• Kitchen Designer - The Cotswold’s
March 2015 - June 2016

Working in a busy bespoke kitchen furniture showroom in the Cotswold’s. Visiting clients in their
own homes, showroom meet-ups, and speaking with potential customers via phone or email
was all part of my role. Carrying out surveys and creating designs, layouts and quotes based on
the specific requirements, as discussed with each client.

The furniture was handcrafted locally by a team of cabinet makers, and each project had to be
specified for the Workshop Manager to interpret into cutting lists and materials. The detail and
an eye for colour were required to bring the projects to life and provide something special for
each client.

My valuable industry knowledge provided me with the skill set to carry out surveys, contribute
ideas to enhance the design and use of space, and be able to provide M&E’s and communicate
with various trades to ensure the smooth running of each project.

Images Courtesy of Unfitted

DPI St Ives

• Website & Graphic Designer - St Ives, Cornwall
May 2012 - March 2015

My wife and I ran our own design company, undertaking projects and supporting local businesses
that required a wide range of design services, including logo design, branding, packaging,
promotional design and website design. Each project was completed successfully from concept
through to completion, sourcing printers and suppliers.

An eye for detail and strong visual skills allowed the business to grow monthly, coupled with good
customer service, brought back repeat custom and valuable recommendations. Having 		            a
confident and outgoing personality and a grounded ability to discuss design ideas ensured a good
working relationship with my customers.

A solid grounding in Project Management provided the multi-task skills to manage the various
projects to a high standard within the allocated time for each project.

Design Time

• Kitchen Designer / Project Manager - Truro, Cornwall
May 2008 - March 2010

In this role, I was a designer/project manager because of my strong design skills and flair for
interior planning. With good organisation and supervisory skills gained from my previous roles,
these were a great asset to oversee respective trades on the installations.

My role was multi-faceted as my employer wanted me to help improve the business and move
it forward. In the early stages, I looked at streamlining suppliers introducing a German kitchen
manufacturer Brigitte Küchen, due to needing a quality German product was evident in the
county, and this alone increased sales by 20%.

The reason for this particular manufacturer was the range of furniture they offered, specifically
for wheelchair users. Disability was something close to my heart when growing up as I witnessed
my father, who was confined in a wheelchair struggling with MS.

That was an exciting project to source products that could aid people with disabilities within a
domestic environment. Over the following six months, I had secured a key space for a fully
working Accessible kitchen within the showroom of a leading local disability expert, securing a
kitchen at Barncoose Hospital, Pool for the assessment of patients by Occupational Therapists.

Simon Taylor Furniture

• Project & Installations Manager - Buckinghamshire
June 2006 - October 2007

Simon Taylor is the manufacturer and Supplier of Bespoke kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and
studies. I had been working at the high end of the industry within the role to oversee and manage
interior fit-outs. My background knowledge of building and construction aided my position.
The projects I worked on ranged from £60,000 upward and included site surveys, furniture
specification, sourcing products and the use of CAD Software. Resolving problems from the initial
design meant reworking the initial concept to ensure projects ran smoothly and completed on
time.

Working simultaneously on 4-5 projects, I managed installers and building contractors closely and
  liaised regularly with Architects and Building Control to ensure each project ran to schedule.
  It was a customer-facing role which meant a confident manner, knowledge in all aspects of the
  interior industry and comfortable communicating with customers and suppliers at all levels.

  Images Courtesy of Simon Taylor Furniture

  Creative Interiors / Unitech

  • Sales Design & Business Development - Banbury, Oxfordshire
  March 2005 - July 2006

Working previously on behalf of Creative Interiors during my employment at CLC Interiors
as a kitchen Installer helped secure a position within sales and design. Within the showroom
environment, I was providing design services for clients within a 30-mile radius of Banbury. I was
able to work with potential clients and discuss with them their requirements.

A visit to each client in their home to carry out a survey aided the design process and helped to
spatialise the space to best achieve the most from their kitchen design. My Interior fit-out and
Project Management experience gave me the confidence to sell the USP of the kitchens Creative
Interiors offered. Styles ranged from traditional too modern, providing me with the tools to convert
a ratio of healthy sales.

Each installation was managed by myself, working with a chosen team of fitters and suppliers,
ensuring a smooth running of each schedule.

Mark Wilkinson Furniture

• Project Manager - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
August 2003 - March 2005

Working exclusively from their showroom in Leamington Spa, my role was to manage and oversee
the installations ranging from £50,000. Following the agreed sale, I was introduced to the client
to arrange a site visit to carry out the technical survey. Taking information from the survey would
be cross-referenced against the original design, with any changes that needed to be agreed, and
then implemented.

Every piece of furniture had to be built specifically for the client. The items of furniture accurately
conveyed to the workshop were constructed to my specification.

Simultaneously working on various projects at any given time, I had to manage closely. Installers
and regularly liaise with other team members to ensure each project ran smoothly and to
schedule. A customer-facing role meant a confident manner, knowledgeable in all aspects of the
interior industry and feeling comfortable communicating with clients and suppliers at all levels.

Images Courtesy of Mark Wilkinson Furniture

Additional Employment History
Intersurgical

• Graphic Designer for Print - Wokingham, Berkshire
November 1999 - August 2003

Artworks

• Graphic Designer for Print - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
July 1998 - November 1999

CLC Interior Design & Build

• General Builder / Interior Fit-Out Installer - Southam, Warwickshire
July 1986 - September 1992

Benetton

• Retail Fashion Sales Assistant - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
June 1985 - July 1986

Cadwallader Construction

• General Builder, Construction and Renovation - Southam, Warwickshire
July 1983 - June 1985

Part-Time Employment History (Whilst Studying)
CLC Interior Build & Design

• General Builder / Interior Fit-Out Installer - Southam, Warwickshire
September 1995 - July 1998

Gino’s Pizza

• Delivery Driver - Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
October 1994 - April 1995

Elizabeth The Chef

• Production Line Worker - Southam, Warwickshire
September 1992 - April 1993

Education
CITB - Barnsley, Yorkshire

• SSSTS (Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme)
April 2019

Pearson Professional Centre - Stratford-upon-Avon

• CSCS (100% Pass) H&S safety and Environment Test
April 2017

Bath University in Bath, Somerset

• Graphic Design (2:1 BA hons)
September 1995 - June 1998

Warwickshire College in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

• Graphic Design (Final Year – Merit BTEC NDD)
September 1994 - July 1995

Warwickshire College in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

• Multidisciplinary Design (1st Year)
September 1992 - April 1993

Southam College in Southam, Warwickshire

• 8 GCSE equivalent subjects (CSE Pass Rate)
September 1978 - June 1983

Gap Year
Scholastic Publications in Southam, Warwickshire

• Driving 7.5 tonne lorry delivering book fairs to schools
February 1994 - September 1994

Backpacking

• Georgia, USA
November 1993 - February 1994

The Gap, Cambridge

• Retail Fashion Sales Assistant
July 1993 - November 1993

Backpacking

• California, USA
April 1993 - July 1993

Personal Statement
I like cooking, gardening, photography, listening to music and watching movies, especially Science
Fiction and Thrillers, but generally, I enjoy watching movies of all genres. Other hobbies include
reading, usually historical crime novels or espionage thrillers. To blow the cobwebs away, I
recently took up Yoga and cycle either alone or with my son, which is a great way to clear the
mind and keep in shape.

We are a close family enjoying spending time together, regularly walking, visiting period houses
and gardens owned by The National Trust or English Heritage.

 The Cotswold’s, Gloucestershire | Skype: neil0567 | Email: neil0567@sky.com