Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Interests
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Jo Lea

Sheffield,United Kingdom

Summary

My working life thus far has well equipped me to communicate and work with a wide variety of people. I consider myself adaptable, approachable and supportive.

18 years working in student property management meant meeting plenty of deadlines across each year and I enjoyed all aspects of this work. Aside from leading the team and planning any projects I was also happy to get involved in the nitty gritty work it took to turn a house around under a tight timescale. I have cleaned up after builders, picked up a paintbrush if a decorator was held up elsewhere - anything to help get the job done on time.

My relationships with tenants were solid, they knew they could rely on me to sort out any problems quickly and the feedback we had year on year was excellent in this respect.

As a massage therapist (self employed) I was also used to multi tasking - my time was divided between actually running the business, marketing , keeping my accounts up to date plus completing any other admin necessary and then actually working as a massage therapist. I felt privileged to have the trust of clients, some of whom were living with mental health issues and/or physical disability and discomfort.

I have a proven record of reliability and punctuality. Whatever job I am doing I like to feel I am doing it to the best of my abilities and am thus happy to learn from others where I can and share skills in group projects.

My experience volunteering in charity retail is why I am now seeking to take on paid work in the sector. I am enjoying the busy-ness of the retail environment and what goes on behind the scenes to present the public with an attractive premises and shopping experience. I hope I have a lot to offer within the field.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Property Manager

S/E Working for Mrs Jacquie Salfield
Sheffield, United Kingdom, South Yorkshire
08.2006 - 07.2024

Achieved 99% property occupancy rates over 18 years by effectively marketing the 6 houses I managed for the Salfields - I staged, filmed and photographed the houses for advertising plus listing on Rightmove. Feedback said that this helped "sell" the properties to prospective tenants. I also :

  • Introduced prospective tenants to the houses at viewings and answered any questions they may have.
  • Conducted thorough tenant screenings ensuring all tenants had the "Right to Rent".
  • Supplied all tenants with the company policy regarding distribution of their information under the data protection law (registered with ICO)
  • Registered deposits and explained the law regarding deposit protection to all tenants
  • Oversaw tenancy agreements from inception to termination, ensuring compliance with local regulations and protecting the interests of both landlord and tenants.
  • Undertook regular property inspections, identifying areas for improvement and proactively addressing potential safety / fire hazards.
  • Completed final move-out walk-throughs with tenants to identify required repairs. Liaised with landlord and tenant regarding any damages and deposit deductions.
  • Co-ordinated with a team of maintenance staff I put together myself to ensure timely completion of repairs, minimizing downtime for tenants and maintaining the properties to a high standard.
  • Project managed new bathrooms and kitchens, organised replacement of external doors, replacement windows and roof renewal plus damp treatments. Selected and purchased new furniture/furnishings/white goods as required. Organised redecorating , re carpeting as required.
  • Monitored the progress of construction and maintenance projects keeping both landlord and tenants informed re project updates, delays, and schedule changes.
  • Maintained positive landlord-tenant relationships, ensuring clear communication and prompt resolution of any disputes.
  • Monitored tenant behaviour and implemented corrective action to maintain good relationships with neighbours.
  • Handled tenant complaints promptly and appropriately, calling in repairmen, and other support services.
  • Kept the business accounts to the standard required by the accountant for end of year tax returns.
  • Undertook training throughout my property career to stay up to date on regulations, licensing criteria, fire safety etc

Massage Therapist

S/Employed
Sheffield, United Kingdom, South Yorkshire
08.2001 - 04.2014


  • Booked in all appointments running my diary across 2 sites, handled payments, designed my own promotional materials and website.
  • Promoted my business locally at health fairs and undertook work for Sheffield ME group, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Chinese Community Centre and local SureStart groups along with running an Indian Head Massage class for carers and a relaxation class for Sheffield University students
  • Developed and maintained positive relationships with clients through good communication and follow-up to increase satisfaction and build strong rapport.
  • Assisted clients in understanding the benefits of massage therapy and aimed to provide education on self-care techniques.
  • Maintained client treatment records and designed long-term care programs for return customers.
  • Boosted repeat business through outstanding customer service and personalized massage experiences. My work was always Holistic - so I worked out a massage plan for an individual and responded to their specific needs.
  • Assessed medical histories and conditions of clients to determine contraindications to massage services.
  • Expanded knowledge of various modalities through continuing education courses, enhancing skillset as a therapist. I trained in many new body therapies plus also undertook Counselling training. There is a recognised link with body therapy affecting mood and releasing emotion and I wanted to be better equipped to help with this.
  • Led workshops on self-massage techniques for stress relief, enhancing community wellness and engagement.
  • Advised clients on areas such as posture, provided at-home exercises and stretches or perhaps even recommended lifestyle changes to improve alignment, posture, and gait for better long-term wellness. This may have been something as simple as changing the chair you use to work at a desk as it may need to be higher/lower.

Education

Landlords for Excellence Programme - Property standards, Health and Safety, Licensing

Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield
/2006 - /2007

Diploma - Seated Acupressure Massage

Academy of On Site Massage
Leicester
/2006 -

NCFE Level 2 - Counselling Skills

Castle College
Sheffield
10.2003 - 05.2004

VTCT Diploma Level 3 - Indian Head Massage

Castle College
Sheffield
04.2001 - 06.2004

Diploma - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology

Massage Training Institute
Sheffield
09.2001 - 07.2002

Diploma - Holistic Therapeutic Massage

SCMT
Sheffield
09.2001 - 07.2002

A-Levels - English Language and Literature and History of Art

Sheffield Colleges (Granville And Shirecliffe)
Sheffield
09.1986 - 06.1988

O'level - Art and Design, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography and Mathematics

City School
Sheffield
09.1980 - 06.1982

Skills

Excellent communication skills, a good listener 

Strives for the best customer service possible

Organised, efficient with good time management

Creative - would be excited to help maintain window and shop displays

Patient

Budget management experience

IT literate, user of social media

Self motivated but excels being a part of a team

Reliable and trustworthy

Flexibility regarding working hours



Additional Information

I've been a volunteer at Age UK Crookes since May of this year. I've always been an advocate for re-using and re-inventing items from clothing through to furniture and having a role that takes you into the heart of local community is great.

I'm gaining new experience all the time - stock control and rotation, pricing and marketing are all part of the job. Even though we are long standing Gift Aiders ourselves, I now have much more of an appreciation of what a difference this makes to charities and thus feel I can really put this across to customers.


I understand the need to maximise profit for a charity and am enjoying looking out for bigger ticket items which can then be sent on to be listed on an online platform for a better chance of achieving a higher price.


I relish the prospect of helping out with window displays and layout within a shop - consideration for colour and design can make something visually so much more attractive for customers and assist in yielding higher sales.




Interests

In my downtime I'm a member of a book club and I help with gardening for 2 elderly neighbours along with working on our own gardens at home I'm a member of a local gym and I go for long walks with friends as our catching up time I am very creative and interested in all aspects of design from fashion to architecture I have sewn in one form or another for most of my life - from making wedding dresses to creating stitched portraits My partner and I love to see contemporary art festivals, do street art tours and visit galleries across the country and abroad I read every day, sometimes fact sometimes fiction I like to cook and bake for friends and really enjoy taking courses to learn something new I am currently attempting to learn Turkish online! I was gifted a silversmithing course last year which was a great experience and I have previously taken part in online stitch groups which is probably a lot more interesting than it actually sounds

Accomplishments

    I feel a great accomplishment in having achieved over 25 years of self employment.

    Being self employed requires flexibility, dedication, patience and a huge degree of optimism. I hope my unique skill set and outlook can now carry me into a role where I can take pride in doing a good job and bring something new and useful to the mix.

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Property Manager

S/E Working for Mrs Jacquie Salfield
08.2006 - 07.2024

NCFE Level 2 - Counselling Skills

Castle College
10.2003 - 05.2004

Diploma - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology

Massage Training Institute
09.2001 - 07.2002

Diploma - Holistic Therapeutic Massage

SCMT
09.2001 - 07.2002

Massage Therapist

S/Employed
08.2001 - 04.2014

VTCT Diploma Level 3 - Indian Head Massage

Castle College
04.2001 - 06.2004

A-Levels - English Language and Literature and History of Art

Sheffield Colleges (Granville And Shirecliffe)
09.1986 - 06.1988

O'level - Art and Design, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography and Mathematics

City School
09.1980 - 06.1982

Landlords for Excellence Programme - Property standards, Health and Safety, Licensing

Sheffield Hallam University
/2006 - /2007

Diploma - Seated Acupressure Massage

Academy of On Site Massage
/2006 -
Jo Lea