Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Penny Nichols

Nottingham,Nottinghamshire

Summary

A hardworking, flexible and dedicated self-starter with a passion for grass roots rugby. A wealth of experience and knowledge from various jobs and volunteering roles has facilitated the ability to think creatively at a high level whilst delivering granular detail. Has a proven track record of generating income for our local rugby club by implementing ideas and initiatives, as well as supporting others' suggestions. Generates key revenue to employer and rugby club via excellent customer service skills, analytical nature, ability to build reliable networks quickly and management experience to achieve targets. An accomplished professional with extensive expertise in recruitment marketing, strategic planning, and performance management, demonstrates exceptional problem-solving abilities, data analysis competency, and proficiency in contract negotiation. An established trusted team leader with skills in conflict resolution and quality assurance. By consistently analysing activities and proposals, uses attention to detail to manage data and budgets to maximise potential revenue. Gains job satisfaction by achieving goals and receiving positive customer feedback. Recognises the benefits rugby clubs provide for local communities in terms of mental and physical health and has more ideas for revenue generation.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience
3993
3993
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Fundraiser / Safeguarding Officer / Team Manager

Nottingham Casuals RFC
Nottingham
03.2023 - Current
  • Created and led Crowdfunding project to raise over £26,700 in 6 weeks. This kick-started clubhouse renovations including new kitchen, bar, solar panels
  • Negotiated premium raffle prize donations and cost price from local businesses. Used creativity, marketing, sales skills, hard work to exceed match funding target
  • Identified individuals to close sponsorship deals with and made use of club members and personal network to facilitate and fund some renovation works to minimise costs
  • Next project is floodlighting to increase playing time which will grow membership enable hosting of more events. Lead on Crowdfunding again and support with funding applications
  • Devised, planned and delivered the first Great Casuals Camp out independently. Arranged a team of volunteers to support on the day, ran various team games led by an England player who offered time for free. Other entertainment included live music, DJ, quiz and Sticky 13s, all at no cost. Sold barbecue food and breakfast and ran an honesty bar. Ale supplied at cost price through a contact made at Nottingham Rugby match. Decided to limit numbers as pilot event, yet food and beverage takings were over £3000. Achieved while clubhouse was out of bounds due to renovation. Would love to make this an annual occurrence with vision to make it a full weekend event
  • Plans and co-hosts "Super Saturday" events to showcase the club at all levels to encourage a one club mentality. Received great feedback from visiting clubs due to welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. These events drive revenue from F&B as well as membership numbers
  • Set up stash shop in the clubhouse by choosing products, building relationship with suppliers, negotiating costs, deciding on price points to make the best profit and by using tracking sales and stock through the POS
  • Quickly built a network of relationships within the club, across NLD, at Nottingham Rugby and with local business. This has been invaluable for fund raising and growing the youth section
  • Created links with professional rugby players, coaches and media. Includes playing and coaching staff at national levels (7s and 15s), Nottingham Rugby and PWR clubs
  • Identified multiple areas of concern related to training and DBS clearance when inherited Safeguarding role. Set up database and liaised with volunteers to ensure that the club is compliant and proactively addressing issues, rather than being reactive.
  • Pushed for a shared filing system to encourage cross role working. As volunteers come and go (especially with the youth section), ensured the right people have the right access to documents whilst adhering to GDPR legislation
  • Empathise with volunteers and understand pressures. Pushed to recruit a volunteers coordinator to ensure that all key roles are covered, that nobody is overloaded and that there are no single points of failure
  • Full awareness of the priorities of rugby clubs from being an engaged committee member
  • Ran a free girls school holiday club at Casuals in October organised activities on and off pitch for a full day. Great feedback and would run again for a fee
  • Hosted and facilitated parties and quizzes in the clubhouse, offering F&B to increase income. Influenced others to hire club and facilitated its use
  • Volunteered to run the bar to enable a party booking to go ahead. Recognise the challenges to staff events with volunteers
  • Generates ideas and gets stuff done!
  • Compiled a list of suggestions to maximise use of the club's facilities to generate income and make savings


Student Recruitment Manager

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
04.2019 - Current
  • Plans and delivers large in-person and online events to convince prospects and applicants to become registered students
  • Negotiates contract with third party provider for Clearing hotline provision
  • Builds solid relationships quickly, with internal and external stakeholders
  • Works with budgets to deliver excellent service at best cost
  • Analyses data to strategically plan operations. Gathers relevant data insight to provide best and most profitable service
  • Leads on various projects and events at the same time, with differing priorities and a diverse range of stakeholders
  • Conducts regular performance reviews, fostering constant improvement within team. Resolves conflict and motivates the team to achieve and exceed targets
  • Manages a large and successful team to deliver excellent service with short turnaround times
  • Works with third party providers to design, test and deliver new technologies to improve efficiencies and customer experience
  • Designed training programmes for new recruits to reduce impact on current staff's time and ensure smooth onboarding
  • Creatively and flexibly identifies cost saving and time saving solutions using Lean Management techniques
  • Works under pressure to deliver results
  • Regularly awarded recognition rewards from peers and seniors for continuously achieving KPIs
  • Uses Microsoft Office suite and CRMs to streamline activities


Admissions Manager

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
04.2010 - 04.2019
  • Identified duplication of effort and efficiencies to improve my team's performance
  • Wrote policies and advised government on qualification reform
  • Developed staff skills to ensure service delivery, job satisfaction and promotion opportunities. Addressed staff performance issues as appropriate
  • Created training and reference materials to improve output quality and quantity
  • Seconded to digital project to advise on creation and implementation of IT systems
  • Attention to detail, focus on fairness and flexibility to work longer hours ensured reliable decision making
  • Presented to large groups for training purposes, as well as to prospective students
  • Adapted communication style depending on audience to persuade colleagues to invest in proposed change suggestions



Admissions Officer

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
06.2006 - 04.2010
  • Selected to develop pilot scheme to centralise admissions in line with government white paper to encourage fairness and transparency
  • Reviewed incoming applications, ensuring adherence to admission criteria.
  • Provided comprehensive support to prospective students
  • Developed strong relationships with academic departments for streamlined application processing
  • Adapted communication style to encourage colleagues to buy into the scheme when they had reservations
  • Delivered presentations at schools, colleges and large university events, increasing awareness about the university's offerings to maximise recruitment
  • Ensured a fair admissions process by strictly following established guidelines and protocols
  • Pilot scheme was rolled out across institution after a year

Bar and kitchen staff

The Arrow Public House
Nottingham
02.1998 - 10.2006
  • Part time position in addition to full time university role
  • Established connections with regular customers to improve experience
  • Assisted in kitchen with food preparation, pot washing, monitoring temperatures and hygiene to adhere to food safety regulations and waiting on during peak busy periods
  • Worked the bar as a team to ensure that facilities were clean and well stocked. Rapport with team and customers created a fun environment

Admissions Administrator

University of Nottingham
Nottingham
07.2003 - 06.2006
  • Managed workload to ensure that applications were processed accurately and efficiently
  • Responsibility for applications assigned to me
  • Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity
  • Worked with tight and various deadlines
  • Identified peaks and troughs across colleagues' workloads and adapted to assist them as needed
  • Offered friendly, efficient customer service and handled challenging situations with ease

Personal Banker

Barclays Bank
Nottingham
03.2001 - 11.2003
  • Identified cross-selling opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and achieve KPIs. E.g. insurance, savings products, loans, credit cards, account upgrades when a current account was opened
  • Provided excellent customer service to secure sales and foster positive relationships for future engagement
  • Prepared detailed reports for management review and decision making purpose
  • Maintained calm approach during sensitive and confrontational conversations to resolve issues and deal with complaints

Liaison Officer/Securities Officer/Lending Officer

NatWest Bank
Nottingham
09.1996 - 03.2001
  • Identified sales opportunities from general banking enquiries
  • Won awards for converting phone calls into sales opportunities (lending)
  • Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently whilst adhering to legislation
  • Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity


Education

Certificate in Team Leadership - Management

Institute of Leadership and Management
UK
03.2008 - 03.2009

70 credits at NQF level 5 - Business and Sociology

The Open University
Nottingham
01.2007 - 01.2008

A-Levels - 3 Subjects A-C

Arnold Hill School
Nottingham
08.1996

GCSEs - 10 Subjects A*-C

Arnold Hill School
Nottingham
08.1994

Skills


  • Relationship building and growth
  • Data analysis and strategic planning
  • Performance management - goal setting, coaching, reporting, conflict resolution
  • Contract negotiation
  • Interpersonal communication / public speaking / presentations
  • Leadership skills
  • Motivation of self and staff Recognition of need to adapt for different individuals or groups
  • Time-management, short term and long term planning and organisation
  • Continuous process improvement, always applying lean techniques
  • Microsoft Office Suite, CRM, database design and use, data insights for strategic planning
  • Budget management
  • Customer service excellence as a tool to convert prospects to sales

Accomplishments

  • Regularly graded as "exceeds expectations" in annual performance review
  • Nominated by colleagues recently for "Go Getter" award
  • Club person of the year 23/24 in first year of volunteering at Nottingham Casuals RFC

Affiliations

  • Rugby - ljflaflkjalfsjaljfklajf

Timeline

Fundraiser / Safeguarding Officer / Team Manager

Nottingham Casuals RFC
03.2023 - Current

Student Recruitment Manager

University of Nottingham
04.2019 - Current

Admissions Manager

University of Nottingham
04.2010 - 04.2019

Certificate in Team Leadership - Management

Institute of Leadership and Management
03.2008 - 03.2009

70 credits at NQF level 5 - Business and Sociology

The Open University
01.2007 - 01.2008

Admissions Officer

University of Nottingham
06.2006 - 04.2010

Admissions Administrator

University of Nottingham
07.2003 - 06.2006

Personal Banker

Barclays Bank
03.2001 - 11.2003

Bar and kitchen staff

The Arrow Public House
02.1998 - 10.2006

Liaison Officer/Securities Officer/Lending Officer

NatWest Bank
09.1996 - 03.2001

A-Levels - 3 Subjects A-C

Arnold Hill School

GCSEs - 10 Subjects A*-C

Arnold Hill School

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Penny Nichols