Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Sarah Hovell

Sarah Hovell

Barnes

Summary

Having worked in Children's book, magazine and partwork publishing for over 20 years; I'm a highly skilled production manager. Having overseen the production of BBC children's titles such as CBeebies, Match of the Day, Bob the Builder and Numberblocks - I'm an experienced people manager, meticulous planner of picture, board and novelty books and love to bring a creative approach - making sure all produced on time, within budget and to quality standards. Having won team and personal awards with BBC and PPA, I strive to bring the best out of teams for their own personal development and the business.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work history

Senior Production Co-ordinator, Children's

Dorling Kindersley
04.2024 - 10.2024
  • Responsible for project managing over 30 new titles from concept to completion.
  • Ensured all titles met budget, schedule and quality.
  • Responsible for project planning, scheduling and communicating deadlines.
  • Time managed teams to ensure all deadlines met.
  • Sourced materials and set artwork specifications ensuring quality assurance.
  • Analysed suppliers from repro and print to distribution.
  • Communicated effectively with designers, editors, suppliers and heads of departments.

Senior Production Co-ordinator, Children's

Harper Collins
09.2023 - 03.2024
  • Responsible for leading the project management of over 60 children's titles from new launches to reprints.
  • Project planner and co-ordinator for setting schedules.
  • Time managed teams to ensure projects met deadlines.
  • Helped to manage suppliers worldwide and negotiate fair prices and budget management.
  • Ensured quality standards were met at all times.
  • Communicated effectively with designers/editors/publishers to resolve enquiries, issues and trouble-shoot matters.
  • Managed relationships with internal colleagues and external suppliers, ensuring that information was communicated well.

Production Editorial Manager, Children's

Immediate Media
10.2021 - 06.2023
  • Responsible for production of BBC titles such as CBeebies, Bluey and Andy's Amazing Adventures.
  • Sub-edited magazine pages ensuring grammar, spellings, folios and content correct.
  • Ensured all pages approved by rights owners before content printed.
  • Checked files in INDD, made jpegs, zip files, and made pdfs ready for press keeping the highest standard of accuracy.
  • Maintained excellent relationships with CBeebies rights owners such as Bing, Sarah & Duck, Bluey, Disney etc.
  • Responsible for trouble-shooting and finding solutions.

Production Manager, Children's Magazines

BBC
11.2010 - 01.2021
  • Managed overall production and project management for 15+ pre-school and pre-teen titles such as CBeebies, Alphablocks, Numberblocks, Top of the Pops, MEGA, Match of the Day, CBeebies Special, CBeebies Art, Bluey to name but a few.
  • Controlled multiple covermount projects from conception, production, safety testing, colour, repro and pre-press to print, finish and delivery. Included polybag and paper wallet costings, schedules and QC.
  • Managed quotes, print buying and estimates for print, paper, binding and plant costs ie, sticker sheets, cover flaps, taller covers, special effects, polybags etc..
  • Negotiated contracts with suppliers and presented accurate final costs and invoices for UK/Far East.
  • Produced schedules; and monitored deadlines. Plus, offered solutions in times of need.
  • Attended progress meetings to communicate schedule and budget feedback. Also, trouble-shooting challenges.
  • Exercised operational control over processes ensuring titles and associated products produced within budget and on sale dates met
  • Communicated with stakeholders (Editorial, Buying, Marketing, Sales, Repro, Subs, Newstrade and Suppliers) to ensure information is distributed clearly.
  • Set-up artwork and print specifications for special finishes such as mirri, foil, soft touch, gloss/matt UV, spot or glow in the dark.
  • Ensured high quality pre-press, printer proofs, dummies, finished copies and press passed in UK and overseas.

Production Manager, Children's magazines

BBC Worldwide
02.2005 - 11.2010
  • Supervised team responsible for +15 BBC Children's products for retail.
  • Oversaw the production and delivery of portfolio of novelty, board, picture and sensory books with worldwide suppliers to meet retail on sale dates.
  • Coached staff in developing and achieving individual performance goals.
  • Managed artwork specifications, files, scheduling, safety testing and proofing.

Senior Buying Manager

Compass Press Ltd
08.2004 - 02.2005
  • Print buying, scheduling, costings and press passing.
  • Managed accounts from artwork supply to press such as Penguin.

Book Print Production Controller, Children's

BBC Worldwide
11.2001 - 08.2004
  • Managed print and covermount buying, pre-press (files/colour proofing), schedules and safety testing on books and toys (Teletubbies and Bob the Builder).

Magazine Print Production Controller, Children's

BBC Worldwide
11.1998 - 11.2001
  • Managed print production on titles such as Live n'Kicking, Top of the Pops, Teletubbies, Noddy, Bob the Builder.
  • Oversaw safety testing of novelty, board, picture and sensory books.
  • Managed artwork templates, proofs, approvals and meeting delivery deadlines into printers.
  • Oversaw colour proofing, pre-press, print buying, scheduling and logistics working closely with worldwide suppliers.

Book Print Production Controller

Creative Handbook
02.1997 - 11.1998
  • Managed photographic artwork, scheduling, quality control and costs.
  • Press passed in Far East.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Business Studies

University of West of England
Bristol

Skills

Hard-skills:

  • Project planning - organised
  • Strategic thinking
  • Scheduling management
  • Team leadership
  • Quality assurance
  • Interpersonal and communication skills
  • Problem solving and decision making

Soft-skills:

  • Adaptable and flexible
  • Time-management and prioritisation skills
  • Experienced team player - award winning
  • Strong written and verbal skills
  • Calm, kind and effective nature
  • Microsoft outlook, word, excel; Gmail; Biblio, GPO and Asana Indesign, Insite and Engine

Accomplishments

  • Winner of BBC Magazines Central Areas Person of the Year, 2009.
  • Winner of BBC Magazines Team of the Year (Production and MoTD).
  • Winner of PPA Team of the Year (2001 and 2010).
  • Performed with BBC Choir and Immediate Voices for over 10 years.
  • Cycled 90km and raised money for The Prince's Trust.

Timeline

Senior Production Co-ordinator, Children's

Dorling Kindersley
04.2024 - 10.2024

Senior Production Co-ordinator, Children's

Harper Collins
09.2023 - 03.2024

Production Editorial Manager, Children's

Immediate Media
10.2021 - 06.2023

Production Manager, Children's Magazines

BBC
11.2010 - 01.2021

Production Manager, Children's magazines

BBC Worldwide
02.2005 - 11.2010

Senior Buying Manager

Compass Press Ltd
08.2004 - 02.2005

Book Print Production Controller, Children's

BBC Worldwide
11.2001 - 08.2004

Magazine Print Production Controller, Children's

BBC Worldwide
11.1998 - 11.2001

Book Print Production Controller

Creative Handbook
02.1997 - 11.1998

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Business Studies

University of West of England

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