20 September 2012

Meet the Team: Lee Clarke


Lee Clarke
Managing Director

Describe yourself in a few words:
I enjoy the good things in life and I am prepared to work hard to gain them.

Lee, 40, is the Managing Director of ClarkeWood Consulting therefore he has been in the business since the very beginning. Lee specialises in Contract IT positions around the West Midlands.

What is your biggest professional achievement?
Taking the initial leap to set up my own business, in one of the worst economic climates, and giving it a real good bash

After 15 years of working in recruitment, Lee decided to make the bold move of opening his own business. Through Lee’s hard work, ClarkeWood Consulting has successfully grown and furthermore has been running for just under 3 years; an admirable accomplishment in these financial times. Working with Lee is always a pleasant and unique experience due to his friendly, sociable nature.

What is your biggest personal achievement?
My four wonderful children, all of which I adore.

When Lee isn’t working hard he is a big family man and is usually enjoying quality time with his kids. He has four lovely children aged from 2 - 12 so there is never a dull moment when they are around!

If he isn’t working hard or enjoying time with his family, he is still full of beans and loving life! He states his business icons are Richard Branson and Hugh Hefner –  successful businessmen who still know how to have a lot of fun! Lee is the Grandmaster of Dad Dancing plus is always first on the dance floor; and doesn’t take himself too seriously! Already this year, for local charities, Lee has dressed up as a woman, completed a skydive and has been locked up in Worcester’s Town Centre wearing a convict jumpsuit. In his spare time he also enjoys Taekwondo, reading and watching films.

How would your colleagues describe you?

Lee has one of the strongest work ethics I have come across in a professional, let alone in a boss.

Leading from the front Lee always ensures that he maintains his work life balance in equal measure.

With a true innate passion and ability for what he does, Lee provides the team here at ClarkeWood with motivation and aspiration all rolled into one and manages to do so whilst maintaining a friendship with each one of us creating a fantastic work environment.

13 September 2012

Meet the Team: Victoria Taylor

ClarkeWood's 'Meet the Team' series is well underway now and here is our third installment!

Today we will be basing our blog post on Victoria!


Victoria Taylor

Victoria.Taylor@clarkewoodconsulting.com

Describe yourself in a few words:
Fiercely independent, ambitious, considerate and easy going.


Victoria, 26, has been working at ClarkeWood Consulting for just over 18 months. Victoria sources Open Source, Marketing, Business Analyst and Project Management staff mainly in Worcestershire and the West Midlands.


What is your biggest professional achievement?
Setting up ClarkeWood's CSR strategy and helping to raise thousands for local causes over the last 12 months.


As Victoria said, she is a considerate person and this certainly shows in her charity efforts! She has arranged all of our charity events and is always thinking of new, fun and creative ways to make money for local causes. In her latest project, Victoria has used an existing bond with Dolphin Computer Access and a newly formed relationship with Sight Concern to encourage volunteers to help teach visually impaired people to use a computer.


Victoria also supports a charity in Guatemala called 'Education for the Children'  (www.eftc.org.uk/ She is 'Godparent' to two children out there called Betty and Jorge who are both seven. She recently went out to visit them both in Guatemala!



What is your biggest personal achievement?
Gaining my skippers and diving qualifications


When Victoria isn't hard at work or helping charities she enjoys diving and horse riding. (which is why she has been dubbed the 'posh' one at ClarkeWood!) Victoria also has a big interest in fine Red and White wine and food. Her favourite feasts are seafood - especially shellfish - as well as Cheese and preferred drinks are Tia Maria and Port. When eating out she enjoys the restaurants: Loves in Birmingham and The Jolly Frog in Leintwardine.


How would your colleagues describe you?

Well what can we say about the “Posh bird” in the office?

Victoria believes in the smart appearance, smart mind philosophy of working. She's a professional in dealing with people and treats everybody equal.

Victoria throws herself into everything she does with 100% vigour and as the Companies head of CSR, she is always leading from the front whether it is jumping out of aircraft or other various charity activities we do.

Victoria is a dedicated member of the team BUT she also does know how to party!

So to sum up Victoria – Work hard Play Hard.

3 September 2012

'Train a Trainer'

‘Train a Trainer’


ClarkeWood currently have an exciting new project which is about to take off!
We have teamed up with local company ‘Dolphin Computer Access’ and charity ‘Sight Concern’ to sponsor a handful of volunteers’ through their ‘Train a Trainer’ course.
‘Train a Trainer’ is a one day course held at Dolphin’s head office in Blackpole, Worcester. The course will teach you how to use Dolphins pioneering software, GUIDE which helps visually impaired people to use a computer, and how to relay it on to other people.
You will then be expected to teach small groups of blind or visually impaired people how to use the GUIDE software.
We have had a great response to the project, but we could always do with more volunteers – the more people who go through the course, the more visually impaired people can receive help!

  So, do you want to......?
Increase skills / build CV
Gain something attractive to an employer
Have the Feel good factor
Have the opportunity to learn for free 
You can gain a qualification that is not widely available
Have an In demand qualification for the future


We are holding an evening on:
Bradbury Centre (Sight Concern)
Sansome Walk,
Worcester,
WR1 1LH
 Tuesday 4th September at 6.00pm - 7.00pm.


If you want more information, want to register your interest or to RSVP for the event please contact:

lauren.henley@clarkewoodconsulting.com