I specialise in high quality transcription, proofreading and editing services. I'm flexible, thorough, and comfortable working with a wide range of subject matter - in fact, I love a bit of variety and generally thrive on it. I like to get things right, so have a conscientious attitude towards my work, be it a small, one-off job or a longer term project.

I have over 15 years experience of working in an academic environment, principally as a project archivist and research assistant. My background is in the arts and humanities, but I have varied experience and have also turned my hand to administrative/business management roles in a medical faculty. I am a highly competent transcriptionist who isn't afraid of accents, a fast and accurate typist (80+ words per minute), have strong proofreading and editing skills, a keen eye for accuracy, and a curious nature.



Work Experience
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Summary: I am an efficient and accurate audio transcriptionist, and provide this service to several private clients and two transcription companies on a regular basis. I have recently edited/rewritten several e-books on varying subjects, and am involved in ongoing work on a collected edition of the poems of a 20th century British poet, and also work as part of a small team of freelancers who assist authors to self-publish. I have worked extensively with archival collections held by a prominent university library, combining the roles of archivist and researcher. This has included assessing and sorting archives (ms and typescript papers, photographs, audio recordings), liaison with archive creators and executors, cataloguing for the web (XML-based) and managing online catalogues, creating user guides and promotional literature, researching and writing web content, organising and participating in conferences and information sessions with various user groups, and dealing with enquiries. I have also held roles requiring administrative and managerial skills in an altogether different environment (medical education), have temped, and have experience of working as part of editorial teams compiling directories and bibliographies.

Job Title: Archivist / Research Assistant
Company: University of Leeds
Description: I have held a number of contracts at the University of Leeds, chiefly working on externally funded projects based around archives held in the Special Collections department of Leeds University Library. These have included the following:

Research Assistant on Pilot Project (May-July 2010):
Conducting preliminary research and pilot in preparation for a bid for a major research grant involving the Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture, including identification of appropriate materials, liaison with project partners, digitisation of materials, tracing copyright holders and clearing permissions.

Geoffrey Hill Archive Project (April 2009-April 2010):
Sorting, organising and cataloguing the archive of a highly regarded English poet; creating an online catalogue using XML-based software; managing upload of catalogue to search interface; handling sensitive material; liaison with the poet as required; handling enquiries relating to the archive.

Work with 20th Century Poetry Collections (January-June 2008):
Assessing, arranging and cataloguing archival collections; answering enquiries; maintaining the Leeds Poetry 1950-1980 catalogue and website; assessment of archives in situ for future deposit; organising a reception and poetry reading for Leeds Poetry 1950-1980

Leeds Poetry 1950-1980 (October 2005-December 2007):
Sorting and arranging the holdings of archives and collections relevant to the project; creating web-deliverable catalogue for the collections; researching the background to the collections; identifying links between the Leeds Poetry collections and related collections; creating and developing web pages; making digital copies of sound and video recordings; publicising the project (leaflet, exhibitions); presenting the project to various user groups

Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture Project (June 2002-June 2005):
Sorting and arranging the holdings of the archive; creating a web-deliverable catalogue; making digital copies of sound recordings; creating web content; organising a one-day conference (including online publication of conference proceedings); disseminating information about the Archive through lectures and talks; producing a publicity leaflet.
From:03/Jun/2002 To:29/Apr/2011

Job Title: Business Manager / Projects Officer
Company: University of Leeds
Description: Part-time posts held during a period of redeployment at the University of Leeds:

Business Manager for an academic unit within the Leeds Institute of Medical Education (June 2008-January 2009): administrative support; budget holder and authorised signatory; financial reporting; liaison with School and Faculty Finance offices; liaison with Faculty and Central Human Resources; recruitment; pre- and post-award research support.

Projects and Research Support Officer, Leeds Institute of Medical Education(January 2009-April 2009): Work on small projects including contribution to Student Support Review; creation of endowments database. Pre- and post-award research support: costings; liaison with Faculty Research Office and funding bodies; financial reporting; queries relating to research grant administration; development of Research Support Guide for a small research group.

Support to Postgraduate Office, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics (July 2008-December 2008): general support to manager; auditing procedures and implementing functional changes relating to enquiries and applications for study; development of information management system for enquiries and applications for study; general administrative support.
From:02/Jun/2008 To:01/Apr/2009

Job Title: Temping
Description: Work through Julia Wade Ltd, Leeds on NHS Spine Project Asset Register
From:01/Aug/2005 To:30/Sep/2005

Job Title: Senior Library Assistant (Cataloguing)
Company: University of Leeds
Description: Cataloguing old and rare books to MARC standard for the Retrospective Conversion Project, 19th Century Pamphlets Project and HOGARTH (Helpful Online Gateway to Art History) Project in the Special Collections department of Leeds University Library.
From:01/Apr/1999 To:31/May/2002

Job Title: Temping
Description: Secretarial/administrative assignments through Office Angels and City Secretarial, Leeds
From:01/Mar/1999 To:30/Apr/1999

Job Title: Assistant Editor
Company: Europa Publications
Description: Updating the International Who's Who and The World of Learning
From:01/Jun/1998 To:26/Feb/1999

Job Title: Editorial Assistant
Company: International Medieval Bibliography
Description: Identifying and cataloguing suitable content in academic journals to appear in the International Medieval Bibliography
From:02/Jun/1997 To:30/Jun/1998

Job Title: Archive services/transcription
Company: University of Bolton (Freelance)
Description: Assisting with work on a collected edition of the works of a British poet including transcription of previously published works, transcription of unpublished/uncollected poems held in archives (manuscript and typescript), and identification of variant and final versions of previously unpublished poems.
From:01/Jun/2011

Job Title: Virtual Personal Assistant
Company: Stewart McDowall Associates
Description: Work on three projects involving typing and research; third project is ongoing.

Project 1: Preparation of a comprehensive CV and Practice Statement to launch Stewart McDowall Associates following Mr McDowall"s retirement as Senior Partner from W A Fairhurst & Partners (March-April 2002).

Project 2: Preparation of bid submissions as required for several projects, and preparation and presentation of detailed reports and analysis for onward transmission to Clients (August 2002-March 2007).

Project 3: On-going but intermittent preparation of Client reports (September 2007 to date).
From:04/Mar/2002 To:30/Aug/2011

Job Title: Freelance Transcriptionist
Description: Working as a freelance audio transcriptionist for two transcription companies.
From:01/Nov/2011



Education
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Degree: BA (Hons)
Field of Study: History
University / College: University of Leeds
From:01/Oct/1992 To:30/Jun/1995

Degree: MA
Field of Study: Medieval Studies
University / College: University of Leeds
From:05/Oct/1995 To:29/Aug/1997