Rob Wassell, Technical Author

I am a freelance technical author. I have a wide range of experience in the production of manuals, user guides and other documentation to promote and support physical and software-based products, such as cutting edge web-based applications to audio and video switching equipment.

June 2009 to
Incontrol Marketing

Incontrol Marketing provide an on-line print-proofing and email marketing solution to the UK office products industry.

Clients include; Spicers, Europe's largest office supplies wholesaler. Integra, the UK's largest buying group. Beta Distribution, one of the UK's leading office equipment distributors and many other leading UK businesses.

During my time with ICM, I have:

• Written software specification documents to introduce new or improved functionality.
• Written user manuals and help guides in PDF format
• Planned and specced' a new Extranet information delivery service
• Delivered a platform-wide on-line help system
• Written WIKI based operating procedures and internal documentation
• Business continuity planning and procedures
• Release notes to accompany software releases to users and customers
• Pioneering new user-intuitive overhaul to the main software platform
• Overseeing the multi-language file translation for overseas users
• Involvement with writing copy for website, marketing material and brochures
• Graphic design for promotional material, user interface and documentation
• Scripted and produced video tutorials to accompany product documentation

January 2008 to
Freelance Technical Author and Documentation Writer

Some of my more recent clients

Dina Malkova

• Website copy
• Graphic design

The Silvery

• Website copy
• Graphic design

Darina Beesley

Read customer comments

• Website copy
• Product brochure and advert
• Graphic design

MG Office Services

Read customer comments

• Website copy
• Graphic design
• Product advertisements

Belle Tout Lighthouse

• Website copy
• Graphic design
• Photography
• Design, product and copy for 2010 calendar
• Articles and writing for media publication

Pearl Bates

• Website copy
• Graphic design

David Stanley

• Website copy
• Graphic design

Di-Arts

• Website copy
• Graphic design

Still Accounting

• Website copy
• Graphic design
• Promotional literature
• Advertising copy

Plants by Design

• Website copy
• Graphic design
• Promotional literature
• Product brochures
• Advertising copy

In-To-Lunch

Read customer comments

• Website copy
• Graphic design
• Product photography
• Product brochure
• Company consistent stationery

A Variety of Clients

I have worked for businesses in a number of different industries from catering to building services, fashion to jewellery, writers to hotels and many more.

Whilst my skills are transferrable to any industry, it has been excellent experience to broaden my horizons with such a diverse group of clients where recommendation was my key draw of business.

Key accomplishments:

• Writing website copy that has been very successful in driving visitors, increasing business and maximising revenue
• Use of social networking and other methods of marketing to maximise awareness of the product or brand
• Implementation of technology to distribute information such as PDF, on-line delivery, interactive product demonstrations, etc.
• Business continuity planning and procedures
• Product photography
• Product brochures
• Marketing collateral
• Letterheads, business cards and consistent business stationery

April 2007 to May 2008
Chairman, Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust

The trust was formed to acquire and protect the old lighthouse that stands upon Beachy Head in East Sussex. The intention was for it to be turned into a visitor centre and tourist attraction to help preserve this historic landmark.

I designed and produced the website, press statements and gave interviews to local and national press as well as appearances on the radio and television news.

I networked and liaised with all manner of organisations, specialist groups, the media and celebrities to help further the cause.

I successfully managed the entire project to ensure that all required materials and resources were in place, however, we were ‘pipped at the post’ by a private buyer who paid cash for an outright sale. As the trust could not realise its aims it was wound-up.

April 2007 to December 2007
Abbey Protection Group plc

Abbey are the leading supplier of legal and professional fees insurance to UK SME's.

• Managed and planned the design, integration and development of a Sharepoint based central 'knowledge' management system for internal departments and company websites
• Documentation of internal processes and procedures
• Regular staff updates on software releases or updates
• Business continuity documentation
• Website copy and graphic design

December 2005 to April 2007
Workgroup Software Limited

Workgroup Software and Focus on Business provide software development services to big business, local government and education authorities.

• Documentation of internal processes and procedures
• Product documentation in both on-line and off-line form
• Product specifications for software development
• Information and knowledge management
• Software release notes and user guides

July 2000 to December 2005
Office-Shadow Limited

With its Shadow-Planner system, Office-Shadow were a world-class and award winning business continuity software company. It had some prestigious clients such as Boeing, BP, Royal Bank of Scotland, Societe Generale, Santander and many others.

• Author of the original specification documentation from which the Shadow-Planner software was written
• Product documentation, user guides and release notes
• Wrote many of the specifications, reviewed and signed-off much of the product functionality that made the product world-class
• Implemented a documentation authoring department for product literature
• Oversaw documentation translation into many languages
• Worked with central government and the Home Office on implementation of the Risk module as a government standard
• Worked with Cranfield University on the implementation of the system and training risk teams from the Army, Royal Air Force, government and other organisations
• Worked with local authorities for the implementation of Business Continuity, Risk and Business Impact Analysis with tier 1 responders
• Key member of our own business continuity planning team
• All on-line and off-line product documentation and release notes

July 2000 to December 2005
Maddox Solutions Limited

Maddox Broadcast were the world leader in analogue cable television equipment. A finance deal fell through and the company went under. Maddox Solutions was created to service premier clients.

• Product documentation and user guides
• Software updates and release notes
• Implementation of improved documentation delivery
• Business continuity planning

July 1996 to July 2000
Support Officer, Exportmaster Systems Limited

Exportmaster are a world-leading supplier of international trade and export software with over 150 companies across all business sectors including 50% of the top UK 100 companies.

• Product documentation and manuals
• Release notes and user guides
• Designed, wrote copy, launched and managed the website
• Internal process documentation
• Business continuity planning
• Implementation of web-based 'knowledge' system

December 1994 to July 1996
Systems Administrator, Jetsave Holidays Ltd

Jetsave were a leading tour operator and specialist in holidays to America and South Africa.

• Managed a number of successful brochure launches
• Part of copywriting and brochure proof-reading team
• Product documentation and user guides
• Internal process documentation and procedures
• Business continuity planning

August 1989 to December 1994
Senior Systems Support Analyst, First Choice Holidays

First Choice holidays are one of the UK's leading tour operators with a worldwide operation, their own airline and branch of travel agents.

• Implementation of new features and functionality
• System documentation and user guides
• Departmental processes and procedures
• Business continuity planning and testing

March 1987 to August 1989
Consultant & Engineer, Gulton Limited

Gulton are one of the world leaders in thermal printing technology and I worked for their European head office.

• Produced product demonstrations using programming languages
• Presentation of product demonstrations at trade shows
• Documentation authoring
• Business continuity planning
• Process control

August 1986 to October 1987
Information Technology Centre

I studied computer programming and electronics with the main area of study being the role of information technology in business.

Passed all exams and achieved successful career placement.

August 1982 to August 1986
Blatchington Mill School

Mathematics, English Literature, English Language, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Woodwork and Metalwork.

6th form projects; Creation of a company to refurbish and sell damaged school desks. Production of a film report on the effects of vandalism within the school.