Nicholas Garner

Personal profile

I am a creative and motivated Computer Science graduate from The University of Manchester, working as a Graduate Developer at BBC Future Media in Salford. I have a passion for the successful design, development and delivery of software and web applications and a proven professional and academic track record.

Work experience

Summer 2013: Software Developer, Department of Computer Science, The University of Manchester

Contributed to the development of a series of laboratory exercises for the understanding of ATDD/TDD.
Achieved thorough working knowledge of a number of agile practices through directed work and independent research and experimentation, including user stories, specification by example, incremental development, automated acceptance testing, unit testing and test-driven development.
Provided extensive critical feedback using excellent verbal and written communication skills to inform the development of the laboratory resources.

Summer 2011: Crick Software Ltd, Northampton

Returned to continue work in software development with similar responsibilities as previously (see below).
Coached a colleague in the use of an in-house development tool as part of a handover of responsibilities.

2004–2010: Project Manager, Crick Software Ltd, Northampton

Fast progression from a basic role to Technical Project Manager reporting to Managing Director.
Developed excellent communication skills, team-working mentality, capacity for independent working, taking responsibility for my work and being proactive with decisions and questions.
Responsibilities included:
- Working with teams to brainstorm and determine functionality and user interface for software and websites, and writing detailed specification documents for developers based on those decisions.
- Liaising closely with developers on software and website development, including decision making, troubleshooting and stipulating development priorities, and reporting project progress to management.
- Evaluating builds against specification documents and testing, logging and following up issues.
- Liaising with contracted companies and coordinating, approving and integrating their work, for example in product internationalisation.
- Developing and maintaining technical resources such as spellcheckers, databases and documentation.

Education

2011–present: The University of Manchester, BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Received full immersion and insight into the fundamentals of many areas of Computer Science.
Undertook self-proposed final-year project developing a tool to facilitate the rostering of healthcare staff.
Achieved average module result of 84%, including Object Orientated Programming (87%), Distributed Computing (89%), Databases (88%), Computation (96%), Machine Learning (81%), Algorithms (79%), Symbolic AI (98%), Software Engineering (83%).
Developed programming skills in languages including Object-Oriented Java, C, ARM assembly code, PHP and MySQL though laboratory exercises with an average mark of 95%.
Refined logical thinking skills and ability to design, implement and rigorously test solutions.
Improved leadership, self-motivation and peer-coaching skills through group projects.
Awarded three prizes for excellent academic performance:
- Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, awarded to the top 0.5% of students in each graduating year reflecting the exceptional performance of the individual graduates during their degree.
- Williams/Kilburn Medal, awarded to a student of exceptional distinction whose performance throughout their undergraduate course has been of outstanding merit.
- Golden Anniversary Prize, awarded for excellence in first year studies

2010–2011: The University of Manchester, Science Foundation Year

Mix of A level equivalent maths and science modules. Achieved average module result of 87%.
Participation in group project developed problem solving and flexibility to manage changing circumstances due to group members leaving the project.

1998–2003: Northampton School for Boys

A level: Computing (C) Maths (E) Psychology (E); AS level: English Language (B)
GCSE: 10 (3A*, 4A, 2B, 1C) including Maths, Science and English

Extracurricular activities

2010–present: Website Secretary, The University of Manchester Hiking Club

Elected to committee position in 2011 and re-elected in 2012, 2013.
Responsible for maintaining and extending the club website:
- Implementation of professional looking website front end in liaison with Publicity Secretary.
- Development of new functionality and content, including content management system.
- Maintaining content and administrating wiki, gallery and mailing list plugins.
Participating in club activities including weekly meetings, hikes and socials.

2006–present: Webmaster, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Developed a bespoke CMS from the ground up using PHP and MySQL, including content management, blogs, online church magazine, sermon recordings, live service broadcasts and email shots.
Worked in conjunction with church members, including a graphic designer, to determine requirements, design the website, implement functionality and maintain content.

2010–2011: Secretary, Halls of Residence Residents' Association

Recorded and distributed minutes of Residents' Association meetings.
Attended weekly meetings to discuss and plan activities, working with in-residence tutors.
Jointly responsible for a budget of over Ł8000 to spend on social events, activities, trips and equipment.

2003–2008: Boys' Brigade

Awarded the Queen’s Badge, the highest award available to members of this youth organisation, recognising practical and leadership skills and voluntary work in the community.
After being a member I served as a voluntary leader for several years planning, organising and running programmes of activities for young people, coordinating other leaders and partaking in youth camps.

Additional skills and interests

Computing and IT:

Self-taught skills in PHP, MySQL, HTML and CSS to a sufficient standard to produce professional looking and functional websites (see above), and reinforced by university first year group project.
Familiar with Java, C, OpenGL, from degree modules, and concepts including object orientated programming, generics, polymorphism, recursion, design patterns, dynamic programming, linear programming and algorithm design and complexity.
Exposure to other languages such as Python, ARM assembly code, Prolog, MATLAB, Verilog.
Extensive experience using and managing Atlassian JIRA issue and bug tracking software.
Experience with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Unix based operating systems.
Experience using Apache Subversion and Git versioning and revision control systems.
Excellent knowledge of all office-type applications and a typing speed of 60 words-per-minute.
Familiar with Adobe creative suite applications including Dreamweaver, InDesign, Photoshop.

Driving: Full, clean driving licence.
Music: Grade 3 Piano, Grade 4 Drums.

References

Academic and professional references available on request. Please contact me.

Nic Garner