Christopher Cole

79 Crab Lane Harrogate North Yorkshire HG1 3BQ

Tel: 01423 548554 Mob: 07914 713114

christopher-cole@ntlworld.com

Career Profile

Qualified to degree level, I am a skilled and motivated technical engineer with over 20 years’ experience dealing with the public, key accounts and industry professionals alike. My experience includes the installation and commissioning of high end digital imaging systems, customer training, preventative maintenance/repair, proactive/reactive servicing methods, remote technical assistance, sales support and service co-ordination. Although regionally based, I have provided support for the whole of the UK and have regularly worked for clients in Europe and the USA. Having spent many years as a field based engineer, I have good organisational skills with a proven ability to arrange my diary and prioritise workload. My communication skills are sound and I consider myself a good listener. Throughout my career, I have developed a logical approach to fault finding and a commitment to seeing the job through. I possess good interpersonal skills and can effectively communicate information to both technical and non-technical staff. My qualifications further include the 17

th edition wiring

regulations, ‘Part P’ domestic electrical installation and ‘Part L’ domestic energy assessments.

Key Skills/Achievements

Prioritisation of workload. At all times responsible for the job in hand, ensuring a positive outcome and full customer satisfaction.

Lead engineer responsible for delegation and management of other engineers and associated workers. Regularly tasked with mentoring new engineers, preparing them for solo field operations. Also responsible for maintaining a safe working environment onsite.

Proficient hardware and software installation, removal patching and upgrading. Knowledge and use of popular windows based software packages: Word, Excel, Photoshop etc.

Sales lead generation achieved through building firm customer relations. Focus on providing user based insight into the positive capabilities of the service or equipment in question.

Co-owner in a part time sports event photographic company. Photographing and selling images to hundreds of competitors each year. Keen eye for detail and enjoys going the extra mile to achieve great results. I have numerous examples of published work in local, national and international journals.

Employment History

Field Service Engineer, Metafix UK Ltd. (Contract - Freelance). Feb 2015 – Present.

Currently contracting 3-4 days per week. This role involves the installation, service, repair and customer support for Silver recovery systems and pH control units. These units are located in X-ray departments, photographic / digital imaging laboratories / photo shops, print works (CTP) and major offset printing operations (pH and fount solution control).

Field Service Engineer. Imaging Services (Freelance). November 2007 – Present.

On call field service engineer for UK and international clients. In this role I carried out proactive and reactive maintenance and problem solving. Often called upon to discuss technical issues over the telephone or via email. I am competent in customer support and can confidently discuss technical issues, providing guidance and operator solutions. In many cases this rectified the problem, negating the need for any further action.

Supplied engineering support to A&O Imaging, Tetenal UK and many independent customers in the UK and abroad.

Sourcing of equipment and spare parts. Installation/commissioning of equipment and systems. Customer training. Advice on business set up and solutions.

I also provide periods of cover for business clients. This involves the management of retail processing outlets from a technical and sales perspective. Staff administration, retail sales, cash control and banking all form part of the role as I take on full responsibility for the business during the owners’ absence.

Field Service Engineer. Tetenal Ltd. (European Imaging Service Gmbh). Apr 2006 - Nov 2007

Field based engineer for digital imaging products and minilabs. I covered the whole of the UK as well as the company’s clients abroad. Responsible for generating leads/machine sales to existing clients.

Worked as part of a Europe wide group. Regularly attended training and product meetings abroad.

As part of a team of support engineers, I was transferred to Tetenal from Konica Minolta, under a TUPE agreement.

Sales/Service Engineer. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging UK Ltd. May 1997 - March 2006

Field based, covering the whole of the UK plus clients in Europe and the USA. Solely responsible for the north of England, Scotland and the Shetland Islands.

Lead engineer responsible for commissioning, service/repair, training, decommissioning and refurbishment of used equipment. On-going after sales care and commitment to pre-arranged service levels.

Involvement in capital machine sales comprising: site surveys and recommendations, providing quotations and part exchange calculations, assessing customer viability, arranging finance and in some cases providing business ideas which could help to pay for the new equipment.

Troubleshooting. Provision of information and equipment complaint reports for worldwide information hub.

Senior Technical Supervisor. Brittany Ferries UK Plc. (Fast Photo). March 1996 - Apr 1997

Senior supervisor with responsibility for the photographic operations on four cruise vessels.

In charge of staff administration, training and morale, retail sales and setting of sales targets. Stock control and ordering.

Identification of customer needs and expectations. Implementation of staff incentives to meet targets.

Photographic Technician/Printer. Covershots International Ltd. Oct 1995 - March 1996

Production of high quality prints for the company’s clients at studios throughout the UK. During my time in this role, I used my expertise and knowledge to help increase productivity at the lab.

Technical Supervisor. Brittany Ferries UK Plc. (Fast Photo). June 1991 - Oct 1995

Duties as above (March 1996 – Apr 1997). I performed this role on a seasonal basis, whilst studying for my degree at the University of Westminster.

Initially employed by an on-board concession in the role of ship’s photographer and minilab technician. This involved dealing with the travelling public and the ship’s officers and crew.

Confident interaction and good customer service was a prime directive in this role and it helped to develop me as a people person.

Minilab Manager/Photographic Technician. Studio Five Photography. Nov 1987 - Jun 1991

Employed as a minilab technical manager/photographic technician. Duties included; machine maintenance, chemical control following COSHH regulations, film processing/printing, process and stock control, minilab management and staff training.

Service Co-ordinator/Assistant Engineer. Lloyds British Testing Co.Ltd. Oct 1986 - Nov 1987

Arranging service visits, taking phone calls, liaising with clients and onsite engineers. Carried out general office duties including: filing, completion of service agreements, collection of payments and chasing up overdue accounts. Occasionally field based as a support engineer.

Photographic Technician. The Foto Place Ltd. Feb 1984 - Sep 1986

Trained as a photographic technician and photographer. This period in my development included retail training, store management, dealing with the public, sales and cash management.

Education & Training

BSc (Hons) Photographic & Electronic Imaging Science (2:1) Univ. of Westminster 1992 - 1995

C&G (Level III) Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment (DipDEA) 2006 - 2007

C&G 2382 17th Edition Wiring regulations 2009

BPEC EAL Part ‘P’ (Full Scope) Domestic electrical installations 2009

A’ level Chemistry and Photography. 1983

O’ levels including English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, German and History. 1982

Interests: Photography, walking, travel and DIY.

General: Clean driving licence. Willing to work unsociable/overtime hours when required.

Interview: Available on request.

Referees: Available on request.