Arden University

The Open University

Alpha Academy

Oplex Careers

North Lincolnshire Adult Education

University of Gloucestershire

John Leggott College

Foxhills Comprehensive School

Adaptable Social-Entrepreneur

The Lewis Commission is carrying out research on the state of the UK small, independent, family-run, sole trader business sector in the UK.

Towards the end of 2024, our findings will be published in the hope that it will influence local and national policy.

The Lewis Commission

Head of Commission

Developing a number of community enhancing projects.

Toft Newton Parish Council

Volunteer Community Development Officer

I have put pen to paper and started to write my very first solo-authored book.

Compassionate Leadership
By Michael Lewis

https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassionate-leadership-book/

Phoenix Professional Development

Author

Advised individual Councillors and the Full Council on the correct procedures for carrying out their role in accordance with the various Local Government Acts and the Locality Act of 2011.

Monitored the finances. Reported income and expenditure in line with the national and local requirements. I also
implemented s.126 VAT reclaims and resolved an ongoing issue (from 2018) with HMRC, where two separate PAYE
accounts had inadvertently been set up.

I managed one member of staff, who carried out regular checks on the playground equipment and a weekly visual check on the community defibrillator.

Worked closely with the Toft Newton Village Hall Association and the local community, I submitted grant applications to install solar panels on the Village Hall roof (installed February 2024), for the Parish Council to purchase a piece of woodland and to install new playground equipment.

Parish Council Clerk, Proper Officer, Responsible Financial Officer

You can now order any books through our affiliate bookshop Phoenix Books (UK).

https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/LeadershipBookClub

We do not process or fulfil the orders, that is done centrally, but we do receive a bit of commission for each book sale.

You can also buy e-gift cards from us. Just head on over to
https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6722/gift_cards

Free UK postage on book orders over £25.

Bookshop Affiliate - Phoenix Books (UK)

Since May 2019, I have facilitated regular online #VirtualJobsFairs over on X (formerly Twitter). These ran every Wednesday from 9am to 9pm covering the UK and Ireland. However, from the 1st of September, 2024, the #VirtualJobsFair is now open-ended, meaning vacancies will be posted seven days a week at all times of the day and night - covering the UK only.

#VirtualJobsFair Facilitator

Conducted covert 'mystery shops' and 'assessments' of customer service, staff knowledge and quality of products.

Successfully completed mystery shops in person, online, via social media, over the telephone and by post. 

Completed merchandising activities in several large chain retailers, and market research in venues such as leisure centres, restaurants, etc.

Undertook a number of audits in businesses of all types around the UK.

Freelance

Mystery Shopper / Market Researcher / Merchandiser / Auditor

SkillzBridge Ltd was established in 2024 by two students at Arden University, who were the runners-up in the inaugural Lion’s Den Business Competition, to bridge the gap for mature students between working and being a part-time or full-time student.

My role is about opening doors within Arden University and further afield, given my experience in the HR / Recruitment / Vocational Education sectors.

SkillzBridge Ltd has the potential to be a great resource for all UK-based universities, colleges and training providers.

SkillzBridge Ltd

Consultant

I was a candidate to become the third directly elected Arden University Student President.

I came third in the elections out of 89 nominated students.

Candidate - Student President 2024-25

As the Distance Learning Arden Enterprise Incubator (AEI) Enterprise Champion and inaugural President of the D/L Enterprise Club, I have established the Distance Learning Club and devised a twelve-month programme of activities to develop an entrepreneurial flare amongst the distance learning students at Arden University, encouraging them to become successful business owners.

Distance Learning Enterprise Champion and Enterprise Club President

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Student Representative

Arden University Students’ Association Advisory Board Member

Senior Student Representative - Leeds Study Centre

Kilpin Parish Council

Advised Councillors on the correct procedures for carrying out their role, in accordance with the Local Government Acts of 1894 and 1972, the Localism Act of 2011 and various other legislation.

Acted as the main point of contact for the residents living within the Appleby Parish Council area.

Monitored and reported all financial transactions to the Councillors. To improve accountability, I turned Appleby Parish Council into a cashless / chequelss organistion, only paying for services and goods by bank transfer and only accepting payments by BACS.

Reclaimed s.126 VAT payments and arranged the annual internal and external audits.

I commenced a systematic review of all of the policies, procedures, operating practices and the website / external
communications, with the intention of becoming mostly paperless.

Managed all aspects of the Council’s administration regarding meetings, finances, and statutory requirements.

Managed and responded to all correspondence

Appleby Parish Council

Distance Learning Business (and Themes) Student Representative

Careers and Employability Student Representative

I managed a number of residential and commercial properties, facilitating viewings, access for contractors, I conducted inspections and contract signing.

During the period March 2020 to August 2021, I was the Site Manager for the block of 48 flats that I lived in, I managed all aspects of the development during the first eighteen months of the Covid-19 pandemic, including contributing to a substantial planning application.

Remote Property Manager

I facilitate viewings, check in and check out as well as inventories and inspection reports at residential and commercial properties around North Lincolnshire, East Riding, South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire.

Viewber - Viewings and Inspections

Accompanied Viewer

I was an agent for Park Christmas Savings

PARK CHRISTMAS SAVINGS CLUB LIMITED

Agent

As a Community Shares Investor, I have committed to assist this innovative charity in the development of affordable housing.

The aims of the charity are: 

To purchase a variety of empty office and commercial spaces and turn them into homes and other community spaces such as workshops and social venues.

To offer long-term secure tenancies at guaranteed affordable prices.

To renovate buildings into efficient, adaptable spaces which can meet people’s needs now and into the future.

To involve tenants in developing their new homes, both via input and by hands-on contributions.

To assist tenants in becoming successful housing co-operatives or other tenant groups which can manage the building they live in.

To learn from projects elsewhere and to share our learning widely and to create a successful community-led model which can be replicated nationwide.

Abolish Empty Office Buildings

Community Shares Investor

In October 2017 I rebranded Lewis Associates into Phoenix Professional Development being a business that deals with developing professional people and businesses. 

I chose the name Phoenix, because I see a person’s career as a cyclical process, much like the life cycle of a Phoenix from Greek methodology. The Phoenix was re-born and rose out of the ashes of
destruction. 

With the latest research suggesting people have four careers in their working life, I see each career as a cycle, you rise out of the ashes of one career into a new career. That is where Phoenix Professional Development comes in.

 The services provided to individuals include:
• CV and résumé writing.
• Tutoring.
• Mentoring.
• Career coaching.

The business development side if the business has the same ethos but applies it to the lifecycle of a business. 

Businesses can access the following services:
• Business plan / feasibility study writing.
• Consultancy services.
• Policy development.
• Business writing services.
• Training and qualifications.

Professional Development Consultant

Grant’s Consumer Insights provided a range of customer-facing services, these include:
• Customer Evalations.
• Data Analysis.
• Market Research.
• Merchandising.
• Mystery Shopping.

In addition, the work that I carried out as a Freelance Secure Document Specialist now falls within the remit of Grant’s Consumer Insights.

This role involved visiting clients in their homes or workplaces on behalf of a number of financial or legal businesses, to verify ID and obtain signatures in a range of financial and legal cases, which vary from personal injury claims to PPI claims to pension transfers.

Grant’s Consumer Insights

Market Research Consultant

I served as an elected Governor for The Rest of England Constituency for a term of three years.

As a Governor on the Council Governors this role included:
• Holding the Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to account.
• Acting as the patient's voice within the Trust governance structure.
• Promoting the work of this specialist Trust widely and representing the Trust at national events.

This role included working in collaboration with other patients, members of the public, Doctors, Nurses, Trust staff, managers and the Directors.

I was a member of the Patient Experience Group, the Patient Information Panel and the Council of Governors Steering Group.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Public Governor

To consult and advise on remuneration for elected members within a local authority setting.

I provided insight and data analysis from neighbouring authorities to aid the decision making process.

This role included working with senior paid staff, councillors and various other stakeholders.

West Lindsey District Council

Independent Member

As for the Exam Invigilator below, but additionally, I managed a team of Exam Invigilators, which included up to 15 Invigilators to supervise students taking their exams.

University of Lincoln

Chief Exam Invigilator

Supervised students taking degree examinations in a vast array of subjects, complied with university (one of the Top 40 universities in 2016), training centre and awarding body regulations.

Provided instruction at the beginning and end of the exams and ensured examination conditions were maintained.

Agreed assessment details with students and conducted assessments using a range of methods, which included observation, direct questioning, setting of assignments and professional discussions.

Exam Invigilator

Arranged with clients’ of large financial, legal and insurance organisations, to obtain signatures and verify identity so that their applications can proceed. 

Managed highly confidential documents in a secure manner.

Quickdox

Secure Document Specialist

I collected ID, and highly confidential financial or legal paperwork from customers around the East Midlands region.

Trevoc UK Limited

Document Collection Field Agent

Provided a range of CV / Résumé writing services, including the writing of LinkedIn profiles, and covering letters.

Provided advice and guidance on job search techniques. 

Worked extensively with clients from around the world, writing CVs for students to frontline to senior staff and CEOs.

Provided a headhunting service for a number of clients.

CV and Résumé Writing Consultant

I was the Lead Tutor for the Chartered Management Institute Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Once The Blackford Centre stopped offering the CMI qualification I joined the team of Tutors on the CPD Accredited Level 4 in Dementia Care.

On both qualifications I had international distance learning students who had a vast array of experiences, knowledge and diverse learning needs.

The Blackford Centre

Tutor / Assessor

Provided online IAG sessions for students as well as on-going instruction, support and mentoring.

I have delivered face-to-face training throughout the UK and in conjunction with an organisation in New York City (I wrote the training, other trainers delivered the sessions).

The training and qualifications that I have delivered has included; childcare, playwork, health and social care, first aid and management.

I have delivered training from entry level to level 7.

My role has included setting assignments, deadlines and marking assignments according to nationally agreed standards.

Tutor / Distance Learning Tutor / Assessor

Provided business support services to businesses in a range of sectors throughout the UK, my professional services briefly comprised:

Consultancy: Provided business support advice, mentoring, training and consultancy to UK based businesses. 

This included writing business plans, training plans, articles, press releases, as well as striving to increase turnover, provided training and consultancy based on identified needs.

Quality Assurance: Worked with other providers to devise a national Quality Assurance scheme and contributed to its implementation for UK based training providers.

Policy: Worked on policy development for a number of training centres, a First Aid QCF Awarding Body and a number of charities, including Scunthorpe Citizens Advice Bureau and Asthma UK.

Training: Provided Management and Health and Social Care training and qualifications, as well as Key Skills Literacy at EL3 – L2, in addition I also provided First Aid training and assessing between 2004 and 2011. Clients have included a national DIY chain, the NHS Blood and Transplant Service, care homes, and local authorities, including Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council, Harrogate Borough Council and Kinston-upon-Thames Borough Council as well as charities and private sector businesses. 

The training company that I set up and ran between 2002 and 2008 achieved Quality Assurance status in each of the five full academic years that it operated. Managed all aspects of a high achieving NVQ centre with a 98% retention rate.

Authored a diverse range of training courses for a number of UK based training providers.

In 2005, I worked with a community organisation in New York, assisting them in establishing training provisions.

Human Resources / Recruitment: Ran an online recruitment service, payroll bureau and CV service between 2002 and 2008.

Lewis Associates Business Services

Director

I set up, managed, promoted and a moderated the UK’s first online community for Playworkers.

UKplayworkers Founder and Senior Moderator

North Lincolnshire Council

2015, General, District and Parish Council Elections 
Senior Poll Clerk (East Riding)

2011, District and Parish Council Elections and Electoral Reform Referendum 
Poll Clerk (North East Lincs)
Counting Assistant 

2010, General Election 
Presiding Officer

2009, European Election 
Presiding Officer

2007, District and Parish Council Elections 
Counting Assistant 

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

2006, Council Election 
Presiding Officer 
Counting Assistant

2005, General Election and Mayoral Election 
Presiding Officer
Counting Assistant 
Issuing of and receiving of postal ballots

Stevenage Borough Council

2002, Borough Council Election (All postal vote election) 
Issuing of and receiving of postal ballots 
Counting Assistant 

2001, General and County Council Elections 
Presiding Officer
Counting Assistant 
Issuing of and receiving of postal ballots 

2000, Borough Council Election 
Poll Clerk 
Counting Assistant 
Issuing of and receiving of postal ballots 

1999, European Election 
Counting Assistant 

1998, Borough Council Election 
Counting Assistant