Robert Davies

I started a YouTube channel called, MS Konnect (a play on Microsoft Kinect), where I do videos discussing Microsoft topics. For every minute of video, there are about 2-3 hours of research and production involved. Everything is all fact checked.

In March 2018, I managed Quantum Web Café, an Internet café based in Reading, one of the oldest Internet cafes in the UK. Quantum closed permanently in 2020 due to Covid19. •Managed 4 staff at time – responsible for all HR issues, training, paying, hiring, etc • Building one of the strongest teams in years for the cafe • Introduced staff meetings. • Managed over 25 Windows 10 PCs and 3 printer/scanners managed in a workgroup • Increased revenue by 30% in second year • Increased revenue by 30% in second year • Reduced cost of goods by shopping around and buying in bulk • Updated operating procedures • Received 5* food hygiene rating.

After London, I returned to Jersey, no IT jobs had come up, and a job opportunity for a senior bar person became available: • Chambers is one of the largest and busiest pubs in the island. My general duties were serving drinks/food, light cleaning of the bar, assisting with the weekly delivery, stock rotation (moving kegs, soft drinks, etc so the oldest was on top), some light maintenance of the pub (light bulbs replacement, fixing loose door handles, etc).

I travelled to Auckland, New Zealand, and secured work as a senior duty manager: Duties were: • Supervising the cleaners, and other staff on duty with myself • Training junior staff • Prepare bar and gambling machines banking • Cooking food when the kitchen is closed, while still serving customers • Attending to our busy gaming room and TAB sports betting customers, while serving food and bar customers • Check in/out guests • Prepare hotel reservations • Complying to NZ's strict alcohol laws.

I managed two of the owners hostels in London, Queen Elizabeth and Phoenix Hostel. I started managing the QE first, then I was moved to the Phoenix after about 18 months to bring the Phoenix up to the same standards as the QE. When I took over managing the QE, the business was suffering, staff not up to the standard required, cleanliness and customer satisfaction at a low. The owner had to frequently get involved in the day-to-day running of the business, despite employing a manager to do so. • Managed to bring the QE up to number 1 in London after 6 months • Increased QE’s Booking .com rating from 7.1 to 7.8 in 3 months • Staff rating 90%+ in QE/PHX • Increased QE bar revenue 30% • Implemented a new property management system at QE & Phoenix • Increased facility, staff, and cleaning ratings at QE & PHX • Replacing the staff with high quality/dedicated staff • Turning around under-performing staff • Implemented new procedures and job roles • Replaced pillows/duvets/mattresses • Introduced 2 week maximum hostel stay policy • Rewrote hostel description to accurately reflect our facilities • Practised yield management • Reduced expenses on hostel, and bar supplies without decreasing quality • Ensuring compliance to company health, fire safety policies • Reduced the owner’s day-to-day involvement in the business by two thirds.

In late 2010, an opportunity presented itself to me to work in the superyachting industry. I worked as a 2nd Engineer on a 45m yacht, and as an Electronics Technical Officer (ETO) on a 65m yacht, among other positions in the industry. • As 2nd Engineer, I was assisting the 1st Engineer in general maintenance of the yacht (refuelling the boat, changing engine oil/parts, logkeeping, etc.), bridge and engine room watchkeeping. • As ETO, I was responsible for upkeep and maintenance of all the ship’s Marine & IT/AV systems (such as SOS distress equipment, 20 PCs, 4 Servers, 20 TV sets, 3 TV/Internet Satellites) and basic electrical wiring.

After Travelling, I went to live back in Jersey, to work for myself, offering both home IT support, and occasional business support through RD Computers. I also took the opportunity to self-finance my studies to update my professional IT Qualifications to support the advancement of my IT career: • Resolving viruses and slow running PCs • Internet problems • Resolving email-breakdowns • Server configuration • Hardware repair/swap-outs. • Using Google to power my website and e-mail. • Attained ITIL and PRINCE2 certification, along with courses in CCNA, and CCVP.

In June 2008 I was contracted to work for Norton Rose (Then Deacons Law), a major legal Practice, for a period of 6-months and my duties were: User support via RDP and face-to-face support, ghosting PCs that were malfunctioning, hardware swap-outs, acting as intermediary between external suppliers (e.g. HP) and different areas of Norton IT, helping Norton Rose with their system teething-problems as they had moved buildings a few months prior to me joining, FileSite/WorkSite, and Support Blackberry Support.

I initially joined BOSI as a work experience student, and approximately 18 months later, I was a permanent, fulltime, member-of-staff, my role quickly progressed from IT Junior to 2nd/3rd Line. Supporting users in application support, hardware swap-outs, Citrix support, Nortel telephone administration, Microsoft Exchange administration, SharePoint Administration, deputise for IT manager in his absence, managing 1 member of staff (full time) and occasional work experience student. BOSI preferred support to be given via face-to-face, however occasionally RDP was used.