Jackie Hartley is a Careers Adviser living and working in England, who writes and publishes careers resources through her own company, Highflyers Publishing Ltd. The company has a reputation in its field for producing high quality and simple to use materials for others involved in careers work, be that teaching careers education or working with individuals. Jackie also works part time as a careers adviser and lecturer in her local university and runs training courses around the country for careers professionals. With over 25 years experience of working as a Careers Adviser and Trainer in a wide range of roles and work settings, she is addicted to careers work. Born in Yorkshire, now living in the Midlands with her husband Mike, Jackie has two grown up daughters from her first marriage. In her spare time she revels in being nana to her young grandson, enjoys gardening and riding a Harley Davidson 1200cc Sportster Custom.
Her partner, Mike Shaw, is also a Careers Adviser by training and spent over 10 years working as a Careers Adviser, TVEI Adviser and Careers Information Manager before setting up and running their careers resources publishing company, Highflyers Publishing Ltd. He designs the look and feel of all the products, does all the distribution side and generally makes sure the show stays on the road. Born in Lancashire, raised in Devon and now married to Jackie and living in the Midlands, Mike has a grown up son and daughter from his first marriage. In his spare time he cooks, paints, reads, gardens, gets followed around by his grandson and rides a Harley Davidson V Rod.
My background:
Jackie Hartley
9 Riverway
Stafford,
ST16 3TH
01785 257744
jackie@highflyerspublishing.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT
1995 – present Highflyers Publishing Ltd, Stafford
Company Director responsible for developing, writing and editing a wide range of careers related materials, both paper publications and multimedia programs.
Also organise and deliver a wide range of training courses, mainly for Careers/Connexions Services, to support careers education and guidance practice in schools, colleges and special schools
1998 – present Staffordshire University Careers Service
Careers Adviser (part time, term time only) delivering career planning modules to undergraduates as part of the modular degree programme and carrying out careers guidance interviews with individual students
1995 – 1998 Newcastle under Lyme College
Schools Liaison Officer working with schools across North Staffordshire to raise aspirations and provide advice and guidance to students regarding post 16 options
1982 – 1995 Staffordshire Careers Service
Trainee then Generic Careers Adviser
Senior Careers Adviser (TVEI then Training)
Guidance Development Manager running a county wide project with a team of staff, to support the development of careers education and guidance practice across the county.
1980 – 1981 Staffordshire University
Vice-President of the Student’s Union; elected to office for one year to manage all aspects of Student’s Union activities on the Stafford campus
1975 – 1977 NEGAS, Leeds
Accounts clerk, data processing, customer enquiries
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
1982 - 1983 University of Central England (UCE)
Diploma in Careers Guidance (Part 1). Part 2 was successfully completed as a probationary year working for Staffordshire Careers Service
1977 -1980 Staffordshire University
BA (Hons) English and History (2:1)
1975 – 1977 Leeds Metropolitan University
HNC Business Studies
1985 – 1987 Bilston Community College, Wolverhampton
City & Guilds 730 FE Lecturers Certificate (studied part time evenings)
1967 1975 Allerton Grange High School, Leeds
5 O levels including English and Maths
A levels English Literarture and Economics
OTHER SKILLS & INTERESTS
Creative writing skills
Since starting Highflyers Publishing I have co-produced 20 written publications, 2 board games and 6 multimedia programs. This has involved working with my partner to develop the initial idea, writing the content and contributing to discussions about design, layout and interface. These materials range from heavily illustrated job information leaflets and programs for children with special needs through to self study workbooks for young adults engaged in job hunting and applying to university. I have had articles published in careers journals and contributed a chapter to a careers text book. I have also written a novel which I have yet to publish. At the university I have designed and developed degree course modules for career development, the latest of which has recently been published on a national site for excellence in career management skills teaching in Higher Education.
Communication and training skills
I organise and deliver in-service training courses, across the country, for teachers, lecturers, careers advisers and work based trainers on a wide range of careers related topics. At the university I teach accreditted careers modules as well as giving talks and presentations. In the past I have developed accreditted courses for staff development with a number of Higher Education Institutions and have acted as external examiner for the Diploma in Careers Guidance course at UCE. I have run national courses for the Institute of Careers Guidance and spoken at numerous national conferences including one for the CBI (for which I received a dozen bottles of wine and champagne as a fee!).
I enjoy working with teams and small groups too and in the late 1990’s I was commissioned to conduct an evalution of the Stoke on Trent Community Partnership & BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Aiming high project designed to raise student aspirations in North Staffordshire. This involved extensive interviewing and small group sessions. I also enjoy working with individuals who come to me for careers guidance interviews. In recent years I have undertaken to support a number of undergraduates keen to start their own businesses.
Business skills
In a number of my work roles I have had responsibility for teams of people and budgets of up to £250,000. I now co-run Highflyers Publishing Ltd which is a small independent careers resource publisher. In that capacity I have developed skills in sales and marketing, project management and financial planning and decision making. I have also learnt to work hard and consistently in order to maintain business momentum. We have now been operating successfully in a small, niche market for over ten years.
Leisure interests
In my spare time I love reading and find that this is one of the ways in which I gain inspiration for new product ideas and different approaches to working. I also enjoy writing for pleasure and have written numerous travel journals and a novel. I love travelling and exploring new areas, visiting art galleries and places of architectural interest. In the summer months I like to ride my Harley Davidson 1200 cc Sportster Custom motorbike and last year biked across to the west of Ireland in a day. I love gardening and enjoy spending time in my 1/3rd acre garden plot. I am a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and enjoy visiting other gardens and garden shows. I also have a wonderful and rather extended family and love spending time with them, especially my two year old grandson who is helping me to resee the wonder of the world through the eyes of a child.
