Find a careers writer
Below is a list of members currently available for commission. Although they have been asked to provide a synopsis of their most recent work, and areas of specialist knowledge, most members are willing to cover any career field or related education and training subject.
CAROLINE BARKER
Email: carolinebarker1@aol.com
Freelance careers writer/researcher and professionally qualified and experienced careers adviser. Clients have included: Cascaid, VT Skills, AGCAS, Skillset, Lifetime Publishing, and Trotman. Extensive experience in writing occupational profiles (covering all sectors) for Jobs4u national careers website and sourcing and writing case studies. Other work: print journalism, website development and web publishing, research reports.
Authorship: Real Life Guides: The Police Service, Childcare (Trotman 09), Care, Welfare and Community Work (Trotman ). New edition of Careers with an Arts or Humanities Degree (Lifetime Publishing ). Used to working to specific briefs and tight deadlines.
ALAN BULLOCK
Email: careersguru@hotmail.co.uk or alan.bullock@havant.ac.uk
An enthusiastic and inspirational careers adviser, with 35 years’ guidance and management experience in London, Hampshire and overseas. Author of “Creating Your UCAS Personal Statement” (Trotman, 2nd edition published September 2011) as well as other specially-commissioned booklets and articles. Now works as a freelance guidance practitioner in schools and colleges in Hampshire and London, having retired in 2011 after 19 years running an innovative guidance service at a south coast sixth form college. Has also been a frequent contributor to regional and national conferences on practical approaches to career and higher education guidance.
SUSANNE CHRISTIAN
Email : Susanne.christian@tesco.net
Freelance writer/researcher/editor and fully qualified careers adviser. Can research and write on most subject areas. I am used to producing material to detailed specifications and working to tight deadlines. Contributions to: Athena, Odyssey, Occupations, Jobs4u, Working Ins. Other work: print journalism, marketing materials, training materials, technical authoring, research reports.
ALISON DIXON
Email: thealisondixon@gmail.com
Qualified careers adviser, writer and editor, special interests: HE, A level/post 16 choices and career change for adults. Experienced in writing for printed publications and websites. Currently developing an e-portal for a careers company.
Publications include: Careers and Personal Advisers’ Handbook, Career Change Companion (Surfin2careers), Careers Information Handbook (Trotman), Which A levels? (Lifetime), Year 8, 11 and 12 publications for young people in South and West London, Jobs and Careers Quiz 2 (Lifetime). Articles and case studies for Jobs4u national careers website.
The new edition of Which A levels? will be published in Spetember 2013.
Editor of Career Guidance Today; magazine of Institute of Career Guidance.
BERYL DIXON
Email: bdixonwin@hotmail.com
Higher education, school leaver and graduate opportunities, job profiles, careers leaflets, recruitment booklets. Regular contributor to The Times and The Independent. Books include: Jobs and Careers after A levels, Decisions at 16 Plus, Getting into Languages, What Can I Do With a Social Sciences Degree?, How to Choose your Postgraduate Course, What Can I Do With an Arts Degree?, editorial for UCAS Subject Course Guides and numerous DCSF publications.
CERYS EVANS
Email: cerysevans@hotmail.co.uk
A freelance writer and qualified, practising Careers Adviser. With extensive experience working with adults and young people in Further Education, Cerys now divides her time between supporting clients and writing.
Known for her professionalism and never missing a deadline, Cerys is a clear, accurate and reliable writer. She takes advantage of every opportunity to develop her awareness of current issues in careers and education.
Cerys has recently completed articles on ‘Changing careers after parenthood’, ‘Green jobs’ and ‘Returning to study’. She has a particular interest in Further Education, post-16 choices, routes to Higher Education and adults returning to study.
Examples of her work can be found on www.cerysevans.co.uk/
HELEN EVANS
Email: hm.evans@talktalk.net
Prior to specialising in the development of careers resources, Helen worked as a professionally-qualified careers adviser with young people and adults. She now works as a freelance careers writer and researcher, having gained over 15 years’ experience as an in-house author and managing editor of a specialist publisher of careers and PSHE resources.
Helen has been involved in the writing and development of a range of careers publications for young people and adults. She currently updates eCLIPS, an online careers and lifestyle resource.
Services offered include writing and updating resources related to careers, education, training and employment. Helen is also is able to undertake editing work and editorial project management.
Clients can be assured of a conscientious, thorough and professional approach to any project.
SUE FRYER
Email: careerswivenhoe@hotmail.com
Careers guidance adviser/consultant, tutor and trainer, editor and writer. Extensive practitioner experience in all guidance environments and with clients of all ages, including: schools, FE, adult and community education, university careers service, private practice and consultancy. Past roles: guidance trainer/conference organiser; corporate consultant. Many years' experience in HE advice/adult guidance. Authorship: adult guidance training programme and materials, leaflets and booklets on HE, information for mature students, mapping of guidance services. Books: Effective Revision and Study in Europe: Learn in English (Careerscope). Various articles and online careers/education/employment materials.
DR PAUL GREER
Email: paulgreer1@aol.com
Careers adviser and researcher. Willing to write on most career topics, but particularly interested in Higher Education, encouraging awareness among sixth form and college students, traditional professions such as medicine and law, the performing arts and unusual careers of any kind. Regular contributor to several careers publications. Most recent book: Choosing a Career – Which Books.
MIKE HILL
Email: mjhill2010@btinternet.com
Careers consultant with an interest in the longer term job market and future trends especially in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. Mike spent 34 years in careers guidance and management roles, with a specialist interest in Higher Education, graduate employment and labour market intelligence.
National Careers Award 2007 for paper on ’Responding to the Challenges of the Global Market’, which was commented on favourably by the Minister for Science and House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.
Published articles have included topics such as the job implications of climate change and energy issues as well as the rise of China.
Recent consultancy work with VT Careers on the development of the STEM Subject Choice and Careers Project.
ROGER JONES
Email: arle@ukonline.co.uk
Freelance writer. Special interests: careers, music and the arts, living and working abroad, work opportunities for the experienced and mature – who now represent a larger proportion of the workforce and are in need of careers advice. Books include: Getting a Job Abroad, Getting a Job in America, (both How To Books), You Want to Work Where?, Real Life Guides: Electrician; Charity and Voluntary Work Uncovered (all Trotman), Culture Smart! Libya and Culture Smart! Thailand (both Kuperard).
SARAH MARTEN
Email sarah.marten@btinternet.com
Sarah Marten has many years’ experience of counselling and interviewing people about their work and life, with many books, case-studies and articles to her name. One of her popular current titles is Working in Sport and Leisure (VT Publications 2011). Sarah loves to talk to people about their work, and then write about it.
Sarah is particularly interested in writing about creative careers and has just completed a series of
exciting ‘Industry Insight’ casestudies for the Creative and Cultural Skills website: http://www.creative-choices.co.uk/
Sarah is also the author of various other Working In titles, including Music and Fashion/Clothing. Sarah writes extensively for the recruitment website www.jobs.ac.uk and has just completed a large project featuring academics talking about their work overseas.
HILARY NICKELL
Email: hilary@surfin2careers.com
Hilary is a Careers consultant, trainer and author with specialist knowledge of the use of the Internet and interactive media. He is Project Manager of Career Companion Online, www.careercompanion.co.uk an all-age professionally mediated web review service, and www.resourcecompanion.co.uk a content management portal for web-based information. He co-directs the annual ‘ICT in CEIAG Conference and Exhibition’ held each March and is current Chair of the Careers Writers Association.
Publications include: Surfing Your Career (How To Books), several Poster and Web rolodex series, Co-author Career Change with Alison Dixon, Internet Uncovered (Trotman / Crimson).
DIANE PARKER
Email: creativecoach@hotmail.com
Diane is a writer, editor and business coach with specialist knowledge of the creative industries and cultural sector. She has over ten years' editorial experience working across a range of media, from magazines and journals, to book publishing and the web.
Her particular speciality is leadership development, and how informal learning interventions such as coaching and mentoring can support aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs in their professional development. Other specialist areas include applying creativity and innovation in business, supporting creative professionals with their 'portfolio' careers, and the use of new media and social networking for business and career development.
RED BRIDGE SOLUTIONS LTD
MIKE MANSON
Email : mike.manson@redbridgesolutions.co.uk Co-director of Red Bridge Solutions Ltd. Mike Manson BSc (Hons), Dip CG, Dip LS, Dip City & Guilds, MICG Mike has over 20 years experience in research and information and has written widely on careers information and the labour market. He is a co-director of Red Bridge Solutions. Recent clients have included various Connexions companies including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Essex, Southend and Thurrock, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, West of England and Wiltshire, as well as other organisations such as AimHigher, LSCs and Primary Care Trusts. In his early years he worked as a careers adviser. Until March 2006 he was Communication Manager for Connexions West of England. Prior to this he was Information Manager for Learning Partnership West and was responsible for overseeing the development of the company’s careers information in both the West of England and Gloucestershire. He has been an external examiner for the University of the West of England and is a visiting lecturer on the postgraduate QCG course. He has also been the chair of the SW Careers Information Managers Group (SW CIOLA). He was on the editorial advisory committee for LMI Matters published by the Department for Education and Science (DfES) and the LSC in 2005. He is also a director of Past and Present Press, a founder member of the Bristol Books and Publishers Group, an editor of the Bristol Review of Books and chair of the judges of the first Bristol Short Story Prize. Samples of work can be found on www.redbridgesolutions.co.uk
STEVE TANNER
Email : steve.tanner@redbridgesolutions.co.uk Co-director of Red Bridge Solutions Ltd. Steve Tanner MSc Information, BSocSci Hons, Dip CG, Dip City & Guilds, MICG Experienced and professional qualified careers writer/researcher, and young person/adult careers adviser, of over 20 years. Clients have included various Connexions companies including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Essex, Southend and Thurrock, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, West of England and Wiltshire, as well as other organisations such as Aim Higher, LSCs and Primary Care Trusts. Used to working to specific briefs and tight deadlines. Special interest in writing careers material and labour market publications (covering all sectors) for school age readership. Other work includes: Careers and Connexions consultancy, Editorial and plain English services, Information, research and ICT, Labour market analysis, Project and contract management, Publication and print production, Survey design and analysis (electronic and/or manual). Samples of work can be found on www.redbridgesolutions.co.uk
WENDY REED
Email:reedwendy@btinternet.com
Freelance careers writer and professionally qualified careers adviser with experience of working with 13-19 year olds, further and higher education students, graduates and adults.
Print Publications
Getting into Nursing and Midwifery (due to be published May 2013) – Crimson Publishing
Working in Social Care (January 2011), Working in Hospitals (June 2011), Working in Education (December 2011) –Babcock Lifeskills
Case studies for UCAS Progression Series Guides 2012 and 2013, Art and Design, Teaching and Education, Media and Performing Arts –UCAS/GTI Media
Online
Content and articles for:
Graduate Prospects
Target Courses - GTI
Jobs.ac.uk
Specialist interest and expertise: case studies, UCAS application process, creative and media careers, medical careers, teaching and education
GILLIAN SHARP
Email: gm_sharp1@btinternet.com
Well established author of careers books, articles and web based publications who has also researched and compiled lenghty reports around graduate employability. Specialist areas: Higher Education, law, art, creative and media careers, sport and teaching. Regular contributor to The Independent’s careers column.
DEBBIE STEEL
Email: debbiesteel@btinternet.com
Prior to gaining employment as an in-house careers writer, Debbie worked as a training co-ordinator, tutor and FE lecturer.
Debbie now offers freelance writing services (researching, writing and editing), specialising in careers, education, qualifications, training, employment and information for young people on wider issues, such as health and relationships.
Debbie updates eCLIPS (an online careers and lifestyle resource), writes case studies, produces teaching resources and has co-written a number of books, including CVs and Applications, Degrees with Less Debt and Decisions at 13/14+ (Lifetime Publishing). Clients include professional bodies and government departments.
With an eye for detail and a pragmatic approach, Debbie will ensure that your writing project meets your needs, is accurate and delivered to deadline.
ELLIE STEVENSON
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Stevensonauthor
Blog: http://elliestevenson.wordpress.com
Ellie Stevenson was born in Oxford and grew up in Australia. Her first
novel, Ship of Haunts,
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ship-Haunts-other-Titanic-ebook/dp/B007SPGR98)
is a complex story about Titanic, child migration and living a life
beneath the sea, two miles down. The book is set in 1912, 2012, and the
harsh world of the Australian outback in the 1940s.
When not researching her second novel, Ellie writes articles on
history, careers, travel and the arts. Watching Charlotte Brontë Die
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-Charlotte-Bront%C3%AB-Die-ebook/dp/B00AZYXASU)
is her first collection of (surreal) short stories.
Ellie is a former careers adviser who has worked in schools and HE. She
also worked for the Institute of Career Guidance (as was), running the
careers library, undertaking careers related research and overseeing the
website.
DENISE TAYLOR
Email: Denise@amazingpeople.co.uk
Denise is a Chartered Psychologist, Registered Guidance Practitioner and winner of 2 National Career Awards.
Denise is the author of 3 books - 'How To Get A Job In A Recession'; 'Winning Interview Answers For First Time Job Hunters' and 'Now You've Been Shortlisted'. She has also written 9 eBooks and is regularly featured in the press and online sites. A full list is available on her website.
Expert areas: Graduates, Executives, Redundancy, Career Discovery (how to find a job you love) and all aspects of Job Search including taking the mystique out of psychometric testing and assessment centres. Short articles can be turned around quickly - Denise is highly disciplined and gets a job done.
SYLVIA WALKER
Email: sylviawalker@btopenworld.com
Freelance writer, trainer, researcher and coach Sylvia qualified as a Careers Adviser in 1980 and worked as an Area Manager before specialising in curriculum development. In 2008 she set up a consultancy business and now works as an author, trainer, assessor and personal performance coach. She is used to meeting deadlines.
Publications include: ‘Steps to Success’ a KS4 programme for career/personal development (SSAT), Careers Education & Guidance systems in Italy (Careers Europe 2008) Action Planning a Youth Development Project (DfES) Various in-house publications including an online 14-19 Newsletter, annual Partnership Agreement, policies and procedures as well as a range of training and development materials.
Special interests: Enhancing personal (and organisational) performance through coaching and mentoring.