Phil Lowles

About me

Click the link to download my CV [PDF 140kb].

Qualities

Skills

Employment history

Proagrica

Nov 2018 - Current

Integrations Consultant

World Business Centre 2,
Newall Road,
Heathrow,
Middlesex,
TW6 2SF
  • Configuring connections between customers using Adaptris Interlok (XML based config) and creating XSL transformations to convert from various different input formats (xml, json, edi) into an intermediate XML format and then another XSL transformation into the required output format.
  • Languages: XML, XSLT, JSON, EDI
  • Software: Oxygen XML editor, GIT version control, Confluence, Teams
  • Agile based project management methodology

Lexis Nexis

May 2016 - Jul 2018

XML/XSL Content Engineer

Lexis House,
30 Farringdon
Street,
London,
EC4A 4HH
  • Converting Word documents into web ready XML using XSLt
  • Lexis Nexis is a prestigious law firm and publisher with a history that can be traced back 200 years, they are part of Reed Elsevier Group
  • Worked on several prominent journals and publications including Halsbury's Laws of England and All England Law Reports
  • Languages: XML, XSLT
  • Software: Oxygen XML editor, GIT version control using Sourcetree
  • Agile based project management methodology
  • Created an Excel spreadsheet to track bugs, time taken to complete bugs broken down by Severity and monthly team perfomance rates

Freelance

Jun 2014 - Apr 2016

Freelance Web Designer

Worked on freelance projects including: African Victory (a local African cuisine restaurant), 3rd Basingstoke Boys' Brigade (www.3rdbasingstoke.org) and TitanCon (www.titancon.com).

Macmillan - Nature Publishing Group

Feb 2012 - Jun 2014

Web Production Developer

Salary: £31,452

Brunel Road,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire,
RG21 6XS
  • Maintaining and troubleshooting the XBuilder page building system that converts source XML into HTML using XSL Transformation
  • Developing processes for new functionalities
  • Languages: XML, XSLT, HTML, CSS. Also learned JAVA and JQuery
  • Software: Oxygen XML editor, Eclipse, GIT version control
  • JIRA bug tracking system to log work and assign tasks
  • Agile based project management methodology
  • Unit testing
  • Developed process for output of citation documents in various formats
  • Created and led a training programme in CSS for my team members

Macmillan - Nature Publishing Group

Jun 2008 - Feb 2012

Web Production Editor

Brunel Road,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire,
RG21 6XS
  • Responsible for online publication of scientific journals including British Journal of Cancer (BJC) and European Molecular Biology Journal (EMBOJ)
  • HTML and CSS error checking and correction
  • Image manipulation using Adobe Photoshop
  • Worked on website redesign project for EMBOJ and EMBOR
  • Worked on archive conversion and update projects for various journals

Basingstoke Gazette

Mar 1996 - Dec 2007

Production Operative

Pelton Road,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire,
RG21 6YD
  • Responsible for design and production of adverts for local newspaper
  • Responsible for download delivery and content checking of adverts from external sources via Email, FTP, Adfast and other Internet procedures
  • Software: QuarkXPress 4.1, Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Acrobat 7.0, Multi-Ad Creator, FTP software, Adfast Internet advert delivery system

Education and Qualifications

Online training

2012 - 2016

I keep up to date on the latest technology developments with online training from websites like W3 Schools and Code Academy - including completion of courses in: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, JQuery, Ruby, SQL, PHP and Python. Have also learned responsive frameworks (Bootstrap, W3 CSS) and CSS pre-processors (Sass, Less). There is always more to learn in this profession!

PTR Training (Wokingham)

Completed

Fundamentals of Computer Programming using JAVA

Nov 2012

XML: XSL Transformations

Dec 2010

Computeach Training

Nov 2005 - Apr 2007

CIW Designer (Stage 4: Design Methodology)

Pass - 90%

CIW Associate (Stages 1-3: Foundations)

Pass - 95%

IC3 Computing Fundamentals

Pass

Cranbourne Secondary School

Sep 1987 - Jun 1992

GCSE: Mathematics, Keyboarding Applications (RSA), English Language, English Literature, Modular Science, Art and Design, CDT: Design and Communication

Interests

Organised and run six successful Game of Thrones fan conventions in Belfast called TitanCon (www.titancon.com). This involves all aspects of project management - budgeting, planning and human resources.

Have been an active member of a local Boys' Brigade company for 34 years and now run the Company section for 11-18 year olds. I have undertaken training in expedition, camping and safeguarding (www.3rdbasingstoke.org).

I like to keep fit with cycling, hiking, rock climbing and visiting the gym. In my free time I enjoy computer games, reading books and listening to music.