James Brenton

Contract front end web developer

Address:Leeds

LS18 4LU

Email:

Profile:

A highly experienced contractor who has extensive experience as a front-end web developer. Expert level HTML/CSS and associated pre-processors. Highly skilled with JavaScript and experience with React JS and React Native to develop iOS and Android applications.

Experience of maintaining high-profile websites working within both Agile and Waterfall environments and in both public and private sectors. Has delivered and implemented versatile and effective UI for a variety of clients and is an expert at developing for mobile devices in terms of both design and leveraging an excellent knowledge of performance optimisation and benchmarking. Highly adept at working both within corporate environments with software such as Visual Studio and also with companies who favour open-sourced solutions.

Key skills:

Languages & technologies –

  • HTML 5
  • CSS 3
  • Sass/LESS
  • JavaScript, ES2015
  • jQuery & other JS libraries
  • React JS
  • React Native
  • Node.js
  • Firebase
  • Babel
  • Webpack
  • Git/Github/BitBucket/Tortoise SVN
  • ColdFusion/Mustache

Responsive design – Expert at producing device-agnostic markup and code. Can deliver mobile-first development from scratch or utilise frameworks including Bootstrap, Foundation, Skeleton or Toast.

Agile-led development– Fully competent at working within an Agile environment and very comfortable owning and delivering tasks to estimated time scales. Experience of both TFS and Confluence/JIRA.

Performanceoptimisation – Experienced at using tools such as PageSpeed/WebpageTest to make performance modifications to the front end of websites. Demonstrated success of making substantial page-weight savings and reducing HTTP requests leading to marked performance and conversion increases.

CMS – Extensive experience of working within a variety of CMSs, including MCMS, Wordpress, Sharepoint and Umbraco. Knowledge of Episerver, Joomla and Drupal.

Cross-browser compatibility – Able to create working solutions for everything from IE6 through to Chrome Canary and capable of suggesting technologies which are appropriate for the client’s requirements.

TDD – Comfortable with test driven development, experience with Karma and Mocha using the Expect library to define assertions

Communication and stakeholder management – Takes a hands-on approach with clients and stakeholders and is able to effectively communicate complex technical information. Extremely comfortable with providing timely updates to project managers and ensuring specifications are met within timeframes.

Accessibility/W3CA/B User testing– Experience of designing to AA compliant standards for government sites, as well as charitable organisations. Use of Adobe Target to create A/B user testing.

Adobe Creative Suite – Skilled with the relevant software Adobe CS software, able to produce designs where required and fully capable of extracting and amending existing artwork.

Recent employment:

August 2016 – Present

React Native developer, Freshly Baked Code

  • iOS and Android app development
  • React Native
  • React JS
  • UI design and wireframing
  • Creation and conceptualisation of artwork (Photoshop, Illustrator)

Design and implementation of a cross platform mobile application:

January 2015 –June 2016

Front end web developer, Provident Financial

  • Front end maintenance of two major financial websites
  • Delivered high quality UI design and implementation to deadlines
  • Worked with stakeholders to design and deliver custom functionality
  • Agile led development
  • Responsive, mobile-first implementations
  • HTML, CSS, LESS, SASS, JavaScript, jQuery
  • Performance enhancements and benchmarking
  • Graceful degradation across browser platforms
  • Prototyped user interfaces and produced wireframes
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • A/B User testing via Adobe Target
  • Umbraco CMS

and

Front end maintenance in a C# environment, extensive performance modifications, redesigning templates for new visuals and day to day bug fixing in an agile environment.

HTML, CSS, SASS, LESS, jQuery, responsive design, Photoshop, Fireworks, Visual Studio

November 2014 –January 2015

UI Developer, GE

  • User interface development of in-house financial software
  • ColdFusion
  • ColdBox
  • Javascript/jQuery
  • Code reviews
  • Agile environment
  • Pair programming

June 2013 –November 2014

Front-end web developer, Leeds City Council

  • Delivered a fully refactored front end of the website to convert to a responsive site
  • Design and implementation of new templates in a Sharepoint environment
  • Deliver graphic designs using Photoshop and Fireworks
  • Working in an agile environment with daily scrums
  • Increased SOCITM (UX/UI grading) results from one star to a maximum rating
  • Responsible for stakeholder management and demonstrated excellent communication skills
  • Deliver web design guidance to council directorates and services as necessary
  • Development of on-line strategies
  • Providing professional advice and support on web design issues
  • Represent Leeds City Council and the Web Services team at internal and external project, board and working group meetings

Extensive modification to templates in a Sharepoint environment in order to convert the Leeds City Council website to a device-agnostic responsive layout.

HTML, CSS, jQuery, responsive design, Photoshop, Fireworks, Sharepoint

June 2011 –June 2013

Front-end web developer, Cubik Solutions Ltd.

  • Delivery of pixel-perfect websites from in-house design
  • Excellent knowledge of:
  • HTML/CSS/jQuery
  • Plug-in/API manipulation
  • Photoshop/Fireworks/Illustrator/inDesign
  • Understanding of:
  • C#/.NET
  • MCMS platform
  • Project management and client liaising

A challenging and expansive build for a huge charity (£7m+) within a collaborative environment. Requiring huge flexibility with regards to page content, the project was built on a CMS based around the MCMS platform and used substantial JavaScript to deliver the client’s specification.

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Photoshop, Fireworks, CMS

Project managed and implemented the front-end development of this site for a large charity (£3m+). Adevice-agnostic build which had many features which were custom developed for the client.

HTML, CSS, jQuery, responsive design, Photoshop, Fireworks, CMS

May 2007 –Present

Hubbaguru Ltd, Director

  • Delivery of turn-key website solutions
  • Responsible for website conceptualisation, design, build and launch
  • Delivery of wire framing and UI design
  • Stakeholder management and sales
  • SEO services
  • Copywriting services

Designed in-browser for a client who wanted to sell their products digitally. PayPal was integrated for instant payments and delivery. Built in a custom theme within WordPress to the client’s specification.

PHP, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Photoshop, Wordpress, eCommerce

A WordPress site built around the Figero theme with integrated eCommerce functionality.

HTML, CSS, jQuery, Photoshop, Wordpress, eCommerce

Personal Statement:

I love designing for the web and I’ve worked extremely hard in order to be able to pursue this career path. I’m a self-starter and have achieved my digital skill set through dedication and self-development.

I’ve enjoyed a varied employment backgroundand have developed a wide range of abilities which I am able to use on a day to day basis. I have spent time in the sales and retail sector and it taught me to provide an extremely high level of customer service which has proven invaluable when speaking to clients or stakeholders during bid tenders or the design stages of their projects. I am a stickler for details and do what I can to push for perfection within the confines of time and budgetary consideration. I also have proven management experience and am very comfortable leading teams when required.

I am passionate about front end architecture and enjoy working with new technology and design principles. When the opportunity for further development arises, I try to exceed expectations and am capable of retaining information and learning quickly and efficiently.

Education:

University of Leeds:

BA Creative Writing (hons.)2:1

Graduated June 2005

Oxford College of Further Education, Oxford:

A/S English Literature and LanguageA

A/S MediaB

A/S ComputingB

A2 English Literature and LanguageB

A2 ComputingB

A2 MediaC