lex alker

Key Skills

  • Project structuring, planning and scheduling
  • HTML / responsive CSS / Sass / JavaScript / jQuery
  • PHP (OOP) / MySQL
  • WordPress specialist, Laravel, bespoke web applications
  • UX and UI design
  • Writing, editing and proof-reading

Testimonials

I worked directly with Alex from when he joined the company. He is a great example of a developer that can single-handedly take a brief and turn it round into working, launched software. He has a methodical approach towards development and is capable of both front-end and back-end development, being able to work confidently within WordPress and Laravel.
Jon Martin — Technical Director, Hallam Internet Ltd
I worked with Alex at Fifteen for over two years. He was enthusiastic and dedicated to his role and took pride in understanding the projects he worked on. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his work, and takes the time to understand the tasks at hand. Alex was great to work alongside and took the time to explain how things may work to clients and colleagues.
Sophie Kish — Operations Manager, Fifteen Design Ltd
Alex really had a very holistic thinking about complex development work he did for Mealtek and on other client work. He would spot problems with specifications he was given and propose better solutions and really take ownership of each project. He would spend careful time mapping out each development, including some very complex algorithm and data manipulation. Conversely, Alex was always extremely fast and accurate at doing basic front-end HTML work. I have not worked with anyone who could code up web pages as fast or as pixel-perfectly as Alex before.
Karl Brandt — CEO, Mealtek Ltd

Employment History

UX and Conversion Developer @ Clicky

April 2022 Present
  • Working closely with the rest of the Conversion team to optimise user experience and client results.

Freelance Web Developer

February 2019 March 2022
  • Lead development role on projects for several £1+ million companies.
  • Consultancy work for established digital agencies.
  • Certified expert on the Codeable WordPress freelance platform.

Developer / Digital Producer @ Hallam Internet

February 2018 January 2019
  • Lead back-end developer on WooCommerce and API integration projects.
  • Promoted to role of Digital Producer (project manager).
  • Planned and oversaw eight different projects, including two with £30,000+ budgets.

Developer @ Fifteen Design

October 2015 January 2018
  • Lead back-end developer on more than a dozen major projects.
  • Front-end developer on award-winning Love My Skin website (AVA Digital Awards – Platinum, Communicator Awards – Distinction, Good Web Guide - Shortlisted).
  • Involved in project management, quoting, specification and liaising with clients.
  • Responsible for company’s annual R&D tax credit claim.

Manager, Editor, Ghost-Writer @ Life Story Gifts

February 2011 October 2016
  • Established independent business and online brand.
  • Edited and produced more than 30 biography book projects.
  • Managed small team of freelance writers, sub-editors and typists.

Freelance Web Developer

February 2011 October 2015
  • Managed projects for more than 20 clients, both local and worldwide.
  • Hired designers and collaborated with other freelance developers.
  • Fostered long-term working relationships with start-ups and established businesses alike.

Author @ Crimson Publishing

January 2012 November 2012
  • Commissioned to write ‘The Glory of Forest’, a potted history of Nottingham Forest FC.
  • Book was reviewed positively and has a five-star rating on Amazon.

Co-owner, Designer @ Worn By Legends

January 2010 April 2014

Editorial Assistant @ Associated Northcliffe Digital

September 2007 July 2010
  • Author of over 900 obituaries of celebrities, military casualties and notable local figures for the Northcliffe newspaper group’s nationwide memorials portal, Lasting Tribute.
  • The website won several industry awards, including the Data Publishers Association’s ‘Outstanding Achievement’ prize and ‘Digital Team of the Year’ from the Newspaper Society.
  • Developed templates and wrote content for the Lasting Tribute blog.

IT and Media Manager @ Wonderland Memorabilia

September 2005 September 2007
  • Managed company’s online presence (website, eBay Store and PPC).
  • Introduced new IT systems to improve efficiency within the company.

Content Developer @ Northcliffe Electronic Publishing

February 2005 August 2005
  • Produced entertainment copy covering film, music, books, the visual arts and television for the ‘This Is’ network of local newspaper websites.
  • Designed, coded and managed dedicated music festivals section of network.

Founder, Editor @ The National Student

April 2003 May 2004

Qualifications

Post-Graduate Certificate
Art History

Open University

February 2009 October 2010

BA Hons, First Class
Journalism

University of Lincoln

September 2001 May 2004

Hobbies & Interests

Making art
Playing in a band
Watching football
Real ale
Writing fiction
Reading
Long-distance running
History
Watching motorsport