Charles Higgins

Founder / Director

North Midlands, UK

email@charleshiggins.com


Summary

Company Founder with proven expertise in SaaS, driving company growth through diverse client engagement. Skilled in sales, software development, and hardware infrastructure, adept at agile project delivery. Strong technical communicator, organized, and results-oriented, effectively collaborating with teams and clients to achieve impactful solutions.


Skills

Project Delivery/Client Management

Training & Support (Remote & On Site)

Software Development (SDLC)

SaaS

CRM

Product Delivery

GDPR

Client Success/Solution Architecture

Training

Agile

API Intergration

Implementation and Onboarding

B2B Software Sales


Software

MySQL

HTML

CSS

Javascript

CFML

C#

Azure

Windows Server

Excel

Word

AI Local LLM


Bonus

Remote Work Ready - Detached Home Office with asynchronous 1Gb connection and a Static IP

You got this far? 'One take' video resume @ https://youtu.be/-y3xmNvqN54

Work Experience

Founder | YapCRM
September 2008 - Present

As the Founder I was responsible for establishing and guiding the company's vision. Focused on building a strong team, developing an innovative product, and securing key partnerships. Prioritized fostering a collaborative culture and driving growth. Grew the company from start up with zero customers to over 500 live systems with servers in the EU, US & SE Asia providing global coverage to clients based all over the world.

  • Managed the agile development of the software guiding the internal staff and liaising with external stakeholders.
  • Deployed solution to 4 of 6 largest radio media groups in the UK.
  • Sold the SaaS software from sole traders to boardrooms.
  • Developed software for largest Seminar Sales provider in the global media industry, winning the business over an existing provider and signing a six figure annual development contract.
  • Delivered solutions to client base of over 500 live systems used by thousands of active accounts.
  • Recruited, developed, and lead 5 employees to support and deliver software solutions.
  • Developed and maintained relations with key clients, evaluating workflow and business practice, business strategy and deployed versions of the software to meet client needs.
  • Systems used by industries including finance, energy, leadership and engineering.
  • Developed and communicated the company's vision, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and stakeholder expectations.

CRM Product Manager | UTV Media
July 2006 - September 2008

Took over the stalled development and deployment of an internal CRM system. Working with internal and external stakeholders to deploy to 14 geographic locations. Drove the successful roll out providing on site training at all locations and develop KPI for CRM use and customer engagement.

Working to enhance user experience, and collaborating with teams to optimize product performance. Focus was on aligning product features with business needs and ensuring integration with existing systems to improve customer satisfaction and retention.

  • Oversaw the delivery of CRM software.
  • Sold the vision to management and ran training for over two hundred users in 14 locations.
  • CRM Data growth in the first year was 128% above target.
  • Managed delivery of the system to meet management and user requirements.
  • Introduced KPI system for staff evaluation customer success.
  • Managed customer data and analysed trends.
  • Implemented strategies to improve customer relationships.

Project Manager, Seminar Sales | UTV Media
November 2005 - September 2008

I was responsible for planning, running and managing seminar sales programs in collaboration with local radio station over the UK and Ireland to ensure revenue targets.

  • Organized and managed sales events for the company both remotely and on site.
  • Oversaw client communications.
  • Management of flagship radio station seminar worth over £2 million achieved 118% above budget.
  • Sold in the room to clients.
  • Worked double scheduled programmes (12) in 2007 due to staffing issues.
  • Ran training sessions for 14 local radio station sales teams to support seminar activities.
  • Supervised sales pipeline from client signature to delivery "on air".
Corporal (FTRS) Recruitment | 58 Squadron, 35 Regiment - Royal Signals
2003 - 2005

Developed the recruitment pipeline to transform the system to enable the squadron to develop new soldiers after two years of no recruits successfully finishing basic training.


English Teacher | South Korea
2002 - 2003

Taught English to Children aged 4-18 while developing and improving the syllabus.

Marketing Co-Ordinator | Business Link Staffordshire
2000 - 2002

I organised, planned and promoted government & no-governmental services to local business while developing a database of local case studies for central government reporting.

Education

Keele University
1997 - 2000

Bachelor's Degree International Relations 2:2


St John Fisher RC High School & Sixth Form
1990 - 1997

3 A-Levels Business Studies (B), Georgraphy & History (C)

7 GCSE C or above Inc Math & English