Available to hire
I am Colin Shanley, a Technical Author and UX/Copywriter with over 20 years of experience specializing in AI, API, cloud, and mechanical engineering documentation across government and private sectors. I translate complex technical concepts into clear, compliant, and audit-ready content. I help drive digital transformation, risk management, and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) initiatives by shaping information architecture, policy documentation, procedures, and end-to-end content strategy.
I’m a collaborative communicator who works across teams to deliver audience-focused documentation and content that stands up to audits and governance requirements.
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Technical Author at NHS
September 1, 2025 - October 25, 2025Delivered 25+ system and governance documents supporting NBSS Azure migration, achieving 100% TRG audit compliance. Produced documents including Solution Architecture Overview, data models and flows, Disaster Recovery Plan, architecture models, key decisions, cloud hosting requirements, and Software Engineering Technical Process Guide. Authored identity and access management (IDAM) and RBAC-related content for API usage. Documentation accelerated sign-off by four weeks.
Technical Author at Cabinet Office
January 1, 2025 - October 25, 2025Generated 40+ GDS-compliant documents for DESNZ’s combined heat and power (CHP) project, ensuring a full audit trail for government assurance (mechanical and physics). Defined and implemented publishing solutions, including archive and retrieval, formatting, information architecture, and version control. Designed version control and archive workflows that cut document retrieval time by 30%.
Technical Author at Lloyds Banking Group
May 1, 2024 - October 25, 2025Authored documentation for an AI (Machine Learning weighted equations) financial risk management SaaS API. Supported organizational risk mitigation and due diligence for M&A activity. Target audience included developers, business operations, and financial underwriters.
Copywriter at Nest (Government pension scheme)
July 1, 2023 - October 25, 2025Produced all UI copy, defining taxonomy and thesaurus. Created 60+ policy and UI copy documents, achieving AA accessibility conformance and reducing user error reports by 22% across web journeys. Implemented accessibility standards conformance and legal compliance (Accessibility Statement, VPAT).
Technical Author at Dept of Health
August 1, 2021 - October 25, 2025Public-facing copy for the Government’s Test & Trace app during the Covid-19 pandemic. Produced technical documentation for internal audiences (directors, senior PHE executives, regional mayors) and prepared sensitive materials (data analyses, political papers, strategy/planning). Achieved ministerial approvals on sensitive communications. Also created marketing copy for promotions and materials.
Technical Author at Hertz Car Rental
February 1, 2020 - October 25, 2025Copywriting for Hertz’s native app for managing car rentals, a greenfield project enabling contactless rentals. Covered features such as vehicle selection, reservation, mapping to car park bays, security checks and license verification, payments, and invoice management.
e-Learning Author at Atos
December 1, 2018 - October 25, 2025All content for mandatory employee training materials, including quizzes and certificates upon successful completion. Courses covered Fire Safety, Data Security, and Anti-Bribery and Corruption. Produced high-quality assessment materials aligned with learning outcomes and mark schemes.
Technical Author at Bentley Motors
July 1, 2018 - October 25, 2025Authored UI copy for Bentley’s Connected Car mobile app, enabling remote and in-car control for owners and chauffeurs. Implemented engineering change notices (ECN) into owner manuals and service documentation as design updates were released.
Banking Policy Writer at Huntswood
December 1, 2017 - October 25, 2025Wrote client-facing documentation for the Complaints Benchmarking Tool (CBT), used by UK retail banks to monitor and analyze consumer complaints. Supported strategic support process development.
Copywriter at RSPB
August 1, 2017 - October 25, 2025Wrote all copy for the e-commerce website and the Big Garden Birdwatch mobile app. Crafted marketing emails and landing pages for GDPR-compliant campaigns.
Technical Author at Rolls Royce
December 1, 2016 - October 25, 2025Worked across aerospace, defence, marine, nuclear, and power systems to produce MRO documentation. Reviewed Product Design Baselines (PDB) and CAD data to ensure documentation matched current engineering configurations.
Technical Author at Volkswagen Audi
November 1, 2015 - October 25, 2025Interpreted Technical Product Documentation to create a comprehensive suite of Technical Service Manuals covering mechanical service and repair. Collaborated with electrical/instrumentation engineers. Produced E&I documentation including wiring diagrams and IO lists; reduced mechanics’ support queries by 70%.
Technical Author at Deutsche Bank
October 1, 2014 - October 25, 2025Legal, regulatory, and compliance documentation for AML, AFC, ABC, IPS, debt packaging requirements, risk management, and corporate/regulatory disclosures. Researched and authored policy documents aligned with HMRC/FCA standards.
Technical Author at European Space Agency
January 1, 2014 - October 25, 2025Wrote documentation for Eureka and Galileo satellite projects covering electrical/optical engineering, mechanical fabrication, control/navigation systems, communications, MRO, and ground systems operations.
Technical Author at Glaxo SmithKline
December 1, 2011 - October 25, 2025Documented the system for capturing clinical trials data for NDAs, coordinating with regulatory authorities (FDA, EMA), boilerplate text writing, and process documentation.
Education
BSc (Hons) at London University
January 11, 2030 - October 25, 2025Qualifications
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
January 11, 2030 - October 25, 2025Industry Experience
Government, Healthcare, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Education, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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