Available to hire
Hi, I’m Phil Wharton, a versatile writer and communications professional with extensive experience in freelance writing, copywriting, and managing communications for cultural organizations. I enjoy researching and crafting engaging content on politics and contemporary culture, and I have a passion for digital platforms like Wordpress.
With a background that includes administration, technical support, and project management within diverse sectors such as government and cultural societies, I bring a detail-oriented and organized approach to my work. I’m also experienced in event organization and digital content creation, always keen to develop new skills and take on fresh challenges.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
German
Beginner
French
Beginner
Work Experience
Freelance Writer
July 1, 2023 - PresentResearch and write blogs focused on politics and contemporary culture, primarily using the Wordpress platform. Compiled a published anthology available on Kindle.
Communications Manager at Tyneside Irish Cultural Society
July 31, 2023 - July 26, 2025Researched and wrote publicity materials, designed event posters, applied for grants including from Arts Council England, and helped organize the 2022 Tyneside Irish Festival, maintaining the associated website.
Administration Officer at Department of Work & Pensions
July 31, 2022 - July 26, 2025Worked as a Case Manager for Universal Credit, managing advance payment requests through telephony, databases, spreadsheets, and multiple IT systems.
Freelance Copywriter at Self-employed
March 31, 2021 - July 26, 2025Wrote blogs and articles on diverse topics, including news commentary and product descriptions for retailers, publishers, magazines, and websites.
Administrator at Sitel
January 31, 2017 - July 26, 2025Processed customer applications to change electricity and gas tariffs for SSE, working with multiple systems simultaneously and ensuring high accuracy under tight deadlines.
Document Agent at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
July 31, 2016 - July 26, 2025Part of a team supporting system migration for the Ministry of Defence, utilizing skills in Excel, system knowledge, and security protocols.
Administrator at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
June 30, 2016 - July 26, 2025Worked in a contact center team liaising between government departments, third parties, and service users using Avaya telephony, Excel with macros, Access databases, and Lean practices.
Technical Support Agent at Teleperformance Ltd.
December 31, 2015 - July 26, 2025Provided technical support for HP printer customers via incoming calls, troubleshooting hardware, network, and software issues.
Retail Assistant at Sainsbury’s Local
September 30, 2015 - July 26, 2025Handled customer service, operating tills, shop floor duties, stock rotation, deliveries, and payments in a convenience store setting.
Part-time Researcher at Durham University
December 31, 2014 - July 26, 2025Conducted political and industrial research for an MPhil, interviewing ex-coalminers and families and analyzing election data using the R programming language.
Part-time Tutor at Durham University
December 31, 2014 - July 26, 2025Taught first-year undergraduates seminars for the Democratic Political Systems module and marked formative essays as part of an MPhil.
Part-time Mentor at Collingwood College, Durham University
December 31, 2014 - July 26, 2025Provided pastoral care and confidential support for first-year undergraduates living at the College.
Exchequer Officer at Newcastle City Council
December 31, 2013 - July 26, 2025Part of a team responsible for reconciling city daily income and allocating it to cost centers using FAMIS software and handling bank account and BACS processes.
Transportation Officer at Newcastle City Council
December 31, 2011 - July 26, 2025Implemented transport policy, represented the City Council at community meetings, contributed to the Tyne and Wear Local Transport Plan 2011-16, and managed bus route infrastructure improvements.
Trainee Journalist at Journalism Training Centre, Mitcham, London
December 31, 2001 - July 26, 2025Completed National Council of Training for Journalists (NCTJ) foundation qualification covering news writing and newspaper publication.
Software Engineer at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 2000 - July 26, 2025Developed Java-based bespoke programs for Department of Work and Pensions call centre, trained in SQL and EJB interfaces, built and ran server programs, and developed JSPs.
Software Engineer at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 1998 - July 26, 2025Developed batch and dialogue processes for benefits payment system using COBOL on mainframe, inserted live fixes, and developed new processes.
Project Management Assistant at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 1997 - July 26, 2025Monitored man-hours vs project cost codes for staff working on Child Support Agency’s payment recovery system using Project Management Workbench (PMW) software.
Special Reports Assistant at Adtrack Ltd.
December 31, 1995 - July 26, 2025Collated and calculated financial info on advertising spend, producing quarterly reports using spreadsheet and graphical software.
Civil Servant at Department of Social Security
December 31, 1994 - July 26, 2025Worked in ITSA developing rollout of National Insurance Recording System, utilizing document and version control software.
Office Supervisor at Newcastle College Students Union
December 31, 1993 - July 26, 2025Managed daily office operations, product sales, desktop publishing for student assignments, and produced the Students' Union yearbook.
Freelance Writer
July 1, 2023 - PresentResearch and write blogs on politics and contemporary culture, primarily on the Wordpress platform. Compiled a published anthology available on Kindle.
Communications Manager at Tyneside Irish Cultural Society
July 31, 2023 - July 26, 2025Researched and wrote publicity material for the Society, produced posters for events, applied for grants such as from Arts Council England, and helped organise the 2022 Tyneside Irish Festival, including website updates.
Administration Officer at Dept. of Work & Pensions
July 31, 2022 - July 26, 2025Worked as a Case Manager in the Universal Credit section handling advance payment requests. The role was telephony based combined with use of multiple live databases, spreadsheets, and IT systems.
Freelance Copywriter at Self-employed
March 1, 2021 - July 26, 2025Wrote blogs and articles for retailers, publishers, magazines, and websites covering news commentary to product descriptions.
Administrator at Sitel
January 31, 2017 - July 26, 2025Processed customer applications for changing electricity and gas tariffs for SSE, working with multiple systems simultaneously with high attention to detail and strict deadlines.
Document Agent at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
July 31, 2016 - July 26, 2025Part of a team helping the migration of new computer systems for the Ministry of Defence, requiring Excel, systems knowledge, and adherence to security protocols.
Administrator at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
June 30, 2016 - July 26, 2025Part of Contact Centre team liaising between Government department, third parties and service users. Used Avaya telephony, Excel (including macros), Access, and Lean working practices.
Technical Support Agent at Teleperformance Ltd.
December 31, 2015 - July 26, 2025Received inbound calls from HP customers regarding printer problems including hardware, network connectivity, and software issues. Responsible for call handling and troubleshooting.
Retail Assistant at Sainsbury’s Local
September 30, 2015 - July 26, 2025Provided customer service, operated tills and worked on the shop floor. Duties included stock management, deliveries, payments, and stock rotation.
Part-time researcher at Durham University
December 31, 2014 - July 26, 2025Conducted research for an MPhil in Politics by interviewing former coalminers and families, and using R programming for election statistics analysis.
Exchequer Officer at Newcastle City Council
December 31, 2013 - July 26, 2025Reconciled the City’s daily income and allocated it to correct cost centres using Financial Accounting and Management System (FAMIS) software and BACS processes.
Transportation Officer at Newcastle City Council
December 31, 2011 - July 26, 2025Implemented transport policy for the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, liaised with Councillors and community, contributed to Local Transport Plan, and managed bus route infrastructure improvements.
Trainee Journalist at Journalism Training Centre, Mitcham, London
December 31, 2001 - July 26, 2025Trained as a journalist for a National Council of Training for Journalists foundation qualification covering news writing and newspaper publication.
Software Engineer at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 2000 - July 26, 2025Trained and developed bespoke Java applications for DWP call centre systems, including SQL interrogation and EJB architecture. Also trained in-house to build and run own server and JSP development.
Software Engineer at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 1998 - July 26, 2025Trained in COBOL and worked on batch processes and dialogues for CAPS automated benefits payment system, inserting live fixes and new processes.
Project Management Assistant at Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA)
December 31, 1997 - July 26, 2025Used Project Management Workbench software to monitor man-hours against project cost codes for staff working on Child Support Agency’s payment recovery and assessment systems.
Special Reports Assistant at Adtrack Ltd.
December 31, 1995 - July 26, 2025Collated, transcribed, and calculated financial info on advertising expenditure; produced quarterly financial reports using spreadsheets and graphical software.
Civil Servant at Dept. of Social Security
December 31, 1994 - July 26, 2025Worked on National Insurance Recording System roll-out within ITSA, employed document and version control software.
Office Supervisor at Newcastle College Students Union
December 31, 1993 - July 26, 2025Managed daily running of busy office and student-related services; used Desktop Publishing software to transcribe assignments and designed the Students’ Union yearbook.
Education
MPhil at School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2015BA (Hons) at Manchester Polytechnic
January 1, 1986 - December 31, 1989MPhil at Durham University, School of Government and International Affairs
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2015BA (Hons) at Manchester Polytechnic
January 1, 1986 - December 31, 1989GCE 'A' Level at Newcastle Royal Grammar School
January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1985GCE 'O' Level at Newcastle Royal Grammar School
January 1, 1980 - December 31, 1982Qualifications
NVQ II (Financial)
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1993National Council of Training for Journalists (NCTJ) foundation qualification
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001NCTJ foundation qualification
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001NVQ II (Financial)
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1993Industry Experience
Government, Media & Entertainment, Education, Retail, Software & Internet, Financial Services, Transportation & Logistics, Non-Profit Organization, Energy & Utilities, Professional Services
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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