Useful stuff

To save you some time, I’ve taken the liberty of putting together a load of stuff which you can use for profiles, speaker introductions or to convince your boss to hire me...

Bio

Ella Barrington is an award-winning business, project and operations director, who carved her career in the ambitious world of motorsport. An advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, she is also an active speaker and volunteer.

Ella spends her time as a management consultant and contractor, specialising in commercial project management, operations, and strategic implementation - making things happen on time and budget.

Ella gained a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Leeds, and then returned to Oxfordshire to study for a Masters of Science in Racing Engine Design at Oxford Brookes University. She is also a qualified PRINCE2® Project Management Practitioner, a Global MBA candidate at Oxford Brookes Business School and a Fellow of The RSA - the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce.

Since graduating, she has worked in the relentless world of professional motorsport and engineering in a variety of technical and commercial roles. She began consulting in 2016 to bring the fundamental things she learnt in motorsport to businesses across all sectors.

Ella wants to dispel the myth that technical things can only be understood by people who are good at maths. And that engineers don’t “do people”.

She has since joined the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at my local alma mater as an Associate Lecturer. If Ella can keep the attention of hungover students on a Friday afternoon, she can probably keep yours too!

Images

If you need a headshot to promote your event you can download one. Don't use it on any dating apps; it won't help. It doesn't have a puppy in it.

AV

I come complete with a 2022 Macbook Pro (yeah, one of the annoying ones with the USB C connection only), but I’ll bring a host of adaptors to connect to your projection or screen system.

I have my own clicker, or I can use yours.

I create my presentations in Google Slides, 16:9. They can be exported to Powerpoint, but if we can avoid that would make me really happy!

If you’d prefer I can share my presentation in advance so you can have it ready. Please let me know if you want to do this when you make your booking, so I have time to prepare.

I tend to avoid sound and video in my presentation because we’ve all sat through too many talks where they just don’t work. Also, it’s very awkward standing there whilst the video plays. Are you supposed to watch it thoughtfully like you’ve not seen it before? Or are you supposed to watch the audience watch it? Like I said, awkward.

I’ve been told I have a good microphone technique. I can work with handheld, lapel or headset mics. I can shout a bit if necessary, but would really prefer not to if you have the technology.

Expenses

All agreed rates for work or event attendance are exclusive of expenses such as accreditation, travel and accommodation. I won’t profiteer on expenses and can provide copies of bookings etc. 

For driven miles, I charge the HMRC standard rate of 45p per mile. Journeys will start and end in Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire.

For trains, whenever possible I’ll book any travel early to get better prices, usually starting from Kings Sutton or Banbury station. If I have to pay to park there (or at an airport), I’ll have to pass that on too.

For air travel, again I'll book the best value but the most direct route I can. I just can’t deal with running between gates any more! I’m fine in an economy seat as I’m under 5ft 4”, but if you require me to be starting work immediately after a flight or come straight to your event, I’m going to need business class travel. Not because I’m posh, but because I want to do a good job for you, and I can't do that on a few hours of snooze in an upright position.

If I’m away from home overnight I ask for £50 per day for food and drinks. Anything more than that, I'll cover.

I’ll also pass back the cost of any materials - for example, if I need to get materials printed for your event then I expect you to pay for that too. Of course, I’ll ask you first and make you aware of any likely costs before proceeding.

Please promptly refund me on any expenses. As a small business owner, I can't afford to effectively loan you that money until you decide to pay me back.

Need something else?

Let me know. If I can make your life easier, then I'll try (within reason!).