Staff Training

Anyone who knows me is well aware about how passionate I am about staff training. Yes, it is important that employees know how to do their job properly and what is expected of them in order to perform efficiently and effectively. Previous blogs refer to training in such skills as developing sales techniques, improving communications and time management however, it is alarming to find how much training is being overlooked because it is taken for granted that people know and understand the basics. Failure to provide such training renders employers extremely vulnerable to claims for industrial industry from employees or being found to be failing to exercise due diligence when it comes to legislative compliance.

It doesn't take much to rectify this situation. Site specific training in key areas costs just a few hundred pounds yet can save thousands. Induction, Fire Training, The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Manual Handling and Lifting - these are key areas where formalised training is often overlooked at major cost. Contact me and see how little you need to invest to protect your business from costly claims.

Leasing Loopholes

My strapline - 'The South West Business Doctor - Hands on Help to Improve YOUR Bottom Line' has lead me into further new territory. Leasing. Leasing is an effective means to maximise cash flow - a way of getting the benefits of office equipment, commercial vehicles, business cars, agricultural equipment, industrial plant and machinery, medical and dental equipment and equipment in hotels and restaurants - without plundering any cash reserves or entering into binding and complex bank loans. It is a sobering thought that in 1990 total new asset finance in the UK was approx. £16 billion. (No that isn't a typo!) That figure stood at £29billion in 2008. Even more staggering, perhaps, is the fact that a government debate recently indicated that up to 75% of businesses have at some time been wrongly charged by leasing companies. This may be because unrealistic sales commissions have been built in; the APR may be incorrect; hidden charges may have been built in - there are many possibilities.This does not apply to every lease, I hasten to add. But how do you know whether you have a 'good' lease or not?



You come to me!



A simple, initial check will cost you nothing. Working in association with BKA Midlands, part of the Pickstock group of companies, I will get your lease checked out FREE OF CHARGE to establish whether or not there are signs of overcharging and if there are, an indication of by how much. So for absolutely no charge, you can establish whether your leases are true to what you believe you signed up for. Now that can only be a good thing surely? On the other hand, if there are signs of overcharging, you can assess the amount and weigh up the benefit of having a third party recover that amount on your behalf. Details of costs for this will obviously be fully disclosed at the time. A completely transparent process with me keeping you fully posted throughout.



What is the point of investing in good marketing to generate more business if you are not going to realise the full potential profit that is created? Good business practise is about growing core business and increasing profitability and managing costs; this is a part of the latter - but it all impacts on your bottom line.



Forensic auditing is a very exciting development in a complex area requiring specialised expertise.



I can introduce you to the people with the relevant expertise that can either put cash back into your business or reassure you that any leases you have are exactly what you believe them to be.



If you want to know more - email me - info@thesouthwestbusinessdoctor.co.uk or give me a call on 01805 804645 - I'll look forward to hearing from you!

Another String to the Bow!

Funny how things go isn't it? There I was trying to turn around the fortunes of a small and struggling hotel (at the request of their accountant) when I suddenly found myself being invited to become an associate of a company specialising in debt management! But logical when you think about it. Personal and business finances very often get tangled up together in small businesses and if someone is weighed down with the stresses and strains of unsecured borrowing that has got out of hand they really are not going to be able to focus on their work or their business. However professional and organised people are in their business environment, the thought of dealing with their own financial problems is often just too much to contemplate. CAB isn't hands on by and large - they will advise but they don't have the resources to actually physically deal with the problem on behalf of inquirers. So what am I doing for people with my debt management hat on? Quite simply, taking the problem away from them!

I will review income and expenditure and prioritise what has to be paid.
I will then negotiate with creditors on behalf of the Client to get affordable repayments put in place and (usually) interest and charges frozen.
It is worth noting that a third party will get a far lower offer of repayment accepted than an individual will for themself - often well below half the original amount.
I then provide on-going support to people. Why would they need it? Because debts get sold on and people will suddenly find themselves being pursued for money by someone they have probably never heard of. Any correspondence is passed to me to deal with for them. It may be that their circumstances change and they are able to make a reduced offer to clear the debt. Again, third party negotiating is far more successful.

Debt is a dirty word - people don't like to admit that they have a problem but the fact is that one in three people has got a problem. Often the people you least expect. Professional people, managers, the people you would least expect to have a problem. But once the problem is addressed, the relief is huge and people are able to focus their attention back on their work, their business, their families - all the things that get neglected when overwhelming problems place unbearable pressure on people. Best of all, the difficult bits, the negotiating, the correspondence - are handled for them. All they do is make one payment by direct debit and the individual disbursements are also handled for them on their behalf.

If you want more information or you know someone who is struggling, email me at info@thesouthwestbusinessdoctor.co.uk I have also produced an audio CD which explains fully what is involved and how it all works. And, perhaps more importantly, puts people's mind at rest - debt isn't a dirty word - it is the fallout of recession. I should point out that in handling this issue I am working as an associate of a company which is fully licensed. Lots of companies are licensed to handle debt management but few operate at quite this level.

The longer people take to decide to take action, the worse the problem gets. So take the first step! Sooner rather than later!

Tactics to Triumph! (in 2010 and beyond!)

Marketing and Training tend to be the two first targets for cut backs when things get tough. I cannot believe how many business people subscribe to such a narrow view! I have always said that 'recession' presents opportunities for businesses to survive and thrive and emerge in a much stronger position especially as competition flounders. And a lot of floundering occurs because false economies are made. Training in core skills needs to be refreshed on a regular basis because otherwise, people fall back into bad habits. Where the workforce has been reduced, remaining staff are required to take on more responsibilities - they need to be trained to do this - at the very least, they need to be given the confidence that they are capable of doing what is asked of them. You cannot just assume that a receptionist/telephonist can suddenly take on a tele-sales role. Speaking of sales, does anyone ever stop to consider the enormous range of 'selling' that falls under this umbrella? Do people understand the differences between 'selling' and 'negotiating'? Do people understand the type of person they are and therefore how they naturally react to people? Do they recognise the different types of people out there and therefore the best and worst ways of connecting with them in a meaningful and ultimately successful way? Do you understand the importance of this and the ways in which simple psychometric analysis can revolutionise sales and negotiating techniques?

Core business skills are crucial but they need to be revised, updated and given a twenty first century twist which is to get people's minds tuned into really making things work. What is the point in giving someone the tools to enable them to manage their work and their time more effectively if their mindset isn't prepared to follow through?

Tactics to Triumph! is about working with business to position them ahead of their competition. It is about structuring a programme of training and coaching that is specifically designed to meet the needs of each individual business. Contact me for more information - I don't just talk the talk - I have walked the walk for many years. This is REAL training and coaching for the REAL world - YOUR WORLD!

The Lowest of the Low

It is very sad when lessons are learnt the hard way. Trust has always been a major factor in my business dealings right from day one. Deals used to be secured on the shake of a hand and one's word was one's bond. I guess I must have been luckier than the average because that trust has not been abused to date - well, until vey recently.

I was approached by a potential Client looking for me to assist in developing their business. Could I help? Indeed I could and I explained what I could do and told them my (very modest) fee. This was agreed and a meeting was set up. I spent a considerable amount of time (over a weekend, to boot!) doing my research, getting my head around their business, putting myself in their shoes, analysing what they were currently doing.........the groundwork. I produced a report and then spent a total of 8 hours in the car driving to and from our meeting and two hours with the 'client' discussing my views. When I presented my invoice, I was told that they had no intention of paying it - they didn't feel that I had told them anything they did not already know. I was floored! Disgusted! Appalled! It was also apparent that this was not the case.

When bills get overlooked or payment is delayed because of genuine cash flow issues, that is one thing.

I can, of course, take the individual to court - does any business want court proceedings registered against them? I would have thought not. However, this all takes time (which could be better spent on other worthwhile Clients), money (the thought is - am I throwing good money after bad?) and it rankles.

What is has done, is make me review the manner in which I do business in future and that goes against the grain.
However, in this climate it would appear that protecting our position in business is increasingly important.

What a very sad reflection.

New info added!

As promised and in case you haven't noticed - the information about Dealing with Redundancy has now been added to the website. Simply click on the link and find out how I can help you handle what is always a tricky situation. Maybe there are alternatives to redundancy - if there are I'll certainly help you find them. If you have to cut back your work force how are you going to go about it? Is voluntary redundancy the easy way round the problem? (Not always - not by a long chalk.) Is 'last in first out' the answer? (Again - whilst being a popular view of redundancy procedures, it isn't always the right way to go about things.)

There is no shortage of information about statutory rights concerning redundancies, HOWEVER, handling the situation is a potential minefield.

So click on the link, see how I can help and if you want to find out more, either email me at
info@thesouthwestbusinessdoctor.co.uk or ring me on 01805 804645. I not only prescribe better business, I help you make it happen!

Redundancy - two sides of the coin

In spite of my comments in my last blog, decrying the doom merchants in the current economic climate, it is a sad reality that redundancy is a fact of life in business and is likely to be playing a more prominent role in many companies over the next few months. It is crucially important for everyone concerned, that the process is handled with a degree of sensitivity and to ensure that it is transparent, fair and that due respect is afforded to those involved. It is also helpful if staff in the unenviable position (trust me I know from experience, it is not pleasant!) of acquiring the P45 ahead of expectations, can be given information and advice about what they can expect once let loose again in the jungle that is the employment market.

This is a subject that is very close to my heart and so much so that I am soon adding a new page to the website expanding on the theme and outlining practical assistance that I can give to companies and individuals involved in such scenarios. How am I qualified to do this?

When I started establishing a Personnel and Training Department for a major fashion retail chain during the 80's, one of the first jobs I had was to savagely prune staff from shops all over the country where the term 'staff structure' had clearly escaped any notice whatsoever. It was a baptism of fire where commercial necessity had to be tempered with a sensitive though professional approach. I was also, comparatively recently, very closely involved with several redundancy scenarios (they called them 'events' which I always found bizarre!) within Esso Petroleum and although in the latter case, there was some effort to provide a measure of support to the P45 brigade post Esso, nowhere in the process was there any preparation for the realities and practicalities which need to be faced up to. Given the potential scale of redundancies across the region, my belief is that this is ever more important. I went through a learning curve that resembled vertical take off and I can assure you that it is not to be recommended.

So look out for the new page! In the meantime, if it is an issue for you or a potential issue and you would like an informal discussion, please get in touch - I am always pleased to hear from any business in the South West!