“A butterfly flaps its wings somewhere and the wind changes, and a warm front hits a cold front off the coast of western Africa and before you know it you’ve got a hurricane closing in. By the time anyone figured out the storm was coming, it was too late...

A common misconception is that procurement is only for businesses “in trouble” or businesses which have plateaued, won’t grow and need to improve profits by cutting costs. Whilst it applies to these businesses procurement and savings are extremely effective and beneficial for growing – or planning to grow –...

The benefits of the business community getting involved with charities and social enterprises have been well documented. Research shows that companies are viewed more positively when they transparently report on their charitable activity and make it well known (Charities Aid Foundation, 2018). As for me, I started getting involved...

We think that this initiative is fantastic and are very happy to be able to help in any way that we can. Merseyside Police are aiming to collect £10,000 by asking officers to drop their loose 1p and 2p coins into buckets in stations across the region (1 million...

I was invited to be a Dragon for The Princes Trust recently, judging investments for fund raising ideas. This one is brilliant, demonstrating Simplicity, a Snappy Strap-Line & Self-Deprecation in 2 words! With a target of £10,000 and having worked out that’s 1 million pennies, Detective Sergeant Peter Russell and team’s...

We work with a lot of growing businesses to improve their bottom line. This month we’ve invited a guest – Mike McKenzie of McKenzie Growth Management (www.growthprobability.com) – to write about growing the top line. It ties in with this month’s theme of communication and team building.   A new...

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw   I was reminded of some wonderful communication malfunctions when working with a delightful German client recently. As usual his English was impeccable and we’re both experienced enough to understand the pitfalls...

We periodically publish guides on various aspects of procurement practice. We hope that you find them useful and valuable. In Whose Interest? Getting The Right Energy Procurement Advice for Your Business Read the Guide> Transparency | A Seldom Seen Quality in Fleet Management Getting the Right Fleet Management Procurement...

The last 12 months has seen an unprecedented upsurge in what the public expect from businesses in addressing social and cultural challenges. Expectations – around issues such as gender equality, sustainability, globalisation, mental health and ethics – are at an all-time high. It is no longer enough for a...

I was delighted to be able to take my place at Andy Burnham’s landmark Manchester Green Summit on 21 March. The event brought together businesses, environmental experts, interest groups, partner agencies, academics and local people to accelerate Greater Manchester’s green ambitions. It’s a topic I feel strongly about personally,...