EMS Website Update

We have completed the latest update of our website.

There are:

  • New articles to help you and your business - you can access old ones from the archive.
  • We’ve made it easier to find information on common business problems by including tabs on our front page that will take you to relevant articles, workshops and our relevant people. We’ve included - Continuous Improvment & LEAN - H&S & Environment - Quality Systems - Education & Training - HR and Recruitment - Strategy & Finance.
  • There’s also a business quiz - a bit of fun or more seriously a method of telling how your Company is doing.
  • Also for a limited period we’re making our half day audits in a range of areas FREE contact us on enquiries@emseff.co.uk

Don’t forget our Goal is to make our clients more successful. If you’d like to see something on our site to help you then let us know - we update once a quarter - but don’t forget in the blog your reading there’s something new every week.

The Logic of Distribution Centres

Whilst driving round the country I started to think about the ever growing distribution centres / estates.

Yes they might be close to our motorways but if they’re not close to end users then what about their carbon foot print?

As already mentioned there seems to be lots of new buildings springing up. This got me thinking how many of these businesses manage the build and move themselves? This type of project needs specific skills and should not be dealt with as an add on to normal activities. Doing it this way is fraught with danger the project could:

  • Take longer
  • Not achieve its original specification
  • Poor communication may reap undesirable effects
  • Original forecast budget may be exceeded

Avoid these by getting an expert in  - they go away when the project is completed successfully!

The imput of additional resource and or expertise can pay dividends.

I’d be interested to hear you views on distribution centres?

Leicester Tigers Surprise

Our MD is a Leicester Tigers fan and recently reached a milestone age - desretion prevents mentioning the number!!

His wife Linda and family organised a surprise, arranging a hospitality package at the recent game against Bath Rugby in the LV cup. Tigers won.

An additional surprise was our sponsorship of the match ball. Geoff met Engand and Tigers player Tom Croft and was presented with a signed ball at the end of the match.

All the best Geoff.

Written by Phil

A Letter from Rita

I have now finished the RITA course which supplemented and tested my knowledge on the LEAN syllabus that we cover on the NVQ BIT courses (Business Improvement Techniques). I am glad to say I passed!!!!! We covered a lot of subjects in the 8 weeks -Effective Teamwork, TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), Lead Time Analysis, Statistical Process Control, Workplace organisation and Mistake Proofing just to name a few. It was good to network with people delivering the same subjects and to share experiences. Even as the Train to Gain funding starts to take severe pressure from the Government spending reductions it is good to find out that these techniques really do make a difference to the companies that we work in. After all they are self funding from the savings they generate!

Cool Leadership!

I’m just embarking on the second of three visits to Poland to deliver leadership training. Its cold in Poland at -10 degrees! On my first visit I trained inspectors, on this visit I am delivering to Head Teachers or Directors as they’re known over here.

Whilst its difficult to deliver through a translator I find it amazing that people, wherever they are, have not got a grasp of the funamental principles of managing and leading people. I look forward to returning to the more easily understood feedback in the UK.

Written by Linda Trapnell 

Pricing

I’m an avid reader of the small business section  in the Sunday Times. In the 17/1/10 edition the above subject was discussed and a few examples given. In principle the rules of engagement suggested were:

  • Consider a cheaper range
  • Beware of marking down prices of existing products
  • Don’t be sentimental about what you sell. Think profit and demand
  • Mirror the needs of the maket place in your product
  • Communicate with your customers to help guide product (range) development
  • Be aware of profitability - product but don’t forget about volume
  • Review the way you sell

In a nutshell a successful business is not about cutting costs alone its about selling more!

Coaching Accreditation

Currently accreditation for the coaching industry is done on a voluntary basis. Many areas of the world, including the UK are looking to move to mandatory accreditation. The IIC (International Institute of Coaching) is one of the leading overseeing organisations for coaching. It has existed for over 10 years and was formerly known as the ECI (European Coaching Institute). The IIC not only operates to raise the standard of coaching and coaches, but also approves and accredits training courses in coaching.  Accreditation for coaches takes the form of – significant evidence of professional development, proof of extensive paid coaching, a live assessment of the coaching skills of the coach by an IIC member, a range of testimonials and a final interview. Written by Tony Brooks our accredited coach with the IIC  

Embarking on change?

For any business embarking on change essential reading is “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson.

Its an easy read and the message is quite simple:

  • Change happens
  • Anticipate change
  • Monitor change
  • Adapt to change quickly
  • Change
  • Enjoy change!
  • Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again

The only thing missing in our view is “Communicate change”. A simple model that might make your business more successful!

Statutary Payments Likely To Rise In 2010!

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has proposed that Statutory Adoption, Maternity and Paternity Pay and Maternity Allowance should all rise from £123.06 to £124.88 in April 2010.Statutory Sick Pay is likely to remain at £79.15.

Legal confirmation of these changes are still awaited…………….

Written by Simone Greasley - HR Specialist. Contact her if you need any help.

Measurements need to be SMART!

Lets start by getting rid of the bit of consultant speak in the heading. SMART stands for:

  • Specific
  • Measureable
  • Aachievable
  • Relevant
  • Time based

Having got that out of the way your Company’s measurements (or key performance indicators - KPI’s) need to encourage the right behaviour (to move the measures in the right direction) from your staff.

So an example. In the NHS there might be targets on waiting time and number of patients seen in the ED.  Ask yourself the question does this encourage getting patients healthy or something else?

What is the Goal of the NHS?