Consultants

Comment by Doug Harris on October 16, 2008 at 10:04am

Any ideas, suggestions, warnings or otherwise on the structure of a potential AIEC (Association of Independent Environmental Consultants) would be appreciated ... particularly on how its constitution would seek to be fair to all members in terms of commercial benefit and might overcome such group problems where there is sometimes a tendency for joinees to simply hang around seeing what they might be able to get a slice of or what ideas from others they might be able to plagiarise. Apologies if that sounds cynical, it wasn't meant to, because I've joined groups myself just to be nosy and refresh my tired old brain!

Please see the existing thread entitled "How do consultancies get a foot in the door?" ( http://www.environment-network.com/xn/detail/2262849:Topic:2954 ) which begins to explore some of my ideas for this. What I really need are comments on how consultants would see the structure of a truly commercial business in which we would all have a partnership share (think pension fund here) and a profit share that could challenge the Entecs and ERMs of this world and win some work from Local authorities and Quangos, whic otherwise appears almost impossible in our individual states.

Doug

Comment by Graeme Mills on October 16, 2008 at 7:58pm

There would be quite a bit to sort out to get a consortium together but the one thing that would bring people together and get all that stuff sorted would be an opportunity. We can talk about it for a long time, we can all agree it is a good idea but its a real commercial project of opportunity that will really get this started.

This could be a reaction to an opportunity (e.g. tender) or a proactive opportunity - e.g. a targeted joint marketing initiative.

But it mean someone leading this and investing time to do so.

There are other things to sort out such as allocate work to people who maybe be offering similar services. But its amazing what can be sorted out when there is the motivation of a good piece of work.

Comment by Doug Harris on October 16, 2008 at 8:44pm

There you go ...
------------------------------------------------------------------
Entry Date: 13/10/2008
Reference: S2G08101370445/01
Type of document: Contract Notice
Country United Kingdom
Nature of contract: Service contract
1. Title: WASTE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY STUDY
2. Awarding Authority: Leicestershire County Council and the East Midlands Regional Assembly, First Floor Suite, Council Offices, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray Leicestershire LE13 0UL Web: http://www.emra.gov.uk/who-we-are/tender-invitations Email:bryn.walters@emra.gov.uk (Bryn Walters Policy Advisor - Waste & Minerals) .
3. Contract type: Service contract
Select list
4. Description: Regional Waste Management Capacity Study & Report
The awarding authority have pleasure inviting your company to tender for the above. If you intend to tender for this work I would ask you to read the instructions available on the awarding authority website.
Please note that due to the size of the contract there will be no requirement to submit a Pre Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) or attend a formal interview. The selection of the successful tenderer will be carried out by the Project Manager with input from the Steering Group following the closure date for submissions.
5. CPV Code(s): 90533000, 79313000,
6. NUTS code(s): UKF UKF2 UKF22
7. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: Not Provided.
8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: 428583
9. Estimated value of requirement: Not provided.
10. Deadline: 17.11.2008 (12:00).
11. Address to which they must be sent: A hard copy of your tender should be submitted to Bryn Walters at the awarding authority. Alternatively tenders may be submitted electronically to a secure email address: tender@emra.gov.uk. We will acknowledge receipt of your tender but it will not be opened before the deadline for submissions. If submitting electronically, please use PDF format where possible.
12. Other information: Please make sure your tender proposal is returned, along with a correctly signed copy of the "Form of Tender" document. Awarding the contract will be subject to your satisfactory completion of a Pre Qualification Questionnaire available on the awarding authority website, that asks for some information about your company's policies and financial position. Whilst we do not require you to submit this with your tender, the document is available on our website so that you can satisfy yourself that you will be able to complete the questionnaire should you later be asked to so do. Where possible, an email version of the tender proposal should also be submitted to Bryn Walters at the awarding authority.
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I would be happy to lead any attempt to start with one like this.

Is that motivation enough?

Doug

Comment by Jo Bennison on October 20, 2008 at 5:18pm

Having set up the NEEBS Consultancy register I know it is a very difficult thing to regulate. How do you ensure everyone works to a standard and if someone does not how do you kick them off the scheme? Its all open to litigation. Does IEMA or CIWM have anything set up? If not I suspect its because its very difficult.

Comment by Doug Harris on October 22, 2008 at 9:51am

Looking at the IEMA pages, BSI have produced "Guidelines for the selection of quality management system consultants and use of their services", so someone has looked at this subject in general, if not specifically in terms of environmental consultancy or project-long partnerships. In the real world, where there might be a small group collaborating on a larger project, I don't see a problem with ensuring on-time work to a quality standard if this was 'contractually' laid out from the start in a simple but binding agreement that allowed for promptly ejecting anyone not pulling their weight (perhaps on a colleague majority vote basis?). If this was in place from the start and signed up to, I don't see litigation raising its ugly head at all.

Comment by Gareth Kane on October 31, 2008 at 7:24am

PAS 2050 carbon footprinting of products and services out now and f...

Comment by John Dean on November 5, 2008 at 11:39am

HI
I am John Dean. I have written about the environment and industry for many years and run a PR and marketing company in addition to my freelance journalism. One thing that always surprises me is that so many companies do terrific green things but never tell anyone! I write an environment page for The Northern Echo's business supplement and sometimes it is a real struggle getting stories. If the green revolution is to take hold, those that 'do' have to inspire those that don't.
John 01325 463813

Comment by Doug Harris on November 6, 2008 at 12:11am

Hi John,

If you are able to post any of your Northern Echo articles in this forum (after their appearance in that rag of course!) I am sure you would have a few interested readers, me included. If we got a feel for the subject matter, perhaps we might be able to feed you some interesting tales about our clients in industry?

Best wishes,

Doug

Comment by John Dean on November 6, 2008 at 8:53am

Hi Doug

Thanks for that. Maybe worth us talking sometime? I am on 01325 463813
John

Comment by Gareth Kane on January 15, 2009 at 12:25pm

100 Tips for consultants who want to survive a recession (who doesn't). Don't agree with all of them, but worth a look.

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