Below Lee’s intereview are also links to a series of other interviews with Auditel consultants, both new and old-timers (sorry William!), from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

The latest launch is a powerful new online Client Management System that has been nearly a year in development by one of our Business Development Teams¹. This new system provides Auditel consultants with a comprehensive, end-to-end client management tool, which incorporates or works alongside existing tools to improve efficiency and  streamline the management of projects. The success of the project has depended on a huge amount of hard work and input from Antony and the BDT, most notably Alan Ford and Mike Andrews, who drove the process of specification, development and testing. It was very gratifying, therefore, to see the incredibly positive response of the Network to the new tool, with over 90% of consultants in attendance keen to start using it straight away. With another new analysis tool in development for launch at the next set of meetings in September, it’s a busy time for the BDTs but a very exciting time for Auditel consultants.

¹ Business Development Teams are small focus groups within the Auditel Network consisting of consultants and members of the Support Team. Their objective and remit is to identify and develop opportunities to bring new services to market and to help develop the tools and training available to Auditel consultants.

We’re delighted to announce that Auditel has become an ‘Official Friend‘ of the England Commonwealth Games Team, ‘We are England‘. Hundreds of athletes from 17 sports disciplines will be heading to Delhi for the Games, which run 3rd – 14th October this year, and for all of them this will be the culmination of thousands of hours of practice, commitment and dedication. We wish every single one of them the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating and sharing their triumphs in October.

If you’d like to know more about how the team’s preparations are coming along, and to get regular updates in the lead up to the Games, send an email to newsletter@auditel.co.uk quoting the reference ‘Commonwealth Games’.

Journeys end: James (left) and Thane (right) complete their epic challenge

You may remember that a few weeks ago I posted a blog about James Bury’s plan to walk and run the equivalent of four marathons to raise money for his client, BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association). Well, I’m glad to report that despite choosing one of the hottest weekend’s of the year James and his friend, Thane Hall, successfully completed this gruelling challenge well within the 48-hour time they’d set themselves, completing the 102.5-mile, Southdowns Way between Winchester and Eastbourne in just 39 hours.

James says, “ Apart from some wear and tear, I feel great, despite having to stand on the train back to Winchester! A big thank you to everyone who’s supported us and BLESMA – that support made all the difference when it looked like it might be difficult to finish. Also a very special thanks to Thane for coming up with the idea, and for proving to be a faultless navigator even at night after 70 miles non-stop! BLESMA is an amazing charity that supports those who have suffered serious injury serving their country. For every death reported in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are probably two or three very seriously wounded, who are almost always young people with their whole lives ahead of them. While they can provide plenty of courage and determination they do need specialist help, encouragement and opportunities to rebuild their lives. We’ve raised £2,000 in sponsorship so far, which I’m really thrilled about as every donation to BLESMA, however modest, is going to a very deserving cause.”

While lack of liquidity and the availability of cash is less of a concern than at the height of the credit cruch, CFO’s are still worried about growth, especially given the weakness of the global recovery and the UK’s export market, so maintaining tight control of their costs is still a top priority.

This certainly seems to be bourne out by the level of enquiry we are experiencing. Our client base has risen by 11.4% this year, and income returns reported by our consultants are also rising strongly as more and more organisations realise effective cost management is vital to their future – not just a ‘nice to have’ – and look for professional help and advice.

¹ Telegraph Online, 5th July 2010

Left to right: Ian Jackman and Mark Lear

Welcome to our two newest recruits to the Auditel Network of cost and purchase management consultants: Mark Lear and Ian Jackman. Mark has a background in IT, while Ian is an expert in merchant card technology and payments and it’s great to know that their expertise is now available to Auditel clients and consultants.

We’ve had a really nice time getting to know them over the past week and we look forward to working with them over the coming years.

These Business Health Checks for small companies are the latest development in Auditel’s relationship with the Birmingham Chamber, which Adrian has been working hard to build over the past 18 months. So far, savings he has made for members include £14,000 and £3,500 water rebates for a haulage company and a charity, respectively, and further savings of £10,000 per year on food purchasing for the same charity. He also contributes to the Chamber’s monthly newsletter, ‘Chamber Link’, and speaks at every New Members Day.

Other Auditel consultants are working closely and forging links with Chambers of Commerce across the UK, including Swindon, Sheffield, Watford & West Herts, Bedford & Luton, Oxfordshire and Mid & West Wales.

James has been providing cost reduction services to BLESMA for several years but wants to go further in raising both funds for and awareness of their phenomenal work. Appropriately enough, given the city’s association with the armed forces and Wednesday’s homecoming parade, James will be starting his epic trek in Winchester and will be making his way along the South Downs Way to Eastbourne, over 100 miles away.  His aim is to do it in under 48 hours, but with good weather and a fair wind, hopes to be quite a bit quicker.

So far James has raised over £700 in sponsorship and been really delighted by the enthusiastic backing of so many people. It demonstrates tremendous support for our forces, and the strong desire to help those who have sacrificed so much.