Moving moments, standing, going
Tim (finance director and husband) and I have been experiencing life from the other side of the table this month - as facility managers. This has come about due to our company HQ moving premises next week.
Of the suppliers appointed to help with this traumatic experience, the majority have been, like ourselves, small, personable companies. This was not necessarily a pre-qualification to their appointment; however, they were the companies which listened, were able to react quickly and tailored their responses to our requirements.
The one big stumbling block we have had is the telephone system. And how often do I hear my clients say the same thing?
The company supplying the system is ready to go but a large national company, whose "jobsworth" attitude is holding everyone up, refuses to confirm a connection date.
Luckily, the supply of our catering services can be handled in-house. However, it has made me realise why clients involved with greenfield sites are relieved to just let us get on with the organisation of their catering while they have other services to worry about.
Exhibition
Also this month, Charlton House was an exhibitor at the FM Expo '98 exhibition in London. The last time I had been "fortunate" enough to man a stand at an exhibition was in the days long ago when I worked for the Potato Marketing Board.
My stint on the stand at this exhibition was scheduled for the commencement of the show. In talking to the customers, who were mainly facility managers, their underlying interest and requirement was to appoint a contractor who was small enough to care but established enough to have the resources.
Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable change, with clients realising that they don't have to go down the perceived "safe" route of appointing a large national supplier. Smaller contractors can do as good a job, if not better, due to their freedom of choice, with no corporate procedures and policies to hold them back. Very much my own experiences of the previous month!
Loyal reader
With this being the last of my editorial diaries I would like to bid farewell and thanks to the loyal reader (!) who has bravely read my monthly gibberish.
Over the years of being first an Adopted Business and then a diary writer, I have been aghast at the number of people who read my column. I must confess that my diary has always been a rushed affair that is penned (usually in bed) the night prior to the editorial deadline, following four weeks of lively events within the company.
The past three years have certainly seen a number of contract caterers come and go, but I can assure you that Charlton House Catering will be around for a little while yet. Ciao!
