A Consultancy Career – Why, How, When?

­The business advice market is being transformed by AI Business Advisor®s delivering affordable (yet profitable) support to small firms for the first time ever. Automation of ‘whole business’ consultancy has opened a huge new market that any business professional can take and hold after one day’s training and use of an Artificial Intelligence licence. Runagood® is appointing partners who will access the £3.5m that 1800 small businesses spend annually in their local postcode. In a 45 minute webinar, Runagood®’s founder will explain the opportunity, how it works, why it works, and answer your questions:

1. The market

2. How it works now

3. How AI is transforming it

4. How Runagood® AI works

5. Converting existing clients

6. Finding new clients

7. How we support you

8. Your investment

9. Your return Q&A

How often have you heard senior executives state that “nothing is more important to us than our customers” or “customer satisfaction is our number one priority”? And how often have you found that there’s a yawning gap between these stated priorities of the business and the experience delivered to the customer?

According to research company Forrester, “84% of companies aspire to be customer experience (CX) leaders, but only 1 out of 5 deliver good or great CX.” Yet, there are many examples of companies delivering outstanding success by having a clear focus on their customers’ needs and wants and providing a superior experience to deliver those needs and wants.

As Non-Executive Directors or Consultants, we have a duty to ensure that businesses we work with deliver a great result for their customers, people and shareholders. We can do this by bringing the customers’ needs and experience more powerfully into the boardroom.

Drawing on his many years of experience in developing strategies for companies to help them improve their customer experience, Nick Bush will illustrate the importance of genuine customer-centricity to business success and give you some tips to be an effective champion of customer experience in the boardroom.

Learning outcomes
At the end of this webinar you will be able to:
1.Articulate the advantages to a business of being genuinely customer-centric
2.Understand the distinction between customer experience and customer-centricity
3.Understand the linkage between customer experience and employee experience
4.Use “next practice” thinking to bring fresh perspectives into the boardroom conversation
5.Use a process to identify the return on investment from customer experience initiatives

Our latest webinar, ‘The power and influence of a Non-Executive Director' is brought to you by Amanda Clarke, Director of Curriculum Development at In Touch Networks.

During the 30-minute session, Amanda will interview Ray Warren and explore his thoughts on the skills and gravitas required to be an influential independent board director. The focus of the discussion will be around, understanding the value an independent director can bring and how you can use that to become even more influential in the boardroom.

Amanda will also discuss In Touch Networks new webinar series: 'Power to Influence: A Non Executive Director's perspective' which launches on the 17th October.

The landscape around tax and employment status is rapidly changing, with huge implications for independent professionals and the self-employed. Possible changes to IR35 in the private sector are worrying many, while the government is considering radical changes to the employment status framework following the Taylor Review. While all this is going on, courts are continuing to make new case law with crucial judgements on Uber, the BBC and Pimlico Plumbers.

IPSE’s policy team will give you the latest update on this far-changing area, and analyse what the implications are for the UK’s 4.8 million self-employed as well as our broader flexible labour market.

During this webinar we will discuss the following:
• Proposed changes to IR35 in the private sector – update and implications
• Government action on employment status – Taylor Review and Employment Status Consultation
• Recent court cases – Uber, BBC and Pimlico Plumbers

Speakers:
Jordan Marshall, Policy Development Manager
Chris Piggott-McKellar, Head of Press and PR

The sale of a business is often the most important ‘transaction’ a business owner will make in their lifetime. The process itself requires a high level of competence and absolute focus. Therefore, being prepared and understanding the process is invaluable and should never be underestimated. Find out what you can do now to help you and your board be both prepared and educated ahead of an exit.

Agenda includes:
•Agreeing shareholder objectives – what should be considered?
•How to scope the purchaser universe
•What sales documentation will be required?
•How to manage approaches and management presentations
•Key points to consider when executing ‘Heads of Terms’
•Helping the board to manage the due diligence process through to completion

The webinar will be hosted by Paul Herman, CEO and Founder of Bluebox Corporate Finance. Paul has sold over 70 private businesses during his career, with values ranging between £2m and £200m, and across a wide range of sectors. This includes a number of well-respected UK businesses such as Models Own, Gü, Princess Yachts, Mappin & Webb, Smythson, Watches of Switzerland, TXM Plant and The British Retail Consortium.

Our latest webinar, ‘Why Executive Coaching May Work for You’ is brought to you by Amanda Clarke, Director of Curriculum Development at In Touch Networks.

During the 30-minute webinar, Amanda will explore:

-An introduction to Executive Coaching
-What are the latest coaching trends?
-The Power of Coaching; who hires a coach and why?
-How executive coaching can help you in your career transition
-Mentoring or Coaching; what's the difference and how to recognise each
-The key steps to finding the right coach for you

6 key steps in preparing a business for sale- What you and your board need to know.

When it comes to selling a business, preparation is key. We’d be delighted for you to join our webinar as we delve into how to prepare a business for sale to maximise value and achieve the highest possible return. Find out what you can do now to help you and your board prepare for an exit.

Agenda includes:
•Is your board ready to sell?
•Why do most business sale processes collapse?
•What will an acquirer attribute value to?
•How will acquirers value the business?
•What is due diligence and how can you help a board to prepare?
•Key stages in a sale process

The webinar will be hosted by Paul Herman, CEO and Founder of Bluebox Corporate Finance. Paul has sold over 70 private businesses during his career, with values ranging between £2m and £200m, and across a wide range of sectors. This includes a number of well-respected UK businesses such as Models Own, Gü, Princess Yachts, Mappin & Webb, Smythson, Watches of Switzerland, TXM Plant and The British Retail Consortium.

25th May 2018 saw the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It's one month on from the 'Go Live' date and the opportunity continues for Consultants to work with the estimated 80%+ UK organisations that are not fully GDPR ready. In this webinar we will be covering:


What the opportunity is
The 5 key tips to win business
Who to target…you may be surprised
The 12 GDPR key areas to get right
What best practice looks like
Access to the GDPR tools, templates and techniques


David Marsh is an In Touch Networks consultant and also a director of OFG Limited, which has invested more than 4,000 hours of research and worked with more than 2,500 organisations (including the ICO regulator) implementing GDPR best practice. This will be your opportunity to ask your questions and discover how you can help your business as well as your clients business in becoming GDPR ready.

Join us for a special update on this Springs tax changes!

Sophie Coleman, Director, Business Tax Services and Elsa Littlewood, Director and Head of Private Client Services from EY, EY is recognised as one of the worlds' largest professional services firms and one of the big four accountancy firms. Sophie and Elsa will be guiding you through these topics:

1. Personal tax update
2. Tax considerations of structuring consultancy engagements (employment vs self-employment and IR35)
3.Tax considerations based on the different ways of investing in a business (the future of Entrepreneurs’ Relief and other considerations)
4.Corporate tax update

Following on from our successful event, Becoming a Consultant: Where to Begin, Niall Foster will be taking you through the next stage of becoming a successful consultant.

At InTouchNetworks.com we are constantly working to provide our members with new insights, different perspectives and more information to help them as they are working to grow and expand their portfolio careers. In our latest free webinar, led by Anne Watson, we will be exploring the challenges people face when creating a powerful CV that will open doors to the opportunities they are seeking.

Feedback from our members tells us that your greatest concern is developing a CV that truly reflects who you are and will work for you in competitive situations when you need to rely on the power of a well written 2-page document.

This webinar will explore some of the key principles that need to be heeded when creating a CV. On average people dedicate about 30 seconds to skim a CV and they will then decide whether or not to move to the next stage of interest. What do you have to do therefore to make sure that your CV stands out and will make the shortlist?

We will discuss:
•How to create a profile that reflects your core attributes and the contribution you will make
•How to avoid common errors in CV’s
•How to change your vocabulary to meet the needs of every opportunity
•How to create a generic CV that will then change for every application
•How to develop an “elevator” pitch that becomes the backbone of your CV
•How to master the art of précis
•How to create a forwarding thinking document that works as a sales tool
•How to support the CV with the right accompanying letter

The right CV will help accelerate your career goals, but the wrong CV will hold you back, leaving you wondering why you are not making the cut.

There will be the opportunity to ask questions and subsequently to join a forum discussion with like minded people.

The live webinar commences at 5pm on Tuesday January 23rd, but if you are unable to attend at this time, you can watch the recorded version any time you like by registering on the link below.

Free webinar- Restore your work-life balance in time for Christmas

At intouchnetworks,com, we work with leading companies and expert advisors to bring you business information and insight. Our latest fee webinar, ‘Restore your work-life balance in time for Christmas’ is brought to you by SmartPA.

The webinar will be presented by Jennifer Khare who is the Corporate and Partnerships Manager with SmartPA who are the market leaders in the administrative and business support sector.


During the 45-minute seminar, Jennifer will cover:


Signs of an unhealthy work-life balance
Tips on diary and email management to maximise your Christmas break.
How to maximise the resources at your disposal.


There will also be a 15 minute session, during which you can raise any questions you may have for Jennifer.


The live webinar will take place on Monday 4th December between 1700-1800 GMT; alternatively, you may watch a recorded version any time after the event by registering on the link below.

At InTouchNetworks.com, we work with leading companies and expert advisors to bring you business information and insight. Our latest fee webinar, ‘Work Smarter, not harder- ensure you are working to your strengths and maximising your value’ is brought to you by SmartPA.

The webinar will be presented by Sarra Beajoui, the co-founder of the market leaders in the administrative and business support sector. With over 20 years project management experience in Blue Chip organisations, Sarra now heads up a vast international talent pool of SmartPAs.

During the 45-minute seminar, Sarra will cover:

-How best to identify the non-value add activities you have grown accustomed to doing and how to stop doing these
-Identify how to integrate your own dedicated business support executive into your business/role
-Discover how to maximise the output from your business support person

There will also be a 15 minute session, during which you can raise any questions you may have for Sarra.

The live webinar will take place on Monday 25th September (1pm); alternatively, you may watch a recorded version any time after the event by registering on the link below.

At NonExecutiveDirectors.com, we work with leading companies and expert advisors to bring you business information and insight. Our latest free webinar, ‘Tax Efficient Investment Planning’, is brought to you by St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

The webinar will be presented by Obi Nnochiri, Head of Private Client Consultancy at St. James’s Place. Obi is a Chartered Tax Adviser and responsible for advising clients on a broad range of financial and tax issues, as well as trust and estate planning matters. Obi regularly speaks at client events and seminars and formerly proved a popular speaker at Investors Chronicle roadshows.
During the 45-minute seminar, Obi will cover:

·         The ‘four pillars’ of tax efficient investing
·         Making the most of your annual allowances
·         Retirement planning and pension protection
·         Trust and estate planning, including inheritance tax mitigation.

There will also be a 15 minute session during which you can raise any questions you may have for Obi.

The live webinar will take place on Monday 24th April from 6-7pm; alternatively, you may watch a recorded version any time after the event by registering on the link below.

Your guide to starting out as a consultant, and what you need to build a portfolio career.

Learn more about the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) & Venture Capital Trust (VCT) as a funding option for British SMEs, and an investment opportunity for investors.

For business owners: Discover what funding options are available to SMEs, the rules surrounding EIS & VCT, business eligibility and the application process.

For investors: How to supplement your pension saving with EIS & VCT. Learn how EIS/VCT is a great way to diversify your portfolio and access capital growth – with general tax reliefs on top.

Maximise your chances of building a fulfilling portfolio of Non-Executive Directorships by avoiding The 7 Deadly Sins of Nascent NEDs using The Fenton Model™.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Nascent NEDs

I work extensively with NEDs and have come up with the following common seven deadly sins:

1.Frightening the CEO and/or other directors
2.Forgetting to sell themselves effectively at interview
3.Asserting, rather than demonstrating, competence
4.Needing to be an NED, rather than wanting to be one
5.No marketing plan to build the portfolio
6.Ignoring their unique experiences as the best differentiator
7.Failing to display high emotional intelligence