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 We issue a regular series of news releases throughout the year, below is an edited version of each article - for a full transcript please email recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk for details. For Media Relations, please contact Becky Whitelock on 01275 371200
April 2008 WOW Champagne Launch Over 100 business women attended the inaugural evening of the newly formed WOW (Women of the West)Group in Bristol. WOW is a group which focuses on events predominantly in the South West and offers a pressure-free haven for colleagues and friends. Current members work in a very eclectic range of businesses, from the arts, charities, voluntary sector, Public sector, the accountancy and legal profession, banking and businesses such as retail, property and services, our aim is to readily support each other and always having a contact who can offer support and guidance, that is a fundamental part of the group. The event was held at Smith and Williamson's lovely new offices and we were sponsored by Diana Tasker from HSBC Commercial centre, Lee Groves of Jordan’s and Kerrianne Gauld Smith and Williamson - also we were joined by House of Fraser who brought along Estee Lauder and Aveda, offering make over’s, facials, massages and nail and hand treatments WOW committee is: Alison Briggs Treasurer Sheila Dawkins Membership Jeanne Evans Newsletter Editor Kerrianne Gauld PR Lee Grove Administrator Joanna Hellen Events/VC Vanessa Moon Chair Angela Stagg Strategy Joanne Turner Deputy Treasurer Next news article | Latest Events
Moon Consulting – The Story so far… Since its launch in 2000, Moon Consulting has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of the marketplace. From a start up with just two people offering senior level finance recruitment, we have grown to a team of eight (and still hiring!) that works across four distinct divisions: • Executive Recruitment and Search and Selection • Middle management recruitment • HR Consulting • Finance Consulting We now work with businesses of all shapes and sizes, in all sectors across the UK from our prestigious offices on the outskirts of Bristol. To our original accountancy recruitment specialism we have added banking, general management, sales and marketing and human resources to our list of disciplines. Most recently we have added an MBI offering and an HR consulting division. Founder Vanessa Moon comments, ‘when I started Moon Consulting our aim was to offer a personal service with the highest ethical standards showing genuine care and commitment to all our clients and candidates. Though we have refined our service over the years, I am pleased to say we have remained dedicated to these core values. I hope the next eight years will be as exciting as the last’ Nearly 75% of our work at Moon Consulting comes from professional referrals and repeat business, often in highly sensitive situations. Testimony if it were needed to our unique approach in the marketplace. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Candidate Shortage – A New Era Ten years ago the market was buoyant with candidates. The traditional route of placing an advert and waiting for the applications to flood in is long gone. Throughout the UK there were 668,800 job vacancies for the three months to September 2007. This is the highest figure since comparable records began in 2001 and is up 21,300 over the previous quarter and up 71,100 over the year. (source: http://www.statistics.gov.uk). While these figures mask local and regional variances, different business sectors and salary level, the trend is clear. There are more vacancies than candidates and exceptional experienced candidates are harder to find. At Moon Consulting, we have been managing client expectations in this area for the last 12 months. Fewer candidates are responding to recruitment advertising on job boards and in the printed media. Specialist internet recruitment sites and publications can offer better returns – for a price - but these may not be suitable for all vacancies. Advertising will remain an important part of the recruitment process, but crucially for our clients it is our network of connections at Moon Consulting, as well as an established database and search methodology that provides relevant candidates for those ‘difficult to fill’ positions. Thus, the candidate shortage is set to continue and highly desirable future employees will be to be found, courted and persuaded as to the merits of a position. To give yourself the best possible chance of sourcing such people, don’t rely on the traditional recruitment model. As a business we bring a strong understanding of the overall market place, backed up by an enviable track record of success in hiring – as well as a clear and in-depth understanding of the client’s culture and ethos. We will consult with a client as to the best and most affective methodology to approach in a search. Moon Consulting is a company that prides itself on strong ethics and values and throughout our campaigns we always work with transparency and honesty. We continue to interview and assess all candidates personally, prior to introducing them to the client and consequently successfully recruit in a very different and competitive market place In order to see our approach for yourself and understand these rapidly changing market dynamics - Talk to Moon Consulting! Case studies Non Executive Director Moon Consulting were asked to source a Non-Executive Director for a family owned business in a highly sensitive atmosphere. Due to confidentiality issues, advertising was not desirable, so we focused on informal head-hunting and our contact network to deliver the shortlist. And because we had known the candidates over a number of years, we were able to provide added reassurance as to their track-record and personality traits. Growing Manufacturing Group This business had seen increased growth year on year and was intending to grow it’s operation in the South West. They had decided to recruit a new Operations Director into the Company. They had identified that there was no one internally who could fulfil the role and called Moon Consulting in to advise. We met with the Company Directors and agreed that the local market was very competitive and a confidential search may be the best route, we also recommended that the client offer equity participation for the appointee, that way offering a new proposition to the candidate and a longer term retention option. We made the client aware that this is a competitive market and that the search being so specialised may take some time, all candidate / client meetings would be low key, rather than formal interviews and we would regularly feedback on results and process. We successfully hired in a difficult and competitive market place. For further details on our offering, please contact Vanessa Moon or Shaun Durham on 01275 371200 or email recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk web: www.moonconsulting.co.uk Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Moon Consulting adopt an environmentally friendly approach to their 2007 Christmas cards! This year Moon Consulting has opted to be environmentally aware and sent out Christmas Greetings electronically whilst donating their Christmas card budget to Children’s Hospice South West. Anne Packer, Fundraiser, joined the team of Moon Consulting at their offices in Pill, Bristol, to collect the cheque and whilst visiting gave more information on the incredible work this South West charity does in order to make the most of short and precious lives. For more information on this charity please go to http://www.chsw.org.uk Moon Consulting will actively be supporting Children’s Hospice South West throughout 2008. Details will be posted on our website. See here for image Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
MOON CONSULTING HOLD A WINTER GOURMET EVENING Moon Consulting held a Winter Gourmet Evening at their offices in November to celebrate 8 years of successful trading and 2 years at the Old Fire Station, Pill, Bristol. Approximately 100 invited clients and candidates attended the event with a select group of food and drink companies. We sampled a range of culinary delights, including Organic Cheese Tasting by Award winning Alvis Bros Ltd, Wine Tasting by Bristol Wine Merchants, a selection of fruit liqueurs from liqueur makers Bramley and Gage and Spiced Chilli Infused Tomato Juice and a chocolate fondue by Bart Spices. Vanessa Moon said of the evening: “It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase a number of prestigious local companies and we were delighted so many of our clients could attend this wonderful evening” Moon Consulting look forward to inviting you to their next event due to be held in Spring 2008 Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Business Continuity Planning Crises can strike any enterprise and could be the consequence of many forms of incident from fire or product recall to terrorist action or flu pandemic. History shows that it is businesses and organisations that prepare and plan to meet the sudden impacts of crisis that not only stand better chances of survival but also recover more speedily to ‘business as usual’. However, one of the great conundrums for many of today’s ‘lean, mean’ organisations is “how can we spend precious resources on something we hope we’ll never have to use?”. The correct question should, of course, be “how can we afford not to?”. Businesses carrying high loss of earnings cover or who are part of a sophisticated supply chain increasingly have to provide a documented and tested Business Continuity Plan, to satisfy customers, insurers and other stakeholders. This can at first seem a real imposition but many who go through the process of Business Continuity Planning (BCP) quickly see the potential benefits of ‘resilience’ – or in other words, being as prepared as possible should disaster strike. Help is at hand! The British Standards Institute has produced a Standard for Business Continuity Planning – BS 25999 - intended to provide similar support to that provided by the ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Standard that has guided organisations worldwide to prepare and implement quality management systems. BS 25999 offers a ‘good practice approach’ framework on which organisations can build their own Business Continuity Planning. In addition, there are an increasing number of business specialists who can provide practical support to companies struggling to begin or continue the road to BCP. This was the case at Harrier LLC, one of Europe’s largest digital imagery fulfilment providers; Graham Clark, Finance Director, used Moon Consulting to source and appoint an external Project Manager to guide the company in preparing and implementing new Business Continuity processes. Graham says “Having identified a need to upgrade our Business Continuity preparedness, we decided that using an external resource would allow our people to contribute their essential knowledge but stay focused on their primary roles. It also had benefits in terms of bringing fresh perspective and helped us to ensure that the project had an achievable completion date” The specialist selected by Harrier through Moon Consulting was Danny Fitzgerald, formerly a Finance Director of a PLC with a rounded background of both Financial and Operational leadership across a range of industry sectors. Danny’s unique background and expertise provided a perspective that expanded and enhanced Harrier LLC’s scope of thinking in the context of the project. The approach to BCP adopted at Harrier llc required cross functional teams, supported by Danny, to identify single points of failure, both within and outside the organisation, which were deemed the keys to business survival and recovery. As expected, IT was quickly flagged as a major issue, but some of the other keys were not as obviously apparent. For example, reliance on outside contractors, specialist widgets, individual knowledge, security of suppliers, equipment lead times, key personnel and others all became apparent as possible failure points in the event the company experienced a crisis. The risk of each identified failure point varied according to the nature of the crisis and other factors – this meant any planning had to be comprehensive but flexible and scalable. In addition to addressing the project’s core needs, devising and implementing risk reduction strategies as well as developing the Business Continuity Plans as a group, has had some telling ‘spin-off’ benefits such as improved general communication and understanding of the complete business among the people involved The process has had other unforeseen benefits ranging from identifying training needs to improved capacity forecasting. Addressing the ‘how do we do it?’ type of question, can also lead to asking ‘why do we do it?’ which in turn, can result in improvements in process flows and optimising resource utilisation. At Harrier, Graham Clark is a believer, championing BCP by integrating it into their annual planning and making it a standard element of the business management processes. Like Graham, let’s hope it’s not needed! Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
The Changing Candidate Market Place Background – the changing candidate market place There is strong anecdotal and empirical evidence (from the Office for National Statistics for instance) to suggest that the ‘war for talent’ or skills shortage, is real and becoming more of an issue for our clients across the South West. This has been true for certain candidate-led sectors for a number of years – accountants in professional practice or the construction sector for example – but we are now experiencing this across the board. And it is set to continue for the next decade. At Moon Consulting we have been applying ‘search’ methodologies to traditional recruitment exercise for a number of years, thus enabling us to find candidates for those unique or difficult positions. Good candidates are becoming a scarce resource. How do you locate, attract and capture these people? Vanessa Moon explains: Firstly, what is head hunting and why use it. Head hunting (or search as it is sometimes called) is the process of making a direct and confidential approach to a candidate for a specific role. At Moon Consulting, before embarking on a campaign we sit down with our client at an initial briefing and discuss whether a head hunt or targeted search is appropriate for their assignment. Reasons for head hunting are many and varied: from knowing that the targeted person is the best in the industry and wanting them within your own company rather than on the other side of the fence to bringing in key technical information which will enhance your business offering. It may be that your company is in an awkward location, or that you have had recent staff turnover and you don’t wish the market to be aware that you are recruiting. In all cases, the client wants to increase their company standing and ultimately their profits but want to work in a much more targeted way. Clients should be aware that there is a clearly defined process to go through and requires dedication and patience on both the recruiters’ and clients’ behalf! Moon Consulting’s process Initial briefing Initially we sit down with the client and cover the role – aspects such as confidentiality, salary and timescales are discussed here. Head hunting can take significant time for both the recruiter and the client so we pre-warn clients before embarking on the assignment. We sit down and identify a target list for the client and use our in-house researchers to investigate potential names and these names must be passed by the client BEFORE any approaches are made. We also use our high degree of industry and sector knowledge, based on many years successfully hiring throughout the UK. Process Once we have the target list from our researchers, we agree with the client who they would like us to approach and cover any confidentiality issues. After the approach has been made We always meet the candidate face to face and would never divulge the client’s name until that meeting. Depending on the reaction of the person, and whether we think their interest is actually genuine, we would then ascertain how much to divulge at first interview with us. Issues to factor in: Confidentiality The client needs to decide who knows about this head hunt internally and how much information they are willing to divulge – just enough to attract the candidate! Indiscretion can damage reputations and potential business deals. Ethics first for Moon Consulting! We have a strong off limits policy so there will always be a number of clients that we can not approach. We would make you aware of this in the first meeting. We have been known to decline assignments if there is a conflict of interests. We always adhere to best practice policies in terms of equal opportunities and being members of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation adhere to their strict code of ethical working. Timescales Head hunting can take some time, typically 2-3 months from us securing the first meeting to the client meeting and appointment. Costs The client needs to allow for the research costs, expenses such as travel / hotel as the candidate / consultant has to travel, plus a recruitment fee. However, this investment is extremely cost effective, especially when compared with a print media advertising campaign. CV / Candidate Notes You may not get a CV from the prospective candidate as they are being head hunted but we would get briefing notes and salary details. In many cases it is our notes and behavioural profiling reports that have more value than a self-penned CV. Salary required Head hunted candidates always increase their salaries – it’s a fact! You may not secure them As the candidate is not seeking a new role, be prepared that they may not in fact move. In these situations it’s a case of Talent Banking – keeping in touch with these candidates for future reference. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Recruiting for SMEs Recruiting a Senior Executive for an SME often requires a different approach and specialist expertise. SMEs and Owner Managed businesses tend to have smaller management teams or boards, so the necessity of recruiting at senior level occurs infrequently. It can be a daunting prospect, especially the first time when the existing recruitment process (whether advertising, a personal referral or using a local agency) does not deliver the calibre of candidate. This is where Moon Consulting comes in. Moon Consulting has gained a strong reputation in finding SME’s their ‘first’ senior executive. Usually this is a result of significant business growth or succession planning, and as such these hires are business critical. In small teams it is of fundamental importance to look behind the skills and experience and focus on the culture and values of both the organisation and the candidates, and it is in this area that Moon Consulting adds most value. In addition to our many years of experience in this sector, we use the latest behavioural profiling techniques, with our dedicated HR Consultant if required, to ensure progressive organisational development occurs. Recent case studies include: 1. Moon Consulting were tasked to source an Operations Director for a specialist £1.5m t/o manufacturing business. The owner-managers were still heavily involved in the day to day running of the company, but recognised they needed to move away from the coalface to allow the company to develop. We recommended that the OD would eventually move into a Managing Director role, allowing the owners to develop other business interests. 2. This Entrepreneurial owner had grown his business to nearly £5m and was in the process of putting a professional management team in place. To facilitate this step-change, which was a precursor to achieve rapid growth, Moon Consulting was asked to find a Marketing Director. We used P3, our Behavioural Profiling tool, to assess the whole team (including the owner!) and then used behavioural based questions during the interview process. Moon Consulting has also assisted with finding ‘first’ Finance Directors, HR Managers and Sales Directors as well as Non Exec’s. If you would like further information on Moon Consulting’s specialist SME service, please contact Shaun Durham for an informal, yet confidential discussion. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Advantages of Flexible Benefits packages What is Flex? Flexible Benefits (or ‘Flex’ as it is commonly referred to) is a formal programme within a company, usually now delivered online, through which an employee can chose (or, at least, can have a measure of choice over) the range of benefits that he/she wants, thus it is better tailored to suit individual circumstances. A Flex plan enables employees to have the opportunity to purchase other benefits from a menu of options, using a "benefits allowance" or budget value. Occasionally, an employer may have determined that the plan should also allow the trading of some or all benefits for cash. Why is flex important? Most employers historically have provided their employees with a fixed set of benefits. In many instances, this fixed benefits structure does not always suit every employee. As an example, a spouse may already have ‘married’ or ‘family’ cover provided within an existing healthcare plan, so a fixed PMI benefit would be of little use to the other partner in his/her package, and with no recourse to spending this element of the package on other benefits, the value is then lost. This can mean that an employer is delivering a costly set of benefits that are not valued by the employee, at least to an extent that should ideally apply. What does this mean for employers? There are several potential issues and opportunities resulting for employers: The company expenditure for benefits is very often undervalued by employees. Unless there is some form of total reward communication, employees often have no real idea of the full value of the benefits part of the package. Flex plans usually include Total Reward values being communicated to employees, and as a result this issue is then able to be addressed Flex provides an opportunity for a company to increase staff morale, as employees are likely to be more positively engaged with the fact that choice is being offered, and they can take ‘ownership’ of their benefits package. With a traditional fixed benefits package, the opportunity is missed for the company to use benefits as part of its retention strategy. A traditional fixed benefits package also misses an opportunity for the company to differentiate itself over its competitors in the labour market, thereby improving recruitment effort. A flex plan usually provides reduced administration costs for the company, when compared to the costs of existing fixed arrangements. Depending on the particular benefits involved (HM Revenue & Customs have varying treatments for different benefits), there may well be National Insurance Contribution savings opportunities available within a flex plan for both the employer and employee that would be missed through a fixed benefit plan. There likewise may also be Income Tax savings for employees. In addition, existing HMRC approved ‘Salary Sacrifice’ schemes (e.g. Childcare Vouchers, Bikes to Work, etc.) can very easily be accommodated within a flex plan arrangement. Should the company decide to outsource its benefits administration as part of a flex plan, this also keeps the costs of the actual benefits down, and with the 3 rd party administrator, who will be a benefits specialist, then keeping the employer abreast of new products, and to deliver cost effective and value for money services. The Administrative Burden Most flex plans in place currently now use online web based systems, so the flex plan processes can be accessed from the desktop via employee ID’s or passwords (and even from secure workstations in areas where employees don’t have access to a PC as part of their daily work activities, such as manufacturing areas). Flex administration is therefore able to be made relatively straightforward. The company’s IT department/provider would also clearly need to work with the 3 rd party flex system provider to achieve an effective installation of the flex application software within the company’s IT systems. For more information, or an informal discussion, please contact: Malcolm Bond – Head of Rewards & Benefits – on 0845 450 9110 Visit http://www.pesconsulting.co.uk/ Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Chris Eatwell's advice on the recruitment process Moon HR Consulting is a new development for Moon Consulting, launched in 2006, building on their long-term recruitment business and offering added value to their extensive client base. The new Human Resources and Management consultancy is managed by Chris Eatwell, a highly experienced consultant and manager. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has an MA in Human Resources and Business Management. Chris has been consulting successfully since 1993, and has worked with clients from a wide range of sectors - financial services, not-for-profit, accountants, solicitors, patent agents, IT services, investment management, leisure, manufacturing, housing, retail and engineering. He has significant experience in helping to manage small, medium and large sized businesses, having has been Head of HR or a Director for five businesses in London, Bristol and Cardiff, which has provided an essential part of his business background as a manager and a management consultant. The range of issues tackled for Moon clients includes HR strategy, policy, practice and delivery, organisation design and change issues, employment legislation, grading and salary structures, job evaluation, individual and team compensation and benefit issues, and equal pay/equal value reviews. Chris has designed and delivered coaching for senior managers, management development programmes, performance review design and outplacement counselling. He is also an experienced interviewer and counsellor, and acts as a mentor to directors and senior managers. During his work Chris often comes across issues around in-house recruitment, particularly around concerns from the client on having appropriate skills in interviewing, and the sometimes poor quality of the processes involved in recruiting new people into the business. This is a worry of course, because just as the client is interviewing the candidates, so the candidates are assessing the client. The recruitment process is a major opportunity to present your business to the market, and businesses can let themselves down by failing to manage it as well as they manage other presentational opportunities. So what can Moon HR Consulting do for you? The simple answer is review how your business handles its recruitment processes, identify whether it is ‘fit for purpose’, and how it can be improved to the benefit of both the business and the individuals involved, whether managers or candidates. This can include looking at the skills of those actually recruiting, as well as the costs, information flow and administration, to ensure that you are meeting your legal obligations, not breaking the law, asking the right questions, and gathering and retaining appropriate information. This is the solution to the frustrations and concerns that are often found in recruitment – how to make it a value added, professional, slick and cost-effective process that reflects well on your business and gives the best quality outcome achievable. Chris is particularly good at working with clients to identify the problems, and helping to deliver solutions. He delivers on-time, on-budget and to the highest standards of personal integrity and competence. Previous clients have confirmed that they have received excellent value for the time, effort and money invested. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
The advantages of using 'Portfolio' consultants Moon Consulting has a strong track record of working with businesses recruiting actively and consistently at Board level. As a result of these activities, we have frequently been asked to source MBI, Non Executive Director (NED) and other candidates who enjoy a portfolio career. These candidates can be from any discipline. The most common request from clients is for experienced Finance Directors available to work 2 days a week to provide the financial strategy and management that larger companies take for granted. Other placed candidates have been Managing Directors, HR specialists or NEDs. NEDs bring challenge and focus to the main board and senior management. Their independence allows them to question the status quo and add real value to the bottom line. NEDs offer objectivity, creativity and a wealth of contacts within your specific market place. It is not only larger firms that benefit. For many Owner-managers, an NED or part time consultant acts as a ‘friend’ to the business and a sounding board. Quite often we have worked with these individuals over a number of years and have seen them in-situ in either their former full time employment or as a current NED. For as little as a £1,000 a month, you can access a wealth of experience and contacts across a variety of industry specialisms. Whether it is for strategic advice, finance, marketing & sales, operations, human resources, or any combination of the above, a Moon Consulting NED adds immediate and long term value to your business. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Moon Consulting hosts Non Executive Director lunch We were delighted to host an informal lunch on the 22nd February in our offices, with a presentation and seminar by Alison Briggs. Alison is an Investment Manager from YFM Group, the UK's most active investor in SMEs and a company that has been backing businesses since 1982. We were joined by 20 Non Exec Directors as well as potential investors and those seeking investment for their own business propositions and a lively debate was had by all. The theme of the lunch was for YFM Group to outline its role and offering as a VC in the region. YFM Group is an active venture capital investor in the UK’s small and medium sized enterprise (SME) marketplace and manages the South West Ventures Fund through its Bristol based division, YFM Venture Finance. The South West Ventures Fund is a £25 million Regional Venture Capital Fund which supports fast growing SMEs across the South West region. Initial investments can be up to £250,000 with an ability to invest a further £250,000 after six months or more. Our speaker was Alison Briggs, a qualified ACMA and an Investment Manager at YFM Group for the last five years. Her role covers fund marketing, investment management and portfolio monitoring, and her background is in finance, having worked with KPMG Corporate Finance, British Airways and Cadbury Ltd. Alison also presented on the type of opportunities that arise for independent Non Executive Directors in YFM’s investee companies. Moon Consulting also presented on the NED and MBO /MBI market – sectors within which we are very active as a business. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Recent Corporate / Business Event held at Moon Consulting Moon Consulting hosted an evening at their offices on the 18th October and welcomed over 100 clients to a themed ‘Ideas for Christmas’ evening. Clients were greeted by Christmas decorations, mulled wine and mince pies! The background to the evening was aimed at Business owners who needed inspiration on how to reward their colleagues or sales team at Christmas. We were joined by Continental Airlines showcasing their direct flights from Bristol International Airport to New York (with two free return flights to be won on the evening), as well as Bristol Airport, Bailey Balloons, Cadbury House Hotel and Spa, Castle Coombe Race centre, Chepstow Race Course and Conference centre, Hampers2Pamper exclusive hampers and Great Southern Vineyards who tickled our taste buds with the latest new wines which have hit the market. We are very grateful to all the exhibitors who kindly donated an exclusive free prize on the night and you could hear a pin drop when the prizes were drawn. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
M3 AND MOON LAUNCH ACQUISITION SERVICE FOR TOP EXECUTIVES Bristol-based M3 Corporate Finance has joined forces with executive recruitment company Moon Consulting to launch an exciting service for senior executives looking to buy their own business. The joint initiative is aimed at senior managers and directors with entrepreneurial aspirations who want to escape the treadmill of corporate life and have money to invest in a business. M3 will work closely with Moon Consulting’s clients to identify potential acquisitions, help raise any additional capital to fund a management buy-in, and provide transaction support and advice. M3 director Mark Crossfield said: “The service is designed to help would-be entrepreneurs who have climbed the corporate ladder but now want to take control of their own destiny and acquire a controlling stake in a business. “Research shows that more than half of owner-managed companies have no succession plans in place so there would appear to be plenty of opportunities for senior managers and directors to acquire their own business. The problem is that most executives have precious little time to explore these opportunities and raise the necessary finance – this is where M3 and Moon Consulting can help.” Shaun Durham, a director of Moon Consulting, said: “This is an exciting addition to our range of services that add value to clients and candidates alike. Moon Consulting have forged this relationship with M3 to address a genuine need in the market place and we will continue to adopt innovative practices in the executive recruitment space.” Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Launch of new Consulting Service Moon HR Consulting is an exciting new development for Moon Consulting, building on our long-term recruitment business and offering more added value to existing clients. Our new Human Resources and Management consultancy is managed by Chris Eatwell, a highly experienced consultant and manager. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has a Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Business Management. Chris has been consulting successfully since 1993, and has worked with clients from a wide variety of sectors, providing support for clients, their directors and management teams in dealing with the range of people issues that organisations face each day. He has significant experience in helping to manage small, medium and large sized businesses, having been in senior HR and Director roles for five businesses in London, Bristol and Cardiff, The range of issues he has tackled for clients includes HR strategy, policy, practice and delivery, organisation design and change issues, employment legislation, grading and salary structures, job evaluation, individual and team compensation and benefit issues, negotiating with Trades Unions and employees representatives, and equal pay/equal value reviews. Chris has also designed and delivered coaching for senior managers, management development programmes, performance review design and outplacement counselling, and acted as a mentor to directors and senior managers. Chris delivers on-time, on-budget and to the highest standards of personal integrity and competence. We are extremely pleased to welcome Chris on board and know his expertise will be a huge asset. Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
FDUK Associate Recruitment Campaign FDUK Associate Recruitment campaign Moon Consulting have been retained as the Recruitment Partner for FDUK, www.fduk.co.uk We are looking for Associates to provide Finance Director services to their increasingly large range of client businesses: individuals of the highest calibre, who combine sophisticated financial understanding with a simple liking for the small business environment. People who understand the subtleties of strategy, but are also ready to ‘roll up their sleeves’ and get things done. This is not project work but long-term involvement with growing businesses. FDUK associates benefit from: - Working with an established branded company, with a proven track record. - Qualified business leads and access to our appointment making service - Sales training and ongoing support / guidance on turning leads into clients - Marketing materials and resources to help win new clients - Day to day administrative support - Known colleagues to pass referrals to when working at capacity - Being part of a national team that has overcome virtually every financial management issue. To provide this top quality support environment, there is a one-off joining fee and a small percentage of client fees are retained. So if you …… - Want more control and flexibility over your professional life - Have been a finance director for at least 5 years and have recent experience of the SME sector. - Relish the opportunity to work on a mixed portfolio of clients and build your own business. Contact Moon Consulting by emailing recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk or call 01275 371200 for more information www.moonconsulting.co.uk Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Moon Consulting hosts major Art Exhibition Moon Consulting recently celebrated seven years of successful trading, and one year in their new offices, by hosting an art exhibition at The Old Fire Station, in Pill. The event was an opportunity for six Bristol based artists – including two sculptors and an enameller – to showcase their work to an audience of 60 Moon Consulting clients. All the pieces were available to purchase on the night. Vanessa Moon comments: “It’s a year since we moved into the converted fire station, and we wanted to celebrate by giving local artists the opportunity to show their work to business leaders and decision makers based in the south west.” The past year has seen a significant increase in business for Moon Consulting, both at Executive level, and in middle management appointments (headed up by Jackie Brightman). “About three quarters of our work comes from professional referrals” say Shaun Durham, “which is testimony to our professionalism, quality of service and strong links in the business community of the South West. We are well placed for the next seven years, and beyond”. For more details about Moon Consulting’s range of services, and for a list of artist that exhibited please contact Jackie Brightman Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
‘WORK-LIFE BALANCE ISSUES NOW TOP OF THE AGENDA FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES’ CLAIMS BRISTOL EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM A flexible working culture is now one of the top considerations for senior executives and managers when considering their next step on the career ladder according to Bristol based executive search firm Moon Consulting. Gone are the days when, to be successful, meant working long hours and sacrificing family and social lives. Vanessa Moon, managing director of Moon Consulting says: “Our clients increasingly want to know what a prospective employer’s policy is for promoting work-life balance and if they have any specific initiatives in place to support this. Whether it is flexible working initiatives such being able to work from home, the option of a sabbatical or a package of personal benefits – there are many things that businesses can offer which will help attract and retain the best staff at every level. “Senior executives have long been expected to make huge sacrifices for the sake of their careers as it was believed that you had to ‘stay to get the job done’. However, this thinking is changing and productivity and motivation can be enhanced if executives have more flexibility in their working lives.” Moon Consulting practices its own flexible working policy. Their business is one of 24 hour availability to clients, where contact is often out of normal working hours as well as covering assignments all over the UK. Vanessa’s co-director Shaun Durham handles senior appointments nationally and internationally and has a three year old daughter: “Working for a company that respected my wish to be involved in my family life other than at weekends was a key issue in my decision to invest in Moon Consulting. I feel I can enjoy the best of both worlds – I am always there when it matters for clients and have to put in very long hours to meet the needs of the business but I can offset this with starting later or leaving early to spend time with my daughter.” ‘Work-Life Balance Issues Now Top Of The Agenda (2) Jackie Brightman, senior consultant at Moon Consulting, has also adopted a flexible routine to her working week to be able to spend time with her children after school. The company has invested in a home office set up for Jackie so that she can choose when she works especially if it’s a confidential assignment and necessitates a head hunting exercise: “I am extremely lucky in my role; I am able to see my family and still enjoy a very successful career and this is enabled by my flexible hours approach. I work in the evenings rather than after school time. I believe I am more productive as a result because I have achieved a good balance at both work and home.” Flexible working practices can have a positive effect on productivity as it can cut down on the stress levels often felt by senior executives. The Work Life Balance Centre’s 24-7 Report in February 2006 showed that the most popular work-life balance options are for flexible working. 56.3% would like the option to work from home sometimes and 70.9% would like flexible start and finish times. The first Capgemini Red Eye Report (July 2005) revealed that 55% of senior executives were in favour of mobile or home working (http://www.uk.capgemini.com/news/uk/pr/pr1500/). Ends For further information please contact: Joanna Randall, ThirtyThree PR, 0117 924 3344 Email: Joanna@thirtythreepr.co.uk Next news article | Previous news article | Latest Events
Latest Events for Network South West Here are the latest listings for events for Network South West, contact Vanessa Moon or Jackie Brightman for further details: 12 January – HAPPY NEW YEAR NEW YOU! January is typically the month for being healthy & kind to yourself, so we thought we’d start the New Year with a talk on Seated Acupuncture Massage with Vena Bunker & Maggie Fraser at The Bowl Inn. They will tell us all about this form of massage & other relaxation techniques & will even demonstrate (if you want to be a guinea pig during the evening make sure you don’t have any alcohol beforehand). 9 February – a visit to a local business 9 March – Interior design tools & techniques - Siobhan Holt, a Bath based property developer & interior designer, will give us some tips & inspiration for our homes. Venue TBC. 6 April – Annual Champagne Reception (one week earlier than usual to avoid the Easter holidays!) 8 June – Network National Eurostar trip to Paris, booking details to follow next month Previous news article | Latest Events
Race For Life
SPEAKERS: Moon Consulting take part in Race for life Vanessa, Jackie, Sheralyn and Becky will be taking part in this years Race for Life in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The Race will be taking place at The Downs, Bristol on Sunday 18th May at 11 am. We welcome support from all. If you wish to sponsor us, please click on the below link. http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/moonconsulting Thank you All at Moon
SPEAKERS: You and a friend are cordially invited to join us at Network Women South West’s annual Cocktail Party on 9th August from 7pm to 9pm. This year it is to be held at the Penny Brohn Cancer centre in Ham Green (just south of Leigh Court) – newly opened by Prince Charles. http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ They are 10 minutes from both Bristol city centre and junction 19 of the M5. The address is Penny Brohn Cancer Care, Chapel Pill Lane, Ham Green, Bristol BS20 OHH This is a chance to put on some glad rags, enjoy a lovely evening in their beautiful building, and hear about the charity, it’s aims and recent achievements. Cocktail dresses obligatory! I do hope you can join us for what will be a fun evening! There will be cocktails and canapés. If you can come along, either let me know or email the form below to me or Joanna or just give me a call. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me. With kind regards and best wishes Vanessa Chair - Network South West This special event is designed to give you a personal insight into the group's aims and activities and to encourage you to become a part of it. Probably one of the best-kept secrets amongst successful women from all walks of life - business, professions, public sector, voluntary organisations and the arts - Network has been established for some 24 years and meets for a wide variety of activities, including walks, visits to interesting organisations, arts events and restaurants. Speakers from all walks of life are normally invited to our meetings and we often share learning, development and "best-practice" from our varied work and social backgrounds. The event is free of charge and Network members will be on hand to answer all your questions about the group and will be keen to hear your views. Please reply to Joanna Hellen joanna_hellen@hotmail.com Your name and title…………………………………………………………………………………… Company/organisation……………………………………………………………………………… Contact Details ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …… ………………………………………………………………………….……………… ..………………………………………………………………………………………………. Telephone ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Email address ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Please indicate whether you will be joining us on 9th August …YES/NO………….. I would like to receive more information on Network events or how to join…YES/NO…………. Alternatively please visit our national website at Web www.national-womens-network.co.uk
SPEAKERS: Vanessa Moon Vanessa Moon will host a seminar on Recruitment and Retention - details www.businesswest.co.uk or call Terri Stidson on 01275 370850
SPEAKERS: Free Champagne...Flowing Conversation... It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for Network’s Third Annual Champagne Reception at The Marriott Royal Hotel, College Green, Bristol, on Thursday 6th April 2006 from 7.30 to 9.30pm. This special event is designed to give you a personal insight into the group's aims and activities and to encourage you to become a part of it. Probably one of the best-kept secrets amongst successful women from all walks of life - business, professions, public sector, voluntary organisations and the arts - Network has been established for some 24 years and meets for a wide variety of activities, including walks, visits to interesting organisations, arts events and restaurants. Speakers from all walks of life are normally invited to our meetings and we often share learning, development and "best-practice" from our varied work and social backgrounds. We would be delighted if you could join us on 6th April: we would just ask that you contact us to reserve a place.The event is free of charge and Network members will be on hand to answer all your questions about the group and will be keen to hear your views. Please reply to Jackie Brightman or Vanessa Moon to 01275 371200 or email recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk Please visit our national website at www.national-womens-network.co.uk
SPEAKERS: Julie Davies, Employment Law Partner Veale Wasbrough "Are your staff attractive enough?" Adrian Palmer Head of Corporate Finance from Target Consulting 'Grooming for a Sale' Vanessa Moon Head of Moon Consulting 'How recruitment issues, correctly managed, can have a big impact on company growth and the prospects for sale.' Business Seminar Title: Thinking about the future of your business? Growing it? Selling it? Date: Wednesday 15 June Time: 6 for 6.30pm to 8pm Venue: De Vere Swindon Hotel, Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehall Way, Swindon, SN5 7DW Cost: FREE Refreshments will be served and car parking is available. For further details and to reserve a place, please call Hya Hawley on 01275 371200 or email recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk
SPEAKERS: Network cordially invite you to a Free Champagne reception to showcase the group to new, potential and current members. This special event is designed to give you a personal insight into the group's aims and activities and to encourage you to become a part of it. Probably one of the best-kept secrets amongst successful women from all walks of life - business, professions, public sector, voluntary organisations and the arts - Network has been established for some 24 years and meets for a wide variety of activities, including walks, visits to interesting organisations, arts events and restaurants.www.topwomenuk.com Speakers from all walks of life are normally invited to our meetings and we often share learning, development and "best-practice" from our varied work and social backgrounds. We would be delighted if you could join us on 10 March: we would just ask that you complete the booking form attached. The event is free of charge and Network members will be on hand to answer all your questions about the group and will be keen to hear your views. Please email vanessamoon@moonconsulting.co.uk for further details or call her on 01275 474333
SPEAKERS: Rob Oades Head of Corporate Banking HSBC Starting a business, How HSBC can help! Vanessa Moon Moon Consulting Moon Consulting ...The story so far. This is a Network women event, preceeded by our AGM. For further details or to reserve a place, please call Vanessa Moon on 01275 474333
SPEAKERS: George Ferguson www.topwomenuk.com It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for a drinks reception at The Architecture Centre in Bristol on Thursday 14th October from 7pm until 9pm. There will be a presentation by George Ferguson President of RIBA. Probably one of the best-kept secrets amongst successful women from all walks of life - business, education, public sector, voluntary organisations and the arts -Network has been established for some 23 years and meets for a wide variety of activities, including walks, visits to interesting organisations, arts events and restaurants. Directions and a map for The Architecture Centre can be found at their website: http://www.architecturecentre.co.uk/directions.htm Please contact Vanessa Moon for further details, on 01275 474333
SPEAKERS: Julie Davis, Partner, Veale Wasborough, “Are your staff attractive enough?” Shaun Durham, Director, Moon Consulting. How recruitment issues, correctly managed, can have a big impact on company growth and the prospects for sale. Keith Seeley, Managing Director, Target Consulting 'Grooming for a Sale’ Business Seminar September 16th Thinking about the future of your business? Growing it? Selling it? Either way, you can’t afford to miss this important FREE business seminar. Executive Recruitment and Interim Management Specialist Moon Consulting is the host for another important business seminar which offers free expert advice to Small and Medium sized Enterprises. This seminar should definitely not be missed by anyone who may be considering the future growth potential of their business. Hosted by Vanessa Moon, Head of Moon Consulting, three leading professionals with expertise in employment law, recruitment and management will get together under one roof to highlight the essentials steps that any SME should take to achieve its objectives. Venue: The Empire & Commonwealth Museum Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH. Date: Thursday 16th September Time: 6 for 6.30pm - 8pm Refreshments will be served and those attending the seminar will have the opportunity to enjoy a free tour of the museum after the seminar. Car Parking is available. Numbers are strictly limited so you are advised to confirm your attendance as soon as possible. R.S.V.P. recruit@moonconsulting.co.uk or Tel: 01275 474333
SPEAKERS: Judith Langfield Network Connecting women Free Champagne Flowing Conversation Flavoursome Canapés It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for Network’s Champagne Reception at The Marriott Royal Hotel, College Green, Bristol, on Thursday 11 March from 7.30 to 9.30pm. Probably one of the best-kept secrets amongst successful women from all walks of life - business, education, public sector, voluntary organisations and the arts -Network has been established for some 23 years and meets for a wide variety of activities, including walks, visits to interesting organisations, arts events and restaurants. This special event is designed to give you a personal insight into the group's aims and activities and to encourage you to become a part of it. Speakers from all walks of life are normally invited to our meetings and we often share learning, development and "best-practice" from our varied work and social backgrounds. We would be delighted if you could join us on 11 March: we would just ask that you contact Sheila Dawkins or Vanessa Moon. The event is free of charge and Network members will be on hand to answer all your questions about the group and will be keen to hear your views. Please reply to Sheila Dawkins by March 5th. Sheila_dawkins@yahoo.co.uk Tel 0117 975 4319
SPEAKERS: Shaun Durham The Recruitment of Excellence Andrew Savage Retaining Good Staff - A key to Business Growth This will be an excellent opportunity to meet and mingle with a wide range of senior executives in Finance, Accountancy, Human Resources, Marketing and IT in an informal and friendly setting. You will also have the chance to find out more about Moon Consulting’s range of services offered to businesses and individuals in Devon and South West. Under the theme of ‘Excellence’ two speakers will host the evening. Shaun Durham, Director of Moon Consulting Exeter will give a succinct insight about how to ensure companies identify the ‘excellence’ factor when recruiting prospective staff. And leading Human Resource Consultant Andrew Savage, from Resource 4 will explain how, after recruitment, applying ‘excellence’ to the issue of staff retention is one of the most important, but often neglected areas in business.
SPEAKERS: James Forster, of Brewin Dolphin Securities Review of world equity markets. Why markets have been weak in recent years. How this may change in the next two years. Andrew Savage, of Resource 4 HR Strategies for change management scenarios. Andrew Moon of KMR Asset Management Portfolio Management when the goalposts start moving. Glen Ashby, of Brewin Dolphin Securities Investments - where to now? This is an important business seminar aimed at companies and individuals facing change and offers an opportunity to hear from a panel of high profile speakers in this region.
SPEAKERS: Gulab Sharma President CIMA Swindon Branch Gulab Sharma will be outlining the results of a major survey on the role of the CFO in 2010 recently undertaken by CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) in the Swindon and Gloucester / Hereford regions Meredydd Jones, of London Stock Exchange SEE LINKS Meredydd Jones will present on how the London Stock Exchange can assist your business between now and 2010 Mark Harman, of Target Consulting Group Mark Harman will outline business and tax implications looking towards 2010 Andrew Savage, of Resource 4 HR Consultancy Andrew Savage will discuss the changing nature of work and the workplace from now to 2010 Hosted by Vanessa Moon of Moon Consulting, Executive Recruitment and Sandra Webber of Kudos Events
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