Consultant’s can provide advice on how to make your business more successful and are usually brought in to help deal with a specific project or task. Consultants can help you to deal with specific difficulties and challenges, undertake specialist tasks, manage defined projects and improve managerial performance.
They will be most effective if you give careful thought beforehand to what you want to achieve, why you want to use people from outside and the timescale and costing for the work. As a result, when deciding on a Consultancy there are many questions you will be asking yourself such as: how much does it cost? Am I comfortable relying on advice from this Consultancy? Do they have suitable qualifications and experience?
Here is a list of questions you may wish to consider prior to appointing a Consultant to assist your business. To help you make the right choice, see how Zantia Business Solutions measures up.
Experience and Qualifications
Does the Consultant have the necessary experience to
assist you and your type of business? With many years of management
experience, specialising in Financial Services and Customer Service, Zantia
Business Solutions, can provide support to you in managing the performance of
your business in many ways.
What qualifications does the Consultant hold?
Lisa Wilkins is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and is
a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.
Which associations or trade bodies are they members
of?
Institute of Management Consultancy
Chartered Insurance Institute
Compliance Institute
Institute of Internal Auditors (UK & Ireland)
Institute of Customer Service
Membership of the above
noted Institutes, provides access to technical information, management journals,
latest research, developments and news.
What management experience does the Consultant have? Lisa has significant years experience of successful operational management, managing large customer service teams, delivering excellent internal and external customer service and as a result Zantia can provide consultancy support in many operational areas for a range of business sectors. Zantia is well known as problem solver and has assisted businesses in many areas from building training regimes, to conducting audits, file reviews, complaints handling, customer service and many more.
How do they keep up to date with regulatory, industry,
product, and general governance changes?
Zantia undertakes regular checks of various websites e.g. FSA, Compliance
Institute, the Chartered Insurance Institute, DTI, HSE, ICO etc. Zantia
subscribes to a wide variety of regulatory and industry material and regularly
attends appropriate seminars and briefings.
What is their Financial Services experience?
Lisa has worked in the Financial Services Industry throughout her working life,
having worked for major Insurers and/or Intermediaries, in both claims and
underwriting environments. Zantia have been helping Insurers and supporting
businesses deal with amongst other things, Insurers FSA requirements
Services provided by the Consultant
What type and level of service do you need? Zantia offers a comprehensive range
of services tailored to meet an individual businesses needs.
Have you asked for, and will you
enter into, a service level agreement (SLA)?
The Terms of Business Agreement (TOBA) sets out exactly what you can expect from
Zantia. We are happy to enter into detailed service level agreements where
appropriate.
Have you ensured that the SLA details the work that will be undertaken? The details of all services will be agreed before any work takes place so that you know exactly what you can expect to receive.
Will you and the Consultant ensure that the SLA is reviewed and remains 'fit for purpose'? We have reviewed the wording of the TOBA and consider it to be fair for the work that Zantia undertakes. However, Zantia recognises that a businesses requirements change over time and so can respond to your needs in a flexible manner and amend the TOBA/SLA as appropriate.
What are the charges? A full list of charges is available on request and is also contained within our TOBA.
How many firms does the Consultant work for? Zantia works with a range of businesses (see Clients section of the Zantia website).
Does the Consultant have sufficient resources or might they be overstretched? Zantia is a small business and as a result schedules projects to ensure Client commitments are always met. Zantia would not take on a project, unless the resourcing implications have been adequately considered. Some of the projects undertaken have been extensive, but Zantia has never failed to deliver the promised standards.
What are the back-up arrangements for holidays etc? Zantia will always allocate time that is convenient for its Clients.
References
Is the Consultant a member of the IMC – the Institute
of Management Consultancy (the professional body for management consultants in
the United Kingdom)? Yes, Lisa is a member and follows the IMC 's Code of
Professional Conduct which is structured on the following principles: meeting
the client's requirements; integrity, independence, objectivity and
responsibility to the profession and to the IMC.
Have you reviewed the Consultant’s professional integrity, reputation, skills and competence? The Zantia website contains details about our approach, our skills and competencies. Zantia’s Clients can attest to this, see Testimonials section of the Zantia website.
Have you asked for a list of Clients and taken references? A list of the clients Zantia has worked with can be found by visiting the Clients section of the Zantia website. Zantia can provide corporate and personal referees as required.
Will the Consultant add value? Zantia works in partnership with our Clients, offering advice tailored to your own business, that allows you to concentrate on dealing with your Clients. Zantia’s Clients can attest to added value, see Testimonials section of the Zantia website.
Does the Consultant have Public Liability/Professional Indemnity Insurance? Yes Zantia has PL/PI cover, up to £100,000.
Is the Consultant registered with the Information Commissioner, for Data Protection Purposes? Yes, registration is in place.
Have you compared them to any other Consultants? We believe that our approach, reputation and experience, coupled with our competitive costs and personalised services make us the best choice.
January 2007