Making things happen…

Running a business is tough - especially in the most challenging economic climate known for decades.

It can be lonely, too.

Successfully running a business means managing clients, staff and finances. When you need advice, support or practical implementation - it's hard to know where to get independent, objective, practical help from proven and experienced business leaders.

Oakview Consulting provides that support including:

• Project and Change Management;
• Performance Management;
• Productivity Improvements;
• Cost Management;
• Enhanced profitability;
• Business Continuity Management.

Oakview Consulting is an accredited member of the Initiatives in Business Development Group (ibd), comprising over 300 business advisors throughout the UK. We offer a complete range of business support, from sales and marketing, through finance and grants, to business planning, process and cost management - at strategic and operational levels. We work in services, retail, manufacturing and exporting, and with small and medium-sized enterprises.

We give you more time to work on your business, and can spend less time in your business.

In more detail:

• Business Consultancy

A good consultant helps review your business objectively, analysing issues, and recommending only appropriate changes. Experience gained from other organisations brings different perspectives, whilst a consultant's CPD keeps them up to date with techniques and opinions.

OVC can help by providing consultant support when you need:

• an external objective opinion;
• additional resource to supplement existing management;
• access to alternative approaches or perspectives;
• to gain experience from other business sectors.

• Business Continuity

Business Continuity reflects good business management, primarily by ensuring the organisation has the capability to survive most major disruptions. It reduces the likelihood that the enterprise will be among the 80% of businesses which fail within two years of a major disruption.

A good Business Continuity Management System based on BS 25999 provides real insights into organisational structure; critical processes and their dependencies; and risk appetite, assessment and management. Further, it ensures a Plan remains consistently appropriate, through regular testing and continual realignment with business goals and changing strategies and procedures.
Disruptions can include:

• Supply chain failure (Woolworths and Zavvis);
• Customer failure (Rover; LDV);
• Natural disaster (flood; snow; climate change);
• Man-made disaster (fire, Buncefield, terrorism);
• IT failure (any system!);
• Pandemic or other mass absence (swine flu, industrial action).