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Posted By Steve Chafer
I want to build up the self employed consultancy side of my work as my full time role will become somewhat less than that in a few months time. - I currently work offshore as a HSE advisor on a 2-2, 2-3 basis but as above will be moving to a permanent 2 weeks on 3 weeks off rota.
I have a post graduate Diploma since 2001 and CMIOSH standing, and have been trained in a wide variety of HSE matters from industrial risk assessment on the safety side of the spectrum through COSHH to Noise survey, hearing conservation & DSE assessment, arguably on the Health end of the spectrum.
Incident investigation and root cause analysis. is a big part of my current job.
Any hints or tips as to how I could start to build up a business?
I live in East Sussex and have easy access to lots of offices and industrial estates, I'm thinking a full time Safety Advisor wouldn’t be sustainable for many, but a part time advisor might be valuable service for them.
I have no real idea how to "sell" myself and the idea of cold calling is daunting
SC.
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Posted By Ian G Hutchings
Hi Steve
Could you go and work for an established consultancy first, or see what consultancies may take you on as an associate.
Unless you have loads of start up capital (which you may have) it can take a great deal of time to develop a business. I would also recommend that you do some competitor analysis for the area and type of services you want to offer. Think about what makes you different from other consultancies and what market you will aim at.
I found that working in industry, then consultancy for five years, then setting up a business was a good staged way to do this.
The skills of consultancy include sales, account management, customer management, communication and various other things. These skills will need to be developed if you don't already have them along with a very clear business and marketing plan.
Many of the banks produce some good guidelines you can have a look at, most of them accessible on their websites.
Good luck
Ian
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Posted By PL
Your local business link should be able to provide you with information and maybe even free courses in how to start a business.
These may be just what you need.
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Posted By John A Wright
Steve,
I found the Business Link courses (free) very good. They gave me a leaflet about safety consultancy, I'll have to look for it to check the publisher.
As regards 'cold call'. It does work. Despite a major effort by me setting up a website and getting it onto local directories etc my main customer was from a good old-fashioned typed letter of introduction which I sent to about 10 units in a local industrial estate. In this busisness 1 out of 10 ain't bad
(actually I initially wrote to about 30 altogether, and e-mailed another 30 who had websites/e-mail)
John W
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Posted By John A Wright
OK Steve, the information leaflet they gave me, which I found really useful, was from Cobweb.
http://www.cobwebinfo.com/
It was their information sheet Health & Safety Consultant No. 497 but I'm not sure if it's available under that title now
They do a series of Business Opportunity Profiles but I'm finding it hard to find the sheet at
http://www.cobwebinfo.co...php?module=subjects&bw=H
Scroll down and you'll see there is a
Health and Safety Consultant (Business Opportunity Profile)
but I'm lost after that.
John W
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