Consultancy Group
Role of a Consultant
University of Hull
11 April 2014
Objectives
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Providing personal development opportunities
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Assisting with business support
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Changing perceptions of consultancy
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Raising awareness of the consultancy group
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Supporting IOSH corporate strategy
Activities for 2014
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Conduct review of consultancy guides (complete)
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Webinars:
Professional indemnity insurance (complete)
(http://www.iosh.co.uk/Membership/Our-membership-network/Our-Groups/Consultancy-group/Past-Events.asp
Second webinar planned for Autumn 2014
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Events:
Surviving in Consultancy
(Planning two / three events)
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Webinar:
(Planning for Autumn)
Definitions
A person who provides expert advice professionally.
(Oxford Dictionaries)
Someone who has influence over an individual, group, or
organisation, but who has no direct authority to implement
changes.
(Peter Block)
Definitions
Internal Consultant:
Someone who operates within an organisation but is available to
be consulted on areas of specialism by other departments or
individuals (acting as clients);
External Consultant:
Someone who is employed externally (either by a firm or some
other agency) whose expertise is provided on a temporary basis,
usually for a fee. As such this type of consultant generally
engages with multiple and changing clients.
Consultancy
Money
Advantages




Disadvantages 

Lifestyle
Earn what you want
Flexibility of
remuneration



Freedom
Challenge
Achievement
No guaranteed income
No holiday or sick pay
No pension, car,
benefits
Personal liability


Solitude
Danger of overwork
Unpopular tasks as
well

Key attributes
Essential
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Organisational skills
Social skills
Positive attitude
Professionalism
Desirable
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Consultancy experience
An identified market and product
Network of contacts
Established reputation in your sector
Setting up your own consultancy
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Before your take the plunge
- Who will you work for?
- What will you do?
- Can you deal with difficult personalities and prejudices?
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What type of consultancy
- Full-time employed (by others)
- Legal entity (sole trader, partnership, limited company)
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Making your decision
- Risk versus return
- Can you afford to lose your salary and benefits
Where are you going to work
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Home office
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Pay as you go office space
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Own office
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Shared office
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Client premises
Insurance
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Employer liability
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Public liability
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Professional indemnity
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Motor insurance (even if private car)
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Contents insurance
Finance
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HMRC (VAT / Inland Revenue – IR35)
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VAT registration (£79,000 for flat rate scheme)
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Getting paid (30 / 60 / 90 days)
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Banking
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Accountant
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Cash flow / budgeting
- Purchase orders / written instructions / terms and conditions
IT / Data Protection
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Suitability
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Access to data
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Maintenance
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Filing
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Storage
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Back-up
Marketing and business development
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Stick to what you know
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Become the expert
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Be helpful
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Refer work to people
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Remember people buy people – relationships are vital
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Clients like reliability, honesty and integrity
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Under-promise and over-deliver
Preparation
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Review your current contractual obligations
- Notice period
- Restrictions
- Get confirmation of agreements in writing
- Consider terms and conditions
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Engage a potential client base before you set up
- But accept that work is not guaranteed
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Consider phased introduction (part time)
- With current employers consent
Preparation
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What rate?
- Remember the following:
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All costs – HMRC, insurance, equipment etc.
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Consider you may not be fully employed
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Equivalent of holiday pay, sickness, pension etc.
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It can be difficult to increase your rate later
IOSH Code of Conduct
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Opinions should be honest, objective and reliable
Maintenance of CPD
Understand limitations
Accept professional responsibility for all work
Action when professional advice is not followed
Improper use of membership / designations
Avoiding conflict of interest
Confidentiality
IOSH Code of Conduct (Consultants)
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Maintain confidentiality
Agree the scope of work
Agree working and charging arrangements
Not work for more than one client
(on same project) simultaneously
Not solicit improperly for work
Expert witness (confine to specialism)
Protect intellectual and property rights
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Right to stop providing services
Good Practice Guide
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Initial briefing and defining the project
Developing your proposal
Project proposal - the details
Getting appointed and agreeing terms
Be clear on what is being charged
Implementation
Changes
Invoicing
Evaluation, follow up and learning
References
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Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
Code of Conduct (March 2013)
Consultancy – good practice guide 2014
Getting help with health and safety March 2014
www.iosh.co.uk/groups
the heart of
health and safety