Marketing and Quality Processes - Business Start Up
Client Organisation:
Specialist Recruitment Company
Position:
Owner Managers
Context:
A start up organisation in the legislated care sector of the recruitment industry. The business had two owner managers, both with extensive experience in the care sector but little or no experience in setting up and running a business.
Consulting Objectives:
The owners were looking for clarity on how to register the business as an approriate legal entity with the CQC - a pre-requisite to marketing the company with the core of their target market. Additionally they wanted to produce marketing documents that could be used to present the business as a credible option, despite being new, with local social services commissions and private clients etc.
Format & Duration:
An initial face to face consultation to establish objectives with a weekly face to face meeting over a 1 month period. Follow up meeting 2 months later.
Outcomes:
Most of the recruitment sector is not as heavily regulated as the care sector. The legislation is in place to guide service users in provision of care that is of a suitable quality for service users. Legislative documentation was used to structure both the statements of purpose for the CQC (the body governing standards of practice and licensing activity in the care sector) and also the marketing literature. In addition it proved useful as a framework for implementing a staff handbook and quality management system.
Comments:
Quality legislation is often perceived as a necessary evil, however, when it is adopted at a cultural level by an organisation it becomes a tool for the business. Benefits are widespread and range from enhanced communication and clarity of purpose through to more efficient use of resources including money, time and manpower.
There are also, naturally, improvements in product fitness for purpose, opportunities with clients that require evidence of quality standards and ultimately profits to the organisation.