CR Search and Selection Latest Blog

HERE'S TO THE FUTURE

Sun, 02 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This is my last blog for CR Search & Selection! From spring 2010, CR Search & Selection will be no more and the new organisation Harris Hill Executive Search will be launched officially.

I am not sorry to say goodbye to 2009. Although we came through the recession successfully, it was a very sad year for me personally with the death of my Mother. Her absence from the family has made us all realise just how important (good) Mothers are in keeping family values alive and helping with grand children and great grand children. Most parents are brilliant, but the minority that are not make a long lasting, devastating impact on their kids. Charities that address behavioural problems and poor parenting before they become issues that HM Prisons have to sort out are to be applauded!

NEW WAYS TO WORK

Thanks to the benefits of IT and home VPN links we were able to operate effectively throughout the Christmas and New Year snow. I am amazed that some employers are still resisting requests from staff to work from home. Unless you are in a front facing role, such as providing care to patients, most roles can be performed remotely and there can be substantial cost savings. By adopting flexible home working practices, we were able to reduce our office space by fifty per cent last year.

MIXED FORTUNES FOR THE CHARITY AND PUBLIC SECTORS

The job market is showing positive signs with more movement in the charity sector at all levels and more demand for interim people. We have been meeting some really impressive Officers coming out of the Armed Services, so I was not surprised to see that the RNLI and Guide Dogs appointed new CEO�s from this sector.

The anticipated impact of public sector cuts next year is extremely worrying. Implications for the charity sector are potentially serious, particularly for organisations that are managing public sector contracts. I hope my fears of reduced fee income and more job losses are not realised.

MOVING FORWARD

The merger with Harris Hill has proved to be a great success and our new website is almost ready. The team is working really well and our new Executive Researcher has already started to make a positive impact on our ability to source candidates from a range of sectors. The contract with Job Centre Plus is growing fast and appears to be a growth market. Good for our business, but not so good for those losing jobs.

To end on a positive note my son and I are off to Kenya on March 1st. After a packed itinerary (visits to an animal rescue centre and Lamu, plus a safari) we are visiting a Street Kids project in Nairobi funded by AMREF (one of our clients) and a school in the Kibera Slum - so it will be a be a real mix of experiences!

HERE'S TO THE FUTURE

I will sign off now and thank you to all our clients and candidates who have supported CR Search & Selection over the years. I look forward to continuing to work with you all in my new capacity as Managing Director of Harris Hill Executive Search, and to continuing to be involved in the charity sector through my various trustee and voluntary activities!

From Strength To Strength

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

MORE GREEN SHOOTS?
We continue to be very busy with even more interesting UK based roles and a steady stream with a global brief. We also continue to be pleased with the high standard of applicants we are getting for our trustee roles. A sign of things to come? I do hope so!

HEALTHPROM
I have just become a Trustee of a small charity called HealthProm who help vulnerable women and children in former Soviet Union countries and Northern Afghanistan. We had a brilliant event last week to celebrate 25 years of operations, and some of the women who run projects gave presentations about their work. Northern Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of maternal and newborn death. It was amazing to hear about the commitment of these women who often work in dangerous situations at great risk to themselves. We are so fortunate in the West with all our equality legislation, and these accounts renewed our determination to increase the levels of basic healthcare to these women in spite of cultural barriers that often prevent it.

CLIMATE CHANGE - WE MUST ACT NOW!
Last week I was really pleased to be invited to a conference about climate change and its impact on our food. The speaker was Lester Brown, a well respected expert on food security and climate change. I was not surprised to hear him speak at some length about factory farming and the diversion of grain from the production of food for us to animal feed. The issues around factory farming are seriously depressing and it's alarming that our high fat, high salt western diet has contributed to the worldwide obesity crisis while thousands still starve.

But perhaps the most disturbing development is the purchasing of huge swathes of land in Africa by countries, includig China, for growing bio fuel. One delegate questioned the impact of this policy in the event of a famine in the host country. We were told that these 'contracts' would be enforced by the army to prevent the use of the land for food production.

This will be a serious issue for INGOs and one can only feel repulsion at the thought of people dying so that bio fuel can be grown. There will, no doubt, be some very radical changes to how INGOs see their role with increasing emphasis on advocacy and robust negotiations with the governments involved in buying and selling the land.

The speaker must have sensed the despair in the audience and left us on a 'high' note telling us that all Europe's electricity could come from solar power from the deserts in North Africa. Better be nice to Colonel Gadaffi then!

(Lester's latest book 'Mobilisation to save Civilisation' is published by the Earth Policy Institute)

A FIRST FOR US
To move to another topic, we pitched for a new assignment this week and found the representative from the HR department extremely unpleasant. For most of the meeting, he tried to undermine us and for the first time in 23 years we called the client later in the day to advise them that we were withdrawing from the pitch because the chemistry was not right. It's so important to have trust and respect when you work with a client and we were not comfortable. A difficult decision, but appropriate. I hope it never happens again!

The merger with Harris Hill is making good progress and we have some brilliant plans for a new corporate identity that reflects the breadth and depth of our services. We are very excited about this!

A Very Busy Time

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

TOO BUSY TO BLOG!
Over the last month we have been unbelievably busy, so all our time and energy has been spent on meeting deadlines. The blog had to take a back seat!

During the month there were various issues that would have merited comment, so I have listed them just for the record

NEWS IN BRIEF
•The BBC indicated that they would invite the BNP to appear on Question Time. WHAT!! In my view, they should be arrested not allowed on our screens.

•The Kenyan drought worsened, but our trip next year will not be in drought stricken areas so we will raise funds on our return from various long suffering relatives and friends to help support the charities there.

•The Shaw Trust are dropping out of government contracts because they are unable to secure full cost recovery. We are working with JobCentre Plus who have very limited budgets, and there could be a temptation to not work with them, or to provide a less than comprehensive service to their clients. However, we believe in providing a first-class service to all those with whom we work, and although we do not make any money from our work with the JobCentre, it is important that we provide unemployed people with professional support when they need it most.

•David Cameron seemed to be doing well until he indicated that the hunting with dogs legislation would be repealed. Any positive thoughts I may have had about him and his party have gone!

•Contrary to many I applaud the award of the Nobel peace prize to President Obama. I believe he has changed the perception of the US globally and long may this continue. It was badly needed and long overdue.

A SMALL CHARITY DOING BIG THINGS
I am now a trustee of Healthprom, a tiny charity funding programmes in northern Afghanistan and former Soviet Union countries to reduce numbers of women dying in childbirth and infant mortality. The incidence is particularly high in Afghanistan. To avoid any political implications I shall say no more! If you'd like to know more about our work, please visit www.healthprom.org

The month ended positively with more work coming in so onwards and upwards!

IT, NHS and ADS

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

IT MATTERS!
After a brilliant, sunny bank holiday with fantastic walks and meals outdoors I returned to the office refreshed and raring to go. Just as well because we were immediately plunged into massive IT problems for the next eight hours. It's probably a good thing occasionally because it brings home how much we now depend on IT for every aspect of our lives. All is well now but to be out of contact was scary!

What did I learn? Hold on to the fax machine!

SUPPORT THE NHS
Wednesday was an early start (0530hrs) to accompany my youngest stepson to University College Hospital for surgery to correct a cranio-facial condition called Crouzon Syndrome. This was in the middle of the attacks on the NHS and (unfairly in my opinion) comparisons with the US healthcare system. The NHS has been amazing for us and it is disturbing that most of the publicity focussed on higher cancer survival rates under the US scheme rather than the fundamental problem that there are still millions of people in the US without access to affordable healthcare - and people live longer in the UK than the US - so there!

What did I learn? Get ALL the facts before you draw conclusions.

LET IT RAIN
As a treat to celebrate the success of my stepson's final surgery after 20 years (he looks fabulous now) we are going to Kenya next year. In his capacity as Chairman of the Kenyan Tourist Board, the safari leader, whom we picked at random from the net, was quoted in a Sunday Times article over the weekend about the serious drought in Kenya. In response to my email he assured us that the rains due in November will help and that we would not be taking up scarce resources. In fact our trip will help to pay much needed wages so we are going head. We've not been on an eco safari before. Fingers crossed for rain in November!

GREAT RATES FOR CLIENTS
As we are continuing to be busy in the office we are advertising regularly and it is really noticeable, and hardly surprising that our clients prefer the lower costs of online advertising. We are getting just as much response from online as offline media and since we joined Harris Hill have been able to negotiate some excellent deals. We frequently wonder how local newspapers survive the reduction in advertising revenue. We have also noticed that some national dailies charge in excess of £1200 for some online media packages. Outrageous! A friend visiting mid-week works for a county newspaper group and during a conversation about falling advertising revenues told us that the most consistent income stream is from hookers advertising their services in the classified pages. They also pay in cash!!

What did I learn? Help often comes from the most unexpected places!

Drink, Drugs and Exercise

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
It was a good start to the week with a brilliant visit to a well respected drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity; we're recruiting trustess for them and this was one of our fact-finding' briefing visits. This was in fact our first visit and we must have looked lost because a very pleasant lady walked past and asked if she could help. We explained that we were looking for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity and she disappeared out of site! Interestingly the charity's offices were only a few yards away.

We were really impressed with the charity and what it has achieved, so I have included here a poem written by a recovering alcoholic. The poem is featured in one of their newsletters and I hope you like as much as we did.

Goodbye to alcohol

I bonded with you instantly.
You made me smile.
I felt relaxed in your company
And content.
You were fun to be around.

I loved how you made me feel.
With you I'd forget
My fears, my anxieties
All those negative emotions.
I got attached.

I felt low and you were there.
Me - I was angry and hurt.
But I had you by my side
Soothing away my pain.

I felt safe and protected by you.
I soon began to depend on you
When I couldn't deal with life.
Then you were around me constantly.

Shame I couldn't see
The damage and the harm you caused.
Too trusting, too naive
You clouded my vision
Messed with my mind.

I thought I'd be OK
As long as you stayed near to me.
I pushed others away
As you gripped and clung to me.

Feeling powerless now
You were controlling me.
I was stealing and lying
Whilst under your influence.

I tried to leave you
Release the hold you had over me.
But you seemed to be around every corner
Begging for another chance.

You kept calling me.
I tried to not respond.
But I knew you.
I was used to you.
Weak, I took you back.
I thought I couldn't live without you.
I could not see
You were killing me.
Watching me dying
Slowly and lonely.

Just as you almost destroyed me
And everything important to me.
I used my little bit of strength
And threw you out.

Stronger now, I'm moving on.
I loved you once.
Now I despise you.
I dumped you for good.
Don't try to call me again.

Heather

FIT FOR PURPOSE!
The week continued with more trustee issues. I chair the Nominations Committee of a large disability charity and we are currently recruiting trustees. The calibre of candidates is stunning!

At the risk of you thinking I have taken up residence in Trafalgar Square, I walked past the 4th plinth again to find an aerobics instructor alone on the plinth taking an aerobics class which comprised members of the public in the square. I can now tell you that there are some extremely fit Japanese tourists in London!

Controversy, compassion and change

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

DEMOCRACY AND COMPASSION FOR ALL
This week started with a Sunday Times exclusive about MOD bungling and delays in getting the right equipment to our forces in Afghanistan. The report described incompetence on a grand scale and our soldiers dying because there are not enough helicopters and vehicles to provide protection against IEDs. I'm no expert in defence issues, but I do see the impact of this apparent poor decision-making and find it embarrassing, shameful and totally unacceptable. It could bring the Government down and, if it does, the fault is within its own ranks.

After so much slaughter it was a real disappointment that the election turnout was so low in Afghanistan, but with murderous threats from the Taliban it was probably bound to happen. I applaud those brave Afghan people who did manage to vote. Democracy comes in many guises and we often take it for granted in the UK (not that it's perfect here!) so I suppose we should be thankful that at least the concept has been introduced in Afghanistan. However, it was really disappointing to read about vote rigging, but interesting to see how some accepted practices in the East are regarded as corruption in the West. Personally, I would defend tolerance and understanding of all religions and cultures to the end, but I cannot and will not accept those that condone rape, murder and treat people with disabilities as inferior, so although it is an almost impossible task I hope our troops succeed in getting the Taliban out and democracy into Afghanistan.

If the situation in Afghanistan wasn't enough to raise the hackles there was the Lockerbie issue! How interesting to see all the political posturing on both sides of the Atlantic because the Scottish Government had shown compassion to Mohmed al-Megrahi. Personally, I applaud Kenny MacAskill for his courage in sticking to agreed principles. However, I am sorry that some of the bereaved relatives are unhappy but surely in a mature society there's room for compassion?

What did I learn? The public will not be fobbed off with excuses for incompetence, the importance of equal rights for everyone regardless of race, sex or religion and how pleased I am to be working with the voluntary sector.

GREEN SHOOTS?
Arriving at the office on Monday I was very pleased to see that we are still really busy and thankful to be focussing my energy on more positive activities. It's great to see more jobs coming in but this is tempered with a steady increase in people coming to us through our JobCentre Plus contract. A sobering balance.

The week continued to be extremely busy with even more recruitment assignments. It is very interesting to see that we are so rarely advertising in print now and making much more use of on-line media. This has been very cost effective, particularly as our merger with Harris Hill has enabled us to access very good advertising rates. However, the cost of on line advertising is getting ridiculously high so we must continue to monitor response to ensure best return on investment.

We have some great plans for the future, so we are optimistic!

GOOD GOVERNANCE OR SELF-INTEREST?
The week ended on a very pleasant note when I met a former colleague for dinner. She is CEO of a well-established charity and her trustees are resisting her suggestions around a governance review that would include fixed terms of office. This is so passe and it is amazing that trustees who are supposed to be doing what is best for the charity are really only thinking of themselves. I do wish the Charity Commission would seek out and take to task Boards who do not follow their recommended best practice in good governance. With a few rare exceptions it's difficult to see how trustees can be really effective after 20 years in post.

What did I learn? Keep plugging away to maintain good governance and eventually we'll succeed.

POACHED EGGS
I have not received a response to my letter from the MD of the French company that, according to a member of their shop staff, are preparing poached eggs in France and flying them to England. So, in order that you can make up your own mind whether to eat at the restaurant involved, I am happy to make the correspondence available to you. I find it vaguely amusing that a company promoting good French country food is teaching its 'Chefs' to poach eggs! Just email me at olga@crsearchandselection.com with POACHED EGGS in the subject line and I'll let you have copies of the letters.

What did I Learn? If at first you don't succeed try another route!

The Importance of Communications

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

COMMUNICATING SUCCESS
I awoke on Monday morning to Stephen Bubb's voice on the Today programme following the publication of research about the public's inaccurate perception of the charity sector. It was great to hear Stephen putting the record straight about how the sector operates effectively and is now a main stream employer providing top quality services. I hadn't realised that the sector receives more fee income from sales of products and services than it does from voluntary income.

This is really impressive and a credit to the intelligent, innovative and committed workforce that the sector employs. However, I couldn't help wondering if donors were listening who on hearing that the sector gets so much money from government fees, might decide that the sector doesn't need their money as well. At a time when donations are falling this could be a double wammy. I do hope not.

What did I learn? That the sector earns more from trading and fees for services than voluntary fundraising and, when publishing results, it's helpful to undertake a risk analysis of how the findings might be perceived.

KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY
On Tuesday I visited a client to talk through how they might recruit a communications expert to take them to the next level with increased awareness of their services and more effective brand management.

The discussion really brought home the importance of continuous horizon scanning, keeping in touch with your stakeholders' needs and keeping abreast of new online and offline technology. The web enables us to communicate instantly and it's brilliant to see so many clever people in charities using social networking sites to reach new audiences in addition to the more mainstream SMS and e-marketing.

The recruitment industry is no different. Twitter and Linkedin are now an important part of a head-hunter's candidate attraction strategy. Keeping up to speed with all the latest developments in communication technology and digital marketing and being creative about how you make them work for you is essential.

What did I learn? If you take your eye off the technology ball, you're dead in the water!

ETHICS AND VALUES
On Wednesday my 'Recruitment' magazine arrived. It was full of depressing news about companies going into administration and mergers of global search giants. So it was very interesting to read a piece by a successful multinational search company specialising in huge public and other sector contracts extolling the virtues of their CSR policy. They support a charity helping long-term unemployed people to secure employment, so it's very relevant to their core business.

Before the recession took its toll on the UK unemployment stats there was convincing research indicating that graduates looking for work placed considerable importance on the ethical policies of their future employers. Given the chronic shortage of employers currently recruiting graduates this is probably not now relevant. However, when the recession eases the values and ethics issues will again feature strongly when planning the next career move.

What did I learn? Employers should start thinking now about what will happen after the recession and keep their profile as an ethical employer of choice prominent in their brand management strategy.

A Green and Pleasant Week

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

IT FRUSTRATIONS

I arrived at the office on Monday full of the joys and ready to start the week. The Job Centre Plus contract is now in full swing and there are increasing numbers of people who need help to get jobs or set up in business. Then, just as we started to make a real impact we were in IT meltdown with everything down. It's frightening to see how quickly a calm, effective team is reduced to total frustration. We were back up in two hours, but nearly missed a deadline. Tense was an understatement!

What did I learn? Always have a back up plan.

GREEN SHOOTS?

Tuesday started more positively with high energy levels around significant new assignments just in and the realisation that we were receiving some brilliant (outstanding actually) applications for trustee roles we are handling. The mix of sound values and powerful commercial acumen is a heady mix and worth careful nurturing.

The afternoon progressed well with the team daring to suggest that we might just be seeing some green shoots out of recession when at about 4.00pm I started to feel slightly unwell. And it all went downhill fast from there until I left at 6.30pm. I really do not know how I managed to get home. I love London with its energy and vigour, but when you're ill you're on your own!

Wednesday disappeared in a haze and I returned to the office on Thursday to clear my desk before going on holiday on Friday.

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS: A BALANCING ACT

I was looking forward to Friday because at 8.00am I was due to meet the Director of UK Social and Community Affairs from BP at their offices in St James Square. I was looking forward to hearing more about their practice of "talking to Greenpeace" to which he had referred during the "Question Time" session at the Institute of Fundraising Conference earlier in July.

I walked up from Charing Cross through Trafalgar Square past the fourth plinth. It was 7.30am and the young woman on the plinth was standing on a mattress dressed in pyjamas holding a teddy bear. Here was a large notice that simply said "Good Morning!" We waved to each other and smiled. What a great start to the day.

I arrived at BP's offices and was taken to their beautiful restaurant in the lower ground floor for a very welcome cup of tea. Over tea I heard lots about BP's safety record and how they support the communities in which they operate around the world. However, in spite of careful probing, nothing was forthcoming about any discussions with Greenpeace a apart from letting them know when they were dismantling an oil rig. Odd, very odd!

What did I learn? It's a tricky balance between being a profitable company and getting your corporate social responsibility right.

Focus On Change

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

THE TEN MINUTE TOURIST

The week started on a very pleasant note. We have a client with offices very close to Hyde Park and my route there included Trafalgar Square where I took the opportunity to visit the fourth plinth. A very athletic looking young woman was on the plinth shining a giant mirror on those near it together with a notice advising us 'it takes one to know one'. Sometimes true, but not always I thought.

Still in tourist mode I walked through Hyde Park to my client's office and was treated to a display of elegance and discipline by the Horse Guards on their beautiful, shiny black horses. It was good to be a tourist if only for 10 minutes and I privately wished that all horses worldwide were treated so well. Thank goodness for charities such as The Brooke and the RSPCA.

FOCUS ON YOUR MISSION AND LOOK AFTER YOUR TEAM

On Tuesday I further indulged my love of animals by spending the day on an interview panel in an animal hospital. As usual I arrived early so I could talk to some of the owners and their pets in the waiting area. The owners were very pleased with the treatment given to their pets.

We had a very successful day with a great outcome. The staff are brilliant and it was inspiring to meet people who care so deeply about their work. The charity has a confidentiality policy with pet owners so that no one is deterred from bringing in a sick animal. However, there are sometimes ethical issues to be addressed if an owner brings in a pet that has been injured as the result of cruelty or neglect. A few months ago a dog was brought in with a meat cleaver embedded in his head. The veterinary team has to decide what is best for every animal they see so on this occasion, the RSPCA was contacted.

What did I learn? Keep focussed on your mission and recognise the importance of staff who really care and go the extra mile.

POACHED EGGS

Progress has been made (see earlier posts for the low down!) The MD of the restaurant chain has responded to my letter and tells me that they are now training their staff to poach eggs. Also from August they will be serving only free-range eggs in their restaurants. I have responded asking exactly when they will be applying this policy UK wide and if it applies to eggs in the cakes and pastries they sell in their patisseries.

What did I learn? Persistence gets results - eventually I hope!

THE MODERN MAJOR GENERALS!

The week ended as it had begun on a military note. My nephew was marching with his regiment as part of the welcome home from Afghanistan parades and it was great to see him and his fellow soldiers looking so fit and positive. The support from the cheering crowds was fantastic and everyone we spoke to was really keen to show their support - 'even if the government does not' many people told me. I would not be surprised if the issues around perceived lack of support for our forces in Afghanistan prove to be crucial to Gordon Brown's future and possibly more dangerous for him than the recession.

We were invited to a function organised by the Officers' Association to meet senior people who are leaving the services and who are considering career options. We met some truly inspiring individuals who had achieved great things against all odds in Iraq and Afghanistan, but what was really surprising was the degree of modesty displayed. Everyone we spoke to was concerned that they had heard that they were not welcome in charities. We admitted that in some quarters this was the case a few years ago, but now that officers leaving the services are financially astute with excellent communication and people management skills this is no longer the case. A particularly modest Brigadier who had worked with communities in Iraq was a shining example of the modern Army. He had worked closely with local community leaders helping them to rebuild their infrastructure, setting up community councils and supporting ordinary people to get their lives back. I realise that there is a view that had we not 'invaded' Iraq this rebuilding would not be necessary, but I couldn't help but be impressed by the tenacity of these highly intelligent officers who just got on with things and got the job done.

What did I learn? Stereotypes do not always apply, so it's important to keep informed at all times.

Joy, Sadness and Shame

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A QUESTION OF INFLUENCE

The week commenced with high activity as the Institute of Fundraising's annual National Convention began with a day of thought-provoking workshops and the Fundraising Awards Dinner in the evening.

It was great to see recognition of a lot of hard work at the Awards. The innovation and determination was, as ever, seriously impressive, but for me the most poignant moment was Mark Astarita's introduction to The Gill Astarita Fundraiser of the Year Award. Gill left a huge legacy of energy and commitment so it was great to see this continued and regognised through this wonderful Award.

On Tuesday morning I joined a session called 'Question Time' that promised to include some interesting debate around CSR with companies in the oil and gas industry. There were CSR managers from BP, E-on, M & S and other FTSE 100 companies. Being a committed 'green' I was somewhat dismayed by the goody-two-shoes image being presented by companies who are, in my opinion, guilty of serious environmental pollution - and I said so through a question from the floor directed to the Director of UK Social and Community Affairs from BP. In spite of a sharp intake of breath from the delegates sitting behind me Ian Adam did his best to convince me that BP are the good guys and they have started working with Greenpeace. I am looking forward to seeing the results of this new liaison. However, I also hope that in true Greenpeace tradition they will continue to publicly rebuke polluters including their partners and in that spirit I am meeting Ian very soon so will report back on progress!

What did I learn? If you can't beat them, join them and use your influencing skills from within.

In the afternoon it was my last AGM as trustee of the Institute. When I joined the Board six years ago we felt lucky if we got six members attending the AGM, certainly not the room full of energetic, committed Institute members who joined us on Tuesday afternoon. I will be continuing to support the Institute through their Professional Development Committee, helping to move the Institute to chartered status in 2015. Lindsay Boswell is one of my favourite people!

What did I learn? Quiet (well sometimes!) determination pays off.

READING IS THE KEY

A mid-week meeting with a charity achieving amazing things with kids who are seriously behind with their reading was really uplifting. I met a newly appointed CEO from outside the sector last week who was 'amazed at how important the sector is', and this is a glowing example of a charity just getting on with the job. Many people don't realise that a high proportion of people in prisons have literacy problems. It's the usual scenario; low achievement at school, no support at home, drop out of school with no skills, become unemployed, get into crime and end up in prison. What a waste! The frustrating thing is that the cost of sorting out illiteracy early in primary schools is vastly less expensive that the cost of incarcerating people in prison. I really hope that this charity expands so that there is one of their units in every primary school.

What did I learn? Prevention is always better than cure and frequently cheaper.

SADNESS AND SHAME

The week ended on a very bleak note with the devastating news of three young soldiers aged 18 being killed in Afghanistan. My great nephew Joe joined up alongside one of them when they were both 17 and they were great friends. Joe and his friends in the same platoon were clearly very upset and, thankfully, they are receiving support from the Army. I could hardly contain myself seeing Bob Ainsworth and the Prime Minister telling us that they funded a 60% increase in equipment. 60% of what? If the base is as low as indicated by senior, respected and experienced Army Officers then 60% is totally inadequate. Bob Ainsworth and his colleagues must be held accountable for these wholly unacceptable deaths from lack of proper equipment. We cannot expect our guys to fight the Taliban and there IED's unless we give them the protection they deserve. For the first time in my life I was ashamed of our Government.

What did I learn? Getting a job done properly relies on good training, inspired leadership, having the best equipment and listening to the experts!!

A Week Of Looking To The Future

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

ENGLISH, INNIT?

The week started with a really interesting lunchtime debate at the RSA called 'English-on the skids innit?' As we are frequently assessing senior people's communication skills I was keen to attend! Jeremy Paxman was one of the speakers and we were all hanging on his every word. We have noticed at CR how our language is still developing into an even richer mix of words and phrases that reflect our multicultural society. I don't believe that English is on the skids and Mr Paxman agrees!

But what I do take issue with is poor grammar. I still cringe when a candidate for a board level post is unable to put together a grammatically correct sentence. I suppose, however, that there are some occasions and boards when it could be relevant, but none that I have personally encountered.

What did I learn? English is a continuously developing language and we need to adapt how we communicate to different audiences on different occasions.

A GREAT START FOR HARRIS HILL SEARCH AND SELECTION

At the office we had a very productive week with lots of people supporting our merger with Harris Hill and exchanges of information with our new colleagues. We had more invitations to pitch for interesting assignments, so hopefully things are picking up. However, the JobCentre is sending people through in increasing numbers, a sad reflection of what is happening generally in the UK economy.

NOT SO PLEASANT POST!

Our office is opposite the Royal Mail Mount Pleasant Sorting Office so I was very disappointed to hear that they will not be privatised. The pavement outside the Sorting Office has been expanded 'to accommodate increased pedestrian traffic'. Oh really? I believe it's to accommodate increasing numbers of RM staff walking out on strike. Tables with umbrellas and waiters serving tea will be next!

What did I learn? To survive a business must have inspired leadership and modern technology, not politicians!

MORE ON POACHED EGGS

My letter to the MD of Paul's, the offending restaurant chain serving battery hen eggs, has not been responded to, so I have enlisted the help of the RSPCA and CIWF. More news soon!

What did I learn? Be persistent and, if necessary, a pain in the bum!

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

My LSE alumni magazine arrived this week and contained some very interesting articles about Chinese investment in Africa. During my trusteeship with SightSavers I visited projects in Cameroon and was very aware of Chinese investment. It will be very interesting to witness the dynamics between the old colonial powers and the new investors from India and China. I hope it is sustainable and results in the best outcomes for Africans.

An Exciting New Era Begins

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

AN EXCITING NEW ERA

This week started on a really positive note with the formal signing of an Agreement to join the Harris Hill Group. I started CR in 1986 so this was a big decision for me, but the more I got to know the team at Harris Hill, the more I realised it is a real win-win for all concerned. I have been very worried by the double glazing sales techniques operated by some recruitment agencies, but Harris Hill are a very professional outfit and go the extra mile (just like us!) so I am feeling really good about this new venture!

SETTING UP IN BUSINESS

The recruitment business, generally, continues to be challenging with more organisations introducing recruitment freezes. However, the recession that has prompted this has also increased the number of people looking for outplacement services, so we are getting a steady stream of people through our JobCentre Plus contract. I really enjoy helping people to look at different options including setting up their own business.

What did I learn?You have to close one door to open another and often it isn't until we push ourselves that we uncover our many hidden strengths and skills.

GROUNDBREAKERS

On a more social note, I was invited to the summer meeting of a women's networking group called 'Groundbreakers'. I quite like being called a groundbreaker so I went along and joined many familiar faces but also lots of new ones. The speaker spoke about quality and women�s rights and she also mentioned disability rights which is something I am very keen to promote. I was astonished to learn that only 20% of adults with mental health issues (i.e. not a learning disability) are in employment.

The well known stats that show that many women are employed in low paid jobs, which include care assistants and cleaners, were debated and the importance of a good education with support at home. However, I am more optimistic for the future because there are now more women than men entering universities and professions such as Teaching, Accountancy and Law that are now dominated by women. I have also been told by a Chief Police Constable that very soon all Chief Police Constables will be women.

But for me the most interesting aspect of the evening was the total uproar when an aside reference was made about the two EU places secured by the BNP. I was heartened by the anger displayed because in my opinion their manifesto is deeply offensive and they should not be allowed to operate. Democracy is essential for a well balanced society and the BNP has no place it ours.

What did I learn? Keep networking and maintain an open mind, but don't compromise your basic beliefs and values.

Well I'll stop banging on and look forward to a great Saturday morning at the farmers' market, and taking my great niece aged two to feed the 'quack quacks' in the park in the afternoon. Sod the BNP!!

Holiday Tales and Business As Usual

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

WATCH YOUR STEP - AND STAY SAFE

After a brilliant holiday in sunny Cornwall last week it was great to see the CR team again and exchange stories. One of mine occurred on the South West coastal path where we were really pleased to observe various groups of children and young people being taught to read maps, sail dinghies, overturn canoes safely and make rafts. On this particular day, while scrambling 50 feet up a very steep cliff face, we met a group of about 15 school children and three teachers coming down. I was horrified to see that two of the children were wearing very flimsy shoes and as I discreetly expressed my concern (my Mother always insisted we wore 'sensible' shoes everywhere!) I noticed that the teacher was wearing even less appropriate footwear. He advised me that his flip flops (!!)were able to grip the rocks really well, so I made no further comment, but thought him seriously irresponsible.

We consoled ourselves with a visit and a cream tea in the wonderful Eden Project.

Shortly after our return home the tragic accident resulting in a young Beaver Scout drowning while on a supervised scouting trip occurred. The Scouts are a very responsible organisation and the safety of children and young people in their care is always their top priority, so flip flops while climbing would not be tolerated. I have no doubt that everyone involved is devastated. It just seems so, so unfair.

What did I learn? Even with the best precautions accidents do happen - and never wear flip flops to climb cliffs.

MORE ON EGGS

The poached eggs saga continues (see earlier postings for background to this sorry tale!). Having uncovered that at my regular breakfast place in Covent Garden they serve eggs that are poached and frozen in Paris and subsequently flown to London, I have changed my venue. I also contacted our friends at Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) who were very helpful in advising me that a whopping 80 per cent of eggs produced in France come from caged birds (battery hens). I spend considerable time and effort purchasing food that is humanely produced so felt somewhat cheated by this 'sneaking in' of battery hen eggs into my breakfast. How dare they! I have since discovered that ALL the eggs they serve at their many restaurants in omelettes etc are from caged hens and have written an appropriate letter to their MD. More soon!

What did I learn? Ask where stuff is produced, even when you are in top notch places.

HELLO TO NEW BUSINESS AND FOND FAREWELL!

The week continued with more work from the JobCentre Plus contract we have, with a steady steam of unemployed professional people needing our help. We are also recruiting more trustees; this is particularly rewarding and it's far better for the sector to recruit to a specification rather than a tap on the shoulder.

The week drew to a close with my last meeting as a trustee of the Institute of Fundraising. I have completed my six years and I have to say it has been a pleasure to work with such professional, committed people. The Institute has made great strides in the last six years and is highly respected, so I have been pleased to have been part of this. For me the most exciting issue has been the Institute's commitment to achieving chartered status in the next few years. This will provide fundraisers with the professional profile they deserve and real clout for the Institute. Determination really does pay off!

A New Month And New Challenges

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

FOOD MILE MADNESS!

The sunshine continues so my daily walk from Charing Cross Station to our office in EC1 is a joy. London is fabulous in early morning and over the years I have devised a route that takes me through Covent Garden, Lincolns Inn and Grays Inn. The Inns are really useful quiet spots to receive or make important telephone calls or, as occurred on Tuesday to join a telephone conference to make a successful pitch for business!

This route also enabled me to identify great places for breakfast meetings. They include a French place in Covent Garden that has a patisserie in front and a coffee shop at the back that serves breakfasts and light lunches. I frequently meet the Chief Executive of a well known charity there and last Tuesday the conversation went as follows;

US May we have poached eggs on smoked salmon with hollandaise sauce please?

Waiter We have no poached eggs

US You have no eggs?

Waiter We have eggs but no poached eggs

US Is your chef not here then?

Waiter Yes he's here

US Can the Chef poach the eggs?

Waiter No because the eggs are poached and frozen in Paris and flown to London

Gobsmacked we ordered fried eggs and thought it inappropriate to discuss food miles with the waiter but a letter is on its way to the MD!

What did I learn? Nothing is what it seems!

THE BIG FREEZE

On Wednesday I attended the HR Committee of a well known charity. The Agenda was varied and included a discussion around the annual pay review. Like most organisations times are challenging and, after much debate, a pay freeze was agreed. Fortunately the charity has an excellent framework of internal communications so everyone paid and unpaid already knows that finances are tricky so the announcement should not come as a surprise. However, great sensitivity will still be needed so a communication strategy is evolving.

The current situation around MP's expenses and big bonuses in the financial sector has put pay and reward firmly at the top of many agendas. Charities are in a prime position here as they are a brilliant example of providing a total reward package eg recognition of non pay aspects of the employment package such as working in a meaningful role that makes a real contribution to society.

In addition to a pay freeze this charity has a recruitment freeze and a while ago closed their final salary pension scheme to new staff, so it was interesting that this morning Barclays announced the closure of its final salary pension scheme to new employees. This has been happening in most other organisations for the last five years!

HERE TODAY....

The week ended on a political note with comings and goings in Downing Street against a background of local and EU elections. Can't wait for next week when it's all over....but for who?

ON THE UP

We won two major pieces of business, we are being asked to recruit more trustees and gradually activity seems to be picking up. All fingers are firmly crossed!

A Week of Learning and Sharing

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

SIMPLE PLEASURES

The week started with a lovely sunny bank holiday Monday morning on the allotment. I took the plot six years ago as part of a campaign to stop the Council purchasing the land because of low take up. The six other plots were held by retired men who grew potatoes, runner beans and cabbages. I was viewed with great suspicion when I constructed a pond on my plot to grow frogs and planted lavender for the bees. They called me 'The lady of the lake!'.

How times have changed! In the last two years plots have been taken by families with young children who grow an amazing range of fruit and vegetables and there is a 12 month waiting list.

One of the new plot holders has purchased six chickens through the Battery Hen Trust. Their accommodation looks very comfortable with an impressive dust bath and top of the range sleeping quarters. They arrived almost bald and now have thick glossy feathers! They love slugs so on wet nights I collect as many as possible from our lawn and deposit them in the chicken run the next morning. Vengeance is sweet!

What did I learn? The greatest pleasure comes from the simplest tasks and everyone has a valued contribution, even slugs!

TRUSTEE RECRUITMENT

Tuesday was busy and we met some brilliant trustees from a charity recruiting three more for their board following a governance review. It's always incredibly rewarding knowing that the trustees you help to recruit will move the charity forward and increase their impact. Long gone are the days when trustees were invited to join a board because they were known to the Chair. We are now recruiting trustees to an agreed specification using a selection process that mirrors that for paid executives, but without psychometric tests. I believe this is the most important part of ensuring charities are perceived as professional organisations.

The next steps will be to measure trustee board performance. There are mixed views on this ranging from total support to concerns about placing too much pressure on volunteers. More soon!

RSA LECTURE

On Thursday evening I attended one the RSA's excellent lectures. This one was to debate an article published in 'The Lancet' on May 9th entitled, 'What has The Gates Foundation done for global health: a great deal, but..'

The audience comprised academics, physicians, INGO executives and people like me who find the subject fascinating. The lecture was given by Professor Dave McCoy from University College London who is a trustee of the RSA and Managing Editor of the Global Health Watch. Professor McCoy has undertaken in depth research about how The Gates Foundation distributes its funds. It seems that huge amounts are given to research new vaccines, malaria, and aids prevention. However, the underlying cause of most ill health globally is poor sanitation and no access to clean water. Professor McCoy fully consulted The Gates Foundation during his research and, to their credit, they promised to review their policies.

Because of the clean water issue I called Water Aid on Friday morning. Interestingly, after three years of dialogue with The Gates Foundation, they received a grant from them three weeks ago - brilliant!

The other interesting issue that came out of Professor McCoy's research is the increasing impact of climate change on the health of poor countries. Grossly unfair when they are the lowest polluters, so I'm with President Obama on this one!

Professor McCoy shared the platform with Matthew Bristol who has written an amazing book about Philanthrocapitalism and how the rich can save the world. A very interesting read and compulsory to anyone involved with major gift fundraising. I must remember to mention it to the Institute of Fundraising when I attend their next Trustees meeting.

Philathrocapitalsm by Matthew Bishop and Michael Green is published by Blackwells ISBN 1408111527. Priced: £ 16.99.

What did I learn? Accountability is everything. You can't just throw money at stuff. There has to be a focussed plan and effective measurement of impact.

The week ended on a high note with some very interesting assignments coming our way so perhaps things are on the mend. I do hope so!

A Week of Contrasts

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT

DIGGING IT!
This week has been full of contrasts. It started on a positive note with a 'Dig Day at our local primary school in Tunbridge Wells. Three years ago, inspired by Jamie Oliver, I started a "grow your own school dinners" project there. Most of the kids are on free school meals and it was worrying to see the late afternoon queues outside the local chippy, knowing that they has been offered the same menu for lunch including the dreaded turkey twizzlers!

We set up the project with teachers and the kids to much local media interest and everyone was brilliant with loads of enthusiasm. Unfortunately the same could not be said for most of their parents. We tried everything, from inviting them to join the kids for free school meals to themed lunch days.

Then last year the School set up its first PTA and through them invited all parents and their kids to a 'Dig Day' this week. Fifty kids and their parents turned up and, fuelled by gallons of orange juice and five tins of chocolate biscuits, three plots were cleared and raised beds installed for a kitchen garden to grow salads and strawberries. I hope they save some for me!

What did I learn? Stuff gets done if you give people the authority and tools to do it themselves. Knowing what the charity Concern achieves through its micro finance schemes that give people the tools to transform their own lives, I should have engaged my brain in more lateral thinking from the start of the project!

GETTING BACK TO WORK
Much of the week associated with my day job has been around the contract CRSS has secured with JobCentre Plus to work alongside newly unemployed executives. Many of those we meet have been working for over 20 years and for the first time are coping with not having a job, a loss of self esteem and horrendous financial implications. It's really rewarding to help them get back into a meaningful routine and get their lives back, but it's also deeply distressing to see first hand the impact of this dreadful recession.

PERFORMANCE
The week progressed with one of my more pleasurable activities. I volunteer for a large disability charity and Chair the committee that recruits and monitors trustees and committees. I look forward to these meetings because governance is so interesting and the people on the committee are an inspiration. A group of highly competent people with no egos - more please!

As it was a lovely sunny day, I decide to walk to the charity through the local park. Bad idea! As I arrived the first sound that greeted me was a dog screaming. I rushed to where the sound was coming from to witness a guy beating a small staffie. Let's just say that we had a focussed discussion and, as the dog was obviously hurt, I suggested he should visit the Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria where his dog could get free treatment. His response was to spit in my face. I am sure this was not intended as a gesture against the lovely Blue Cross, but to get me out of his way. I left feeling that I had let the dog down, but was very pleased to reach the sanctuary of the charity where I could wash my face - yuk!

It was such a relief to be with such brilliant people after this deeply unpleasant episode. We had a very constructive meeting and talked about how we could sensitively measure the performance of the trustee board without compromising those involved. This was a departure from our usual Agenda because to date we have been mainly concerned with recruiting trustees. Having recruited them all it will be very interesting to have feedback about how they perceive they are performing and how they see the board performing as a group.

What did I learn? It was time well invested to ensure that everyone was comfortable with the Agenda before the meeting and to give feedback to everyone afterwards, particularly when an individual had been helpful in successfully guiding a debate around a challenging issue.

TRANSPARENCY AND VALUES BACK ON THE AGENDA
Thanks to Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, the week ended on a really positive note. Caroline was on Radio 4 discussing the merits of supporting smaller political parties (not the BNP!) in the light of the current fiasco with MPs' expenses. How refreshing to listen to her. We have all been banging on about the importance of values and making a contribution to society for years and now, at last, such comments are met with empathy and the desire to explore the issues further.

At CRSS we're encountering increasing numbers of people seeking more meaningful employment in the voluntary sector, so I hope this dreadful recession is soon over so that we can satisfy demand. However, I fear it won't be anywhere near "normal" until 2010. Business is really tough for everyone, but I am feeling cautiously optimistic because we continue to be invited to pitch. Fingers crossed!!