I am booked onto the Supply London Health and Safety Seminar today. I attend because I think all these will help me tackle the public sector. The seminar itself is basic centred on writing a one sided HSE policy document. But the notes and suggested additional sources of information are good.

Based on diary entires from April 2008.

I have my first meeting with my Supply London Advisor, Arthur, today.  He spends a while telling me what Supply London does and the politics and difficulties or working for a government agency.  He used to be a corporate buyer himself.

Arthur expresses some doubt as to whether Data Eliminate can be helped by Supply London as Arthur has to link the work he does to the number of jobs created to satisfy government statistics etc.  I get the message the whole thing might be too target driven and not centred on the helping businesses in the most practical way. Arthur has a  form analysing his work which he asks me to sign.

The good news is that he says he has ISO 9001 experience and that he can advise with the preparation of documentation and also on the first internal audit.  This could be really helpful.  He seems unsure about exactly how much he can help. I think the chemistry is ok.  I aim to use him when I really need to and save up some sensible questions to maintain the goodwill.

Based on entries from my diary in March 2008.

With regards to the overall development of the business things are now starting to take shape.  The company has a  website, promotional material and a brand identity. I am settled on an on site data destruction business model  and that there will be no US joint venture.  Finally, I have preferred ERP package.

I am always conscious of the need to get the phasing of a start- up right.  In other words if something is going to take a while to come to fruition then make sure you start it early.  One such example is becoming a supplier in the public sector.  One part of achieving  this is having the accreditations and the ISOs – another is learning your way around the public sector – how to “play the game”.   I need to consolidate my knowledge bout the public sector  now so I can build it into the business development plan.

I’ve still got Steven Regelado’s card from the Lambeth Meet the Buyer Event at the YMCA. So I email him and ask him the name of the lady who presented alongside him which I have forgotten.  After a short delay he replies that its Carol Hustler of Supply London.

I speak to Carol.  She tells me I need to register with Supply London. I can attend some free training courses aimed at helping become a public sector supplier.  One on Health and Safety, one on environmental considerations, one on writing a quality policy and another all day one on supplying the public sector in general. I might also get free help from a consultant.

After my previous dealings with Business Link, I am sceptical about the level and quality of advice one gets from these government agencies. But  am going to take full advantage and attend the courses. 

Based on entries in my diary from Marh 2008.

Junk mail inspired activity again.   Over the past months I have attended a number of information security events and have had my business details recorded thereat.

This morning, a circular email arrives from the company who I judge to be my biggest potential competitor offering tours of their impressive new headquarters and data destruction processing facility.

I am on the phone like a shot.  It takes about 3 calls without response but I am then booked in for the following week.  A one to one with the sales director, Geoff.

On the day, I have some trouble finding the facility – there’s no sign outside.  I am given two hours of one to one treatment including a personal tour of their destruction facility and a slide presentation with lots of interesting information about their business.

I am sure I am asking too many questions but pIuck up the courage ask for copies of the slides to be emailed.  I am told this will happen.  There is a serious opportunity for partnership here.

Apparently, these guys are one of only two in business of their kind in the country that have ISO 27001.  “Give me a little time and there’ll be three I think to myself.”  Interesting too that they have gone for ISO 27001 and not BS 8470.  I didn’t really register this difference at first as  I had assumed that BS 8470 was the standard.

The Managing Director told me some amazing statistic that I can’t remember exactly.  But it was something like that during 2007, over 2,000 business had set-up in recycling but only 5 of those had set-up in IT Security.  “My strategy is right I thought”.

Based on an account recorded in my diary from January 2008.

One of many bits of (junk) mail I receive as a long suffering company director is an invitation from Lambeth Council to a Meet the Buyer Event aimed at helping local businesses become suppliers to the Council.  I accept the invite.

My expectations are not particularly high when I turn up.  The YMCA at Stockwell doesn’t sound like the classiest of venues and I get there its fallen down (I later discover it is in fact being rebuilt).  There are about 60 people in the audience.  I pick up the vibe that most of these people are from very small business.

There are three or four presentations and they are short and to the point.  The messages are that Lambeth has a specific initiative to help small businesses become public sector suppliers, and that if you are going to become a small business supplier its more likely to be as a second or third tier supplier to a larger private company which has won a large council contract.

Particularly impressive is a lady called Carol Hustler of Supply London.   She presents really well and seems to know her subject.  The colourful Steven Regalado from the Lambeth Council procurement department is also very approachable.

Questions from the floor are basic and largely uninspiring.  I ask what turnover companies require before they will get council contracts.  Stephen explains that most councils won’t give a company an order which is worth more than a quarter of its turnover.

At the end , I get Stephen’s business card but Carol has run out of them.  In nearly didn’t respond to the invite but I am glad I came – good event.

Based on an account recorded in my diary from December 2007.