The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply presents ‘Supply, Support and Sustain’

The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and ITN Productions are co-creating a unique news-style content series ‘Supply, Support and Sustain,’ exploring the profound challenges and remarkable opportunities and innovations taking place in the changing landscape of the global procurement and supply management profession.

In these challenging pandemic times with demand for certain goods intensifying, the economic and social consequences of poor supply chain management have become ever more serious. So the emphasis on the safeguarding and professional management of supply chains to avoid business disruption and shortages, along with stronger ethical sourcing and addressing the sustainability challenges for our planet has never been greater.

‘Supply, Support and Sustain’ will focus on the importance of the role of procurement and supply management for businesses, society and the global economy to meet the needs of each nation.

Anchored by an ITN Productions newsreader, the programme will showcase how businesses have adapted their supply chains to meet the needs of the current global pandemic; the importance of transparency and data, the latest technological innovations and game-changing initiatives that are mobilising change within the sector; along with the impact ethical sourcing has on the planet and reputation of businesses and the exciting career opportunities this critical business function offers.

Launching at CIPS Conference on 26-27 October 2020 the programme will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring CIPS members and professional partners.

Malcolm Harrison, CEO of CIPS said: “Our profession has never been more in demand as we face the challenges the global pandemic has created. Procurement and supply needs to be front and centre so organisations can successfully adapt and manage their supply chains to increase their resilience in these unprecedented times. We are really excited to be making this programme with ITN Productions and look forward to showcasing the real difference this profession is making to people, to the planet and to global business.”

Elizabeth Fisher-Robins, head of ITN Productions Industry News said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply once again to produce a programme highlighting the importance of the procurement and supply profession. A global pandemic brings unprecedented challenges for the sector and the programme highlights the incredible work being done across global supply chains to meet the nation’s needs.’
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For more information, or to participate in the programme, please contact James Linden, head programming director, Industry News at ITN Productions, on 0207 430 4228 or james.linden@itnproductions.com.

Expert advice for freelancers during coronavirus

IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) is hosting Virtual NFD on June 18 2020, with special guests small business commissioner Philip King, Financial Times journalist Emma Agyemang, Contractor Calculator’s Dave Chaplin and many more.

The headline sponsor for the day is Markel Direct, a specialist insurer of freelancers and contractors, while mortgage and protection brokers CMME are also premium sponsors. Virtual NFD will bring together freelancers from across the UK for webinars, talks and expert advice on four key themes: Wellbeing, Winning Work, Finance and Taking Charge. They will cover everything from winning work through your network and managing late payments, to making the most of your social media and kickstarting your business after coronavirus.

The day will also include the FT’s Emma Agyemang, the REC’s Tom Hadley, Contractor Calculator’s Dave Chaplin and IPSE’s Andy Chamberlain discussing how the pandemic will affect the future of freelancing: can we expect a boom in freelancing? Is remote working the new norm? Are there drastic changes in store from the taxman?

Tickets are on sale now from the Virtual NFD site at £10 for IPSE members and £30 for non-members.

Suneeta Johal, director of commercial development at IPSE, said: “National Freelancers Day is always one of the biggest events of the year for self-employed people across the UK. This time, we can’t bring freelancers together in person, but in a crisis that’s particularly affecting people who work for themselves, we think its more important than ever to reinforce the community of the self-employed and get them the guidance and support they need.

“We’re delighted to have the support of our wonderful sponsors Markel and CMME to do this, and we’re very excited to have a brilliant line-up of guests who are also committed to the self-employed cause. We’re looking forward to an informative and invaluable day.”

Rob Rees, director of direct and partnerships at Markel Direct, said: “We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of Virtual NFD. As a specialist insurer of freelancers and contractors, we know just how difficult times these are for the self-employed – and just how important it is for them to get expert advice and guidance.

“That’s why we’re proud to be backing Virtual NFD. National Freelancers Day is always a highlight in freelancers’ calendars, but this year it is more important than ever to guide them and give them the advice they need for the next few months. And, as always, there will also be plenty of opportunity to (virtually) connect with freelancers from every industry and part of the UK. We’re looking forward to an event that promises to be hugely exciting and rewarding for all.”

Simon Butler, head of mortgages for CMME, said: “CMME are proud to be sponsoring and presenting at the IPSE, National Freelancer Day. As a leading contractor mortgage specialist we are dedicated to supporting Britain’s freelancers, contractors and self-employed professionals – ambitious, enterprising people like you who’ve backed themselves to make their own way in life.”

Franchise brands lead the way during Covid-19 lockdown

The UK has now been in an enforced lockdown for ten weeks, with very little clarity on how and when normal life will resume. But business owners have been taking matters into their own hands, proactively pivoting and innovating their standard services to maintain the British economy and, in turn, keep the nation going. Keep calm and carry on, a mantra synonymous with the UK public’s ability to thrive in the face of adversity, hasn’t felt this relevant for close to 75 years.

As some employers breathe a sigh of relief following the news of the extension to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, others are ramping up recruitment and welcoming new customers. In times like these, alternative ways of doing business aren’t just the new normal – it’s a fundamental strategy for longevity. But what is it, specifically, that these franchise brands are doing differently?

Since lockdown came into force on the 23rd March, UK households are at home to eat an additional 503 million meals per week, with home delivery trips up 57% on this time last year1. Therefore, it stands to reason that the food service industry has the potential to truly thrive during these isolated times.

Miss Millie’s, a chain of company-owned and franchisee-operated fried chicken restaurants in the South West, anticipated the essential changes needed to pivot their service offerings, long before Covid-19 officially hit UK shores. Anticipating a sudden upturn in demand for quality PPE, antibacterial wash and cleaning supplies, the franchise support team leapt into action, sourcing and producing the necessary resources to maintain staff and customer safety.

“Our first priority is supporting our franchisees to navigate the changes that affect their businesses, so when it became clear that the UK was set for a nationwide lockdown, we put the necessary actions in place,” explained Carl Traill, managing director. “Our restaurants are all pick-up and delivery only, we immediately enforced two-metre distances and only accept card payments. We also created a whole host of marketing collateral, instructing our customers how to move safely through our restaurants, and reminding staff of our additional safety precautions. By opening time on the 24th March, we were ready to serve our loyal customers, safely and efficiently – a commitment we’ve upheld throughout this incredibly busy time. Our footfall has doubled across all five of our locations, meaning we’ve had to recruit additional staff to meet the demand.”

Sarah Wilson, franchisee of Miss Millie’s Staple Hill, says the support from her franchisor has been essential in recent weeks.

“The guidance has been phenomenal. From providing all of the PPE and marketing collateral, to implementing charitable initiatives – we’re donating 20% of takings to the local NHS trust and giving away meals to frontline heroes – nothing has been too much for them. I’m very proud to be part of the Miss Millie’s brand, now more than ever. We’ve upheld our standing as a quality fast-food provider, kept customers safe and created employment during a time of mass unemployment. I’m confident that I’ll come out of the other side of this with a profitable and successful franchise.”

It isn’t just the food service industry that has encountered a positive upturn in traffic since Covid-19 hit. Business coaching franchise, ActionCOACH, has continued offering new and existing clients one-to-one and group coaching sessions, thanks to the marvels of modern virtual communication tools.

“Our brand has continued to thrive throughout the pandemic and that’s down to the proactive measures our franchise partners have put in place,” explained Ian Christelow, co-founder of ActionCOACH UK. “As well as maintaining the high quality of business coaching synonymous with our brand, they’ve supported business owners to navigate a new business landscape and, in many cases, increase profitability. We’ve seen a significant upturn in enquiries from business owners looking for solutions to survive this business-critical time and best prepare for the new normal. And in the true abundant nature of our franchise partners, every one of them has gifted a minimum of five pro bono coaching sessions to their community every week since lockdown started.”

Throughout the ongoing pandemic, brands like Miss Millie’s and ActionCOACH are implementing multifaceted strategies to preserve their market presence and reassure their network of franchisees. For many franchsiees, this level of support is crucial – the difference between a venture that survives and a franchise that thrives. Explore these brands and more during the Online International Franchise Show on 5-6 June 2020. Then you’ll be ready to meet them in person on the 4-5 September, at the International Franchise Show, ExCeL London.

For more information, visit www.thefranchiseshow.co.uk