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LONDON EVENT FACILITATES NEW PARTNERSHIPS
How can we meet the budget holders or internal clients responsible for our area of business in large organisations? This has been a question raised in the past by ethnic minority businesses attending MSDUK ‘Meet the Buyer’ events. Most of the time, these suppliers ended up meeting procurement people that were not responsible for their business area. And when MSDUK approached the budget holders, they had busy schedules that made it impossible for them to take a day out. So how can we make the two ends meet?
Well, MSDUK’s first ‘Meet the Supplier’ event made this possible. The event, held in London on 26th March, focussed on the facilities management industry and was attended by the top 15 suppliers, those with the required capacity and range of services to meet corporate requirements. It was a role reversal for these suppliers as they had a desk for the entire day and had internal clients/budget holders from MSDUK member companies coming to meet them and discuss contract opportunities.
Covering areas from property cleaning to office design, security to in-house catering, pest control to energy efficient lighting systems, these select suppliers had some very useful meetings with corporate buyers to discuss their products and services.
One of the buyers attending the event said, “I was able to meet with suppliers that offered relevant services, the meetings were more specific and I was able to discuss real opportunities with suppliers as the area represented by suppliers was more targeted.”
Four suppliers that attended the event have subsequently visited some of the clients and discussed upcoming tenders.
The first in a series of sector focussed Meet the Suppler events, the London facilities management session proved highly successful as Louise McHale, Events Co-ordinator of MSDUK explains.
“It was pleasing to see so many companies come together and discuss so openly how to find new ways of working and achieve even greater levels of success.
“At MSDUK we are always working to not only bring together suppliers and corporate partners but to find new ways of ensuring the firms can share examples of best practice and learn from each other. These Meet the Supplier events coupled with events such as the forthcoming Procurement Day at the Emirates Stadium are designed to do just that.”
For information and details of forthcoming events please visit www.msduk.org.uk
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nEW MEMBERS JOIN MSDUK
DELOITTE JOINS MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT UK
Leading international business advisory organisation, Deloitte, has joined Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK) becoming the latest member of what is one of the UK’s most important business organisations.
Famous for the calibre of its people and respected for the exceptional quality of its work, Deloitte shares many of the same values as MSDUK and represents the kind of forward thinking business organisation that can be held up as an example to others believes Mayank Shah, Director MSDUK.
“I’m delighted that Deloitte have come on board and become a member of our organisation and I know that many of our supplier will be ready and capable of meeting its needs when the chances arise.
“With the ongoing challenges in the global market place the addition of Deloitte is an important step for us and I know that their whole team is fully committed and energised by working to advance supplier diversity wherever possible.”
PEEK TRAFFIC GIVES MSDUK THE GREEN LIGHT
One of the UK’s leading suppliers of products, systems and services to the traffic industry, Peek Traffic has become a member of MSDUK.
Based in Basingstoke and employing over 450 staff throughout the UK the company works on a variety of projects for the design, supply and installation and operation of traffic and transportation systems.
With experience of working with national and local Government, contracting companies and consultants on a wide variety of projects for over 25 years, Peek’s addition to the membership roster of MSDUK is further evidence of the importance of the organisation believes, Mayank Shah, Director of MSDUK.
“Peek Traffic are not only at the forefront of their particular sector but are widely respected for their growth and commitment to quality. To have yet another company of such high calibre become an MSDUK member is a real boost for everyone connected and I’m sure they will make a significant contribution over the coming weeks and months.”
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EAST MIDLANDS SUPPLIER DIVERSITY HUB BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY
Ethnic minority businesses and business networks from the East Midlands are reaping the benefits of the HUB managed by MSDUK. Funded by the East Midlands Development Agency, HUB was set up to bring together EMBs from across the East Midlands to:
- Engage with different stakeholders – corporate procurement officials, business support organisations, industry experts and regional entrepreneurs;
- Get informed about business development and contract opportunities offered by MSDUK partners and corporate members, and
- Connect with buyers and fellow entrepreneurs from MSDUK member organisations to explore business opportunities
Launched in February 2009, HUB has so far hosted business networking and meet the buyer events in Nottingham and Leicester, attended by more than 75 EMBs. Seven East Midlands EMBs from the facilities management industry participated in MSDUK’s first Meet the Supplier event in London on 26th March and had very useful meetings with potential clients. In fact, three of the businesses have gone on to have further meetings with MSDUK corporate members to negotiate contracts.
By joining the HUB Ethnic minority business in the East Midlands have a great opportunity to get connected to a range of business opportunities, listen and learn from successful businesses and network with corporate buyers. To know more about HUB activities, please visit: http://hub.msduk.org.uk.
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MEET THE BUYER
One of the key players in the ongoing MSDUK success story is Marriott Hotels, a leading worldwide hospitality company with 2,800 properties in 70 countries. Here Christopher Moore, Assistant Director of Procurement (UK and Ireland) for Marriott Hotels, explains why the company strives to be as proactive as possible when it comes to supplier diversity.
What’s your role and what are your responsibilities at Marriott?
I’m responsible for all the contracts surrounding the hotels food and non-food operations within the UK and Ireland.
How and when did Marriott first get to hear about MSDUK?
It started through our Washington head office’s involvement with MSDUK’s sister organisation in the USA. From that activity we became aware of the work being undertaken here in the UK and wanted to make our contribution.
What are the benefits that MSDUK membership brings to the organisation?
By being a member we get exposure to some excellent suppliers many of whom can help us access niche markets and provide us with unrivalled expertise. For example recently we attended an MSDUK event in Leicester that allowed us to meet specialists in food supply that have the potential to really make a difference to our offering within the Asian wedding sector.
How has MSDUK contributed to your efforts to ensure supplier diversity?
We’ve always been committed to ensuring strong supplier diversity but through the many events and contacts provided, MSDUK has helped us with many positive opportunities. From small to large, every supplier we’ve met with has been highly professional and the calibre of their organisation second to none.
How important is the issue of supplier diversity to Marriott?
It’s very important and a key objective for all of us to achieve. By having diversity within our supply chain we can really drive tangible business benefits.
How would you like to see other companies behaving when it comes to supplier diversity?
I think there is still a need for more companies to include a greater diversity of supplier organisations within their tendering process.
Are things becoming easier or harder for ethnic minority businesses?
I think with the help of MSDUK there are many great opportunities and without doubt it is companies that work to explore every avenue that will prosper and succeed.
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GLOBIS HEAD FOR BESTSELLERS LIST
MSDUK supplier Globis is taking the publishing world by storm with the release of a new title by founder and managing director Clive Lewis. Examining workplace mediation and conflict management in the workplace, the book has been attracting rave reviews
Leading specialists in the field Globis provide workplace mediation, mediation training, equality and diversity management and people skills training and coaching to a wide variety of organisations. In the new title, The Definitive Guide to Workplace Mediation and Managing Conflict at Work, the fact that workplaces are changing is addressed. It shows how strategies for building relationships and preventing conflict at work are gaining importance. The government’s plan to repeal the statutory grievance and disciplinary process in April 2009 has opened the way for organisations to embrace the concept of mediation in the workplace.
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The book provides an insight into:
- How you or your organisation can save time and money by engaging conflict resolution strategies
- How to use people management tools to reduce the impact of the financial crisis and the credit crunch
- How to implement mediation and its associated elements at your place of work.
A recent 5-star review in Accounting Technician said: |
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“Most of us are not keen on the thought of coming into work to confront people; most of us feel that locking horns with colleagues is not merely unnecessary, but a wholesale distraction from the manifold task we face each day. For those of you keen to avoid the rampant painkiller consumption brought on by workplace stand-offs, Lewis’ book will come as a great relief. Its arrival is timely, too. This month, a new Employment Act comes into force, simplifying and clarifying previous UK employment law, particularly dispute resolution.  With material on trust, leadership, and the effects of technology, Lewis deconstructs workplace conflict and offers solutions. A big book of calm. Our rating is *****”
Clive Lewis said "I’m delighted that finance professionals have taken such a keen interest in the book. I have been convinced for sometime that there is a direct correlation between conflict and costs. I am optimistic that this review might bring us one step closer to helping define the importance of the business case for conflict management principles in the workplace”.
For more information please visit www.globis.co.uk
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CORIUM'S MICROFRESH PROVIDES THE SOLUTION
%20sml.jpg) You can’t have escaped the acres of media coverage over the last few months dedicated to the scandal that affected hundreds of customers who claimed that they’d suffered allergic reactions and rashes because of sofas sold by Argos, Land of Leather and Walmsleys.
It’s believed that a product used widely in the industry to prevent upholstery going mouldy while being shipped called dimethyl fumerate caused the reactions but a Leicester company has developed a new product that will avoid any future problems whilst meeting the needs of manufacturers and retailers alike.
Corium Solutions says its new Microfresh product can prevent fungal growth such as aspergillus niger, which causes mould, along with life threatening bacteria such as MRSA, salmoella, E-coli and legionella.
Byron Dixon, Corium md, claims that not properly treating upholstery before it is shipped to the UK leads to the product being rejected. ‘When sofas and other leather items are shipped from China to the UK, they are often ineffectively treated or not at all. This makes the products prone to mould on the journey to the UK and as much as 10% of the items are scrapped on their arrival,’ he says.
Having a factory in Dongguan City, China allows Corium to work closely with upholstery manufacturers.
 ‘We offer a total supply chain of on-site technical help, chemicals to specification, testing facilities and aftercare,’ says Dixon. ‘This guarantees the leather will be to recommended specifications. The colour, feel and handle all contribute to a total leather quality system that enhances to reputation of our clients.’
After several years in the leather finishing industry, Dixon set up Corium in 2001. In addition to the Chinese factory it has a 21,500sqft laboratory and facilities in Leicester.
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GLOBAL FIRMS SET TO GATHER
On the 24th June at the Emirates Stadium in London, over 100 ethnic minority businesses and fourteen of the world’s foremost companies including as GlaxoSmithKline, Dell, PepsiCo and PricewaterhouseCoopers are set to attend and deliver workshops that will promote best practice and highlight current and future opportunities.
The MSDUK procurement day will allow suppliers to attend corporate procurement workshops to learn how to supply large corporate organisations; meet commodity buyers for one-to-one sessions and explore business opportunities.
Explains Mayank Shah,
“This promises to be the biggest event for MSDUK this year and we want to make it as productive and useful as possible for all attendees. The structure of the event will see presentations and workshops in the morning, followed by informal networking and finally, the one to one meet the buyer sessions. The presentations will have a supplier training and learning focus, looking at many different areas.
“It’s sure to be an invaluable day, packed with information for all those attending and I’m sure plenty of business will be completed as a result of connections made.”
For further information please contact Louise McHale at louise@msduk.org.uk or by phone on 0116 254 2500.
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Articles
London Event Facilitates New Partnerships
New Members join MSDUK
East Midlands Supplier Diversity HUB buzzing with activity
Meet the Buyer Interview
Globis head for bestsellers list
Corium's Microfresh provides the solution
Global firms set to gather
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