How to Use Business Consultants

If you're planning big changes at work, it could be a wise move to use a consultant. But how do you choose the right one? FCSI's Andrew Etherington has some advice.

Sometimes in business it helps to get a different perspective on a situation. Whether you're looking to revamp your eatery, improve the efficiency of your kitchen or completely overhaul your operations, consultants can help. They offer specialist expertise and a wealth of experience gained from working in the industry. This is quite an asset when it comes to guiding you through the choppy waters of change. University Business asked Andrew Etherington, Promotions Group Chairman at Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI), to talk us through the benefits and some of the potential pitfalls of calling in the catering consultants.

What can consultants do for university caterers?
Consultants bring invaluable expertise and advice and knowledge of the wider catering marketplace (including internationally) into university catering operations, which are often in-house operations.
They can help by underpinning with support services such as food service strategy, kitchen and restaurant design, health and safety, sustainability, hygiene training, catering equipment specification, menu evaluation and planning, including for example, the use of fairtrade or healthy-eating products. They can also enhance overall performance, especially in the developing areas of sustainability of food supplies, eco-friendly energy-saving equipment and whole-life costing of facilities and equipment.

How can you ensure you choose the right consultant for the job?
1. Prepare a comprehensive brief as to what the project entails, including goals and
expectations.
2. Do an online search at www.fcsi.org to find consultants with relevant experience.
3. People buy people not companies; so face-to-face interviews will ensure you can work with the consultant and vice versa.
4. Finally, ensure that references are taken up before the appointment.

Talk us through the process of consultancy what's the first step?
1. Once you have selected your chosen consultant, the key point is for both parties to confirm the brief and make sure everyone fully understands the project. It is just as important to make sure your own team (which may include management and operations) are aware of developments and have been included where relevant in the initial discussion of your requirements.
2. The consultant will then agree communication and timescales with the client.
3. The investigative stages follow next, when the consultant sets out to understand what is required to develop a strategy, design or financial plan. It is not unusual for new aspects to be uncovered at this stage, so some redirection may be required to the original brief to take into account new information or developments.
4. The consultant's report is then prepared as a draft for clarification with the client, to make sure both parties are satisfied. At this stage design consultants would present schematic drawings for discussion and approval before moving onto more detailed technical drawings and equipment specifications. The final report or drawings would then be approved or tweaked prior to a formal presentation, if required, to boards of governors and other interested parties.
5. In most cases the consultant will follow through the project. They can project manage through to completion, advise on staff training and manage the hand-over to make sure staff and management are happy and feel they have achieved the best return for their investment.

What happens when a consultant's proposed strategy is at odds with the client's?
There should be no surprises! Communication is the key, firstly via the brief and then continuing through the investigative stages into the draft report or design. It is in both parties' interests to establish clear guidelines from the start.