Auditel re-elected to Council of the UIA

We’re pleased to announce that our Facilities Services Director, Howard Ward, has been re-elected to the Council of the Utilities Intermediaries Association (UIA), as one of two representatives for Small Businesses. Howard was a founder member of the UIA Council back in 2006, when the Association was established in response to growing concern among legitimate third party intermediaries about sharp practices being used by some in the industry (a ‘third party intermediary’, or TPI, being anybody who facilitates energy purchasing contracts between consumers and suppliers, for example a consultant, broker or agent).

Since then 23 TPIs have been awarded Full Membership by demonstrating compliance with the Association’s code of practice and are entitled to carry the UIA approval logo, while all the major energy suppliers, Energywatch and the industry regulator, Ofgem, have pledged their support.

Energy prices top list of FD concerns

According to the results of a survey carried out the Carbon Trust to launch its new Best Advice campaign, the UK’s finance professionals are more worried about energy prices and possible tax rises than a change in government or environmental compliance.

With Ofgem estimating that energy prices may spike by 60% over the next seven year, it’s not hard to see why this is such a concern, nor why Auditel consultants are in such high demand to help FD’s and UK organisations manage both their energy purchasing and usage policies.

Auditel consultant takes a bite out of the Big Apple

Congratulations to Auditel Consultant Jack Pokoj who has completed this month’s New York City Marathon and raised over £1,500 for Breast Cancer Care.

The New York Marathon is one of the world’s great road races, drawing more than 100,000 applicants every year. It attracts many world-class professional athletes for the chance to excel in this media capital before two million cheering spectators and worldwide television viewers. As any one of the 700,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime!

Jack, who is a regular runner and has competed in both the London and Paris Marathons, records the statistics for posterity: “Five boroughs, 26.2 miles, 100 bands, 42,000 runners, 2,000,000 spectators and £1,500 raised for Breast Cancer Care!”

Auditel consultants celebrate a bumper year

Last Friday saw over 100 Auditel Consultants gather at Whittlebury Hall, near Towcester, for our annual National Conference. The theme for this year’s event was ‘Excellence through Leadership‘ and, as usual, it was a packed day with presentations, workshops and quizes all designed to help consultants with their planning for 2010. Our excellent keynote speech was delivered by John Neal, who entertained and educated delegates in equal measure with a thought-provoking presentation about the characteristics of successful leaders, based on his own detailed conversations with some of the UK’s leading sports and business personalities. Read more…

Auditel helps young entrepreneurs hone their skills

Students across North Lincolnshire will obtain the experience of running a business as part of a Young Enterprise scheme. The programme allows youngsters to set up their own real companies for a year and market a product, under the watchful eye of industry experts.

Auditel Cost Management Specialist Carl Windsor has been selected as one of the advisers. He said: Read more…

Auditel consultant voted Vice President of Swindon Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to Auditel consultant Nick Beaumont-Jones who has been elected Vice-President of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce.

Having spent many years in senior retail management throughout the UK and overseas, Nick joined cost and purchase management specialists Auditel in January this year. As an Auditel Consultant, Nick works as a specialist outsourced management resource for small and medium-size businesses across the UK, helping them to manage their critical business costs. As an active member of the Swindon business community, he has also been heavily involved in the regeneration plans for the town centre for a number of years.

Nick comments, Read more…

Consultant on the run, but all in a good cause

Congratulations to Auditel consultant Daryn Dodge who has completed the 2009 BUPA Great North Run to raise funds for the charity Diabetes UK. Given that, in his own words, the last time he ran for anything was during football training over 20 years ago, and has been nursing a calf injury, this is quite an achievement.

As Daryn said before the race, “I’m not quite sure how I got here but here I am about to embark on a half-marathon! Actually I do know, as I specifically choose to run for Diabetes UK for a couple of reasons. My late mum had diabetes, and as I do too, I thought the training would help me.”

Daryn didn’t set himself a target time, as raising money and getting to the finish without the assistance of the St. John’s Ambulance were his main objectives. Once he’d got his breath back after the race Daryn said, “It was an amazing experience. As I had some really generous donations – £1,000 so far – I thought it was important to make a serious attempt and not just walk round. Considering that my restricted training had not let me go beyond five miles I was surprised that I felt quite comfortable up to ten miles. Then it was a different story as my shortened training was seriously exposed. I didn’t know you could experience such pain but once I was into the last three miles I was determined to make it to the line. I certainly managed that. I ran every step of the way without stopping or walking even once and finished in 3 hours 33 minutes and 19 seconds! This morning, I can’t believe that I ran for over 3 1/2 hours, but my legs are definitely reminding me that I did!”

Read more…

Celebrating 15 years at the top

“It’s hard to believe that on August 10th Auditel celebrated 15 years as one of the UK’s leading franchised cost and purchase management consultancies. Back in 1994 both franchising and the markets in which we operate were very different to today and it’s testimony to the strength of the Auditel business opportunity and the people in our team that we have continued to thrive and grow throughout the booms and busts of the intervening years. As Managing Director of Auditel, I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute here to all the hard work, dedication and loyalty shown by my colleagues in the Winchester Support Team and by our Franchisees – past, present and future – and raise a (virtual) glass to the next 15 years!”

Chris Allison, founder and MD of Auditel (UK) Ltd.

To read a potted history of Auditel’s development over the past 15 years, meet some of our Franchisees or find out more about our exciting and profitable franchise opportunity visit our website or contact us on 0800 583 3355.

Auditel gives cost management advice over a Working Lunch

It’s been a busy week for Auditel consultants making TV appearances, what with Ed and his record-breaking skydiving grandfather on Saturday (see our last post) and now David Egerton popping up on BBC2′s Working Lunch to talk about the various ways companies and individuals can reduce and manage their expenditure. For businesses, paying more than they need to for any of their overheads is wasteful at any stage of the economic cycle but now, when jobs and even survival might be on the line, it could be considered as much worse. The problem is, many organisations simply don’t have the in-house resources or expertise to constantly audit their expenditure and keep costs under control so, as David points out, out-sourcing to a specialist organisation like Auditel can save precious time as well as money.

Auditel – helping UK business to weather the recession

With the UK economy in seemingly terminal decline and the media fixated on doom and gloom, how nice to read about about a business that’s bucking the trend and positively thriving in 2009. What’s more, it’s a business that’s making a positive contribution to the economy, creating new businesses and providing a valuable service that will help many others weather the current storm. Read more…