Government Business

For businesses, keeping a tight control on costs and cash flow can be critical just to survive, let alone to make a profit. For local authorities, unpaid debt – whether it’s council tax, commercial rent or sundry debt – is a growing problem and will ultimately impact the level of services that can be offered to those in their charge. It is with this in mind that the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) has begun the first in what will be a series of regular ICM Regional Roadshows – breakfast seminars and presentations from experts in credit management aimed at sharing best practice with their peers.

Best practice
To use a driving analogy, best practice is about keeping organisations on the road. Local authorities know that in difficult times, credit management is essential; they also know – as those in the private sector have experienced – that their increased responsibility does not necessarily correlate to an increase in resources or staff to do the job more effectively. Indeed often the opposite is true: teams are told to do more with less. That’s where best practice in credit management comes into its own. It’s when each department becomes a profit centre and not a cost centre that the real value of the credit manager is realised. It’s also when the support of professional bodies such as the ICM is required the most.

Credit managers from all parts of the public and private sectors are welcome. Members attending the first Regional Roadshow in Guildford in September were full of praise. Stephen Skipwith described the Roadshow as: “A thoroughly effective use of time. It is good to see the ICM engaging at a local level and I was impressed with the level of support that was shown and the interest that was evident by the questions from the floor. The presentations were specific in their content, and highly relevant.”

Another member, John Morris, agreed: “I admit to being skeptical at the beginning,” he said, “so was very pleased to see that so many colleagues had taken the time and trouble to travel to the event. Although aimed at members, the content would have been relevant to anyone working in credit.”

Jack Garwood said that the event was “a fascinating opportunity of gaining a real insight from the experts”, whereas credit manager Adam Suess thought the event format “was very convenient to fit around the working day. The presentations were helpful, concise and not laboured and it was a good opportunity to network with other members of the credit industry over a hot bacon sandwich!” he said.

Although Adam works in the private sector, for a major building supplier, his comments and impressions are relevant to any credit professional. He found one presentation on training – given by ICM Trainer Jill Weymouth – to be of particular benefit: “The training presentation was especially helpful,” he explained, “as it addressed needs which I am currently considering with my team.

“In my morning briefing, I pointed the team to areas raised by Jill which I feel we need to develop. There is a consensus and I will be looking further to explore various training programmes.”

Second event
The ICM is looking to build on the success of the opening Roadshow with a second event in Durham on 10 December that has as a key sponsor, Manchester-based Premium Collections. Premium Collections is a regular exhibitor at ICM events but this is the first time its managing director Paul Daine has looked at a major sponsorship opportunity.

“I understand why the ICM is trying something different, and felt it was a good opportunity for us to try something different too, and support the Institute in the process,” I believe it is an excellent networking opportunity,” he adds, “an opportunity to listen to other people’s views and a chance to meet Members who might not always have come to events in London.”

The ICM Regional Roadshows are just one of a range of initiatives devised and developed by the Institute to meet the needs of the modern credit professional. As Philip King, the ICM’s chief executive, says: “We work in undeniably challenging times, and the key challenge that almost every organisation faces today is trying to do more for less.

“Increasingly, the public sector is focusing on cost control and cashflow management, and up-skilling its workforce in key areas. What we must do as an Institute is continue to be at the very heart of the credit management profession, continuing to empower our Members, giving them a voice at the highest level to help influence policy, and the recognition they deserve for the expert work that they do in keeping the cash flowing.”

ICM Roadshows 2010
The ICM has confirmed the dates and regions for its 2010 series of Roadshows as follows:
Staffordshire Thursday 11 February
Scotland Thursday 22 April
Merseyside Wednesday 9 June
Nottinghamshire Thursday 19 August
Bristol Tuesday 12 October
Cambridgeshire Thursday 9 December
For further information on these or the range of initiatives delivered by the ICM, contact Kerry Walsh, head of Training & Events: 01780 722902