Welcome to the first Consultus Corner of 2024. We’ve put together some great content in this issue, so let’s start the year with a bang.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that all of us were enjoying the Christmas party, at Consultus House, and now even Easter has been and gone.
But we didn’t wait until then to have a Consultus competition, where there was Guess the Eggs, an Easter hunt and, of course, the Egg and Spoon race.
Find out who came out on top from those activities, elsewhere in these pages, and rest assured that no real eggs were harmed, deciding the winners.
There’s that and so much more, in this Consultus Corner, including more money saving tips, which can certainly help our colleagues to save a few quid going forward.
There are the usual entries with a Word from Our Directors, New Business Wins and Department Spotlight which, latterly, features our friends from finance.
Other news includes an update from Assured Energy, launching the Onboarding Academy and staging company awards, as first seen at the Town Hall.
Let’s get to know more about new starters through a dedicated section, which gives you insights into the latest colleagues joining the business.
This issue also includes a weekend in the life of Peter Bridgland (Operations Manager for Connectus Utilities) who definitely likes a challenge.
We can also take a look at how Net Zero strategies are developing, around the world, which has been compiled by Yeliz Asim, from our Graduate Scheme.
How are we all getting on with those Discover pledges? There’s an update on how our cultural engagement platform is developing, too.
And do we all have plenty to watch each evening? Fear not, if that’s not the case, as colleagues will also be making their TV and film recommendations.
A little bit of healthy rivalry doesn’t hurt, either, which is why we have ‘Mo versus Mo’ as our next head-to-head. They look menacing enough in the picture!
All of the editorial team have worked hard to put together this Consultus Corner, so we hope that you enjoy reading it. Here’s to the next one.
The Consultus Corner Team
It’s Easter, but I’m going to refrain from the normal Easter Dad-jokes and egg puns. We’re better than that! Instead, there is a larger, some would say more important occasion on the horizon. On 20th May, Consultus turns 30!
As we reflect on that and everything that has happened to us as a business and individually in the intervening years, we’ve managed to not only survive but thrive through 30 years of geo-political, economic, cultural, and environmental turmoil. That really is some achievement!
We’ve seen the fall-out from the fall of an Empire (USSR).
We’ve seen the formation of a new one (the European Union and adoption of a single currency).
We’ve seen the UK be part of creating it, then leave it, then want to join it again.
We’ve seen the first major worldwide pandemic.
We’ve seen countless wars.
We’ve seen an energy crisis and economic meltdowns.
Ayrton Senna and Kurt Cobain were leaving, just as we were getting going.
Harry Styles and Justin Bieber joined us at the start of all the excitement.
We welcomed the all-time great movie – Shawshank Redemption and the business was born to the sound of Wet Wet Wet’s Love Is All Around… For 15 long weeks at number 1.
There are so many others who deserve an individual mention at this milestone. Some are still grafting and driving us onwards (We still have employees 8, 25 and 33 amongst us) and so many others who have been part of the Consultus (and TEBL) story over the years who have drifted to pastures new. But most impressive of all is, through it all, Adam Meyer (Employee 000002) has just kept on keeping on! That too, is some achievement.
Allegedly (according to Google) the number 3 signifies communication, expansion, and creativity. The number 0 signifies eternity, infinity, oneness, and wholeness. Together, they seem a potent mix for a breakout year, so
it is perhaps fitting that after exactly 30 years of working to a collaborative goal amongst ourselves, we find ourselves on an incredible new journey which we share with everyone. It’s very possibly the only journey that everyone on earth has in common and have a vested interest in, and we’re right where we should be – leading it!
We have been here for 30 years, but it is the next 30 (to 2050-ish) that will really matter and define the sort of legacy we leave. I love that narrative and I love the symmetry of the whole story – from nothing we came and to Zero we strive. 30 years to save the planet.
So, happy 30th, Uncle Consultus. The love is all around!
As the curtains draw on FY24, I have taken some time to reflect on the past 12 months.
The team has grown as planned, with the successful onboarding of Will Phillips as Business Development Executive – giving us more control over our Outbound Prospecting and being much more nimble in our approach. We also successfully transitioned David Smelt across from the Marketing Team and his contributions to RFPs, the new proposal software Proposify and the companies T&Cs have proved extremely valuable in acquiring new business.
thanks to the regular JUSAM (Joined up Sales and Marketing) sessions that we hold. All these sessions are geared towards improving the sales process and acquiring more leads, and our monthly Service Stack sessions have seen good progress in ensuring the Commercial Teams have everything they require for each service to be able to sell them.
I have been really impressed with the team’s willingness to be curious and, in particular, learn about the new Net Zero world we are embarking on, as we look to become leaders in this field. I was delighted that the team’s hard work all year round was recognised by winning ‘Team of the Year’ at the company’s annual awards…something that we are extremely proud of!
As usual, we want to provide a brief summary of some of the recent successes, which Paul Cox has detailed here:
One of the most pleasing aspects has been the team’s improved collaboration across the business. Closest to home, the relationship with Marketing has never been better
The most exciting part about all of this, is that it's just the beginning, and we are under no illusions that all of the above can still be upgraded and we strive to do so ,this coming year! This will be aided by the addition of James Pelger, who joined us as the North BDM on 3rd April, so we look forward to welcoming him onboard.
The recent wins really took off with us landing Edinburgh Airport. The client was impressed with our original bid back in 2022, but decided to use a small local firm. The service didn’t meet their expectations, so they reached out to Tom Buckingham to ask if we’d be interested in re-bidding, which we did, and it wasn’t long before they made the decision to depart their existing contract and arrive safely in the land of Consultus. Nicky at Edinburgh Airport had also received good feedback from the team at Gatwick Airport.
We have also successfully secured Fourstones Papermill for procurement and bill validation services. Fourstones were a client many years ago and
Will Phillipsafter their current broker exited the UK market, they wanted to return to a name they recognised and could trust. There weren’t reams of paperwork involved, just a few sheets of the SoSA and the ink was dry!
and the client fed back to Paul that he had received a premium service in ESOS phase 2, and he wanted to ensure he had adequate cover for the latest ESOS requirements.
The planets aligned when we re-signed Jupiter Hotels SECR. I thanked my lucky stars on this one… Jupiter are a recently lost account, but they were over the moon with how we handled SECR previously and agreed for us to manage their SECR for the next 3 Financial years. I am sure we will delight the client with our service and there will be space in their diary for a meeting about us winning them back.
We clubbed together to secure ESOS for the Claims Consortium Group This was a referral from Natalie Dunbar
Morleys Department Stores were referred by Andrew Ashton, on the back of recent success with Harrods. It seems there is regular interactions between leaders from high end retailers, and the good word about our services was spread. So, there was no shopping around from Nigel at Morleys, Consultus were clearly in the shop window and after limited browsing, we did a speculative tender exercise, and our amazing mobilisation and fixed pricing teams produced the goods! Further discussions have led to opportunities to look at energy savings through a lighting audit, which Jed Mrvik is leading.
Overall, it has been an amazing year for the Direct Sales Team, finishing the year on an impressive £2.2 million of new business. A huge contribution
from Paul Cox, who amassed a fantastic haul of £1.9 million himself, but we must acknowledge the brilliant referrals received throughout the year. At risk of sounding like a broken record, these really are the golden eggs for the sales teams, so please do keep on searching all avenues for these – we’d love to pay you a referral fee!!
Here’s to FY25 – we look forward to working with you all and sharing joint success as a business!
Sam Buckingham
Paul Cox
Hi. I am Peter Butler, Group Finance Manager at Consultus.
I oversee all financial things within the Group, but I also like to get involved with other parts of the business such as being a member of the Risk, Strategy and ESG Committee.
I have been with the company for 7 years but before that, I was brought up in Worcestershire, before getting a degree in Accounting and Finance, in Manchester, then qualifying as an Accountan,t while working for an audit firm in London.
When I first started working, in 1989 (for all you swifties out there, that is a year!), I was asked to do the Newbies speech to the partners, on my first Christmas. I can still recite it to this day, petrified - I was - but little did I know how well it would prepare me for a Town Hall presentation.
By this stage, the dreams of becoming a lion tamer were crushed, and finance was the route.
I moved to Leicestershire 30 years ago and made a move into the industry working at BSS Group PLC for 19 years doing, as you may guess, accounts, forecasts and budgets and liaising with lots of managers and directors. They are a nationwide distributor of plumbing equipment, with lots of branches. I love to spot them as I go around the country.
I love working at Consultus, every day is different. I am exposed to a ridiculous amount of finance experience, from paying suppliers to working on the statutory accounts and everything in between. I’ve met some very commercially minded and forward-thinking people, both
in the group and in finance and I have learned so much from them. I work with a fantastic team who are developing and learning every day, with the new work and experience from the people they meet around the business.
All things operationally and commercially end up with a financial implication to the Group, be it cash or profit so, within finance, we tend to know everything that is going on.
We were once called The Owls of the company, as we look forward when we forecast and budget, we look backwards when we report on the month, and we try to be wise in looking at and advising you on the financial effects of actions taken by the business. However, I’ve never seen an Owl write a cheque, so maybe we are better than Owls.
My main interests are my Thursday night Boys Club, otherwise known as Roundtable and occasional casino hosts. Also, I love riding my bike, collecting vinyl, and murdering good tunes on my acoustic guitar (behind closed doors). I don’t think I could be more middle-aged even if I tried, although I was doing the same things when I was a teenager.
Peter Butler Group Finance Manager
Rebecca Kilbourn
Revenue Analyst
How long have you been here?
5½ years.
An insight into your specific role in the department:
I work on the income recognition part of the management accounts and then analyse the results. I also head up the billing and accounts payable staff. We work on cash generation for the business, credit control and look after payments going out of the business. Some of your hobbies/interests: I enjoy going to the gym, I like walking my dog and I am a big fan of eating out and going to the pub.
Zara Read
Finance & Commissions Analyst
How long have you been here?
4½ years.
An insight into your specific role in the department: I used to work in purchase
ledger processing incoming invoices,
expenses, payments and more, but am now transitioning to Assured billing so I am learning many new things now. I hope to swiftly take on my new role and *excel* in it.
Some of your hobbies/interests: I am a massive gamer and trophy hunter. I mainly play on the Playstation 5 and currently have 41 Platinum trophies. I also love to watch anime and read manga and webtoons before falling asleep every night. My cat Cocoa is the light of my life (second to my partner of course) and we often take her on walks in the forest, when the weather is nice. I have travelled to quite a few countries in my life and if I had to pick one to revisit, it would be Japan, as the culture is so interesting and it’s a beautiful place.
How long have you been here?
A little over 2 years.
An insight into your specific role in the department:
My role within finance is focused on the Management Accounts, making sure we have all transactions recorded correctly for each department, this includes accruing costs, spreading pre-payments, water and Assured revenue. Then prepare the monthly management reports; department P&Ls, cashflow statements etc. As well as this, I get involved with various aspects of finance including cashflow forecasts, assisting with budgets, balance sheet reconciliations and other reports-queries from the Heads of Departments and Directors. Some of your hobbies/interests: I enjoy travelling, and so far, New York and Cancun have been my favourites, with a special mention to Marbella where I had my wedding last year.
Solomon Katche
Invoicing & Credit Control Analyst
How long have you been here?
1½ years.
An insight into your specific role in the department: My role at Consultus is focused on bringing money into the company. I concentrate on the direct fee side of accounts receivable, to invoice clients for service provision. Credit control rounds off my role to ensure that invoices are paid on time. Some of your hobbies/interests: I am a sports fan and enjoy watching football and racing. I also enjoy playing online games.
Chloe Champion
Finance Administrator
How long have you been here?
A little over 2 years.
An insight into your specific role in the department: I mainly focus on the purchase ledger side of things. Some of your hobbies/interests: I like to go go-karting and spend time with my dog, and I get way too many takeaways.
Tarishna Patel
Financial Accountant
How long have you been here?
4 months.
An insight into your specific role in the department: I am responsible for the budgets and forecasts.
Some of your hobbies/interests: I enjoy playing football, going to the gym, and socialising with friends and family.
The Consultus International Group’s Onboarding Academy has officially been launched for new starters.
This involved training for the latest group being structured into a two-day process, designed to reflect culture and strategy within the business. It’s part of an ongoing commitment to enhance the onboarding experience and Consultus’ reputation, as defined by Best Companies, as Very Good to Work For.
Introductions to the Onboarding Academy, Heads of Department and Performance Frameworks set the scene for the schedule.
Attendees were also inducted into Consultus’ ‘Talent LMS,’ a flexible cloudbased learning management system that contains a plethora of resources.
Exercises included a ‘Speed Date,’ which helped participants get to know their colleagues, and ‘Restaurant Training,’ latterly a scenario-based workshop.
Restaurant Training involved participants building their very own Consultus diner, along with a development plan for employees, as part of a ‘Customer First’ approach.
Training also included preparing to undertake the Net Zero Bronze Award, an internal programme that broadens a base-level of knowledge.
Further insights into company values were provided by going through the Consultus Way of Working (WoW) and ‘Our Why,’ which reflects the rationale behind these values.
Team building continued into the evening, between days one and two, as the new starters headed out for a game of bowling, away from Consultus House, in Leicester.
Adam Madeley, Consultus’ Global Operations Director and L&D sponsor, was introduced to the new starters through a video message.
He said: “Our people are our everything. They are our value champions, who lead continuous improvement and create unique solutions.
Peter Murdock, Recruitment Business Partner for Consultus, led the training sessions and has been delighted with the response.
He said: “As a business, we designed the Onboarding Academy to empower our employees with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
“We encourage innovation and a shared passion for our Net Zero mission, where every employee understands how they contribute to the bigger picture.
“More people than ever are looking for an employer that they are proud to be associated with. That’s very important to us.
“By looking after our amazing clients, they act as Consultus ambassadors, every single day, so we want to make this truly the best place for our people to work.
“That is why it’s so important that we have strategic goals linked directly to their engagement, development, wellbeing and happiness.”
“An employer that shares their values, makes the world a better place, cares about development and creates an inclusive environment, where everyone can make a big impact.
“From the start of their recruitment journey to long after they are onboarded with us, we want to showcase our commitment to make that desire a reality.”
There has never been a better time to consider a career at Consultus. To see our latest vacancies, find our jobs page at www.theconsultusinternational group.recruitee.com
This is the first group to undertake the Consultus Onboarding Academy, as a two-day training programme, supervised by Peter Murdock (far left) Peter is all smiles when introducing the ‘Circle of Influence’ to the group, which focusses on controllable elementsAs we come to the end of FY23/24, we wanted to strive to get in as many sales as possible. The following figures are all from the period April 2023 to February 2024.
We’d like to give a big shout out to the Assured family, who have worked tirelessly to keep the momentum going throughout this financial year!
Assured are ahead of their budget for top-line net revenue delivered with £2,191,960, versus a budget of £1,917,070 (April 2023 to February 2024 incl). Fantastic work from the Direct-Indirect sales and Operation teams that have achieved such an amazing revenue, as we approach the end of the financial year. We have also recorded a whopping saving of over £2.5m for new/existing customers since December 2023 and this is still increasing. Our end-of-year push is going well and we are currently on track to deliver over £2,500,000 (120% of our target).
The cash collection has also been great for Assured Energy. We are currently on £2,280,000 for April 23 to Feb 24, great work from the whole team!
We couldn’t have achieved this revenue figure without the sales and operations teams. Our ops team have received an impressive 19,971 emails and counting. Alongside this, they have also processed over 550 contracts since December 2023 with an acceptance rate of 91% vs a target of 85%. They are also ahead of their EAC/AQ validation which is currently at 94% vs a target of 75%. A lot of hard work is being done behind the scenes. Assured Energy continue to hold top position in the energy and power category on Trustpilot, as well as now being ranked number one in the following categories:
by Hiren & Sam• Consultant
• Utilities Contractor
• Energy Supplier
• Gas Company
• Price Comparison Site
• Electric Utility Company
Alongside the awesome Trustpilot ratings, we also boast a score of 4.9 out of 5 on our internal CSAT score with 282 smiley face clicks FYTD. Great to see the Assured team being featured in the top 3 smiley face clicks for almost every month!
We want to congratulate Joanne Arthur and Mark Ludford on passing their probation with us! Thank you for all your hard work and we look forward to seeing what you bring in the years to come.
There are also a few new systems currently underway and being tested within Assured and across the wider group. Assured Energy have rolled out an Industry Consumption Validation system (PERSE) and this is also currently being trialled across the group. Along with this, the group are also trialling Docusign.
We have launched our first Hybrid Supplier relationship and are at the early stages of rollout. This has started well and looks promising. Exciting things to come ready for the new financial year.
We also want to give a massive shout out to some of our wider family around the Consultus Group for their collaborative client management and referrals:
Paul Cox
Simon Bellot
Sam Buckingham
Laura Kirkland Moore
Kimberleigh Kane
Alex Mich
Jordan Bradley
Kirsty Nelson
Dean Marsh
Lewis Iggulden
Shyam Vanmali
Bradley Wilson
Peter Butler
Carol Majebi
Andrew Staley
As we continue to grow and go from strength to strength, our search for experienced sales consultants and lead generation executives. You can also earn from our unique talent referral scheme. Get in touch with us for more details on this.
Hiren Kanabar Sam Edwards
Joanne Arthur
Name: Adam Skelton
Start date: 02/01/2024
Department: Consultancy
Job Title: I&C Consultant
Fact: I started in the energy industry, over five years ago, after originally being a butcher in Yorkshire. Relocating to London at 19 gave me the chance to move into a new industry and I haven’t looked back since then.
Name: Sebastian Zamfirescu
Start date: 08/01/2024
Department: Fixed Procurement
Job Title: Fixed Procurement Analyst
Fact: I’m very active in the local music scene. I’ve been playing with my band, for the past five years, and I also DJ occasionally.
Name: Abdul Faisal
Start date: 11/01/2024
Department: MI
Job Title: Customer MI Analyst
Fact: In my spare time, I enjoy flying drones as a hobby.
Name: Peter Bridgland
Start date: 15/01/2024
Department: Connectus Utilities
Job Title: Utilities Operations Manager
Fact: I love F1 and Rugby. In my spare time, I help with raising money for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which helps kids from the British Forces that have lost a parent in service. It’s a good way for me to stay connected to the regiment and the forces.
Name: Jordan Barclay
Start date: 07/02/2024
Department: Bureau
Job Title: Bureau Analyst
Fact: I travelled for the first time last year and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the world.
Name: Farha Rahman
Start date: 07/02/2024
Department: Bureau
Job Title: Bureau Analyst
Fact: I absolutely love playing volleyball. It is my favourite way to stay active and have fun. Also, I was born in Italy, so I have a deep appreciation for good food!
Name: Yusuf Ahmed
Start date: 12/02/2024
Department: IT Software
Job Title: Senior IT Support Manager
Fact: I love restoration and traveling abroad. I have managed to successfully gut and restore three properties, including my present home. My onward and upward journey allows me to travel to Sri-Lanka, Kenya, Hawaii, Maldives and a number of Greek Islands. etc.
Name: Aaron Gould
Start date: 12/02/2024
Department: Customer Services
Job Title: Senior Customer Service Executive
Fact: I coached kids football for four years.
Name: Anzid Mohamed
Start date: 18/03/2024
Department: Bureau
Job Title: Bureau Analyst
Fact: I like playing football and to watch Arsenal win at the weekends!
Now that Discover has been rolled out across the business, we have had some very insightful feedback in relation to the platform and how it works. The Discover team would like to take this opportunity to update you on some of the changes that we have made.
Once you log on to Discover, you will now land on a new landing page where you can now choose to either explore the building, take some of the quizzes or make your carbon promise. If you still need to log into Discover, we encourage you all to first explore the building to get yourself familiar with how Discover works, along with the different areas where potential energy saving measures can happen.
If you work on the hybrid system, there is now the option to switch between the office and a home. The home will also have hotspots and energy saving tips, just like how the Consultus building is set up. Giving this alternative option will now allow you to start making energy saving decisions in your home which, in turn, will also save you money.
You may also notice a new look to some of the elements on the explore page, such as a new look to the buttons and an addition of a back button which will allow you to backtrack to the previous area that you were in.
If you are yet to make your carbon promise, we encourage you to do so. If you still haven’t been able to log into Discover for whatever reason, then please do let us know at discover@consultus.com and we will assist you to get you onto the platform.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• International aviation and shipping are not targeted.
• Their efforts are insufficient.
• Targets are included in law.
Countries that have self-claimed to have reached Net Zero:
• Gabon
• Benin
• Suriname
• Bhutan
• Comoros
• Guyana
• Net Zero target by 2045.
• Targets are already in law.
• Detailed plan incomplete.
• Efforts are still insufficient.
• Target year was 2050. Government now proposes to be Net Zero by 2045.
• Efforts are still insufficient.
• Detailed plan is still incomplete.
• They should focus on lowering their reliance on woody biomass.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• The government set 50 milestones to transform the society to be sustainable, carbon neutral and resilient.
• Targets are set in law.
• Their efforts are insufficient.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• They have a detailed plan.
• Their efforts are insufficient.
• France plans to go slower than Germany. but they are closer to their targets anyway.
• Aims for half of their energy to come from nuclear sources.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• 60% of the Amazon rainforest is located in Brazil and deforestation of the Amazon has decreased to its lowest point in six years.
• Continues to export oil.
• Their efforts are seen as insufficient.
• Targets are included in the policy document.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2035.
• Targets are already in law.
• Their fossil fuel usage is relatively low
• Nuclear power provides a third of its electricity need.
• Efforts are still insufficient.
• The most emissions recorded in Europe.
• Net Zero aim by 2045
• Targets are in law.
• Efforts are currently still insufficient.
• No detailed plan.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050
• Their efforts are insufficient
• No detailed plan
• Targets are proposed.
• Are aiming to be Net Zero by 2050.
• Efforts are insufficient.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• Targets in policy document.
• Europe`s third biggest polluter.
• Relies heavily on fossil gas for both heating and power.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2070.
• Highly dependent on fossil fuels.
• Their efforts are highly insufficient.
• Targets are in the policy document.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2050.
• The government still supports the fossil fuel industry by approving coal mines.
• Their efforts are insufficient.
• Aim to be Net Zero by 2060.
• Largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
• Even though they had the fastest transition to renewable energies, they continue to rely heavily on coal.
• Their Net Zero efforts are seen as highly insufficient. China
At the Town Hall, on Tuesday 13th February, we held our annual awards hosted by David Peake, our Chief Strategy Officer. It was via Teams but with an Oscars theme. We celebrated many worthy winners. Congratulations to all the winners!
as chosen by the Directors:
Highlights were:
• Current YTD performance (with two months to go of the FY)
• £1,011,568 sales (annual value) –135% VS YTD Target
• £2,020,246 sales (contract value) –140% VS YTD Target
• Paul Cox alone is 243% of YTD annual target.
Congratulations to: Sam Buckingham, Paul Cox, Will Phillips and David Smelt
as chosen by the Directors:
Successful roll out of group wide LMS with specifically designed content and training sessions.
Congratulations to: Leena Patel, Amie Schreder, Adam Madeley, Hiren Kanabar, Peter Murdock, Martin Smith and Paul Cox
What people said:
“This person took on a new role, as Team Leader of the Customer MI Team, and has excelled at it.”
“She has taken over the day-to-day management of the team, dealing with the more complex queries, reports and budgets to very tight deadlines.”
Nominations from the business –judged by Breedon Consulting
What people said:
“This guy helped build new systems (Shield, Hannibal, ETRM etc.), make performance enhancements, deal with bug fixes and much more. He is crucial within the software team and the work he does often goes unnoticed and unappreciated by wider business.”
“Those who work with him can see how hard he works and the value he adds to the business.”
“This chap is an ever-present problem solver.”
“He’s not always the most vocal nor the one that people recognise, but he is always there, in the background, fixing bugs, solving problems and developing new solutions to help his teammates.”
“He is the epitome of unsung hero, and he is the glue that holds a lot of our core systems together and makes them usable for others.”
“The software guys do a huge amount of unseen work, and this would be great recognition.”
“She has arranged training sessions internally to help other teams understand the MtM Reports and their use which has proved beneficial to understanding them.”
“She often attends Client meetings for the more complex customers as an MtM Expert, answering any queries or explaining where to find answers in the MtM Reports.”
“She continuously goes above and beyond to achieve what is needed. Nothing is ever too much." is a problem or issue, she will get it resolved with a high level of accuracy.”
“She is an absolute star!!!!”
Sam Buckingham Paul Cox
Leena Patel Amie Schreder
Peter Murdock
Martin Smith
Will Phillips David Smelt
Adam Madeley Hiren Kanabar
Jonathan Blakesley
• Write a list and stick to it. We often spend more when we ‘browse’ in the supermarket. By sticking to a list, you will only buy what you need.
• Don’t shop on an empty stomach. Studies show that shopping while hungry leads to more money being spent (up to 60% more) and more impulse buying, meaning less actual food items being bought.
• Shop from the freezer. Prices for frozen food such as vegetables tends to be cheaper than fresh and you only use what you need, when you need it. Plus, veg such as sweetcorn, green beans and peas and fish and seafood are frozen at the point of picking, thus preserving freshness.
Is your contract coming to an end? Is your phone still in perfect working order? If the answer is yes to both, why not switch to SIM only instead of starting a new pay monthly contract? SIM only plans are usually a lot less per month as you aren’t paying for a handset, and you can still get lots of data deals with unlimited calls and texts.
Did you know that certain snacks are VAT free, making them cheaper?
• If you swap nuts and fruit from the snack aisle and get them from the baking aisle instead, you’ll save on the VAT.
• Fresh from the oven, pastries and sausage rolls are VAT free.
• If you swap a chocolate covered shortbread that has 20% VAT added, for a millionaire shortbread, it’s then classed as a cake due to the layer of caramel, making it VAT free!
• Cold takeaway food (or food that is designed to cool down once cooked) is usually zero VAT rated. There are some exemptions though, such as alcohol, confectionery, crisps, sports drinks, ice cream, soft drinks and mineral water.
• Switch off or turn down radiators in rooms that aren’t frequently used.
• Draft-proof gaps. Where there’s a gap under a door when closed, use a draft excluder if you have one to prevent cold drafts from sneaking into rooms. If you don’t have one, a rolledup towel or blanket works just as well.
• Self-adhesive foam strips are great for drafty windows as they are cheap and easy to install.
• Do your washing on 30 degrees and try to do full washes to minimise the need for more.
• If you work from home, especially in the winter months, try to sit near a window, reducing the need to switch the lights on, and layer up on your clothing instead of feeling the urge to put the heating on.
My 13-year-old son and a nail gun… What could go wrong?
My normal weekend starts when I get told to get up by my wife, lay-ins are not permitted when it comes to getting my list of jobs done. As a loving husband, of course, I gladly do what I’m told…
I like to try and spend time with all my kids, if they want to spend time with me that is!
I have three kids. My eldest daughter is 19 and is at that age where she knows everything and no longer needs dad, unless it’s my bank account, then she’s very interested in me!
She has a boyfriend and spends all her time with him, but he is a good kid, so I don’t have much to worry about. I just try not to remember what I was like at that age...So I can sleep at night.
My second daughter is 15 and is massively into Krav Maga and art. Going out with her friends takes the highest of priorities over spending
in my shed… In my mind, this thing was going to have a ground source heat pump, solar panels and a wind turbine with rockwool insulation.
My son then said to me that he wants to make a feeder for dodos and wild haggis. Not wishing to correct him, and for comical effect, I was all guns blazing.
Before long we had the wood ready to go, along with my table saw. Now I
“You’ve had all week to get this done! ”
time with dad. But it wasn’t always like that, I would often spend my weekends teaching her how to fight and selfdefence. She is my little girl, who can punch very hard and kick boys where it hurts in 300 different ways.
My son, 13, is massively into gaming (mostly Fortnite), YouTube and as of recently… Rock music! He is now the lead singer in a band… Biggest shock I have had this year so far! Especially when I got to see him perform with his band. Back in Black by AC/DC will never sound the same again.
On a Friday, my son asks me to help with homework, making a bird table for science class, so I instantly get into strict dad mode with the normal response of “You’ve had all week to get this done!”
The Project Manager in me comes out and within minutes I had a CAD-like drawing sketched out in my mindScope, budget and timeline ready to go.
This thing was going to be made of the very best scrap wood I could find
was keen to let him build it, but I was not going to let him use the table saw. That thing is unforgiving and I don’t want him to lose a hand!
Teaching him the concept of measure twice and cut once was the goal, and the life lesson I wanted to pass onto him – Something that I often forget to follow myself!
His eyes lit up when he got to see me fire the first rounds of the high velocity nail gun. Being focused on letting him do it and me not taking over, I handed over the gun to him. Now at this stage I was thinking “I have been to war twice and have not been shot, so I’m not planning on this happening at home, by my son, with a nail gun!” and thankfully, that never happened.
And so, we completed the project will within scope.
He got top marks in school and even got accused of buying it from a pet shop, because it was so good!
The moral of the story is, that weekend showed me that at some point you must let your kids do hazardous things to learn from and grow.
Overall, a very constructive weekend in my life.
And… We are back with another exciting fight, fans!!!
This time we’ve got Mohammad Chowdhery, known as Zak, from the Customer Service team, and Muhammad Adam, or Mo, from the Bureau Services team. They are ready to shake the Consultus ring and bring suspense to this fight, for the right to their name.
Our referee, Amal Barigo, is stepping in to answer our questions. The person with the most matching answers to Amal’s will be the winner!!
Question Mohammad Chowdhery’s Answer Muhammad Adam’s Answer Amal’s Answer
Everybody, please make some noise for our WINNER... Mohammad Chowdhery with 14/15 matching answers! Muhammad Adam had 10 matching answers.
There are some serious ‘Telly Addicts’ in the ranks at Consultus, when colleagues are switching off from a day in the office or at home.
Most of the editorial team and directors know their way around a television remote, but so many more are well-placed to recommend what to watch, from movies to box sets. So Consultus Corner have gone to people, within the business, to get their views on what’s hot and what’s not, for your viewing pleasure. Here is what they had to say.
Mark Farrell Head of Customer ServiceCurrently watching: The Star Wars collection with my youngest daughter, as she has never seen them before.
Favourite box set: Game of Thrones, as there is lots of action and good characters.
Favourite film: The Godfather Part II. Just a great movie, with a really good story. It’s even better than the first one.
Ben Lang Group Head of Software & ITCurrently watching: A series called From, on Now TV, which is a cross between Lost and Stranger Things, but more interesting and sinister. It’s set in a parallel dimension, so is sci-fi.
Favourite box set: Chernobyl I’ve watched it three times, which is very unusual for me. It’s an excellent adaptation of a true story.
Favourite film: Rear Window, an Alfred Hitchcock film, from 1954. I first watched it on TV, about 30 years ago. It’s a murder mystery thriller, that is way ahead of its time.
Armin Peroznejad Graduate Scheme (International Team)Currently watching: At my film club, we last watched The Warriors, which is a cult classic. I’m also getting through It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which is hilarious.
Favourite box set: True Detective, season one, is outstanding. Another favourite is a series called Dark, on Netflix, which is severely underrated. It’s German, but has subtitles.
Favourite film: It has got to be a toss-up between Fight Club and The Dark Knight (Batman). Both are perfect for psychology and philosophy. They are masterpieces.
Peter Butler Group Finance & Business Services ManagerCurrently watching: One Day, a TV series on Netflix, which I found to be very funny and dramatic. It’s about a relationship, set over a specific date that spans 20 years.
Favourite box set: Ozark, on Netflix. That was awesome. It was about a financial advisor, who launders money for gangsters. All sorts went on in that series.
Favourite film: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood I loved that, such a brilliant movie. It’s about an actor and his stunt-double. The action, at the end, is pretty cool.
Currently watching: Married at First Sight, a TV series on E4, which is interesting when they cheat on each other. It certainly gives a dramatic effect.
Favourite box set: One Tree Hill, which was also on E4. It’s about basketball, which I do like actually. The characters reminded me of myself.
Favourite film: Probably Taken (the first one). It’s gripping and I’ve got a thing for Liam Neeson. He’s my old man crush.
Leena
Patel Learning & Development ManagerCurrently watching: Married at First Sight, a TV series which is also on Channel 4, but I’m only interested in the Australian version. That gives off the most drama.
Favourite box set: The Tunnel, on Sky Atlantic. It’s to do with these two agents, UK and French, who investigate various crimes. The ending is surprising, but I won’t give it away.
Favourite film: The Dark Knight. I love the action involved, in this movie, and I’ve enjoyed the whole series. Christian Bale (Batman) and Heath Ledger (Joker) were both awesome.
George
Bragg ConsultantCurrently watching: What We Do in the Shadows, which you can find either on the BBC or Disney Plus. It’s about vampires and is prime Matt Berry (actor), who is extremely funny.
Favourite box set: Phoenix Nights. I quote that series about five times a day, to myself more than anyone. “I’ve got rubber burns, wasn’t he a Scottish poet?”
Favourite film: Paddington 2 or Pulp Fiction. I like the bit where Paddington is in prison. It makes me laugh every time, which I didn’t expect. Pulp Fiction is just a classic.
Paul Gleaves Head of Global TradesCurrently watching: Ted (the TV series). It’s about a talking bear that comes to life and swears, what’s not to like? Conceptually, it just works.
Favourite box set: Peep Show I reckon that I’ve watched every episode, at least, 30 times. I very much identify with the character Super Hans. Favourite film: Withnail and I. What a fantastic movie. That is the best 15 sketches you will ever see, stitched together into a film.
Yeliz
Asim Graduate Scheme (Net Zero Team)Currently watching: Peaky Blinders (on BBC iPlayer). I’m learning a lot about the UK’s history, from watching this programme. They drink a lot of whiskey!
Favourite box set: Grey’s Anatomy. I wanted to be a doctor, when I was younger, so the combination of romance and medicine appealed to me.
Favourite film: Past Lives, which is a Korean film about two little kids who are separating, because one goes to the US, and reunite when they are adults. It’s very good and on Netflix.
Lewis
Iggulden Strategic Alliance ManagerCurrently watching: I’ve literally just finished Norseman, which is a Norwegian comedy series on Netflix. It’s a comical spin on the Viking series boom.
Favourite box set: I’m going old school and choosing Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (on ITVX), as it captures elements of social history, in Britain, with great UK actors.
Favourite film: The Matrix. A transitional storyline, that was way ahead of its time. I could watch this movie again and again.
On Wednesday 20th March, the Consultus Corner team hosted several games and activities throughout the Leicester office and online, which received an excellent amount of interest and participation!
We kickstarted the day of fun and games by discreetly hiding colorful little bunnies all around the office, with the aim of the game being to find and collect as many as you can before 3pm.
All throughout the day people were rummaging through the office floors, checking cupboards, plant pots, meetings rooms and so on, looking in all little nooks and crannies to find the bunnies – It was great fun seeing everyone’s enthusiasm and dedication!
Kobe-Lee Davies from Customer Service won the Bunny Hunt after finding a total of 14 bunnies!
Congratulations Kobe, we hope you enjoyed your Easter egg!
Egg and spoon ready! (L-R): Taz Rees, Foram Girish, Pretty Bharadva, Louise Bennett and Leena Patel
Another competition was the guessing game of ‘How Many Eggs Are In
There were a whopping 406 chocolate eggs in the glass jar – It was very deceiving!
Nobody guessed the exact number, but our winner with the closest guess of 433 eggs was Tamara Shepherd from Finance! Congratulations Tamara, we’re sure it must’ve been tempting,
but we hope you didn’t eat all 406 too quickly!
The last activity of the day was the Creme Egg and Spoon race outside Consultus House (thankfully, the rain stopped for us!).
It was excellent to see the number of people that came out to join in and watch! There were three races in total, and we crowned David Shelton-Knight, from Mobilisation, our race winner, with Leena Patel, Supplier Relationship Manager, being the runner-up!
Congratulations DSK, thanks for being a great sport, and it’s great to see how happy you look photographed with your Easter egg!
After the races there were a handful of creme eggs left, so a few lucky people got their chocolate fix too :-).
In addition to the above activities, Ross Schofield from Net Zero kindly created an Easter-themed
quiz on Discover, which had a lot of people scratching their heads! It was a great challenge and the winner was Consultus Corner’s very own Ioana Zarnescu!
It was a brilliant day, and we’d really like to thank everybody that took the time out to participate and get involved in one way or another!
The Jar?’
David Shelton-Knight takes a lead in the first race
The best guess for a jar of eggs
Ready to race!
David Shelton-Knight and Leena Patel
