Welcome to the 30s!
What a month May was, when we turned 30! We organised a party to celebrate all the wonderful people that make this company who we are.
In this edition, you will find a four-page spread celebration of our 30th Anniversary, with old photos and memories of the years past.
We also have another Head-to-Head, Hannah vs Hannah! Who’s going to be the forever Hannah?
Our very own Sanjay Dahya took part in the Lake District Ultra Challenge along with colleagues Lee Ackerman, Will Phillips and Jed Mrvik, raising a massive £1,859 – you are all stars!
With summer getting closer (hopefully), the Consultus Corner team has recommended their favourite holiday destinations for all those travel lovers.
As always, we will introduce our new starters and feature a department spotlight, this time from the Procurement team.
We hope that you all enjoy this edition and let’s get this summer rolling!
The Consultus Corner Team
Craig Chloe Ioana Jen Sanjay
A word from the Senior Leadership Team
by
Steve Atkins
Well, here we are already. With a blink of an eye and copious amounts of coffee, suddenly we approach the end of the first Quarter of the (no longer new) Financial Year. That means we must now be in the midst of a blazing hot summer, right? Err, not exactly…at the time of writing it is more like March than mid-June, but surely that means we’ve still got it all to look forward to, right? Let’s stay optimistic.
Peak holiday season approaches, and we look forward to, not one, but two significant sporting events (come on England, Scotland and Team GB), as well as a (potentially) significant political one. It will be a summer of successes, of challenges, and of opportunities. Likewise, it's the same here at Consultus.
First off, the opportunities. The gift that is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS is a four-letter word)
jthat ust keeps on giving, with the government-imposed deadlines being extended yet again to August, affording the Net Zero Team more time to meet our clients’ needs. The sheer volume of work involved remains a challenge, but we look forward to celebrating the success that will inevitably materialise, as the work is completed this summer.
The electricity and gas markets, too, continue to offer opportunities. Prices remain firmly good value, compared to the huge turmoil of recent years, although some of us in the company remember those halcyon days when gas prices were in the single digits. That said, there is no doubt that we can use this period of (relative) calm to secure our customers in enduring relationships for the coming years.
Our strongest asset, our people, also continue to do an amazing job. A very strong start to the year in terms of Smiley Face statistics, along with some eye-watering numbers put through the Savings Log are living proof – if any were needed – that we have people who continue to do the
right thing by our customers. It may sometimes feel like hard work but, on behalf of the Senior Leadership Team, I can say that everyone’s efforts are appreciated and we all have a part to play by contributing to the company’s successes this summer. Thank you.
Consultus continues, as it has always been, to be a strong and stable company to work for. It has, at its disposal, a diverse customer base that has afforded us protection against numerous global challenges over the years. I go so far back as to remember the 2008 financial crash, let alone Brexit, Covid and the Russia-Ukraine war. Yet through it all – through the dedication of its people and the strength of its commercial proposition – the company continues to thrive. As this Financial Year continues, the company has further growth firmly in its sights and capabilities.
On behalf of the Senior Leadership Team, we look forward to joining Team GB, England and Scotland in celebrating a productive summer, and thanks for being with us and helping to deliver our objectives.
Steve Atkins
Embracing Change: Iterative Releases in Consultus’ IT Department I.T The Factor
In today’s fast-paced world, technology and user needs are constantly evolving.
Consultus’ IT department is committed to staying ahead of the curve and we’re excited to announce a significant shift in how we develop our products, by moving to iterative releases. This approach allows for more dynamic and responsive development, opening new avenues for innovation and collaboration across our organisation.
The first product to undergo this transformation is MyEnergy, our flagship tool which has been designed to help users monitor and manage their energy consumption. MyEnergy has recently been revamped with a fresh new look and enhanced functionality, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and user satisfaction. The updated interface is more intuitive, making it easier for users to
navigate and access the information they need.
Enhanced features ensure a more personalised and efficient user experience, aligning with our goal to provide top-notch solutions that meet and exceed user expectations. So, what exactly does iterative releases mean? Instead of waiting for a big update once a year, myEnergy and all our future products will receive regular updates.
These updates will introduce new features, improvements and fixes based on real-time feedback. This agile approach enables us to be more flexible and responsive, quickly adapting to user needs and industry trends.
But we can’t do it alone. Great ideas can come from anyone, and we are eager to harness the collective creativity and expertise within the business.
We welcome suggestions not just for myEnergy, but for any IT system
What else has been going on at Consultus?
Our people embraced Wear it Green Day for Mental
or process that could benefit from improvement.
Whether you have a suggestion for a new feature, feedback on current functionality, or ideas on enhancing our systems and processes with IT intervention, we want to hear from you. Your input will be invaluable in helping us create products and systems that truly serve our users’ needs.
We are excited about the future of myEnergy and the potential for innovation that iterative releases bring. This new approach marks a significant milestone in our journey towards more user-centered and agile development. We look forward to collaborating with you and receiving your feedback. Together, we can create solutions that drive our success.
Let’s embrace this change and see where it takes us. If you have any ideas or feedback, please get in touch with the IT team. Together, we can build a brighter, more efficient future.
Here are a few snippets of recent events...
Leena Patel, Learning & Development Manager, was the fabulous host of a Pride Month quiz.
It’s the Great Consultus Bake Off! Here (from left) are bakers Rob Davison, Kobe-Lee Davies, Harvey Horsfield, Erica Staley (winner) and celebrity judges Paul Hollywood (Armin Peroznejad) and Mary Berry ( Yeliz Asim).
Health Awareness Week. Pictured here (from left) is Stephen Atkins, Armin Peroznejad, Alex Michaluk, Sanjay Dahya, Adam Meyer, Amy Kilsby, Navroop Kaur and Tarishna Patel.
Assured Energy : UPDATE by Hiren & Sam
Now that we have started a new financial year, we are excited to share some of our current results with you all. We had an amazing FY23/24 and look forward to this new financial year and smashing our targets!
As always, we want to give a huge shout out to the Assured Energy family, who have been vital in us achieving the results we have. The following figures are from 1st April 2024 to 31st May 2024.
Assured have started strong, by hitting a sales figure of £399,908 versus a budget of £299,000. This is through fantastic work done by the sales team.
We can’t forget about the ops team though. They have processed over 460 contracts since the start of April until the end of May. This is a great achievement, topping their contracts processed figure at the same time last year. Along with this, the EAC/ AQ validation rate of the contracts processed is currently at 95% vs a target of 75%. The ops team have also had 43 customer queries raised, with 23 of these now resolved. Great work by the ops team!
Assured Energy are still holding top position in the Energy and Power category on Trustpilot. This is with 721 reviews, as of writing this article, with an impressive five-star rating. Alongside the amazing work we’re doing on Trustpilot, we are also at 264 Smiley Face clicks, FYTD, with a fantastic score of 4.9 out of 5
With our continued success, we have been able to expand the team with the addition of Ian Hodges
who has joined the Assured Energy family as a Telemarketing Executive.
Welcome to the team Ian!
We also have some promotions within the team.
A massive congratulations to:
Vicky Kenney promoted to Senior Customer Service Administrator
Matt Taylor promoted to Senior Contracts and Data Administrator
Chris Pattani promoted to Sales Manager
We would also like to highlight some 12-month anniversaries within the Assured team. Congratulations to:
Neal Vyas Cameron Berry Joanne Arthur
Our partnerships have also grown. We have recently onboarded the Federation of Independent Retailers (FED), who have 9,000 members for us to work with. As well as this,
“[The ops team] have processed over 460 contracts since the start of April until the end of May ”
our Tomato White Label proposition is fully underway and live for our consumers. We recorded our first sale at the start of this FY and have already sold 80 meters. This is great news for our clients, as these prices are very competitive and have significantly contributed to vast savings.
We also want to give a special shout out to Martin Smith, Paul Cox, Tom Buckingham and Sam Buckingham who we’ve had some great sales collaboration with across four clients.
REFERRALS £££
1
2
3
As always, we want to remind everyone of the referral scheme where you can earn a little extra simply by referring businesses over to us. YTD we’ve had some referrals from Shyam Vanmali, Erica Staley and Peter Butler. Thank you for sending these over!
Hiren Kanabar Sam Edwards
Vicky Kenney
Chris Pattani
Matt Taylor
Neal Vyas
Cameron Berry
Joanne Arthur
Ian Hodges
Department : SPOTLIGHT
PROCUREMENT
Hey, I am Dale Hall, Procurement Manager at Consultus. I oversee the UK Fixed, Flex, Water procurement and manage the Commission Analysts. I am also the guy that regularly gets the blame for Shield being slow and do you know what… it probably is me, what of it?
I have been with the company for nearly nine years, joining the same week as the great Matthew Hopkins, so no wonder I’ve lost most of my hair, as he’s mentioned it ever since we met. Before joining Consultus I worked for AON Insurance, starting out in a call centre, while trying to make it as a professional golfer, but as I’m now only the No 2 golfer at Consultus (allegedly), it clearly never happened. In the last Consultus Corner, Peter talked about how he started working in 1989, so even though I feel old compared to some of the Genernation Z (I had to ask Erica for this) in the business, I felt young reading that, as I was born in 1989 (a Millennial). I was born and bred in Leicester, but I am far from a LCFC supporter, my dad was a West Ham fan, so I fell into supporting them from a young age. He was also from Leicester but, as a lot of the Baby Boomers know, when he was young West Ham won the World Cup. That’s where his love started.
I didn’t have a traditional career start, as unlike most these days, I never went to university. I got a bit lost after school, when I had big dreams of being the next Tiger Woods and never really settled on a career path other than golf. I started out selling travel insurance on the phone and golfing as much as possible, but my role in insurance did make me realize that I had another love in my life, spreadsheets!
I used the love of spreadsheets and all things formula to carve a career, working my way up to MI Analyst and then coming to Consultus as a Procurement Analyst, after passing the excel test with flying colours (Niv’s words not mine).
Since being at Consultus, I have worked mostly in the Flex Team under the great leadership of Amal, Niv and others. I have learned a lot from
them all, about all things energy procurement and, hopefully, taught them a few things along the way, mostly on spreadsheets.
I have loved working for Consultus. No two days are the same and am proud to be a former Consultus Employee of the Year, in 2022. My trophy sits proudly on my fireplace. My procurement teams have changed over the years and that has come with its challenges, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my time here, other than my hair and profile pic.
We have gone through a lot in procurement, from the energy crisis stopping us getting any contracts, at all, to going from the basic Winego to the wonders of Shield
That said, I feel we have a solid core in the team at the moment, so I’m hoping with the veteran and machine that is Paula, the Team Leaders and me, we can provide a quality service over the coming years.
One of my main interests outside of work is gaming (it’s not just for kids), it takes me away from the frustrations of parenting, one minute I can listen to Daisy whine about something or other, the next I can be in space shooting aliens with my mates. To clarify, I adore my little one, she’s the best thing I have done in my life so far, she can’t be mine as she’s too cute, but it doesn’t hide the fact that little kids are hard work! Outside of this, I still golf when I can, love to go walking with my wife but it’s not as much fun with a 3-year-old, I tried to read books but struggle to not fall asleep, I love a fantasy audiobook, and as I said before I love West Ham, irons!!!
Hall
Procurement Manager
MEET THE TEAM
Sebastian Zamfirescu Fixed Procurement Analyst
An insight into your specific role in the department I handle the process of fixed tenders, taking on client specifications, sending them out to suppliers, analysing the offers that come in and producing a recommendation. Also, I’m responsible for supply validations and contract uploads, on new supplies, to get them ready for tendering. What is the one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
The best piece of advice would probably be to just keep asking questions. There’s a lot of different situations that come up, in the tendering process, that you won’t be prepared for, as they don’t come up regularly, such as process errors on the suppliers’ side, tech errors etc. I think it’s always important to double check with the team when these things come up, there’s always something new to learn!
Some of your hobbies/interests I’m very passionate about music. I’m involved in the music scene in Leicester having played guitar with my band for the past five years. I’m also a DJ and music producer, focusing on house and techno.
Erica Staley Flexible Team Leader
An insight into your specific role in the department I am the Flexible Procurement team leader. I track on going flexible tenders and check that our recommendation packs go out to the client correctly.
What is one thing you wish you had known when you started working
Dale
here or what advice would you give to a newbie?
My advice is to be more organised than me and book parking!
Some of your hobbies/interests
I am always baking and cooking. I used to have a baking business in lockdown which I loved. When I visit the Leicester office, I often bring cakes in, just so I have an excuse to bake!
Zafar Madani
Commissions Analyst
An insight into your specific role in the department
As a Commissions Analyst, my main role is to reconcile supplier statements and to actively bring down our un-invoiced claims, through querying and investigation. As part of the procurement team, I also work very closely with metering and the finance departments.
The key is to have a willingness to learn, ask questions and make notes.
Some of your hobbies/interests I watch anime and read manga (which is basically like a comic). My favourite is One Piece. T here is a live action version on Netflix, if you want a light introduction to what it’s about. In terms of gaming, I like to play third person multi-player games like FIFA Pro Clubs, Ghost of Tsushima and Remnant 2 I’m also a Leicester City FC fan and I had a season ticket during our promotion, great escape and title triumph.
Megan Hayward
Procurement Analyst, Flexible Products
An insight into your specific role in the department I negotiate with the suppliers to obtain the most suitable and efficient contract, for each customer’s specific needs.
What is one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
I would say it takes time to understand each process, as within the role there are many unique processes to follow. Make plenty of notes and revisit training guides and ask questions when unsure.
Some of your hobbies/interests
Some of my hobbies include gaming. My favourite game of all time has got to be Red Dead Redemption 2. Besides gaming, I enjoy hiking and trying new foods.
Adam Master
Commissions Analyst
An insight into your specific role in the department
Hi, I am a Commissions Analyst who sits with the Procurement team, but we work closely with finance. The role consists of reconciling statements sent by suppliers followed by reviewing, reporting, and resolving any outstanding claims.
What is the one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
Don’t be hard on yourself. At the beginning, the energy market can take some time to understand.
Some of your hobbies/interests I love to crochet and potter about in my garden (failing at growing my own food!) and weightlifting.
Amy Kilsby Procurement Analyst, Flexible Products
An insight into your specific role in the department I work as a Procurement Analyst negotiating our customers’ flexible energy contracts with suppliers. I predominantly deal with flexible gas, but I am currently learning flexible power.
What is the one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
The advice I would give to a newbie would be to learn as much as possible. We have great resources, with all the courses on Talent LMS, and a lot of people who are willing to share their fountains of knowledge.
Some of your hobbies/interests
My favourite thing to do is to spend time with my family and go on as many holidays as possible, so being away with my family is my happy place. I also love swimming and get grumpy if I don’t swim. It’s a great way to start the day.
Navroop Kaur
Procurement Analyst, Flexible Products
An insight into your specific role in the department
My role focuses on tendering, negotiating and presenting offers, from suppliers, for our clients’ energy contracts.
In addition, I spend quite a bit of time analysing offers and liaising with suppliers to meet the clients’ requirements and any requests they may have.
What is the one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
If Shield’s not working, it’s probably because of Dale.
Some of your hobbies/interests
Love travelling and would love to go to Japan one day.
Yakshana Karunairatnam
Fixed Procurement Team Leader
An insight into your specific role in the department
Some of the tasks involved are allocating tenders, liaising with consultants and suppliers on queries, maintaining client relationships to ensure fluidity within pricing and securing contracts.
What is the one thing you wish you had known when you started working here, or what advice would you give to a newbie?
I believe one question everybody has is how friendly can people at the workplace be when you join? I can assure you from my experience that Consultus is a very friendly place where the majority of the people are genuinely nice, and they will be willing to work together to achieve a common goal.
Some of your hobbies/interests
I travel a lot to different countries as part of Christian missionary work – Switzerland must be the most beautiful! Oh and... CHELSEA all the way!
NET ZERO CLIMATE NEWS :
Why are Nordic countries doing better than the UK?
The UK introduced its first commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2008, through the Climate Change Act. Since then, there have been several changes in the commitment to Net Zero, from each government.
Therefore, UK political leadership’s commitment can vary, with some governments prioritizing short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability goals. For instance, during Borris Johnson’s presidency, the Green Agenda was one of the first 10 policies. However, Rishi Sunak’s climate policy is not prioritised and lacks a positive vision. Sunak is not willing to tell people to fly less and eat less meat. He doesn't seem to forward policies that stimulate more sustainable behaviour. In addition to that, there has been a lack of clear policy frameworks, fossil fuel subsidies, and inconsistent or inadequate rules can all obstruct progress.
Compared to the UK and the rest of the world, the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) are well advanced towards reaching Net
Zero. The question that comes to mind is 'What are Nordic countries doing differently?'
One of the reasons behind the advancement is starting earlier than the rest of the world. They implemented a carbon tax, in the 1990s, and measures to support low-income households, while the UK implemented it only in 2013. Opposite to the UK, the importance of climate policies has not changed over the years, with different governments in Nordic countries.
renewable energy. Since the energy crisis, in 1970, Denmark has heavily invested in wind power, which made it a pioneer in energy technology. Also, Norway is the largest hydropower producer in Europe.
The last reason is their increased collaboration over the years in the energy sectors.
A joint declaration on carbon neutrality was signed, in 2019, by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
“90% of Norway’s electricity is generated by hydropower ”
According to the documentary broadcasting on Channel 4 called The Great Climate Fight, one of the biggest differences between the UK and Sweden is the consistency in climate policies, over the years, even with different regimes. Another reason is the technological frontier of Nordic countries on integrating
This committed the signatory states to achieving carbon neutrality. As a result of these factors, 75% of Sweden’s electricity comes from hydroelectric supplies and nuclear power, while 90% of Norway’s electricity is generated by hydropower. Looking at the UK, only around 40% of its energy comes from renewable sources.
Meet our
New Starters
Welcome to our new starters, who joined the company from April 2024
Name: James Pegler
Start date: 2/4/2024
Department: Direct Sales
Job title: Business Development Manager
Fact: I love to go fishing, the biggest fish I have caught, so far, is a 160lb skate. I’ve also been a Blackpool FC season ticket holder since the age of five.
Name: Holly Barnes
Start date: 3/4/2024
Department: Customer Services
Job title: Senior Customer Service Executive
Fact: Two fun facts about me are that I love flowers, plants and gardening. I'm also really into music and concerts!
Name: Natasha Brookes
Start date: 10/4/2024
Department: Bureau
Job title: Bureau Specialist
Fact: I speak French and Spanish, and really enjoy crocheting as a hobby.
Name: Ian Hodges
Start date: 22/4/2024
Department: Assured Energy
Job title: Lead Generation Executive
Fact: I love a dad joke, you’ll find I share a lot of them on Facebook! I really enjoy doing film work, it’s a big hobby of mine.
Name: George Birrell
Start date: 22/4/2024
Department: International
Job title: International Procurement Analyst
Fact: I’ve taken up woodworking as a hobby and have built my own resin coffee table. I’m also a painter, most of the paintings in my house are ones I’ve done myself.
Name: Iryna Krytsun
Start date: 22/4/2024
Department: International
Job title: International Procurement Analyst
Fact: My main hobbies are singing and playing chess.
Name: Humaira Abdulgafar
Start date: 22/4/2024
Department: Bureau
Job title: Bureau Analyst
Fact: I love watching shows like anime, Netflix series and I love travelling! My next trip this year is to Morocco.
Name: Jeevan Kang
Start date: 20/5/2024
Department: Bureau
Job Title: Bureau Analyst
Fact: I’m a massive Arsenal FC fan and I also enjoy weightlifting.
Name: Eleanor Buckley
Start date: 28/5/2024
Department: Reception
Job title: Office Receptionist & Administrative Assistant
Fact: I love to do yoga and I like to go on cruising holidays!
Name: Bishu Gupta
Start date: 3/6/2024
Department: Risk
Job title: Senior Risk Manager
Fact: My aim is to visit all the 7 wonders of the world, so far I’ve done Chichen Itza, Angkor Wat and Colosseum. I love watching movies and TV series, my favourite movie is Heat.
The Consultus Carnival Family Festival was a fitting way to mark 30 years in business.
Consultus have now entered a third decade of leadership in the energy sector, having gone from strength to strength since being formed.
The company has certainly come a long way from a small office in Birstall, then moving to Sheene Road, Beaumont Leys, before Consultus House was opened three years ago.
Consultus was originally called the Energy Brokers and has remained in Leicester. The industry is anything but regional, though, and acquisitions made us an international group.
It all began in 1994, five years after the UK government decided to deregulate by passing the Electricity Act. That same year, gas supplies also deregulated. Water followed in 2017.
Net Zero wouldn’t come along until the noughties, but represented growth in making us a delivery partner, along with sourcing energy.
Time flies and it doesn’t feel like five years since Consultus held its 25th anniversary party, at Birstall Golf Club, which some colleagues will remember.
And the weather must have known it was a special occasion on May 11, which was a sun-kissed day throughout as the hours wore on.
That made conditions at Bosworth Hall, where the event was held in a marquee outside, more enjoyable, with the drinks flowing and food served.
There were speeches from director Ed Gray and managing director Andrew Staley, plus live music from the Haze Band, among other activities.
The memories will last for longer, but here are pictures that showcase how we celebrated Consultus’ 30th birthday, with further images from the past. Now, then and way back when.
outside work… My life James Pegler
Typically, my weekend plans depend on the weather, as I am quite outdoorsy (which is not always reliable in the North West), so to make sure I have all bases covered, I spend my time doing various things. Some of which you probably wouldn’t ‘peg’ a 22-year-old to do...
My main passion outside of work is fishing. It’s often a common misconception that fishing is a 'boring' or 'retired man' pursuit, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. I do a few types of fishing such as Big Game Fishing (sharks, exotic fish, deep sea fishing), Fresh Water Sport (pike, salmon, trout), and Course Fishing (sitting by a pond twiddling your thumbs). They are all very different and have varying levels of excitement, but they all share a common trait - the pursuit of the unexpected.
Fishing is, I think, the only time in my life that I set myself no expectations, and everything else that comes my way is a bonus. You never go out expecting to have the best fishing day of your life; you just hope that the time you spend by the water offers an escape from the outside world. At its foundation, it is a time to clear the mind, process the week gone by, the problems you had and how to solve them, spend time with family in blissful silence, or just enjoy the natural world alone. If you manage to catch a fish, that’s just an extra prize – peace of mind and a bit of tranquillity.
I have some of my most treasured memories of fishing, meeting the best peopl and seeing things in the wild I
wouldn’t have seen in three lifetimes. I can’t advocate it enough for improving mental wellbeing.
Golf is a recent passion I have taken up, which has swiftly consumed my life (and my Amazon shopping cart). By no means am I going to be the next Tiger Woods but, every so often, you hit that one shot and think to yourself “I’m actually half decent at this” only to go and duff the rest of the course.
I play mainly with my friends, but as my girlfriend’s mom and dad are big into golf, I thought it would be a good avenue to spend more time with them, too.
(carrying clothes bags), trying new cafés and bakeries, or looking through TikTok to plan our next city break or
“Fishing is, I think, the only time in my life that I set myself no expectations”
My weekends are typically split between Blackpool and Belfast, where my girlfriend lives, meaning that I’m close to knowing the EasyJet cabin crew on a first-name basis. Our time is mainly spent going for dinners and nights away, doing hot yoga, shopping
holiday. All of these take a greater toll on the wallet than golf or fishing do put together, but they are arguably more valuable.
Since I was around five or six years old, I’ve followed Blackpool FC religiously, going to all our play-off finals and travelling to most away games. I’m a big advocate for supporting your local club, as most of my friends are United or Liverpool fans, but if we all supported the Big Six, then clubs like Blackpool wouldn’t exist.
It is a great way to spend time with my dad, who is as passionate as I am, and we plan to go to Spain for our preseason tour in July. Up the Mighty Pool!
I hope this has given a little insight into my life outside of work. If there are any fishing fanatics within the Consultus teams, it would be great to hear from you and chat!
Cheers for reading :-)
Our Values
Having a defined set of values is a good way to assess an organisation’s business culture, practices, operating model and employee behaviours. Our values are simple and clear.
Distinctive
We are flexible in our approach to achieving the optimum solution, focusing on both well-known solutions, and thinking out of the box.
Always start by being your authentic self, share your own thoughts and ideas, broaden your horizons by trying new and interesting things.
Think outside the box! Don’t be afraid to stand out so you don’t blend into the crowd. Remember, no idea or suggestion is silly! You don’t know the impact you could make until you try.
How can I be distinctive?
Have you seen an area in your process or department that regularly has roadblocks? Have you had a thought about a process improvement? Set up a meeting with your colleagues or line manager and share your ideas!
Working Together
We share the same goals. We support and encourage each other, in order to achieve a shared goal.
The environment you surround yourself in affects you more than you realize, that’s why you should surround yourself with people who share the same goals and support each other.
Whether that’s in your direct team, elsewhere in the wider business, or in your personal life. A positive environment means a positive you!
How can I work together with others more?
Whether you work in the office or remotely, don’t be afraid to get involved with our initiatives!
Do you have any ideas for a Consultus Corner article? Get in touch with us!
Would you like to learn more about another department? Ask to attend a Day In The Life Of (DILO)!
Additionally, the Talent team are currently working on creating some new and exciting social groups via Engage, get in touch if you’d like to get involved, but don’t know how!
Integrity
We always act with honesty, fairness and accountability, while doing the right thing for the right reason. What does this look like?
Acting with integrity means doing the right thing, even when it may be difficult or unpopular.
This means being honest, fair and ethical in all your actions, while treating others with respect and dignity. Being a good person should be a core value, both in and outside of work.
Continual Development
We believe in moving forward, through improving our people and services, to stay one step ahead.
We encourage all employees to be continuously learning and developing, growing their skillset, or even learning a new hobby. Life is too short to stay in the same spot, especially when there’s so much to learn and grow from.
How can I learn and develop when in the workplace?
If you want to learn more about your role, your department or the company, we have the brilliant LMS full of information and training videos!
How can I learn and develop outside of work?
The internet has endless resources available 24/7, including lots of free and easily accessible courses! Another
platform that’s great to learn from and get involved in is LinkedIn.
Another excellent and collaborative way to learn is from others!
Going back to our previous value Working Together, get involved with others and learn from each other.
Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, it’s a great way to engage and develop your knowledge in different areas.
Excellence & Delight
We use our expert knowledge to deliver the highest quality and value possible, through simple, easy and relevant solutions. We aim to exceed expectations, using our can-do approach and technical know-how.
We aim to provide our clients with an excellent, and delightful service from start to finish, and we should all aim to do the exact same for our colleagues, friends, family and strangers alike.
How can I provide an excellent and delightful experience?
Be yourself, be friendly and approachable, be open to learning from others and teaching others.
Even a small gesture like a simple smile to a stranger can well and truly change someone’s day and perspective. Remember, it’s nice to be nice!
Events for Charity:
LAKE DISTRICT ULTRA CHALLENGE
On Saturday 8th June 2024, myself, Jed Mrvik, Will Phillips and Lee Ackerman took part in a 50km walk through the Lake District, to raise money for our selected charities. In total, we were able to raise over £1,800 in total between our charities.
The entire walk consisted of rough terrain and steep climbs, all combined with some amazing views. This challenge was one of the toughest things I’ve done but worth doing it, at least once, as you feel a sense of achievement once you get to the end. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a group photo at the finish line, but well done to everyone who took part in this walk, as it was super challenging.
Safe to say that I probably won’t be doing any further challenges, anytime soon, although I may consider another one next year!
Sanjay Dahya
GREAT BIRMINGHAM RUN 2024
Consultus’ trio of runners participated in the Great Birmingham Run and went on to complete a half marathon.
David Shelton-Knight (1 hour, 52 minutes), Tom Buckingham (1 hour, 54 minutes) and Adam Madeley (2 hours, 4 minutes) deserved a pint after reaching the finish line.
Their fundraising goal was to raise money for the A&E ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, so that they could buy another iPad, which Adam also facilitated last year.
A total of £355 raised has been donated to the cause.
(Left to right): Jed Mrvik, Sanjay Dahya, Lee Ackerman and Will Phillips
(Left to right): Tom Buckingham, David Shelton-Knight and Adam Madeley
HANNAH HANNAH
HANNAH MARLOW
HANNAH PRASHAD
Ladies and gentlemen, we are back once again with another exciting Head to Head – this time we’ve got a battle of the Hannahs! So without further a due, introducing… Hannah Marlow (Senior Customer Service Executive) and Hannah Prashad (Assured Energy’s Administration Team Manager).
Armin Peroznejad (Graduate) has kindly stepped in to be our referee. The Hannah with the most matching answers to Armin’s will be our crowned winner! So, who will win… Consultus or Assured?
Question
SILVER
ICED
WOULD
SUSHI OR BURGERS? Sushi Sushi Burgers
Ioana Zarnescu Holiday Destinations BY CONSULTUS CORNER
Do you fancy a well-deserved holiday, but are unsure about where to go? Don’t worry, the Consultus Corner Team has recommended some great destinations for you. Where is your next adventure taking you?
Chloe Iveson Craig Birch
My holiday recommendation is Lyon, France which is ideal for a weekend away. It’s affordable and accessible, by plane or Eurostar from London.
My best friend and I went to Lyon for a few days, in March 2020, JUST before the Covid outbreak! The architecture is stunning, the locals are very friendly, it’s very walkable and I felt safe (if that’s something you’re conscious of like I am!). Most importantl, the food and drinks were amazing! We went for drinks at Crazy Dog and spent an evening sitting in Place Des Terreaux located in an outdoor square just 10 minutes away from Lyon St Paul train station, devouring a cheese board and bottles of red wine, taking in the good vibes and the stunning, lit up square.
It’s one of the nicest places I’ve been, we both have very fond memories there and hope to go back together one day.
Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary is a perfect combination for a week trip. You can travel, by train, between the two in just under three hours.
Vienna is one of Europe’s most elegant cities. This city is a cultural heaven, filled with magnificent historical architecture and squares filled with art museums. Some of the must-see landmarks are St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace. If you need a rest from sightseeing, take a break at a Viennese coffee house for an authentic taste of local life.
Next, you can zoom along by train to Budapest, which is a charming city with a deep history. The Danube River runs straight through it, separating the city into two distinct areas. Buda is the more historical side, with sights such as Buda Castle. On the other side of the river, the Pest area has a young feel with trendy bars and cafes. Fun Fact: Budapest was once two cities, Buda and Pest. Both areas were linked by a bridge and merged with Old Buda to form the new metropolis of Budapest.
“It’s like Blackpool in Spain” is one of the most used ways to describe a holiday in Benidorm, Spain
It was once a small village containing little more than olive and citrus groves, but you’d never know that if you were looking at the high-rise hotels and non-stop nightlife. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, so Poniente Beach is something to write home about.
But it isn’t the scenery that Benidorm is famous for, it’s the hustle and bustle of the beachfront and strip. The TV series (Benidorm) isn’t quite accurate, but not far off.
Jennifer Platt
Last summer, the Platt’s went on a Mediterranean cruise to celebrate my mother and father-in-law’s 50th wedding anniversary. We sailed on the Anthem of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise liner, for two weeks, visiting Gibraltar, Malaga, Valencia, Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, and Lisbon
What we loved about this holiday is that every day was different and the places we saw were fantastic in their own way. On the ship we ate the best food, went to entertaining shows (with a few cocktails), and the kids loved the pools.
Our favourite places to visit were Lisbon, Ibiza Town, and Valencia –the tapas were so delicious!
Sanjay Dahya
Just off the East Coast of Africa is a small island called Zanzibar. If you’re looking for nice beaches with clear waters and fresh seafood, this is the place to go! I stop there every time I go to Tanzania, to visit my auntie.
Welcome back folks, for a quiz with a twist! :-)
This time we won’t reveal what this quiz is about, but instead, read the magazine and you will find your answers.
1 Where is James Pegler going for his next holiday?
2 Who is a DJ in their free time?
3 Which new starter aims to visit the Seven Wonders of the World?
4 What is the name of the band that sang at the 30th Anniversary Party?
5 Where did Dale work before joining Consultus?
6 What is the fun fact about Budapest?
7 How long did it take Tom to reach the finish line?
8 When was Consultus House opened?
9 How many matching answers did the winner of the Head 2 Head have?
10 Which team has 721 reviews on Trustpilot?
