SIGNet, The Special Interest Group for Consultants Operating in Small Businesses
SIGNet provides a forum for members of the CIPD who work as small, independent HR consultancy firms. Its aims include the provision of opportunities for:
The fundamentals of setting up and running a business
Networking, mutual support and social interaction
Personal and professional development
Developing links with similar groups within and outside the
CIPD
SIGNet update
Review of Self Employed Consultants Beware!
held on 20th November
Jeremy Parker, Widdows Pilling &
Co
This
meeting was very well received and we have booked the same room at Chancellors
on 19th March 2009 for our next meeting.
Watch
this page for further details or contact
Dave
Mettam on 0161 443 1420 or dave@mettam.plus.com
CIPD Shared Services Network Proposal for SMEs
Manchester Branch SIGNet had
a short presentation from Wyn Llewellyn about the potential opportunity being
discussed with CIPD centrally. The focus of the discussion was about connecting SMEs with a recognized quality HR brand
CIPD and a network of well qualified independent HR consultants -
nationwide.
As the credit crunch bites
many small businesses will be feeling the pinch and it is they who can really
do with quality HR advice and help. CIPD have not really engaged with the SME
market in the past and Government is keen to be seen to provide help in this
sector. So, it may be that this is the right time for us to be shaping an
initiative of this kind.
There was sufficient
interest in the topic for half the audience to sign up to doing something to
take this idea forward and assist in any practical way they could. Several
thoughts have already come in by email and the ideas expressed so far are being
constructed into a further discussion paper for CIPD and other interested
parties to consider.
What we achieved at the
meeting was the beginning of a domain analysis to identify who else is around
who may have interest or a conflict of interest with this idea. We also began
to ask questions about what a potential business model might look like and how
the three parties might best engage. One early conclusion is that it may be
difficult to design an appropriate operating process without some testing
taking place.
We would like to generate
enough energy in Manchester SIGNet to enable a pilot test of a business
operating process in the North West.
Clearly, there's quite a lot of work to be done before we can get to that
stage, and we will need an engine room of energetic helpers doing things to
take us forward.
If this is of interest and
you would like to help, please get in touch with Wyn
Llewellyn on wynmill@btinternet.com
or call Wyn on 07702 249644.