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Posted: Mon, November 17, 2003
Technology Means Business for Welsh resellersBy Basheera Khan@TEB, the Welsh chapter of the Technology Means Business industry standards network for business and ICT advisors, has been kicked into overdrive. In the last six months, the initiative has doubled the number of TMB-accredited candidates in Wales, and is accrediting an average of four advisors per month.  The driving force behind the steady increase is Annemarie Phillips. A stalwart of the
telecommunications industry, she joined @TEB earlier this year as its
marketing manager, but soon assumed the role of acting manager. One of her main objectives at the moment is the promotion of the TMB accreditation scheme amongst the private sector in Wales,
and in particular, Welsh technology resellers. "We're trying to get the message out that TMB isn't just a public sector programme, or a programme for Objective 1 candidates, this is a programme for everyone who gives impartial ICT or business advice." Phillips says the goal is to assist resellers add value to their customers, by boosting the service side of their businesses. The TMB programme is all about looking at the bigger picture, and she hopes that with @TEB's help, Welsh resellers will be able to address their customers' bigger concerns. "It's a bit unfair, but sometimes resellers can be classified as box pushers, and I know that they are trying to get away from that stereotype to actually get further into organisations and looking at the service side of things. And what we're trying to say is, we can help you do that." In addition to adding value, Phillips hopes to improve both the quality of advice and service which business advisors pass on to their clients. @TEB is currently working with advisors from various business support schemes, including Opportunity Wales and a number of Welsh Development Agency sub-projects, and she says that even for people who have been in the game for years have seen an improvement in their work as a result of the TMB accreditation. This, says Phillips, is because while TMB is not a training programme as such, those who go through the four-step accreditation process come away with a different perspective on their skills, and an understanding of how to improve their dealings with clients. There are just over 40 TMB-accredited advisors in Wales, while @TEB's Objective One target is 180 accreditations by March 2005. At the rate things are going, Phillips says it's likely that the target will be reached in 2004. And though the project is aimed at regeneration within the Objective One area, there are already a handful of non-Objective TMB-accredited advisors on board. Phillips says that a new business manager will soon be recruited, and is confident that @TEB will greet 2004 with renewed energy and focus. The business manager role is somewhat altered from the programme manager's role which she currently fulfils, and it's expected that time and effort will be devoted to developing a strategy for @TEB that extends beyond 2005. "There are other markets that do not fit within the accreditation process, and I would like to think that one day we will be able to have a 'pick and mix' of accreditation, where you could choose to be completely accredited for ICT and business advice, but somebody like an accountant could choose to accredited just for that small sector of business or technology advice which they would dispense. And then if they wanted to become fully accredited or further accredited, they could." One thing that @TEB will certainly be working on come the new year is the awareness that TMB accreditation is conferred upon individuals, not organisations. Although an organisation can become a TMB-approved centre for business and technology advice, the qualification itself is for the individual. "My ultimate goal is that anybody that requires ICT or business advice goes immediately for someone who is TMB qualified. I've had feedback from someone who will not hire advisors if they are not TMB-accredited and that to me just says everything." Related articlesITW Interview: Glen Behenna, @TEBContacts@TEBTel: 02920 636 141 E-mail: enquiries@atebcymruwales.co.uk Web: http://www.atebcymruwales.co.uk/ |
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