Engage Contents

68 ASK ENGAGE BUSINESS BOOKS 68

What type of website does your business require ? To establish the type of website you to having one . Not only can a need for your business or , in fact to website bring a company new decide whether you need one at all , customers but it can also enhance you must know what your business a business ’ s reputation objectives are :

In this issue engage ’ s Colette Machado looks at how to find the • Do you want a website where right website for your business . customers can buy from it or do you

If you do have a website it is want one that is solely for promoting important to be aware that this is the services of your business and your shop window . This is where gaining more customers ? potential customers will form their • Are your potential customers first opinions of your business . It is – local or nation-wide ? A domestic therefore extremely important to make cleaning company operating in a sure that the website you design , or specific area of north London would preferably have designed for you by probably not need a website as much a professional web designer , looks as a bricklaying firm that will travel professional , is free from mistakes , is across London or beyond , for its clients . user-friendly ( easy to navigate ) and generally does your business justice . It is also worth finding out whether I actually believe it is better to not your potential customers use the have a website than to have one that internet and computers . If not , you is poorly designed , has poor colour could be wasting your time and choices and is full of mistakes . money setting up a website .

If you have a business – become more visible – register it Free on www . engagemagazine . co . uk Larger organisations want to work with Diverse Suppliers .

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18 OPINION

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Business websites fall into two categories : customer-focused websites and sales-orientated websites . Customer-focused websites This type of website generates leads for your company . The website is similar to a catalogue or brochure as it generally promotes your services including your prices and other useful information . Sales-orientated websites This type of website focuses on sales and therefore has the ability to take payments on the site . Customers can look at your products and services on the internet and place orders . You will need to obtain the relevant information and advice about online transactions for this type of website .

Different types of websites Micro website : This type of website usually consists of one or two web pages . It can be extremely simple and inexpensive to create and therefore very effective for a small business that simply wants potential customers to know basic information about the business . It includes directions , and contact information .

Mini website : A mini website , also known as a company brochure website , has slightly more pages than a micro website , usually about five . The website normally includes a homepage , an about us page , a contact page , and maybe a pricing page . E-commerce website : This website ’ s aim is to sell directly to the customer or potential customer . It consists mainly of a shopping basket or cart that showcases products . A common example is Amazon . Online marketing website : This website is the central part of a marketing campaign . It features special offers , e-books , and useful tools that can bring people , many of whom will become your customers , back . An email newsletter can also dramatically increase traffic . This type of website tends to require frequent content changes so it is important that you can update it yourself . Customer service website : These websites are for existing clients and provide them with useful information such as scheduling , policies , downloadable files and forms , private client pages , etc . Certain businesses can save a great deal of time by publishing information on a website rather than taking phone calls .

Remember – a good website takes a great deal of time and effort ( and financial investment ) so it is worth spending the time to get it right !

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OPINION 19

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18-20 Kemal Ahson6 . indd 2-3 3 / 3 / 08 01:44:02

48 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY 49

To find out how we can Already this year Supply London has help you contact us today helped small companies in London win Before Rich Visions joined Supply London it was on Tel : 0207 993 3002 , over £ 8 million pounds of new business . struggling to survive . It did not have enough or Email : contracts coming in to sustain the business supplylondon @ pera . com financially and it was facing many of the same or complete the online Rich Visions Ltd , is the only UK communications problems that small businesses face in London . registration form to apply . agency that specialises in helping clients target It did not understand the tendering and prequalification process and needed to address this in www . supplylondon . com ethnic groups . It needed help to win more contracts and keep the business alive ! order to win future government contracts .

Rich Visions International Ltd is a private limited company , which was established in 2002 and

Rich Visions first heard about Supply London at began officially trading in a workshop where representatives were giving 2004 . Rich Visions provides information and advice about the programme . ethnic marketing services , After Rich Visions joined the programme , it was recruitment , training and assigned a supply chain advisor who developed a events services to public plan of action to address its problems and had oneto-one sessions with the company to increase its and private sector organisations that wish to knowledge in financial and business development . reach ethnic groups , as well as assisting small businesses to utilise PR . It has a team of award winning multi-lingual ( French , Swahili , Yoruba ) Consultants whose expertise rests in penetrating the ethnic consumer , business , trade and market place in the UK and beyond .

The Supply London advisor set Rich Visions a plan of action to help it grow . Including : n Taking steps to plan ahead in the business n Six-monthly financial forecasts n Reviewed marketing and business plan n Signing up for tender alerts ( allowing it to keep track of tenders available ) n Workshop attendance on policy formation ( Health and Safety , Equal Opportunties , Quality Assurance and Environmental ) n Workshop attendance on how to tender for contracts n Extra reading on tendering and procurement ( to help increase their success rate )

Supply London has proved very beneficial for Rich Visions in many ways . It has received advice and guidance from a Supply Chain advisor when requested and has attended many workshops and events , which has provided good networking opportunities . Rich Visions explained it also receives useful information on tender alerts and is now registered on relevant websites to ensure it hears about all up and coming contracts , eg Supply 2 gov .

Rich Visions also had the opportunity to work in conjunction with Supply London on a project looking at how to win public sector contracts . Supply London also sponsored Rich Visions ’ black history month event .

Rich Visions has had positive results all round , it has raised its profile and recently won the communication and media award at the 9th annual Gathering of Africa Best Awards . It has successfully won a £ 110,000 contract with the Central Office of Information as well as a contract on the Supply London programme for £ 14,000 . Rich Visions now has a wealth of high profile clients from the public and private sector including : n Defra n Home Office n Lloyds TSB n London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

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4 Contents

Engage Contents

Quick Guide

HOW TO PART 6

Choose the right website for your business

businesses need

Not all a website but many find there are huge benefits

Supplier Diversity

Supplier Diversity :

In the face of an economic adversity

Next issue : How to set up a social enterprise

As the global economy - and the business community in particular - comes to terms with the growing uncertainties brought about by the current financial and credit crisis , it is useful to consider whether this may impact upon the supplier diversity ( SD ) agenda . Dr Kemal Ahson

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Book Reviews

Supplier Diversity

London 2012

08Business Opportunities Mike Mulvey updates on the launch of CompeteFor

News Focus

10A round up of current news and focus on the value of multi-cultural markets

Export Potential

16 UK Trade & Investment Useful information and advice on exporting

18 Opinion

Supplier Diversity Dr Kemal Ahson considers the impact of the credit card crisis on global supplier diversity initiatives

Exclusive Interview

22Reginald Williams An interview with the man who coined the phrase ‘ supplier diversity ’

Supply London has been working fervently with the Capital ’ s small businesses providing practical assistance to enable them to become successful suppliers , whilst also acting as a source of new suppliers in London for major public and private sector organisations .

Case Study

Rich Visions International Ltd

The task in hand

Journey

‘ Supply London increased our financial and business development knowledge which helped Rich Visions to grow ’

Mavis Amankwah

Plan of action

Positive Results all round ……

Steaming ahead …….

Sponsors and supporters of engage uk networks - working towards building a sustainable future

Supplier Diversity

29 A Small Business Perspective One company ’ s view on SD and networking events

Global Diversity

30 Leaders on Global Diversity Why diversity is part of their business strategy

33 Profiles

PricewaterhouseCoopers Cleo Thompson explains why women are on the global agenda

Global Diversity

36 Supplier Diversity Strategies Cisco tackles the challenges of global supplier diversity

38 Abbreviations

USA Definitions How the US defines a diverse supplier

Export Support

40Facts Sending money abroad

Diverse Supplier

41 UK Top Companies for Supplier Diversity Engage announces its Top 5 Corporates for Supplier Diversity

Business Diversity

42 Commited2Equality Janet Lakhani shares her knowledge and future plans

46 Review

Brilliant Networking Competion and book review

Diverse Supply Chain

47 Supplier Diversity Europe Coverage of their 2nd supplier diversity day engage | uk ISSUE SIX 2008

engage magazine issue 006/\\\'08 | Page 4

Engage Contents

Engage Contents

08Business Opportunities Mike Mulvey updates on the launch of CompeteFor

10A round up of current news and focus on the value of multi-cultural markets

16 UK Trade & Investment Useful information and advice on exporting

18 Opinion

22Reginald Williams An interview with the man who coined the phrase ‘ supplier diversity ’

29 A Small Business Perspective One company ’ s view on SD and networking events

30 Leaders on Global Diversity Why diversity is part of their business strategy

33 Profiles

36 Supplier Diversity Strategies Cisco tackles the challenges of global supplier diversity

38 Abbreviations

40Facts Sending money abroad

41 UK Top Companies for Supplier Diversity Engage announces its Top 5 Corporates for Supplier Diversity

42 Commited2Equality Janet Lakhani shares her knowledge and future plans

46 Review

47 Supplier Diversity Europe Coverage of their 2nd supplier diversity day engage | uk ISSUE SIX 2008