Ian James (The Business Growth Show)

My company, SourceOut Limited, was established with the aim of “empowering small businesses” through effective business networking and effective management of projects, programmes and suppliers.

Sourceout is the south-east regional directorate for The Lead Generation Clubs (TLGC) – a leading national organisation of friendly, informal, productive networking clubs. They offer members a host of benefits to grow their business, including: a complimentary town.meanzbizness webpage; free business masterclasses; co-operative marketing; only one of each business classification in a club, giving each member exclusivity in their area of expertise.  Friendly and informal TLGC Club and information meetings are held on various weekdays over a full English or continental breakfast, or lunch.  Visit www.bit.ly/TLGC4N for information on friendly and informal TLGC networking clubs in this area.

As the owner and managing director of Exibinet Ltd, I own and operate under licence the franchise for The Business Growth Show in Kent.  The Business Growth Show is about connecting people, offering visitors the opportunity to start and build relationships with hundreds of local and national businesses, as well as cementing existing ones. Exhibitors are guaranteed high-calibre delegates through the door; business owners and decision-makers are attracted to the show. We connect you to the right audience, where you can attract new customers, discover new suppliers, reduce costs and gain industry knowledge from our industry expert exhibitors and high-profile seminar presenters and speakers.

Sourceout’s Cut To The Chase division runs friendly, informal, cost-efficient and time-effective business speed networking events. Meet up to 30 new business people in your area in less than 2 hours in a series of 1-2-1 mini-meetings. Visit www.bit.ly/TLGC4N for details of currently scheduled events.

For organisations with major projects or programmes to implement, and limited management time or expertise, I provide a project management service, from planning through to implementation; ensuring that key objectives and benefits are identified and achieved. Last, but not least, I provide a commercial management service, with particular expertise in the management of large outsourcing contracts.

Hi! I am the Kent franchisee (Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone areas) for The Business Growth Show; and the south-east regional director of The Lead Generation Clubs (TLGC).

Following an IT development career culminating as southern UK Projects Development Manager for Unilever Computer Services (now EDS), I became an independent management consultant, initially specialising in IS/IT Programmes and the expanding into Commercial and Supplier Management consulting. Major assignments have included: 7 years as a Director of Yale (now Tribal) Consulting (responsibilities included marketing, resourcing, operations and commercial); a 2-year interim post on the board of an international news agency; secondments to a wide range of central government departments (including Customs & Excise, Education, Environment, Health, Home Office, Foreign Office, Inland Revenue, Trade and Treasury) in a mix of interim management and consultancy roles over nearly 20 years as a Principal Consultant to the Strategic Assignments Consultancy Service (SACS) of the OGC; interim Programme Director of the joint MOD/EDS JPAS Programme; interim senior Commercial Management roles at the Immigration & Nationality Directorate and the Department for Communities and Local Government; and interim Deputy Controller of Programmes at the Identity and Passport Service. IMy specialisms include Procurement (particularly Outsourcing) and Commercial Management, Supplier and Customer and Stakeholder Management, Project and Programme Management (PRINCE2 certified), IS/IT Strategy, Management Organisation and Methods, Marketing and Business Development (including management of Bids and Proposals).

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS); the British Computer Society (I am a Chartered Information Technology Professional - CITP); and the Institute of Directors.  I am also a Rotarian, having been an active member of the Rotary International movement since 1983. As such, I place great importance on ethics and professionalism and on the transfer of skills to client staff during my assignments. Though no longer a technician, I have retained a significant professional interest in IT, particularly in how IT supports the user at the desktop; and am highly proficient in the use of relevant office, website and intranet software, including the designing, developing and maintaining of websites and their content for a number of SMEs, including my own family businesses, and for not-for-profit organisations.