I have been a member of Lanarkshire Business Group since starting Cass Property Consultants in 2005.  The group meets in Hamilton and the small to medium size businesses that make up the membership share business leads and best practice advice.

Each week one member presents for ten minutes about their company and the services that they provide, and on 25 December I took my turn to present to long term and newer members.

I referred to a slogan on my business card, ‘Because it’s all about the detail’, explaining to new members of the audience that this is a phrase that I often use because my personality type makes me a ‘detail guy’.  I added that ‘looking after the detail means that the big things look after themselves’.  I told them that I do not apologise for this, since it ‘means that my clients get a high-quality service’.

I continued with a presentation slide that read, ‘Put simply, good workmanship and quality projects don’t happen by accident, and they don’t happen on their own.’  I went on to discuss the detailed approach that I took to assessing, specifying, and overseeing a roof replacement project to a traditional slate-roofed property in Carluke.  This covered the clear and detailed information needed for the Contractor to price the work, and to minimise post-contract variations.

I also explained that I had on-site discussions with the Slaters and Leadworkers (who were not involved in pricing the works, and who might be less ‘text focussed’ than their bosses).  I commented that this step in the process modified and improved on the previous architectural detailing which had led to premature failure of the roof, and that my approach improved performance, removed ‘unsympathetic’ modern repairs, and took account of future maintenance needs.

I concluded that the project was a ‘win’ for everybody involved.  The Contractor and I were proud of the finished job, and the property owner was delighted, particularly by the comments received from visitors and passers-by.

After completing my presentation, I thanked the group for the opportunity to present to them and I took questions from some members.  The presentation was well received and was particularly useful to the newer members who were less familiar with my work.

Lanarkshire Business Group meets every week (except after bank holidays) and each week the 10-minute presentation gives one member the opportunity to showcase their company and better inform the members about what they do.  This in turn helps the members to become their unofficial ‘sales team’, and to spread the word about their company and services offered.  This is one of the many benefits of membership of the group.  Anyone interested in finding out more can do so by searching Lanarkshire Business Group and visiting their website.