The Supply Chain Consulting Group is the result of a successful merger which took place in July 2018 – between Gideon Hillman Consulting and Go Supply Chain Consulting – two of the UK’s leading independent Logistics and Supply Chain Consultancies; providing experience, expertise and implementable solutions for Logistics Network and Distribution Strategies, Warehouse Design, Multi-Channel Fulfilment Operations and much more, since 2004.
Director, The Supply Chain Consulting Group Ltd
Whilst UK centric, The Supply Chain Consulting Group has clients and operates throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the USA.
The company is based out of offices in Warwick – servicing the North and Midlands, and Slough – servicing London and the South.
Gideon Hillman, one of the four directors of The Supply Chain Consulting Group Ltd, speaks to Warehouse and Logistics News
What are your best-known products and services?
We are proud of our highly experienced team, and our approach, in providing clear and concise project deliverables with fact-based pragmatic solutions in all aspects of Supply Chain and Logistics Operations, Distribution Network Strategy Design, Warehousing Operations, e-commerce Logistics, Inventory Management, Warehouse and Distribution Centre Design, including different levels of automation where appropriate.
Which market sectors and countries are your customers in? Which ones are growing fastest?
The fastest growing sector for us is Retail and FMCG, with ecommerce integration as a very important route to market for nearly all sectors we work in.
The other sectors, which are of course of equal importance, include Foodservice and Drinks, Fashion and Garments, e-fulfilment operations, Building and Decorating, Construction and Utilities, Automotive and Aerospace, Technology, Public Sector, Outsourcing and Third-Party Logistics operations
. Although we are UK and Europe centric; our consultants have in the last year worked on projects in UK, Eire, Poland, Cyprus, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
How do your services benefit your customers’ businesses?
We pride ourselves in providing detailed yet pragmatic solutions and implementable strategies to any aspect of a company’s Logistics and Supply Chain Operations to optimise resource and infrastructure with the future in mind, giving the solutions longevity. Most of all we help our clients with designing and implementing the processes and infrastructure to ensure that they have the tools to keep their supply chain and logistics networks operating with maximum efficiency whilst mitigating business risks. Our analysis and solutions are specific to client requirements and presented with clear and concise rationale and where appropriate costed and tested.
Why should customers choose you as their main supplier in your area?
he Supply Chain Consulting Group is synonymous with high standards and strong reputations for building sustainable partnerships with clients.
The expertise and capability of our team is second to none, providing a firm focus on resource optimisation and manageable implementation, all for a fixed fee; we have a reputation for our ‘hands-on’ approach and ability to provide strategic solutions through an analytical and practical process.
We believe that it is strong values and talented people that make the difference. This will continue to be key to the success of the business.
The core mission is to continue to provide clients with great service and innovation from a trusted leader in Logistics and Supply Chain Consulting.
What’s business been like in the past year? How have conditions changed over this period and how have you reacted?
In the last quarter of the previous year (2017), a record trading year for both businesses, we predicted significant growth for 2018 onwards which was the core driver for the merger; contractually agreed in early 2018 and then becoming a reality in July. Our predictions were correct.
This is a strategy for growth through consolidation of the two businesses, providing a full-time employed team of consultants, analysts, administration support and marketing functions with the additional support of associate consultants as and when needed. This strategy enables us to operate from a more efficient cost base and to share that benefit with our clients.
What were the business highlights for you in the last 12 months?
Repeat clients include Diageo (the multinational alcoholic beverages company with over 200 brands including Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys and Guinness) for which we have been designing several warehouses and distribution centers in East Africa.
Another repeat client is a major UK Wholesale and Convenience Store Retailer for which we have an ongoing programme to carry out several multi-temperature transport and distribution network design and warehouse/distribution design, and implementation projects.
New clients this year include food producer Zorbas in Cyprus for whom we have been leading a project to improve and redesign its multi-temperature bakery and confectionary logistics operations, from inbound raw materials, through production to outbound logistics, supplying Zorbas own stores in Cyprus and New York as well as Cyprus based retail multiples like Lidl and McDonalds.
For an unnamed sizable on-line retailer, we have been awarded a contract to fully cost, design and programme manage the procurement, fit-out, implementation testing, and commissioning of a new fully automated purpose built 200,000 sq. ft. efulfilment and distribution center in the UK, to go-live by 2022.
How have you ‘fine-tuned’ your offering in the last 12 months and why?
Many of our competitors have, in the last few years, sold to larger corporations and been ‘blended’ into massive corporate structures.
This left a clear gap in the market for a larger independent consultancy such as The Supply Chain Consulting Group, providing a ‘hands-on’ personal yet professional approach, with an expertly resourced and sound infrastructure.
Our capabilities and service offering are second to none and the clients and projects we now have, further consolidate our strategy was correct, whilst yielding the benefits we expected.
What recent enhancements have you made in customer service?
This year we have introduced key account directors for our major clients, where there are multiple projects and divisions/departments, so that there is a single point of contact available to them with an operational and commercial overview of the total relationship.
The new two office structure, enables us to provide faster response times and lower travel costs as well as excellent meeting facilities for our clients close to both Birmingham and London.
We have increased the headcount in both offices to ensure that more time and resource is available for customer care and interaction.
HubSpot CRM has been successfully integrated into the whole team, and this continues to prove instrumental to enhancing our business and project management capabilities, enabling the team to continually provide an efficient and effective communicative and project focused interface.
What factors do you see affecting your business in the coming year? How will you turn these into opportunities?
Whatever the economic and geo political climate we have proven to have a robust business model over the past 15 years and will continue to ensure that is the case.
Our services are necessary to businesses regardless of the economic landscape and especially in changing economic and geopolitical climates. It is knowing how the current position affects our clients; and knowing where and with what, they will need the support and technical expertise we provide, to ensure their business continues to prosper and operate with the most efficient Supply Chain and Logistics operations possible.
Are you investing in new premises and extra staff? What about staff development and training?
The key investment in 2018 has been the merger between Gideon Hillman Consulting and GO Supply Chain Consulting to form one company – The Supply Chain Consulting Group. All existing staff have been on-boarded into the new business and the two offices are interacting as a single operation covered by our ISO 9001:2015 quality accreditation under the single brand.
Our Slough office is moving from its current location to new and improved offices (still in Slough) in December. The staff have been trained in the use of HubSpot CRM, and staff members are trained to suit individual requirements through external training courses.
Promotions this year include Marta Biela to Operations Manager responsible for the Analysts and Data Modelling Team in Slough; and Natasha Raymond to Senior Executive; Marketing and Information Systems responsible for the Marketing and Communications function with specific focus on brand awareness. We have employed Amy Bethell as Marketing Coordinator supporting and reporting to Natasha.
Shaun Wilson joined the Consultant team in June working on several projects from day one with new and existing clients.
Are you involved in any major trade shows or other industry events over the next year?
We will be back at IntraLogisteX at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th February 2019 on Stand 322 in Hall 1.
The most exciting event for us is always IMHX the UK’s largest Logistics show which only comes around every three years. IMHX 2019 will be at the NEC as usual and due to its immense size (one of the largest shows at the NEC previously occupying five halls) we have two stands booked. You will find us on the UKWA Pavilion on stand UK16 and stand 6C260 in Hall 6 from 24th – 27th September 2019; where our team of Consultants and Directors will be ready and waiting to discuss your Supply Chain and Logistics requirements with you.
What big news from The Supply Chain Consulting Group, can our readers look forward to seeing in Warehouse & Logistics News in 2019?
True to form and adhering to our own advocation of continual professional development, the team are always implementing service and system developments; and we will of course keep you and your readers informed!
And finally, if you had to sum up your company in a tweet what would it be?
#TheSupplyChainConsultingGroup – consolidating @gidhillman and @GoSupplyChain knowledge, expertise, and experience – since 2004.
SCCG
01926 430 883
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