Case studies

As the CEO of an expanding not for profit organisation, I was exploring ways of how I could free some of my time to enable me to meet the increasing challenges and growth of Each Amazing Breath as an Organisation.

The pressures on my time were increasing due to growth of my team, delivering the national pilot to deliver resilience building within Nottinghamshire schools and creating new and exciting resilience building modules and programmes and preparing impact reports etc.

After long and careful consideration, I identified I needed senior level administration and business support to assist with:

• a review of our processes and procedures

• developing office systems

• introducing and providing new staff and sub-contractor contracts and handbooks

• create new policies and procedures and update those already in existence

• help staff and team members through the changes that would need to take place for the Organisation to move forward.

• focused management and completion of the online NHS Toolkit to ensure compliance with the required conditions of grant.

• other tasks as identified during review process

I needed someone who had the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to be able to pull all of these projects together and meet tight deadlines. I was also aware I would need someone who could work for the Organisation on an ‘as and when needed basis’ with flexibility, efficiency and be cost-effective.

I took to the internet to look for a suitable service provider and came across Wright Business Support. I called and spoke with Erica, who I found to be very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. After meeting and speaking with her I was in no doubt that she was the very person who I felt I could work with and rely on to help.

Erica began by taking an overview of the current status of Each Amazing Breath and this was followed by a meeting where Erica gave her recommendations, thoughts and ideas of how we could take the Organisation forward and what would need to be done to do this. After discussion Erica proceeded to complete the NHS Toolkit, updated our policies and procedures and introduce new ones where required. She drafted and completed our staff and sub-contractor agreements and handbooks as well as undertaking other administrative and business support tasks en-route.

Also of concern to me was having some form of protection of our Take Five at School modules. I had spent a great deal of time in developing and writing these modules and was therefore keen to protect that investment. I sought the advice of a consultant as to how I could protect my work. I was originally advised that this was not possible. I therefore decided to discuss this with Erica, as it was something I was keen to address, she pointed out that the advice we had received was based around patents. Erica informed me that what I really needed was IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) as the ‘product’ was in my head (Intellectual Property) and not an actual/physical product (Patent) and she proceeded to ensure the relevant copyright protection was added to the contracts we held with our clients, therefore protecting all of the time and energy I had put into developing our Take Five school modules.

The skills, knowledge and expertise Erica had gained during her many years working at senior level within the legal industry and in business support in general was invaluable to both myself and Each Amazing Breath as an Organisation. I felt so lucky to have found Erica and continue to work with her as we move forward and see her as a highly valued member of our team.

Working with Erica and her colleagues has allowed Each Amazing Breath to establish strong Organisational foundations by implementing new policies and procedures, contracts and handbooks and meet the requirements of our NHS grant via the Toolkit completion, and more, and all within very tight deadlines.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Erica of Wright Business Support to any other not for profit organisation or business who needs cost effective and efficient support or consultancy services.

Helen Whitney,CEO

Each Amazing Breath CIC