Alan Le
Marinel
Experienced Project
Manager, Lead Consultant, Auditor and Business Analyst with a wide
background in finance and business analysis together with corporate strategy
and business development. An excellent communicator with over ten years’
experience as a Management Consultant and 20 years’ practical knowledge of
project management, short and long-term strategic planning, marketing
analysis and strategy, risk analysis and fund-raising. An acknowledged
expert in Local Authority regeneration issues in both enterprise and
employment sectors.
An incisive business
analyst with the ability to quickly assimilate large quantities of
information and assist with the identification and provision of innovative
business solutions.
Currently working as a
specialist Anti-Fraud Auditor with Northumberland County Council with
responsibility for increasing fraud awareness throughout the Council and reviewing prevention and
detection methods. The role also includes liaison with appropriate
prosecuting authorities together with the six District or Borough Councils
within Northumberland. I also have specific responsibility for undertaking
fraud investigations and ensuring that any losses are minimised.
Substantial experience of
managing and contributing to Local Authority and central government projects
at strategic and organizational level as well as providing advice to SMEs
through Business Link Programmes.
An accomplished author of
Business Management Books including “Your Own Business – A Complete Guide to
starting and running your own business” recommended by The Sunday Times in
November 2003 with a fully updated and revised third edition being published
in 2005. A further updated edition is due to be published in 2006.
As part of my own
Continuous Professional Development I am currently studying for the
Foundation and Practitioner qualifications for the Prince2 Project
Management System. As an Associate of the Association of Fraud Examiners I
am also working towards the requirements to become a Certified Fraud
Examiner.
Qualifications and Membership of Professional Organisations
2006
–
Associate: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
1995
– Master of Business Administration - Sheffield Business School
1995 – Fellow: Institute of Professional
Financial Managers
1995 – Associate: Institute of Cost and Executive Accountants
1994 – Diploma in Financial Studies: Chartered Institute of Bankers
1994 – Fellow: Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture &
Commerce
1992 – International Diploma in Marketing: Chartered Institute of Marketing
1990 – Associate: Chartered Institute of Bankers
Registered on the
Department of Trade and Industry (Dti) Business Link and One NorthEast
database as an approved consultant (reference SPR229) to supply consultancy
support for:
Strategic Business
Planning;
Marketing Analysis and Strategy;
Disaster Recovery and Contingency Planning;
Financial Analysis and Planning.
Employment Background
1 April
1996 to date – Lead Consultant and Project Manager
Substantial experience of
working on Local Authority and Public Sector projects involving scoping and
mapping exercises and providing recommendations for strategic and
operational action planning. Specialties include financial/strategic
analysis; preparation of business plans and funding proposals; development
of quality systems; financial management and budget preparation; marketing
analysis and strategy.
Recent projects have included:
LSC Tees Valley - Lead
Consultant, under subcontract, to participate in a Quality Improvement
Programme commissioned by the LSC Tees Valley with the main objective being
to introduce sustainable, long-term improvements to Training Providers and
involving strategic planning, marketing analysis and strategy, financial and
budget planning and quality improvement programmes together with staff
appraisal systems.
Durham City Council –
Development of a strategic business planning framework and comprehensive
guidance notes that could be used as a template in the future to meet the
requirements of the Audit Commission,. As part of this process I ran
workshops on analysis techniques and gave guidance on setting strategic
objectives and the formulation of action plans to meet both Best Value and
Comprehensive Performance Assessment. I also formulated specific Business
Plans for the Internal Audit and Leisure Services Sections and provided
recommendations on the Management Information Systems and the Quality
Initiatives that could assist the Council to improve their strategic
planning.
South Tyneside MBC – Mapping
exercise covering Employment, Enterprise and Land & Buildings for STEP
(South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership) The project involved substantial
research with face to face and telephone interviews to establish the
business support activities that were being offered by all agencies
throughout the area. The report was subsequently updated in December 2004
and recommendations provided as how this information could be used in an
electronic database to be made available to the public as well as the
partners.
South Tyneside MBC - Following
on from the above contract I was appointed to undertake a research project
seeking feedback from key business and community stakeholders to establish
the need for a feasibility study for a Skills Centre in the region as part
of the South Tyneside MBC Transformational Plan.
LSC Tyne and Wear -
Sub-contracted to undertake a project to report on the education and skills
opportunities for young engineers in the North East. Appointed as Project
Manager to co-ordinate the mapping exercise as to the existing schemes and
training that were available and provide a recommendation as to future
funding to entice young people into this vocation as a future career. This
project required substantive face-to-face interviews with a number of
training and other providers.
One North East - Appointed under subcontract
to provide training and consultancy support to the new North East Tourism
Partnerships. This involved specific training to the new Board of Directors
on governance under the Nolan principles, Marketing and Business Planning
and specific guidance on the Area Tourism Management Plans (AtMap) which
form the basis of funding support for the future.
Consultant and Project Manager
for a specialist engineering business, completely reviewing the product
portfolio which resulted in a strong market position for new product lines
and increased profitability through cost-savings and debt reduction.
Worked as lead consultant and
project manager to review strategic and operational activities for an import
business. This involved a complete restructure and review of warehouse and
stock control operations including the introduction of a new computer
system, review of staffing levels and accountabilities resulting in improved
sales figures and profitability.
I am registered on the
Business Link Tyne and Wear database as an approved consultant and also the
One North East register of accredited consultants.
November
1993 to March 1996 - Senior Consultant - Project North East
Seconded
by Nat West Bank to assist this independent, not-for-profit Enterprise and
Economic Development Agency, working in the key area of strategic business
planning to assist SME’s in raising finance for growth and expansion. Key
areas of work undertaken included marketing, operation and administration of
the Financial Packaging Programme which offered businesses a diagnostic,
counselling and full consultancy service in respect of strategic business
planning and fund raising for expansion or diversification. Specific
expertise was also gained in the process of grant applications for Regional
Selective Assistance, Regional Enterprise Grants and SMART awards.
Whilst on
secondment I was accredited by Nat West via a firm of independent
consultants as a Technology Manager to deal with the complex analysis and
appraisal of potential new technology business propositions.
May 1992
to October 1993 – NatWest Bank plc - Head of Securities, Tyneside Business
Centre
Managing
a team of ten staff dealing with seven branches and the Tyneside Corporate
Banking Centre. Responsibility for project managing the taking and
perfecting of security for advances e.g. legal mortgages over land and
property/personal and company guarantees to complex corporate security
including mortgage debentures, performance and bid bonds, tender documents
and company cross guarantee structures.
Also
responsible for developing strategic business plans and providing analyses
of sales and marketing achievements for the Tyneside Business Centre
together with specific marketing plans for the achievement of the annual
targets for all branches covered by the Centre.
July 1989
to April 1992 – NatWest Bank plc - Lending Manager, Sunderland Business Centre
Overall
responsibility for a portfolio of 500+ business accounts together with the
entire personal customer base of some 10,000 customers. Direct
responsibility for a team of support staff to undertake business plan
appraisal and sanctioning of commercial lending propositions. Responsible
for appraising and sanctioning all personal lending via overdrafts or loans
together with the granting of facilities on debit and credit cards.
Accredited as Small Business Advisor for Wearside with responsibility for
counselling SME’s through Wearside Training and Enterprise Council and
lectures to universities, colleges and schools as part of the bank’s
community programme “Understanding Industry” specifically dealing with
business management and financial control systems.
24 September 1974 to July 1989 - various positions within branches
of National Westminster Bank PLC including Jersey, Richmond, Durham,
Sunderland and Newcastle
Community Appointments
2002
– 2003 Executive - Sunderland Business Network Ltd
1999 – 2002 Director — Business Enterprise Network Ltd
1997 to date Performance Assessor — General Medical Council
1992 – 1995 Trustee — Grindon Boys Club Management Committee
1991 to date Justice of the Peace — Tyne & Wear Commission
1990 – 1992 Member — Steering Committee B Tec National
Training Awards,
Wearside College
1990 – 1992 Member — Steering Committee Monkwearmouth College Business
Advice Centre
1989 – 1997 Chairman of Governors — Grindon Infants School, Sunderland
1989 – 1992 Chairman of Governors — Broadway Junior School, Sunderland
Winner of the 1994 TNT Express / British Junior Chamber of Commerce
Outstanding Young Person of the Year award - Business, Economics and
Entrepreneurial Category, North Region.
Summary
An innovative and
creative business consultant with proven experience of applying
successful business solutions in pressurised environments to tight
deadlines. An experienced and resourceful individual with many transferable
skills. An expert fraud investigator with the ability to assimilate
large amounts of evidence and produce concise action plans in both the
detection and prevention of fraud
Interests
A major
contributor to work in the community and author of 20 Business Management
and other books, including “Your Own Business - the complete guide to
starting and running your own business” which was recommended by The
Sunday Times in November 2003. The third fully revised edition of this book
was published in May 2005.
Some of my books have also been translated
and published across the world including China, Russia, South America and
Indonesia as well as being published in the USA. Hobbies include flying light aircraft, writing, motor racing,
playing snooker, music and foreign travel. I hold a clean driving licence
as well as a UK Pilot Licence and a USA FAA Pilot Certificate.
Book Titles include:
The Ultimate Business Plan
Accounting for Small Businesses
Financing a New Business
Raising Start-Up Finance
Make Marketing Work For You
Understanding Financial Accounts
Develop a Winning Marketing Plan
Start and Run Your Own Business
Buying a Franchise
Learning to Fly in 21 Days
The Flyer Guide to Flying In Florida
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