Who are we?
SFM Consulting was founded by Sarah Matthews, BSc (Hons) C Dip AF, MCIPD in September 2009. Prior to this Sarah amassed fifteen years experience in operational management, marketing and human resources (HR) at senior/board level within SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) predominantly in commercial healthcare sectors, namely retail optics (Specavers Opticians), private and NHS dentistry (James Hull Associates), private primary care, health screening, occupational health and privately run NHS walk in centre (General Medical Clinics PLC).
Working in these multi-site commercial, clinical and retail settings Sarah has gained a wide range of skills, underpinned by experience, that are applicable to businesses in other sectors. The healthcare sector has particular operational challenges which require the business to meet commercial demands and investor expectations whilst ensuring compliance with the exacting requirements of the regulator (Care Quality Commission). Some of these challenges will be familiar to non-clinical businesses namely:
- staff-centric business within a service sector
- diversity within the workforce - including highly-paid professionals
- multi-site operations
- high investment in assets (optics and dentistry have costly treatment rooms so value needs to be driven from the investment)
- highly regulated
- located long travelling time from reasonably priced accommodation (which affects staff availability)
Why choose SFM Consulting
You may find that being a business owner or director has a wide range of diverse responsibilities and delivering the strategy being only part of your remit. You may also find that you don’t have colleagues with whom it is appropriate to discuss certain business issues and concerns - particularly if you are considering restructuring or make significant changes. On top of all this, today’s technology-driven workplace where the speed with which everything happens creates an unnecessary feeling of urgency where we are in danger of feeling swamped and unable to dedicate adequate time to focus our attention on what really matters to the business. We find our work and home lives merge as being in contact . Some turn to their friends and loved ones for advice and to unload - if they are very lucky, valuable advice will be forthcoming or just airing the problem may help them spot a solution. The others struggle on. If some of this rings true one way to break this downward spiral is to find someone to work with you, someone who will hit the ground running, someone who is able to look at your business objectively and provide an additional resource. SFM Consulting can provide you with that someone, on an ad hoc or interim, basis, to add value at a senior level.
One option is to engage an experienced colleague from SFM Consulting clear thinking and able to look at your business objectively, someone who is:
- experienced in adding value at a senior level
- approachable
- hands-on
- able to look at the business objectively
Whether you need someone to bounce ideas off, an additional resource or want someone with a broad range of experience to take an objective view of your business, the level of involvement from SFM Consulting can be structured to meet the needs of you and your business. However you choose to use the skills and experience of SFM Consulting, the control of the business remains safely in your hands.
SFM works closely with a number of consultants who are specialists in marketing, communications, specialist areas of human resources and business strategy.
Details of Professional Indemnity Insurance are available on request.
