Nigel
After 4 years in the Army and 30 years of working for a number of businesses, predominantly in the Leisure industry developing now famous brands such as Pitcher and Piano bars, Nigel identified a niche market in analysing and reducing costs for such organisations. Hence the idea of setting up the Cost Reduction Company in 2010, based in Henley on Thames where he has lived and worked for 25 years. As well as reducing costs, Nigel embraces opportunities to help clients to use less stuff, an aspiration widely discussed in society but rarely achieved in earnest without outside help. Nigel’s new book, Using Less Stuff, will be invaluable to any organisations interested in knowing how to motivate staff to be environmentally friendly and to promote personal responsibility amongst staff.
Dan
Dan graduated from Manchester University with a BSc in Physics before he joined the Energy Industry working in Seismic Exploration around the world. He has travelled extensively working with clients and government agencies in Africa and the Middle East. While working as a Quality Manager at a Schlumberger company he helped deliver a companywide culture change focussed on quality. Dan is passionate about delivering a quality service to his clients to ensure a sustainable business. Working with clients to deliver successful projects through careful Project Management has been central to much of his working life.
Dan is excited to join the Cost Reduction Company and help clients save money at the same time as reducing their carbon footprint to deliver a more sustainable way of working.
Dan enjoys watching a good game of rugby and plays a bit of golf, but only when the sun shines.
Harriet
Having studied Politics and Law at Southampton University, Harriet worked for Motiveforce Group, a full-service marketing and incentives agency. She started as an Account Manager running corporate incentive campaigns, then ran the Awards Services and Buying Departments. Her time at Motiveforce was cut short when her husband’s job took them to the Far East, where she taught English as a foreign language, worked as a marketing consultant for an interior design company, and learnt to speak Thai. Back in the UK, now with three children, Harriet wrote a Thai Cookery book, ran Thai cooking demonstrations and designed several websites. Once her youngest child started in full time school in 2012 it felt like the right time to return to the workplace, and she joined The Cost Reduction Company as a partner.
James
James trained as a professional orchestral musician at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and thereafter gained 34 years’ experience working in music education, the last 25 years as a full-time Director of music and schoolmaster at a boys’ boarding prep school. Keen for a career change, the opportunity to join The Cost Reduction Company as a partner seemed a good match for his experience in independent schools and transferable skills. James is keen to help schools, institutions and organisations increase their future security by reducing costs and moving towards more sustainable operation. He is particularly interested in helping organisations to understand, prepare and plan for the inevitable changes that will be needed in the coming decade making it imperative they adapt, and plan how and when they are going to do this and how they will pay for it.
‘I am very excited to be stepping into a completely different workplace, and hope that through collaboration with integrity I can develop positive relationships, bring ideas and encouragement, and become a trusted agency for change for the good for the organisations I work with.’
Bert
Bert was born in Mauritius and at a young age he moved to Zimbabwe where he worked in footwear manufacturing and retail for 14 years.
As part of his time in Zimbabwe, he was lucky enough to visit several countries around Africa both for business and pleasure.
He immigrated to the UK with his family in 2000 where he worked in service and maintenance of sports and gym equipment.
Five years ago he decided to go out on his own and purchased an Estate Agency board management business, from this success he decided to join The Cost Reduction Company, which he is excited to be a part of and looks forward to a prosperous and sustainable future.
Melanie
Melanie graduated cum Laude, with the Rectors Medal for academic excellence in Business studies from the University of Port Elizabeth.
She has 20 years procurement experience , having worked for several automotive manufacturers as well as in FMCG and Oil and Gas Industry.
She achieves great satisfaction from identifying and delivering cost savings for customers as well as value for money opportunities.
She loves the outdoors and nature and preserving the environment for future generations is something close to her heart.