SME Benchmarking Information Services Brochure

European CEO Conference & SME BenchmarkingThe importance of comparing strengths and weaknessesGet involved ACE provides a series of opportunities to give potential partners the visibility and relationships companies would expect from a membership organisation. ACE’s membership engages across platforms with a degree of respect and trust that can rarely be achieved by non-membership organisations. The trust, status and expertise within these events make them the ideal platform for companies to engage with the consultancy and engineering community.ACE provides a gateway to decision makers and an industry that contributes €562bn to European GDP, and employs 14.8 million people. About ACEACE, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, is the business association representing the UK’s providers of professional consultancy services in the built and natural environment.The ACE membership acts as the bridge between consultants, engineers and the wider construction sector which makes an estimated contribution of € €562bn to European GDP, and employs 14.8million people.ACE listens to its members, understands the issues affecting them and their clients and takes the lead in representing their interests to decision makers and opinion formers in governments, client organisations andthe media.About CIFCThe Centre for Interfirm Comparison (CIFC) was one of the pioneers of benchmarking; it developed the concept of comparing company performance using management ratios in projects that range from a few simple measures to sophisticated analytical studies.The CIFC was set up in 1959 by the Institute of Management with the support of the CBI and the British Productivity Council to meet the demand for a neutral specialist body to conduct interfirm comparisons and benchmarking projects on a confidential basis as a service to management.Its objectives were to enable companies to assess their performance against that of their peers and so identify areas for improvement and to implement best practice.Working with ACESince 2005, The Centre has worked with ACE to design and operate the benchmarking project for Engineering and Consultancy firms. Their significant experience and independence means that the ACE Benchmarking results are accurate and concise, providing an in depth analysis of companies’ performance.In addition to providing the analysis, CIFC participates in the European CEO Conference. The Benchmarking report and CIFC’s expertise being available at the event helps ACE to deliver a successful conference. Discussion covers a wide variety of topics and key metrics explored by participants from both the UK and Europe over the two days. The SME Benchmarking programmeACE SME Benchmarking is the industry’s annual peer-to-peer comparison programme, providing businesses with analysis of operations, growth, productivity, costs, staff turnover, marketing and competitiveness.The SME Benchmarking programme helps companies to identify efficiencies in their operations, improve their tendering procedures, analyse critically their revenue, costs and profit margins and demonstrate additional value for money in order to retain and acquire new clients.Benchmarking provides independently analysed, accurate and detailed information you can trust. Join us at the European CEO conference Participants of the ACE SME Benchmarking programme in 2014 can attend the European CEO Conference at a discounted rate.The event is attended by a select group of chief executives and senior business leaders from countries across Europe. The conference provides:• Debate among CEOs in the consultancy and engineering industry• An opportunity to discuss the results of the benchmarking analysis• Discussion on the impact of the economic and political climate• Strategic advice, to help develop your corporate vision, mission and business strategyWestminster Park Plaza, London | 18 - 19 November 2014IntroductionParticipants will receive two reports which enable them to easily utilise the output to improve their performance. What information is in the industry overview?The industry overview report compares the averages and upper and lower quartiles of a company’s data to draw conclusions on industry trends. Participants receive a copy of this report which includes data tables for all the information contained in the report. The written analysis from the report is publically available with the exception of the data tables to promote important issues and trends within the industry to policymakers and government departments.The report contains no individual company data and does not identify any participants, ensuring that companies’ data in the scheme remain confidential. What information is in the personal report?The personal report is one of the unique selling points of ACE’s programme, comparing data in detail to that of your peers and competitors. This report utilises a rating system which compares your company’s performance against the average and range of results for companies and partnerships of a similar size. The personal reports will be sent direct to the person you have nominated at the point of registration. These reports are not shared with any other parties and are not publically available. What will I receive?The importance of comparing strengths and weaknessesWestminster Park Plaza, London | 18 - 19 November 2014CEO ConferenceEuropean& SME Benchmarking18 - 19 November 2014Westminster Park Plaza, London The SME Benchmarking reports are set out in a way that enables participants to relate the findings to specific areas of their business. Profitability and GrowthThe profitability and growth section of the report explores a vital area of any business’ performance. Looking at areas such as revenue growth, profit margin, debtors and a company’s return on assets the report ensures that your company’s growth and returns are on the trajectory to achieving success. Controlling costsWhen profits and revenue are not performing as expected it is important to know why. The controlling costs section of the benchmarking reports explores the underlying factors behind a company’s performance in greater detail. Aspects such as salary levels for fee earners and support staff, office expenses, overheads, travel and other direct costs all play an important role. This section will help you to identify where you perform well and where you don’t. ProductivityHowever, bottom line costs never tell the whole story. The productivity section is designed to explore in detail the outputs of your company given the resources available. Does your company spend enough time on fee earning projects, should you be doing more or would activities such as marketing be more important to drive growth? Is the revenue earned for your company optimal, given the amount of fee earners, directors, staff members’ time spent or could it improve?What size of company is the SME Benchmarking programme designed for?The SME Benchmarking programme is designed for companies with a headcount below 250. Who conducts the analysis?The analysis is conducted by the Centre for Interfirm Comparison (CIFC). This ensures that participants receive an independent view of their company’s performance. Who holds the data for the SME Benchmarking programme?The data for the SME Benchmarking programme is held by the CIFC and is only used for the purposes of the benchmarking programme. Will my individual company’s data be shared with any other parties outside of the benchmarking programme?No. CIFC and ACE have a confidentiality agreement in place with CIFC holding the data for the programme to provide participants with the confidence that it will not be used for any other purposes. Can I request another copy of our company’s individual report?Companies can request the individual report to be sent to other employees’ but to do this the individual that registered as the benchmarking contact at the point of registration will need to contact CIFC directly to request for report to be sent. This ensures that company’s reports are only sent to the intending recipient and ensures confidentiality of participants’ data.Can you help me interpret my results?Depending on your requirements, CIFC and ACE are able to construct a personal service for your company in addition to the standard benchmarking and CEO Conference service. Whilst the additional price for this service will be dependent upon requirements, this allows members of the programme to fully customise the benchmarking programme.Analysing performanceFrequently asked questionsImproving efficiencyThe SME Benchmarking reports are set out in a way that enables participants to relate the findings to specific areas of their business. StaffingGiven staffing is one of the major costs and investment areas for consultancy firms the benchmarking report analyses your company’s staff costs per head of employee category, recruitment and training costs, as well as staff turnove, both voluntary and involuntary. This analysis should help companies to ascertain if this vital area of investment is operating efficiently, and if your current structure is conducive to you having the skills to meet the challenges not only of today but of the future. Winning workWhilst focusing on costs, staffing, revenue and profits is a good measure of a business’s success, a business only remains as successful as the work it wins. The benchmarking analyses companies’ ability to win work, looking at marketing input and tender success rates, performing client resilience analysis and forward order books. Sample detailsFinally the report outlines details of the companies that have entered. This is important as it not only details the type of work participants undertake, but also where they work overseas, their public and private client distribution and the revenue they generate.Participation in SME Benchmarking programmeCompany Headcount 1-250 / ACE Member* Free / Non-Member £299Join us at the European CEO Conference** Company Headcount 1-250 / ACE Member* £500 / Non-Member £1000Register now For more information contact 020 7222 6557*Rate also applicable to European Association Members.**Attendance at the European CEO Conference is conditional on completion of the ACE SME Benchmarking survey.Registration details Button 2: Button 5: Button 6: Button 7: Button 8: