In another life when I lead a trading standards product safety team, when no day ever used to be the same….
We never quite knew who was going to walk through the door, ring through on the phone and even when we were out and about carrying out inspections, we could never be sure what we might encounter.
Before primary authority existed, the relationships we had with our local businesses could sometimes feel unnecessarily formal with a heavy air of tension in the room where mistrust and suspicion led to unconstructive conversations that were of no help to anyone.
Whether it be the ex-banker who had started making toys with combustible engines or a mother of 3 producing candles, diffusers, room sprays with ambitions to get a contract with John Lewis, we would often encounter these characters at the point where they had invested £££’s in a business that was unbeknown to them operating illegally.
Primary Authority changed everything and having played a lead role at OPSS continually developing and nurturing its progress over 8 years, I was able to witness directly how regulators began having open and transparent relationships with businesses which often contributed not only to their survival but propelled their modus operandi beyond all expectations.
Now 2 years in with DSL Consulting and having supported businesses of all shapes and sizes navigate their way through a myriad of complex regulation, I continue to talk about the merits of the scheme and how it can ease the regulatory aches and pains of a commercial operation. What has also become transparent since I have worked for myself is the confidence that businesses take from having a partnership as well as having specific PA advice. Businesses use this status to their commercial advantage and good luck to them…
A discussion I had last week went like this…
Potential Client let’s call her Alexa (hey that’s not her real name I hear you say), “Dave, I took the plunge 18 months ago and set up a small business selling a range of kitchen items either directly from my warehouse or via an online platform that I’ve literally have just got up and running but am feeling a bit out of my depth. If I am honest I can’t sleep at night….”
Me, “That’s not unusual, tell me more…”…
Alexa, “I have thought about contacting my local trading standards but to be honest, I’m a little nervous as last week I saw an article in my local newspaper where they successfully prosecuted a trader for what turned out to be counterfeit Rolex watches. Would they be interested in offering support to someone like me Dave or are they generally just interested in enforcing the law?”
“Enough” I say.
There is an easy solution to all this that comprises of three little words…primary authority scheme.
Firstly, there are many local authority trading standards services that support hundreds of businesses with general compliance.
Once we’ve chatted through your scope of operation, we can talk about minimising risk, discuss the product recall process and key technical documentation whilst providing the lowdown on product labelling. After that I can have a conversation with a trading standards service on your behalf that offers primary authority, talk through with them what level of support you need and start mapping out some primary authority advice that will give you the confidence to begin sleeping at night again.
Me “Sound good?…
Alexa, “Yes Dave, thank you….”
If you like to find out more and talk about how to effectively work with regulators, contact me we can discuss….
