Who could do the job?
Why to work with independent consultants.

Imagine for a moment that your central heating boiler isn't working properly. You could go to:

• a DIY enthusiast who knows a bit about plumbing and reads the DIY column in the weekend papers
• an individual who's been recommended and has many years' experience as a qualified plumber
• a big name firm that has teams of plumbers and spends heavily on advertising and promotion.

What's important to you?
The diy enthusiast will be cheap (maybe even free), probably available at short notice, and might know enough to fix the problem. But they can't go beyond the limits of their knowledge and experience to get the system working even better. Or they might be hopeless and you'll still have to call in a professional.

The independent professional will cost more than the diy enthusiast, but less than the big name firm. If they're good, they might be booked up for weeks ahead. But if it's urgent, they might be willing to come round in the evening or weekend. They might 'go the extra' for you, won't charge by the quarter hour or ask for more money if you ask them to look at a leaky tap while they're there. They might even spot something you hadn't noticed and, come to think of it, they could probably tackle another job you're planning. But, hey, there's only one of them, what happens if they get sick, they couldn't take on something really big, better to have a whole team of people with a range of skills and talents etc.

The big name firm got where they are because they're good, right? Yes, they're expensive but they have a lot of people, smart vans, they're thorough and professional, you sign a contract and if there's a problem in the future they'll come back and fix it. Irritating that you have to book even the smallest piece of work into their schedule and they're not particularly flexible, but they're a name you can trust. The charges are high but you're probably getting value for money…

Why go with an independent?
We believe that an independent consultant working as an individual or in a team of independent professionals has a lot to offer clients large and small. Can match and maybe even outperform big agencies. Not just in value for money, but in skills, experience, creativity, and professionalism.

Agencies usually have attractive offices that are fun to visit (and good biscuits), and some may even offer you personal workspace. What you're mostly likely looking for is the right mix of skills and experience, people who are good to work with, and value for money. With independent consultants you'll get "hands-on" involvement from senior people throughout every stage of a project.

Can an independent network really work?
A network of independent consultants can operate cost effectively, offering advantages of flexibility, individual expertise and the security of 'more than just a freelancer'. People who choose to work together in this way have shared values, a sense of professionalism and pride in doing a job well.

Technology means that a central workplace is no longer a 'must-have'. Email, voice mail and shared webspace support efficient 'virtual' working for large and small projects. Remember also that there's been quite a shakeout over the last year or so from many of the big-name firms. That means there are many more experienced independent professionals available.