22/07/10
University Business - A Tricon Viewpoint
Tricon was approached by University Business to provide responses to a new magazine section titled 'Ask the Experts'. The current economic climate has placed strong demands for university caterers to become more innovative in driving revenues and reducing costs.
Tricon has contributed to the August edition of University Business, with our CEO Tony Horton answering questions put forward by its readers. A copy of the article can be found below:
Q: Sustainability is recieving a much higher profile. How can institutions cut costs, but increase their green footprint?
Many initiatives relating to sustainability are about reducing consumption, be it water, waste or engery. taking the holistic approach that includes changing operational practice as well as fitting consumption reducing devices can bring about sizeable reductions in opertaing cost.
An environmental audit will immediately identify where operational change is required to reduce consumption by specific staff training, motivational incentives (personal KPI's) and ongoing communication. Of course it is very difficult to bring about change without some form of measurement, so the minimum investment has to be a meter or two.
Also, we believe in looking at the full 'life cycle cost' of all catering equipment which must include the running costs. In this way we have seen returns on investment for new sustainable devices and equipment coming in at under 3 years. Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) on accredted equipment and devices makes the return even quicker.
Q: How can managers get the best out of their staff in a period of redundancies and stretched resources?
We find clear, open and honest communication is the only way to handle this. trust is soething that is very difficult to win and easy to lose, particulalkry during difficult times.
