Head of Business Improvement - North East

Head of Business Improvement Jobs

For a business to thrive, grow and attract the best talent, it must be on a constant mission for improvement. Improvement can manifest itself in many ways, from the small things that affect a few employees to a revolution in the way it does business that can propel it from an also-ran to a company at the top of its game. The most effective way to achieve improvement is to appoint a team or an individual whose job is solely to seek out business improvement opportunities and make them happen – in charge of this activity is the head of business improvement.

The job requires an ongoing analysis of the business and all its processes, or at least the processes within the remit of the head of business improvement. Armed with the financial figures for a given business activity, he or she observes and analyses the way it is carried out, talks with the people doing the work and try to come up with ways of improving it. This is not always a directly cost-saving or profit-enhancing measure. Sometimes an improvement might simply take the stress off certain employees, and the benefits will be long term – and the head of business improvement has the figures to prove it.

The skills required

An advanced ability to monitor and completely understand a business process and how it interacts with the rest of the business is a key attribute of a successful head of business improvement. You are able to come to a balanced appraisal of how a process works and what are the effects of making a change not only to it but also to the wider company. Where you consider that the benefits outweigh the costs, you will then have to make proposals to the board so that they can decide whether to implement them.

You are able to work on multiple processes at a time, and often change will have to be implemented gradually so that early effects can be assessed with a view to making more dramatic changes if necessary. This requires excellent analytical skills as well as a great interpersonal manner. It will be your job to convince all stakeholders that your proposals will have a benefit, which is not always easy, particularly where this might mean downsizing or relocation.

Head of Business Improvement Jobs in the North East

Covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Teeside and County Durham, the North East includes the cities of Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tyne, as well as other communities like Gateshead, Middlesbrough and Darlington.

In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, the area's economy mainly relied on shipbuilding, heavy industry, coal mining and manufacturing. However, most of these faced significant decline after the second world war.

The region's economy is now mainly based in the service sector, and it is also known for its retail, art and culture. A number of tech companies are located in the North East, as well as businesses based in the petrochemical and steel industries.

What's more, the region is home to a significant amount of scientific research, particularly at the Centre for Life. This facility in Newcastle includes exhibition space for tourists, as well as a number of working laboratories that are used by biotechnology companies and medical clinics.

For those seeking Head of Business Improvement roles, just some of the companies that have headquarters or manufacturing facilities in the North East include Santander, Sage Group, Virgin Money, Tetley Tea, McCoy's Crisps, Greggs the Bakers, Nestle and Coca Cola.

In addition, there's BAE Systems, which manufactures military tanks, while Siemens produces steam turbines and Nissan operates the largest car factory in the UK.

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Find Head of Business Improvement Jobs with Cast UK

Transformation and change are the key to continual improvement in business, but it must be approached in a skilful and sensitive manner, hence the need for good, experienced heads of business improvement. Up and down the UK, companies are looking to bring that expertise into their teams and many of them are turning to Cast UK to apply our own expertise to finding the ideal candidates.

If you are looking to take an important step in your career and become head of business improvement for a company that’s going through some exciting changes, leave your details with us by calling today on 0333 121 3345.

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