Mark Trotter

Understanding Politics

Understanding Politics is a fruitless task. The people who can make decisions that really count and make a big difference aren’t politicians.

For example: the real power behind the throne is money! Money and Power go hand in glove, it is rare to experience one without the other. For those without either it is never to their advantage.

History

Quakers were different, they had the money and access to power but decided to lift everyone with the new found wealth.

Focused on housing, education, health and rewarding work. They changed the UK and Europe.

However, along came the wars, one thing they wouldn’t engage in and their influence and power was lost. Replaced by Mutual Societies and Unions. Again some benefit to ordinary lives.

All short lived and doomed to failure. This is simply because No Good Idea goes unexploited. Government is designed to exploit the people based on a contract of safety and security. Rarely present in any culture.

Business and Trade

Money has always controlled how governments behave from the “robber barons” to the modern global organisations. They want the ordinary people to remain poor and fund the infrastructure they exploit.

So what works? The answer is focus on the three things you control:

Investment
Spending
Time

If we fail to invest in business we fail to invest the future, because it drives innovation and rewards imagination.

Spend recklessly and the big businesses get richer and the local high street closes. People lose their homes because small businesses fail and the government gets bigger.

From the software we use to the food we eat there is real choice but it all depends on how we use our time! 168 hours in every week and the media controls on average 3 to 5 hours a day. Filling minds with despair and depression – just look at the soaps.

The world created can be changed and it will be when people come before profit, honesty and integrity come before income, when food and good housing are truly a “Human Right”.

Open your eyes

50 years of trying to make sense of senselessness is going to make you old, depressed and discontent.

We can’t change the political world or commerce globally but we can invest in a real future by setting accountable targets and personal goals that ask hard questions of others.

Stop following and start searching, Business can make a big difference when there is a commitment to value, to fairness and a balance based on real need. Feed the poor, house the homeless and ensure work is available. We do that not through Politics but through controlling our investment, spending and time.

Free style writing is a relief and after more than 30 years it is good to finally say, “the big con is on and the majority have been sucked in” the sad thing is the pay-off is going to result in more than the effects of global warming and climate change.

So back to my business, I will be available to write documents and sell product, but why not set me a real challenge – ask me for the best social value strategy for business and become the difference in just a few lives. Everyone does it we change the world. No one does it then my favourite Dad’s Army quote rings true “We’re Doooom!!”

1976 to 2026

In 1976 part time early morning cleaning jobs were my way of contributing to family funds. Still in School and although a real strain it set the “Protestant Work Ethic” at the heart of employment.

Wanting to write I also did some work experience in Journalism, that came as a shock, what you write as a journalist isn’t always what is published once the editors had worked their magic. No it wasn’t for me.

First business

After leaving education it became a case of wandering from job to job, nothing really suited. So with my older Brother we decided to work self-employed as window cleaners and contract cleaners.

That was great fun but dangerous for anyone who worked with me as I was reckless. Favourite pass time – step back and admire the work, not such a good idea when you are at the top of a ladder.

Bad weather and a tragic accident meant I changed occupations and headed in doors, but hadn’t stopped writing.

Warehouse and Retail

Looking back it was another occupation I wasn’t cut out for, couldn’t stand some halfwit telling me how to stack boxes or move trolleys. However, I did enjoy the computer work and the health and safety, a chance to train others.

This created the basic understanding I did have communication skills, speaking, listening, writing and presentation. I discovered my transferrable skills.

Sales

What a rubbish sales person I started out as, I learnt all the so-called successful techniques but couldn’t bring myself to use them.

Somehow I hit my targets so only sacked twice but I suddenly realised to sell effectively I needed to let the person buy. Talk less, point out more reasons to take sometime, then they bought! If we didn’t sell the product but it could lead to repeat business, I found them the product and a safe supplier.

It was all about relationships and building trust.

Writing and employment

Following a prolonged period of illness I moved into a period of employment training with a local authority, they needed a researcher for economic projects and my writing began.

Fill the page with facts, directions and clear reasoning that led to conclusive outcomes.

The career jumped about from there but involved writing everyday in my unique style. Self educated and driven by a desire to make a difference bid and tender writing filled 20% of my time.

Winning large project funding from EU and UK sources, raising money for the voluntary and community sectors.

Finding the means to deliver in so many fields, the niche of writing National Occupational Standards, foundation qualifications and management tools.

Dilemma

In 1994 the fundraising and competitive tendering market place began to attract so called “professionals”, by 2000 these individuals out numbered the core volunteer writers who had been successful for years and marginalised them.

My dilemma, I crossed both sides, writing as a volunteer and being paid by local authorities and national charities to write for them. It was clear by 2004 I had to make a decision.

Dropping into freelance and self employment I slid away from the issues. But now after 22 years of freelance work it’s time to ask the hard questions.

Did I do the right thing by avoiding the confrontation? In hindsight? No.

The marketplace needs fresh ideas, maverick contributors, not people like me who hide as authors of blogs, and content. We need the market disruptors.

So if you are reading this and thinking I have something to say or write, don’t wait find the right audience and communicate.

We change things when the majority stop being silent. Minorities run the world because they are permitted, they dump unfounded guilt on the developed world.

Reparations – example

If you go back 300 years and look at the average life of anyone who wasn’t rich they understood graft, poverty, exploitation, a singular sense of futility.

They didn’t enslave anyone, they didn’t exploit or sell people to get rich, that was a minority across all cultures.

These groups benefited from the social reforms, better housing and the beginning of education. Society changed because a religious few addressed the unfairness of the world.

Whilst reforming at home, they challenged slavery, moved to get it abolished and paid individual ship owners to intercept cargo to release those being transported.

Now those who were benefiting from the reforms in Europe are now managing the communities they live in. Many starting without the advantages of benefactors who gave them much. These ones are being asked for reparations, the rich who maintained their riches remain untouched, the royals keep their special status but the people are asked to pay.

In 50 years I have learnt there will always be injustice so focus on what is right today. Write or speak from your heart and never let others shut you down because you are speaking truth.

Truth is based on unassailable facts the rest is fake, used to scare and control. A few more years to go but I have come to agree with the writer who said – everything is futility!

Social Care Mindset

Working with business owners in the Social Care Sector it is clear that so many are stuck in a mindset. They require the Local Authority and NHS approval to attract clients.

The adjustments to the procurement process for 2026 have some surprises in store. A recent Pre-market Engagement event with one of the local authorities dropped the bombshell – all providers must have a CQC rating of “Good” or better.

The CQC First Inspection backlog runs to the thousands, note the post by Homecare Association. The problem will get worse.

Three Simple Steps

Once registration is achieved a Care provider can build the market confidence with three actions:

Prequalification using SSIP accreditation for Health and Safety
Complete PAS91 compliance
Social Value Accreditation

All available for Health and Social Care Providers, the investment creates clear rewards and generates market confidence. We recommend using service providers like PQS (Prequalification Scheme [SSIP])

Quality Assurance Accreditation

Tailored ISO 9001 accreditation is limited and costly but worth the investment. The assessment process is designed to capture both Good Practice and Key development needs.

When small businesses look to punch above their weight the primary tool is demonstrating the quality of the service.

Social Media

The growth of online Brokerages has created a second marketplace and here you are looking at paying for referrals.

How do you beat the Brokers? simply put work harder at the online profile and footprint. Therefore, use AI tools to ensure that your prospective clients are engaged quickly, that they can speak to the right person.

Consequently, Facebook; Instagram; Bluesky; Community Directories and local advertising online create opportunities.

Additionally, use feedback sites and request testimonials that automatically link to Trust Pilot and similar services. Use Online Forms to feed the local reference sites where your business is listed.

Exploit Website Potential

Therefore this year I have offered all clients web traffic analysis. The majority found this interesting as they paid maintenance services and SEO only to find the unique visits generated each week were low.

Also the website design is just the same as everyone else, take a look, same photographs, AI generated text and links that didn’t help them to inspire anyone to call.

Looking at my website you will say “you can’t talk” however, my website isn’t designed to encourage a large number of enquires. The blog is all that is focused on as all services and support are bespoke, designed and then tailored to your needs. We make ourselves redundant.

So act over the holiday period launch these actions:

Analyse the website
Check your credit score as a business
List the accreditation that would give you confidence
Design a marketing plan
Action plan for the second week in January

If you need assistance in completing any of these tasks or want this done independently then contact us or subscribe to the blog.

Prepare your business for 2026 and secure a positive approach to market growth and development

Be The Difference

In the early 1990s I was told “Be the Difference”. One person can change everything! Social Justice is achievable and equity is possible.

The people who shouted the most about the skills I had to create change gained a reputation, financial security and prospered. Pointing the team I worked with at so many projects.

My role was strategic fund raiser. Success followed easily and the money for projects began to flow, first thousands, then millions and hundreds of millions.

We weren’t the best, there are so many worked from the 1940s to today in this field who are now in need of that support.

Why? Because we forgot that the “Poor”, disadvantaged and ordinary have to remain with us if society is to get rich.

The Moral

Don’t forget about your personal future. Plan for a period of financial restriction. Life is about understanding that the rule of unintended consequences. It affects us all. Life gets in the way and time flies.

The Impact

Past triumphs don’t count, no one rewards you for what you did 10 or 20 years ago. People define you by what you do now. Society is ungrateful. People assume they have rights and its another persons responsibility to ensure them.

Here is a simple example, the DWP Jobcentre appraisal is you can not work and you need to receive Universal Credit. However, PIP is not accessible because a person on the end of the telephone decides you’re OK. The Assessor tells you it is not their decision but the truth is the information they provide forms the basis of a judgement call.

Put enough layers of decision making in place and everything can be excused as someone else should have picked it up.

The systemic failure of society is based on failure – failure to apply the “Golden Rule”. There’s no need for global poverty, but when the rich have revenue sources from exploiting others it prolongs poverty.

Solution

Surprisingly its not focus on what you need or want, its be content, understand that Governments come and go, they affect and effect very little and change nothing. So we need a new style of government.

One that can’t be corrupted. One that offers the essentials to all and guarantees education, food and shelter.

Better days are coming – however, all things that work for the benefit of society today are futile. We will always have the poor with us, the homeless, those deprived of an education.

Find your way – I read the Bible and look at the best life can offer now and although for all the years spent trying to fix society my family have little to show for it, we have a real hope for the future.

Small Business economics

For Small Business owners the prediction for 2026 is quite bleak. An investment poor macro economic profile depresses the headline rate of economic growth.

However, this is an opportunity for business owners. Growth is over emphasised in business because sustainability and durability are key.

We work with those “we know, like and trust”, therefore, it is the opportunity to get to know your market and potential customers.

Health and Social Care

We’re told the health and social care system is failing. That’s not accurate. Demand out strips the structure to respond. Yet the market place is deluged with small providers who do a great job.

The problem? Simple, the Public rely on the Local Authority and Government, NHS and established Health Care sector to shop for them. This creates problems.

We don’t send others to shop for very personal services, choose where we do our weekly grocery shopping or buy petrol. Yet we rely on people who don’t know us to find the care provider.

Remedy! Care providers get known in your community, be there first, one off support. For example, this month thousands are down with a particularly difficult strain of influenza. Ask what support could you provide? Many care providers shop for their clients, is this a one off service you can introduce?

For example, in Liverpool, Birmingham, Essex, Nottingham, Leicestershire you have access to top care providers like:

All local care providers and working in their respective communities.

Therefore, Look for opportunities to be seen. Use social media and offer support. Don’t hide your business.

Trading Through Recession

The global reality is that market growth now depends on reducing globalisation, breaking up international companies and starting to operate within national boundaries.

However, the multinationals who move most of the money out of economies control Governments.

A radical solution is turn the income tap off. Require all businesses to operate under the same rules.

Faceless multinationals are at a disadvantage, they exploit convenience, price is rarely a factor because Wish, Alibaba and Temu compete on price but it is delivery times that let them down

Consolidation creates growth

Learn from the natural world, plants have seasons for growth, eventually everything stops growing but still functions.

Want to establish a market position that naturally develops in your community then contact us

Learn from the great surviving enterprises, who grow in favourable seasons, consolidate and trim to ensure continuation of trading. Business owners are not at the mercy of the marketplace they can drive it.

Stay Visible; Stay Local; Stay relevant!

Consequently, we see this as the time for real development. Create a plan, start by calling us.

Presumption

There is assumption and presumption, note the difference:

An Everyday Affliction

Authority presents information as truth, big companies and advertisers do this and the majority never raise any questions about the veracity of any statement. They take things at face value.

The reality is that little truth is written or spoken. For example requesting credit when the borrower knows they will never be able to pay. Or the public lender who is borrowing from a future source of money they haven’t yet received.

Corruption and dishonesty permeate all parts of life and business.

Neither a Borrower or a Lender Be

Having always developed businesses with zero access to borrowing, no loans, nor overdraughts has meant that every opportunity opens and closes without doing damage to others.

There is good sense in operating within the means of the business. In the early 1990’s I joined a firm based on a lie, deception, that there was at least enough money in the bank to get through the first years operation. It became the money didn’t exist.

30 people lost their jobs because I took things at face value. It never happened again.

The clear message

Expect to be deceived, learn the language of those who promise what they can’t and often have no intention of delivering.

Business Independence relies on those Six honest serving men:

I keep six honest serving-men
   (They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When 
   And How and Where and Who.

I send them over land and sea,
   I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
   I give them all a rest.

These are our tools for checking the veracity of others therefore, we all need to use them. The economy tanks because of macro policy adjustment small business collapses because of micro decisions.

Taking things at face value leads to disappointment therefore, aggressively challenge all news sources, hence checking for yourself. There’s nothing that substitutes

Need to know how to use the tools Contact Us

Update

The media are now telling everyone what a mistake the British People made, it doesn’t matter. Those who provide the information others make decision with are culpable.

Consequently, Its time to settle and graft, small business faces the micro end of the economy. Therefore without small business big business can’t function because we are the supply chain. Skip the media and politics and focus on the business.

Feeling Left Behind

The struggle to keep up with technology has caused some to feel they have been left behind.

The race to the top is always competitive, therefore, the breathing felt on the back of the neck should spur us on. However, there are many businesses that see the race passing them, inaccurately perceiving the market advantage is lost.

The media companies need us all to feel this is the only route to market. Thus the pricing of simple tools, core software programmes reaches a point that we are already feeling the pinch before anything is sold.

Smoke and Mirrors

Last week I had the opportunity to review a business that still used the person to person method of building business.

Focused on great service and a good reputation. No online reviews and a very small digital footprint.

Success was built on maximising the tools and resources and not getting sucked into the clouds. Simple systems well managed, good products and great sales with high quality after care.

The point made to me was the Media is just smoke and mirrors. The illusion of personal interest designed to strip the customer of every penny.

Solutions

First point made was have real people around, get to know the customer and understand their business.

Second point tailor the product or service, ensure it is unique and developed with the customer.

Third point, develop repeat business and referrals, this creates genuine leads.

Fourth point, value everyone in the supply chain by keeping things personal.

Action Point

Based on some of these points I looked at all the software and subscriptions we use. Our action was test the concept, therefore, shut down Microsoft and Google on a couple of new jobs.

Impact no subscription but the same high quality tools accessed like Libre Office – you can find loads.

Consequently, returning to home run servers and data storage that is turned off when not wanted proved advantageous.

The more we rely on Cloud and Global Corporations the more vulnerable our data and resources become.

Another key point, Software Giants want us to spend money when they watch the free ware and firm ware developers take the leaps forward and just copy them.

Is it time to explore the options? Could your business do everything differently by simplifying the dependency on Global Software companies?

Hence, we learn from our clients. As a result we share interesting outcomes with readers. So subscribe to the posts and in coming months explore what can be done to make simple tools work effectively.

Contact us for a ‘no obligation’ conversation about reducing core costs. Stop sacrificing your data security to a third party.

Sales an art or luck?

Sales forms a critical part of our life. Everyday we are required to convince another person that remaining close to us is sound thinking. We are selling ourselves.

The modern record of relationship building indicates many of the basic skills have been lost. For example: life partnerships, marriages, large numbers end in divorce, there is a breach of trust.

One of the most driven people in business, Wendy Wills focused our attention on a powerful quote:

People do business those they know like and trust!

This emphasised that the team understand develop relationships with potential clients and customers because the long term business gain ensured repeat sales.

Techniques Change

Professional selling changes with fashion and technology, the use of Social Media has gained prominence over Direct Marketing. However, the truth is clear, selling requires stimulus and accessibility.

How many times have we found ourselves watching an advert on TV then quickly searching for more information. Before the advert we had no idea we were interested or in need of the product.

The Basics

Understand the marketplace:

Consumers
Wholesale and Retail Suppliers
Manufacturers
Component suppliers

Each element requires the sales person and the buyer. The way to describe this:

Raw materials and components – in
Process and form – made
Suppliers and Sales – out

The consumer matches the Best Fit product is sold. Therefore, the sales person focuses on the need. Consequently, listen, ask questions because trust is established

However, too much talk, information and choice reduces the chance of a sale.

The Secret to Selling

One Word, LISTEN

Therefore, all the tricks and gimmicks miss the real art, connect with the person.

The Bid writing and Tender responses require the same discipline.

Want to know more about Trust based Sales and Bid Writing contact us

Remove the Luck and introduce the skills to create the art form, the outcome consequently, is more sustainable sales and client base.

Supporting Business

Those supporting business recognise that Government Statistics tracking insolvencies are distressing to read. When a company ceases to trade for any reason it affects the lives of many.

Business Support

During the 1990s as part of the social and economic development directory of a Local Authority the message was clear “got an idea, then start a business”. Business start up support provided the crucial support new business owners needed.

This support continues and expands the range of resources CDP Support provide.

Documents and Templates
Financial tables for Business Plans
Business Plans
Marketing Strategies
Quality Assurance
Health and Safety
Human Resources
Growth Planning
Bid and Tender Writing

Business is personal, an immersive investment that affects every part of life, public and private. Small issues unseen present the greatest risk to success.

Four quotes emphasise the need to know your business and stay ahead of the trends. Insolvency and Financial issues aren’t a product of poor bookkeeping or accounts, so put the ownership into business projects.

“Track your finances weekly”, simple advice but just how is that done?

Policy and procedures often conflict with action, causing issues with performance.

Use training to focus on development, not maintenance.

“Knowledge is far more important than information”

CDP Support – Tenders and Contracts

Freelance networking designed to keep business owners informed and knowledgeable.

Buy the support you need and get access to the specialist resources of experienced Freelance Business people. Contact us

Simplicity

The concept of trade is to exchange one product or service for financial reward. However, the modern complexity of global markets creates the need for comprehensive offers to customers.

This does not reflect the reality of life, we are good at some things, better at others, therefore, why the sales complexity and delusional promises. All product and services are limited or bound by finite terms.

Try this approach for a while; let the customer understand you are responding to their need. The extra’s required are just that, Extra! It is common to hear from freelancers (I know because I have been guilty of it), “we need this completed before I can move on, so I’ll do it myself”.

For service providers and freelancers understand the client is buying your skills and your time. Value them.

The business support marketplace

Define what you are selling and who is buying. Then make it easy for them to buy. Complexity creates confusion, simplicity establishes excellence, continuity and trust. All marketplaces are built on trust. Sadly, the regulatory system explains that we can’t trust everyone. So set checks, require information and ensure the integrity of the buyer.

An insolvent buyer is crippling and the impact of one or two in a financial year can be make or break. That is why CDP Support will help profile your marketplace and create a clear sales and tendering strategy.

This is a “No Frills” package.

So if you have a question or want to know more about the marketplace you are selling in Contact Us

CDP Support

Business Support providers recognise that Government Statistics tracking insolvencies are distressing to read. When a company ceases to trade for any reason it affects the lives of many.