1. How do I make the most of my investment in the Inner Circle Network?
The Inner Circle allows regional and/or boutique consulting firms to tap into established, proven and cooperative firms in other geographies to meet the needs of existing or potential clients with operations outside of local service areas. The matching service that the Inner Circle provides makes it possible to capture distant opportunities that would otherwise be elusive and logistically prohibitive.
As a member of the Inner Circle, you now have expanded capabilities that extend your geographical and technical reach. These capabilities can increase client retention and help you earn more revenue through your access to The Phylmar Group’s worldwide affiliate network.
The degree to which you benefit from your Inner Membership depends upon your ability to market your value proposition as a member of a worldwide affiliate network of qualified specialists.
Articulating Your Expanded Capabilities
You now are able to market The Phylmar Group’s business model as an extension of your own. To leverage your membership as an Inner Circle member, be sure to communicate the value of your access to a worldwide affiliate network of qualified consultants and specialists that gives you broad reach. By serving as a single point of contact for your clients through your membership, you will be able to streamline contracting, invoicing and project management processes. The benefits to your clients include:
- Reducing the time-consuming effort and cost to source and contract
- Reducing complexity by relieving clients of the project management burden associated with worldwide EHS and SR initiatives
- Reducing business risk through a rigorous QA/QC process
- Creating sustainable value for all stakeholders
A marketing tool kit is being developed to help Inner Circle members further market their increased competitive advantage.
2. How can I be sure that my client relationships will not be jeopardized by bringing in other firms?
Affiliates and other Inner Circle members are contractually prohibited from soliciting your clients. This is strictly enforced by Phylmar.
3. How do I network with other Inner Circle and Phylmar affiliate companies?
As a member of the Inner Circle you are provided with regular opportunities to network with other members of the Inner Circle through annual in-person networking events and regular webinars the Inner Circle hosts throughout the year. Access to the complete list of Phylmar Group affiliates is provided to all members upon joining the Inner Circle.
The Inner Circle website, accessed through the Phylmar Group website, provides all the contact information for other members of the Inner Circle. In addition, the Phylmar Group will soon be launching a members-only Inner Circle page with further information and details on maximizing the Inner Circle networking opportunities.
4. How is Phylmar organized?
The Phylmar Group is organized to provide our Inner Circle members with maximum exposure to target clients and easy access the affiliate network. Phylmar’s team of marketing professionals promotes our Inner Circle members through web site postings on Phylmar’s web site as well as placement of articles promoting the Inner Circle, and its members, on web sites visited frequently by Fortune 1000 firms.
5. Can any affiliate join the Inner-Circle, or is it by invitation based on certain criteria (services offered/geographies…)
There is a rigorous vetting process to become a Phylmar Group affiliate. Once you are a Phylmar affiliate, you may be invited to become a member of the Inner Circle. However, we have limited the number of Inner Circle members, with similar expertise, for each geographic location (approximately 100 mile radius).
6. Who and where are the current affiliates?
Phylmar Group affiliates continue to set the bar for quality standards in the EHS/SR field. All affiliates brought into our network are seasoned professional consultants, having proven track records with companies of varying size and project requirements. Each affiliate company is carefully selected after a thorough evaluation of their experience.
The Phylmar Group’s worldwide affiliate network of more than 500 environmental health and safety and social responsibility consultants in nearly 50 countries extends across the U.S., Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Working with us on a project-by-project basis, these affiliates offer a broad base of experience and specialties, which in turn extend Inner Circle member geographic and technical reach.
7. How many Inner-Circle members are there currently – where are they located?
Currently there are 12 members of the Inner Circle, located principally in North America. One member is located in the Middle East.
8. What does it mean to an Inner-Circle member to have access to the affiliate network?
Inner Circle members enjoy the opportunity to access the Phylmar Affiliate network and receive personalized consultation in finding the appropriate specialist for any project. This access occurs via the matching system when a need arises.
The Phylmar Group maintains a skills matrix of each of our affiliates in a single database along with a portfolio on each local EHS and SR expert with articles and case summaries that best represent their capabilities. Now that you can contract with these affiliates through your membership, you can service your clients in more ways and places. Phylmar works with you to identify the perfect match ensuring your project’s success.
There are four steps to finding the right affiliate:
1. Contact the Phylmar Affiliate Coordinator. The Coordinator will review your needs and recommend the best affiliate fit from our database of more than 500 affiliates in nearly 50 countries.
2. Once you have selected an affiliate, the Phylmar Coordinator will contact the affiliate(s), discuss the scope of work and obtain a cost estimate. The Coordinator will then discuss the estimate with you, and once you agree, will send you a project authorization containing the scope and cost estimate for your approval.
3. Phylmar handles all of the affiliate contracting, coordination, and invoicing so you don’t have to.
4. Once the work is successfully completed and you are paid, you pay Phylmar and we pay the affiliate(s).
9. If more than one Inner-Circle member fills a need (both geographically and technically), how is the match selected?
If more than one Inner Circle member in the same geographic area is deemed technically qualified to perform the assignment, a bid request will be sent to all qualified Inner Circle members. The client will be provided all bids and will make the ultimate selection. Phylmar and the client will develop the scope, which will be clearly communicated with the bid requests.
10. Are Inner-Circle members allowed/encouraged to reach out to one another?
Inner Circle members are encouraged to network with each other to share experiences and information. All project contracting must still go through Phylmar to ensure consistent service quality and efficiency. We do encourage Inner Circle members to contact potential affiliates about joining the Phylmar affiliate network, which would benefit all.
11. What are the discounts available?
Inner Circle members receive discount opportunities on laboratory equipment, fees and services. Currently your membership in the Inner Circle entitles you to a 20% discount on unit prices for certain laboratory analytical services from TestAmerica.
We are currently working to provide Inner Circle members with group discounts on insurance and on subscriptions to industry publications.
12. Is there any guarantee backing the service provided to my clients by remote affiliate providers?
All affiliates have been evaluated for their high quality and professionalism prior to being included in the affiliate network. Now that you can contract with these affiliates through your membership, you can service your clients in more ways and places.
We maintain a skills matrix of each of our affiliates in a single database along with a portfolio on each local EHS and SR expert with articles and case summaries that best represent their capabilities. Phylmar requests each affiliate guarantee their work to the client’s satisfaction before acceptance into the network.
