Silence is NOT Golden When It Comes To YOUR Training Budget

I've had the pleasure of being involved with International Credit Management Associations for more than thirty years. It's been a privilege to work with some of the most knowledgeable international credit practitioners in the world – and I mean the world! - on a day to day basis and, at the other end of the scale, those taking their first tentative steps on the road to success in this most stimulating of professions in being able to provide some of the crucial education and training necessary for their career progression and the optimisation of their value to their Company.

It's a thoroughly satisfying role with just on major frustration. When I'm encouraging credit practitioners to attend Symposiums, the oft familiar cry is 'It's a great Programme and I'd love to come, but I don't have the budget'.

A valid argument from a corporate perspective? I don't think so. I'm all too well aware of the extraordinarily difficult economic times we are living in, but doesn't that make the need to establish a competitive and professional edge over the competition all the more compelling?

Let's look at a typical two days International Symposium and attendance say once a year. Surely two days out of the office can be accommodated? What are we looking at to cover the symposium fee, travel and hotel expenditure? Let's say US$ or €3,000; they're currently close to par. I know it's a figure not to be sneezed at and the budget holder will understandably ask 'Where is the ROI here'? The answer is that if the delegate buys into every aspect of the Symposium – Keynote Address/Presentations on a Variety of Subjects/Industry Group Meetings/EXPO/Networking and, yes, even Social, then the cost of attendance – perhaps intangible at first sight – will be repaid many times over.

Here are some sessions from our recent event in Prague and our forthcoming gathering in Fort Lauderdale: -

• Integrating ESG and Climate Risk into Credit Management
• The Experts View on the Insolvency Environment and Payment Behaviour
• The Future of the Global Order – Economics, Politics and Geopolitics
• Predictive Analytics in Times of Global Volatility

There was and is much more from a day-to-day political and commercial credit and collections risk perspective.

The justification is unarguable, so DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. Keep trying by providing evidence that backs up your case. It's your career development on the line. Don't ignore it 'at any cost'.

For further information about ICTF, including our forthcoming Annual Global Credit Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from 13 to 15 November, please visit www.ictfworld.org or contact me at [email protected] or on +44 1869 277523. And remember, ICTF – Because Professional Credit Management Matters.

ICTF: BECAUSE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS