Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Effective Partnership
I have just got back to the office after spending a morning with my local Trading Standards inspecting a local supermarket. It was a fascinating experience. In conversation with the owner afterwards I could see why small businesspeople complain about the amount of red tape they have to wade through. And yet, the procedures that the Council Officer was asking her to comply with regarding the correct disposal of waste, using the right weights in baking bread, having clear written procedures for the training of staff and setting aside properly marked areas in the cold storage area for out-of-date food prior to its return to the wholesaler, are all necessary to protect the public and to ensure that we get what we pay for.
Trading Standards is, of course, all about working in partnership with other agencies, especially the Police. I was fascinated therefore to see this principle enshrined in the logo adorning a collection of mugs in their office. Printed in bold letters, the mugs proclaimed that officers are "Enforcing together".
Given Tony Blair's preference for sending a message by way of the mug he is using, perhaps he should buy in a set of these for the next time he has a meeting with George Bush.
Trading Standards is, of course, all about working in partnership with other agencies, especially the Police. I was fascinated therefore to see this principle enshrined in the logo adorning a collection of mugs in their office. Printed in bold letters, the mugs proclaimed that officers are "Enforcing together".
Given Tony Blair's preference for sending a message by way of the mug he is using, perhaps he should buy in a set of these for the next time he has a meeting with George Bush.
