Press Release - Potency of People

BIRMINGHAM CONSULTANT LAUNCHES BOOK OF LEADERSHIP TIPS

The founder of a Birmingham human resources consultancy which ploughs all of its profits into charities to conserve wildlife in Africa has launched a book to help managers and leaders get the most out of their people.

Rob Ball of Rednal-based Naturally Concerned has launched “Potency of People – A Little Book of Leadership Hints.” The book gives advice based on the principle that a business or organisation can only succeed with the efforts of the people who work for it.

Rob Ball has co-written the book with American life and business coach Tammy Williams, with contributions from his daughter and fellow director Natalie Ball.

Naturally Concerned was set up in 2008 by personnel and management expert Rob, who previously held HR director positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover. He established the company in memory of his wife Alison who died from a brain tumour.

All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison’s favourite wildlife charities. She was passionate about animal conservation in Africa and travelled there often.

Rob Ball said the book – deliberately designed to fit into a pocket - offered HR and management advice on a wide range of issues including leadership, employee development, training, recruitment, handling difficult situations, listening skills and motivation.

He said, “We operate with a more ethical edge than many consultancies and the book reflects that. Our starting point is the firm belief that businesses should treat their employees and partners in a principled and moral way, and that those values should hold firm, even when a company is under economic and financial pressures.”

He added, “If managers and leaders do those things, then they will get the best out of their people. Work becomes an enjoyable experience and the business benefits from the contribution of its workforce. People can deliver pretty much everything a business wants, but if leaders and managers behave badly, they can equally deliver nothing.”

The book was launched at a special event held at Urban Coffee in Church Street, Birmingham.

“Potency of People – A Little Book of Leadership Hints” is available from Amazon, or from Naturally Concerned at www.naturallyconcerned.com.

Rob Ball is a former director and head of HR development at MG Rover. He was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005 and soon after was appointed HR director with GKN Autostructures. He left there to set up Naturally Concerned following his wife’s death in 2008.

Tammy Williams is a Master of Liberal Studies and Bachelor of Business Administration and has spent the last 10 years working for the State of Oklahoma as a specialist in change leadership.

Natalie Ball – a professional actor who trained at Bristol Old Vic – is a co-director in Naturally Concerned and creates training programmes based on role play.

Press Release - Travel Agency

PROFIT-FOR-GOOD BIRMINGHAM COMPANY LAUNCHES ETHICAL TRAVEL AGENCY

A Birmingham company which ploughs all of its profits into charities to conserve wildlife in Africa has launched a ground-breaking travel agency based on ethical tourism around the globe.

Rednal-based HR and management consultancy Naturally Concerned is spreading its wings to launch a travel business based on wildlife and environmental conservation. All net profits go to wild animal conservation in central and southern Africa.

Naturally Concerned was set up in 2008 by personnel and management expert Rob Ball, who previously held senior director positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover. He established the company in memory of his wife Alison who died from brain cancer.

All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison’s favourite wildlife charities. She was passionate about animal conservation in Africa and travelled there often.

The new travel company offers all types of holiday and business travel, but specialises in holidays which help animal conservation in Africa, dolphin and whale watching holidays, orang-utan viewing in Borneo and other ethically-based holidays.

Rob Ball said his wife loved being in Africa observing and photographing animals in the wild and she was enthusiastic about helping animals under threat.

“When you lose a spouse it causes you to pause and re-examine your priorities in life. Having spent more than 25 years in the corporate world I decided it was time to use my expertise in a more constructive and thoughtful way. That’s how Naturally Concerned was born. Alison’s passions were travel and animals, so this is a natural progression for the business,” he said.

“Naturally Concerned Travel operates under ethical guidelines based on conservation and concern for the environment. We aim to preserve the environment to which we travel, and ensure that local people are treated fairly and with respect, and benefit from tourist intrusion into their world. We aim to ensure that we have a positive impact on the destinations we visit,” he said.

Naturally Concerned Travel operates as a franchise of Explorer Travel and is ABTA and ATOL protected.

Rob Ball is a former director and head of HR development at MG Rover. He was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005 and soon after was appointed HR director with GKN Autostructures.

He left there to set up Naturally Concerned following his wife’s death in 2008. Naturally Concerned Travel also promotes travel as an employee benefit for other organisations.

Aged 56, he is president of the Warwickshire Cricket League, president of Bournville Cricket Club and a former committee member at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is also a graduate of Common Purpose, the people development charity which encourages managers to become better leaders at work and in society.

His daughter Natalie – a professional actor who trained at Bristol Old Vic – is a co-director in Naturally Concerned.



More information: Rob Ball, tel: 07850 954075

Press Release - Naturally Concerned

BIRMINGHAM CONSULTANCY IS WILD AT HEART

A Birmingham human resources and management consultancy is ploughing all of its profits into charities to conserve wildlife in Africa in a unique “profit-for-good” initiative.

Rednal-based Naturally Concerned operates as a normal HR and management consultancy, except that all net profits go to wild animal conservation in central and southern Africa.

Naturally Concerned was set up in 2008 by personnel and management expert Rob Ball, who previously held HR director positions at GKN and before that at MG Rover. He established the company in memory of his wife Alison who died from a brain tumour.

All profits from Naturally Concerned go to Alison’s favourite wildlife charities. She was passionate about animal conservation in Africa and travelled there often.

Rob Ball said his wife loved being in Africa observing and photographing animals in the wild and she was enthusiastic about helping animals under threat.

“When you lose a spouse it causes you to pause and re-examine your priorities in life. Having spent more than 25 years in the corporate world I decided it was time to use my expertise in a more constructive and thoughtful way. That’s how Naturally Concerned was born,” he said.

“We offer HR and management advice on a wide range of issues including leadership, employee development, training, manpower, recruitment and motivation. But we operate with a more ethical edge than many consultancies. Our starting point is the firm belief that businesses should treat their employees and partners in a principled and moral way, and that those values should hold firm, even when a company is under economic and financial pressures,” he said.

Rob Ball is a former director and head of HR development at MG Rover. He was made redundant when the company collapsed in 2005 and soon after was appointed HR director with GKN Autostructures.

He left there to set up Naturally Concerned following his wife’s death in 2008.

Aged 56, he is president of the Warwickshire Cricket League, president of Bournville Cricket Club and a former committee member at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He is also a graduate of Common Purpose, the people development charity which encourages managers to become better leaders at work and in society.

His daughter Natalie – a professional actor who trained at Bristol Old Vic – is a co-director in Naturally Concerned and helps with training programmes.