In Your Shoes - MDG Group

Networking, Green Energy and Change of Tenancies

Christian is an Account Manager at MDG who is also heavily involved in Business Development; much of his time is spent networking and exploring new opportunities. Christian is also a Circular Tayside Ambassador, providing customers with solutions to help them act in a more sustainable manner.

“Although COVID has changed how we work, the job we do is still essentially the same, as my typical day involves a mix of Business Development and Account Management. Today followed that format as I began with some one-to-ones with members of various networking groups. My current focus is highlighting Renewable and Green Energy options available to businesses when renewing their gas and electricity contracts.

Around midday I have arranged a call with one of my customers to discuss their upcoming renewals. This customer has recently expanded and is taking on several new properties. Taking over utility supplies can be fraught with time consuming difficulties. We proactively take care of the whole change of tenancy process, seamlessly move all the necessary documentation into the customer’s name and then secure them the best possible energy and water contracts leaving the business owner free to concentrate on the front end of their business.”

Project Green

Sam is an engineering graduate from Dundee University and is also a Circular Tayside Ambassador, with most of his work focusing on energy monitoring, circular economy, and sustainability. A significant amount of Sam’s time is dedicated to research and reporting for projects at MDG, which lead to exciting new services.

“My morning starts with a webcall with my colleague Christian to discuss our various meetings and tasks ahead. On the agenda for today is putting the finishing touches to our green energy contract service and MDG’s continued commitment to circular economy. It is great to be working closely with someone – albeit from the kitchen table – on something that we are both passionate about.

Later, we have a meeting with a representative from a charity to discuss a partnership that will allow us to plant trees on behalf of our green energy customers. This forms a major part of our vision for sustainability and is an exciting project to be involved in.

Working in lockdown has been challenging but has allowed MDG to properly evaluate our processes and outline ways in which we can become more sustainable. With the creation of our Triple A plan, detailing our Accountability, Awareness and Actions towards becoming a circular business, we are in a good place to help others do the same by reducing their energy consumption and exploring renewable options”.

Water discount, anyone?

Claire is an experienced Account Manager at MDG, with much of her time dedicated to helping colleagues and customers with water related queries. As water works differently to other utilities, Claire’s expertise ranges from gaining customers competitive discounts to validating invoices and overseeing the resolution of water-based disputes.

“My morning is spent compiling a list of upcoming renewals and preparing to tender them on the market. This involves collating Supply Point ID information and calculating each customers annual spend on water. Once I have received quotes from suppliers, I present my recommendations to each customer and help them to understand the different elements that make up the full discount on offer.

The Pandemic has resulted in significant changes to the water market and the billing of supplies, so a large chunk of my time is currently spent letting my customers know about different schemes and other ways they can reduce water costs while their business is limited or even completely shut. I advise suppliers of temporary site closures and get meter reads from our clients so that they are billed to actual readings rather than estimates as well as on the correct level of discount. This helps many of our clients manage their cash flow during this tricky time”

Staying Connected from a Distance

Lisa is the Manager of MDG Telecoms, our in-house customer focused telecoms business. Now in her fifth year with MDG, Lisa helps our customers find solutions to all their telecom related needs- from mobile contracts to leased lines and phone systems. Lisa also manages the social media accounts for the business.

“My role is predictably unpredictable! Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, Ive been kept busy helping clients find the appropriate ‘working from home’ solutions and getting them set up. This is my focus for today, as I have a client who will be working at home for the foreseeable future and needs to be able to control the routing of their main line number remotely. I will pull together some options for them and recommend what I think would work best given their needs.

After this, I need to finish the telecoms billing run. It is my job to precheck and send invoices out to our telecom clients every month, which takes up quite a large chunk of my day. However, these plans could always change if something urgent comes in that needs to be dealt with straight away!”

Making Team Time

During these challenging times it has been important to the Directors at MDG that we all stay connected and are well supported to continue to provide excellent service to our customers from home. To maintain a high and positive mood throughout our team we have frequent calls and meetings which allow staff to discuss challenges and work together to arrive at solutions as we would have done in the office.

Today, to celebrate a successful few months from home, the company Directors Douglas Reid and Annette Welch have organised a fun team afternoon on Zoom. This included team games and quizzes to give everyone a chance to wind down for the weekend after a busy yet productive week of hard work. We all look forward to the day we can get back together in person to celebrate MDG successes on team days out as we usually would!