Green Energy
Osborne has a core team of executives with hands-on experience helping innovative green energy businesses prosper.
Our experience ranges from new technology start-ups to raising capital to restructuring in the electrical industry. We have government experience and know how to navigate the maze of new initiatives and opportunities.
To learn more about our Green Energy Team, please see our brochure.
Interim Association
Osborne has recently become a corporate member of the Interim Association, an organization dedicated to advancing interim management services through education, certification, and networking. Members are headquartered both globally and in the US. Jane Matthews, Osborne’s National Managing Principal, presented at the January 28th, 2010 webinar on ‘landing assignments’.
For more information on the Interim Association please visit their website at www.interimassociation.org
Vendor of Record ...
“The Osborne Group has Vendor of Record status with the Province of Ontario. This is independent recognition of our capability to provide a range of services and our business experience and expertise.”
Agricultural Sector ...
Among Osborne's diverse group of interim executives is a team experienced in and focused on providing operational excellence and executive power in the Agricultural Sector.
Our extensive industry experience and our interim management assignments cover the full spectrum from Food to Bio-products/Bio-fuel to Agri-processing and Ag Services.
To learn more about how Osborne's Agteam can provide solutions for your Agri-business, click to see our strengths and a partial list of our Ag sector assignments.
A New Era of Risk: HST, Directors Liability and Governance Issues
Darlene Hyde, Vancouver Principal joined partners from Grant Thornton and Faskin Martineau to present the following at a well attended session in the board room of Faskin Martineau in Vancouver on January 27th.
For further information on how Darlene can assist a not for profit organization, please contact Darlene Hyde at dhyde@osborne-group.com.
Osborne Principal Involved With Foreign Worker Program, Alberta
Victoria Ewert, an Osborne Principal in our Edmonton office is currently working with a number of companies in Alberta to alleviate their staffing challenges by facilitating a foreign worker recruitment program on their behalf. Victoria’s clients span many different industries from food and beverage, restaurants, hotels, warehousing, and private clinics. She has found this to be “extremely rewarding work” –helping workers who want to go abroad and clients who need staff to operate and build their businesses.
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada Facts and Figures 2007 Immigration Overview there were 37,257 temporary foreign workers from abroad in Alberta in 2007.
According to Alberta's Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook (2007-2017), Alberta may experience a labour shortage as high as 111,000 workers in the next 10 years.
While this is an effective means of addressing business’s resourcing needs, it also requires a high level of experience and skills to make it work. As a successful consultant that delivers results both for the employer and for the foreign workers, Victoria brings a combination of strong business experience at a senior level (primarily in the area of risk management), long established contacts in Asia, and a high degree of integrity.
There are many stages involved in facilitating a foreigner worker program for a client including:
- determination of their staffing needs
- due diligence on the company
- initial advertising through federal government site and local papers
- development of a labour market opinion obligation form and an employment contract (workers fall into three categories: semi-skilled, skilled, and professional)
- establishment of appropriate wages
- approval by federal government to proceed
- development of a potential candidate database through embassy contacts and word-of-mouth (Victoria gets a vast number of emails from prospective workers around the world), and foreign employment agencies
- interviewing, background checks, and documentation processing for foreign workers
- acting as a local advisor to workers as they settle into a new community
To learn more, Victoria can be reached at vewert@osborne-group.com.
Hot off the Press ...
Export Services
International trade comprises a large part of the Canadian economy. Many companies already export
their products and services, but 76% of our exports (as of 2007) are to the United States. While many
business owners would like to diversify into markets in Europe, Asia and North Africa, they often find that
reliable opportunities in these markets are not easy to identify and evaluate. Many companies have been
discouraged from seeking them out, either because of a failed (and sometimes costly) experience or
simply because of the expense, complexity and uncertainty involved. read more >
Bill 168 - Workplace Violence and Harassment - Are you ready?
Effective June 15, 2010, all organizations in Ontario with more than 5 employees will be required to have the necessary policies, programs, measures and procedures in place to address workplace violence and harassment.
Bill 168 poses unique challenges and has far reaching implications for all organizations.
The legislation requires employers to create new policies and programs to assess and control risks; to train employees and to develop procedures to investigate complaints. Many organizations will require help to understand the requirements and to develop a program that ensures compliance. read more >
The Social Web
Communications are changing and only a few industries are embracing the change, while others are not sure whether to take the step. Organizations hesitate for a variety of reasons including fear, disbelief, underestimation, lack of ROI metrics, misunderstanding, misperceptions, or some combination of the above. read more >
