How to Select a Bakery Consultant 

You have identified skill gaps in the bakery department and decided it would be beneficial to provide staff training in order to update your desserts and or other bakery items.

Now you wonder how you’re ever going to handle your day-to-day workload while managing the up-skilling and training of existing bakery personnel.
Sure you can hire new staff, but what will you do with the extra people in the pastry kitchen when your objective has been achieved?
Like many enterprises, you can hire a training consultant.
In house training dose not have to be expensive and given the present economic climate, up-skilling of your local staff can be a cheaper option than “head hunting”.
With their wealth of experience, good consultants are up to speed on the latest bakery technology. Best of all, they are happy to pack their bags when the job is over, saving you the long-term expense of hiring permanent staff.

Laying the groundwork
Before you begin looking for a consultant, you should identify your goals and budget.
What are the specific outcomes you expect from a consultant?
What criteria will you use for evaluating the consultants’ work?
Once you’ve answered these questions, prepare a document that includes an overview of your goals along with a realistic timetable.
Be sure to inform the staff involved about your intention and ask for input so that everyone affected by this "buys in" to the project.
Put your goals in writing, and provide this project description to consultants from whom you request proposals.
Once you’ve defined your goals and objectives, it’s time to establish a budget for the project. Consulting fees can range from $50 to $250 per hour, depending on the complexity of the project. It is usually more economical to engage a consultant at a weekly fee. If you’re considering an out-of-town consultant, be sure to also figure in travel and lodging expenses.

Finding candidates for the job
Now that you’ve defined the parameters of the project, you’re ready to search for a consultant.
In general, small "boutique" firms can offer more focused services, whereas larger firms tend to be more expensive. Understand that most consultants are expert in only one or two areas and use consultants only in their area of expertise. Select a busy consultant, one who handles repeat work and aim for a candidate who specialises and is the best in that field.
No matter what your reason for engaging consultants, you’ll want to find someone who is knowledgeable and experienced i.e. someone with a proven track record.
The best way to find a good consultant is by word of mouth.
Contact your colleagues in organizations of similar size and function, and ask for names of consultants they‘ve used with success.
The Internet is another great resource, start by googling “Bakery Consultants”.
Many sites offer the ability to e-mail contacts at their website--use these to request information on consultants specializing in the bakery- pastry areas.

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of candidates, you’re ready to conduct pre-proposal meetings to clarify project objectives and questions with interested consultants.
It is preferable to interview at least two prospective consultants--even if you’ve already identified a probable candidate for the job.
During the interviews, make certain you ask each candidate the same questions so that you can establish a fair standard for comparison. Some questions to ask may include:
* How long have you been in business?
* What markets do you serve?
* How do you measure success?
* Can you meet the time schedule?
* How do you charge (per hour, per day, per project)?
* What types of expenses do you require reimbursement for?
* Do you require a deposit?
* Do you guarantee value added outcomes?

Do the consultants listen to your needs, or do they tell you what your needs are?
Good consultants will educate your staff and enhance their skills.
Consider more than one option. But this does not mean considering dozens. Busier and better consultants will avoid organisations that have a reputation for wasting time.
Also, be sure to request a client list with names for references re completed projects.
Following your interviews, narrow down the field to a couple of candidates and request proposals. The consultants’ proposals should include the following items:
* A summary of the work to be performed
* Deliverables included in each step of the project
* Timeline for completion
* Billing rates and payment schedule
* Resumes or profiles of the consultants who will perform the work.

As you evaluate the proposals, balance the importance of quality and experience with the budget for the project.

Based on the information you’ve collected, it’s time to select the consultant you’d like to work with, also select a "runner-up" who would be a viable alternative. If the first choice consultant cannot pass your reference checks, you can immediately begin the process with the second choice.

As part of the evaluation of your consultant, be sure to check references. It's the only way to distinguish between accomplished professionals with a track record of genuine success and others that merely interviews well. Ask your prospective consultant for a complete list of recent clients, and choose from this list rather than the two or three names they might otherwise provide.