Gavin put the phone down and shook his head.
“We’re not ready. We’re just not ready,” he muttered, throwing in his coat and stalking out of the office.
He walked down through the town to Barry Island, past Marco’s cafe, down to the makeshift grotto.
Neil The Baby stood outside with fake antlers on his head.
“All right Uncle Gavin?” he asked.
Gavin shook his head: “Not really, Neil. Is your mum in?”
Neil nodded: “She is, but you know the rules…”
Gavin nodded back and handed over £5.
“No change. Inflation,” he said.
Gavin pushed through the grotto tent doors to find Santa Nessa sitting on a tinsel-covered chair. She pulled down her fake beard.
“Ow, Gav, not being funny but I’m working here,” she said.
Gavin held up his hands: “I know, I paid the fee.”
Nessa waved him to sit on her knee: “You’ve got five minutes, Gav…”
Gavin sighed: “ICB wants to get ISOs for environmental management, information security, and business continuity. Our customers are increasingly demanding them before we win big contracts.
“But I don’t think we’re ready. I’m stressed about it, Stacey’s stressed about my stress, and Bryn’s stressed about the Christmas dinner sprouts. I don’t know what to do…”
Nessa nodded: “Jodie at Penarth Management, Gav. She’s got consultants who can help you, like she helped Dave’s Coaches when they were going for the football club contract. Got all their ducks in a row, she did. And Dave’s got a lot of ducks, I can tell you…”
Gavin nodded: “Sounds good. Have you got her number?”
Nessa pulled a business card out of her corset and passed it to him: “Ask her about Mango, Gav. The online software, not the fruit, like. It keeps all Dave’s paperwork in the cloud. All he needs is an internet connection to see it. Staff records, certifications, the lot. Cracking.”
Gavin smiled: “I will! This is perfect. How’s business here?”
Nessa grunted: “Brisk, Gav, brisk. I got a line of kiddies to see so takes your gift from Santa and be on your way. Ow! Neil The Baby!”
Neil opened the tent door and waved Gavin outside.
“Send the next one in,” she said, pulling her beard back up.
As the little girl walked in, Nessa shouted: “Ow! Ow! Ow!”
Find out how Mango’s online compliance software could help your business. Book a free demonstration which will be delivered via Zoom. We can help you achieve the ISOs you need, too. Call Penarth Management on 029 2070 3328 or email info@penarth.co.uk
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