Richard: ERP coach for manufacturing companies

Umbrella Club is a community. What makes us valuable to the organisations we work with isn’t a database or a listing page, it’s the knowledge and experience our members bring to the table, built up over years in the field and shared freely with each other and with the businesses they work with.

Richard is one of those members. With deep experience guiding manufacturing businesses through the leap from basic accounting software to enterprise-grade ERP systems, he brings a specific, hard-won expertise to the network, one that comes from having done this selection and implementation work in the trenches, not just advised on it from a distance.

We got to know Richard through his member profile below, where he shares the kind of project that energises him, the advice he’d give his to more junior IT contractors, and what keeps him coming back to Umbrella Club.

Do you want to meet other IT peers and professionals? Join Umbrella Club as a member today and be part of a trusted network that supports collaboration, learning, and long-term career outcomes.

Meet Richard

Do you have a niche or special areas of interest?

My focus is ERP advisory for medium-sized manufacturing companies. I work with businesses at the point where they’ve outgrown their existing systems and need to move to something built for scale.

Describe your ideal project.

Right now I’m working with a food and beverage manufacturer that’s growing strongly and preparing for the future by graduating from Xero to a fully fledged ERP solution. I’m assisting with the selection and implementation of an ERP carefully matched to their business, one that supports where they are now and where they’re heading.

What advice would you give to an IT contractor at the start of their career?

Research how a small business actually runs. As a contractor, you’re essentially a standalone entity. You need to understand marketing, pricing, your craft, and how to make a genuine difference for your clients. If you view yourself as a small business and adopt the mindset of a commercial enterprise, you’ll market yourself in a way that attracts maximum attention from recruiters and employers.

What are your favourite things about Umbrella Club?

Definitely the public events. We always have great presenters on stimulating topics and a great turnout. It’s an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people, establish new relationships, and support each other.

Want to work with Richard or join him as an Umbrella Club member?

Richard’s experience reflects what Umbrella Club is built around: staying connected to people you trust and continuing conversations beyond a single project.

Members share knowledge, support each other, and remain visible within the industry rather than restarting the process each time work changes.

If you’d like to build stronger professional relationships and stay part of those conversations, joining Umbrella Club is a good place to begin.
Or if you’re interested in hiring Richard as a contractor, contact our team today.

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