Silver Lining Partners (SLP) - had been under under investigation amid allegations by a Royal Mail whistle blower that it had been "fleecing" the postal giant.

mlocr · Post by **mlocr** » 09 Jan 2016, 16:12

News article in Supply Management, Jan 8, 2016:

http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/20 ... unal-hears

The tribunal was told two whistleblowing letters were sent regarding a firm of consultants, Silver Lining Partners (SLP), whom Harmeston engaged, firstly at Royal Mail and then at the Co-op.

The first letter, sent to the Royal Mail, claimed the consultants were overcharging the organisation and alleged impropriety in the way the firm was procured.

Under cross examination yesterday Harmeston was asked why only SLP was considered for the project at the Co-op and why she did not mention to the Co-op that SLP had been the subject of allegations at Royal Mail.

mlocr · Post by **mlocr** » 09 Jan 2016, 16:22

Article in Daily Mail, January 7,2016:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/art ... mages.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But the tribunal also heard that Ms Harmeston had left her previous job as head of procurement at the Royal Mail while a consultancy firm she had used - Silver Lining Partners (SLP) - had been under under investigation amid allegations by a Royal Mail whistle blower that it had been "fleecing" the postal giant.

And questioned by Andrew Burns QC, representing the Co-op, the claimant agreed she had not told her new employers about the matter and that she had later employed SLP to work at the Co-op. The Co-op alleges this was done even though she did not have the authority to do so.

mlocr · Post by **mlocr** » 09 Jan 2016, 16:34

Article in the Reading Chronicle, Thursday 7 January 2016:

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... lpractice/

"The firm said she knew about SLP's "incompetence and profiteering" at the Royal Mail - yet employed them in her new job at the Co-op.

The Co-op's counter claim states: "It transpired that she had left Royal Mail Group under a cloud after the SLP affair, was poor at her job and exhibited appalling judgement in recruiting SLP.

"It was her behaviour, attitude and performance which was the reason for her dismissal."

mlocr · Post by **mlocr** » 09 Jan 2016, 16:53

Article in the Financial Times, January 7, 2016 10:09 pm:

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ac17b210 ... z3wlZ3y32U

The Manchester tribunal also heard that Ms Harmeston left the Royal Mail while it was investigating a consultancy she employed — Silver Lining Partners (SLP).The postal business eventually decided SLP was not competent to do the work asked for and ended the contract, Andrew Burns QC, for the group, told the tribunal.