In June 2003, Trevor retired from the Council of The Institute of Credit Management after 26 years service. From the outset in the mid-70’s he believed that change and improvements in the importance of credit management would only come about by committing time and personal effort to increase the level of professionalism and acceptance for the subject at Board level.

In 1977, as Company Secretary and Credit Manager of a major construction industry company he created the East Midlands branch, originally based in Leicester and became it’s first Chairman. Working with Roger Cork [later to become Sir Roger Cork and President of the ICM]; Pat Granville-White, Bill Adams and Tony Dumas the initial challenge was to move from offices in Brighton to a shared administration centre in Ascot with the Institute of Purchasing & Supply. 3 years later and following a move of job he joined the London & Home Counties Branch and became Chairman in 1983. As a regular and enthusiastic Council member he was appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee, subsequently chairing the Seminar Committee and played a key role in the establishment of the Federation of European Credit Management Associations in Paris in 1987. In 1989 he was appointed by the membership to the post of National Treasurer and during his office with the then Chairman - Peter Allen, they masterminded the creation of an autonomous secretariat with offices at Easton on the Hill. In 1991 Trevor was appointed Vice Chairman and in 1993 he became National Chairman.

At the time of his Chairmanship, Trevor was employed as Head of New Business for UAPT Infolink, the credit reference agency. They were tremendously supportive of everything to do with the Institute and allowed him to work 2 days per week over a 2-year period on Institute matters. The Institutes relocation of offices to the splendid accommodation at The Water Mill had now been completed and the growth in the Secretariat’s numbers reflected the level of work from the increasingly demanding membership of some 8,000 credit managers. Trevor made major presentations at five annual NACM congresses in the USA and travelled to Malaysia and Australia to spread the word of how the UK was tackling credit management. Notably amongst the achievement during his office was the establishment of the Chair in Credit Management at the University of Bradford, achieving record numbers of student members and gaining agreement to reduce the number of Council members from 46 down to 27, something that his successor, Ted Brown, benefited greatly from!

Since 1996, Trevor has been elected annually by the membership to the post of Vice President. He was further honoured when he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award at the Institute’s Annual Dinner in 1997. Passionate about all aspects of credit, Trevor will continue to support the charity and it’s members over the coming years.

For some years now Trevor Phillips, Chairman and CEO for CPL, has also held the position as Director of Marketing for Lovetts plc, solicitors who are based in Guildford. Lovetts specialise in the collection of commercial debts and litigating on contested contractual disputes.

With the recent launch of Lovetts Pre-Legal "No Collection - No Commission" service that is operated by CPL staff in the Lovetts name, it has been decided to bring the operational functions of the two businesses into closer harmony. The IT systems have now been linked so that Lovetts Account Executives and CPL’s Debt Recovery Managers can share information on commercial debts and seamlessly move debts from Pre-Legal into the issue of a County Court Claim. It also enables CPL’s own debt recovery clients to access the very best of services from a specialist law firm at advantageous rates.

Lovetts website is linked to the CPL website so that their clients can access the credit reporting, recruitment and consultancy services offered by CPL.
[March 2003]