Local authorities need to prepare, and they need to be resilient. Preparedness is vitally important for local authorities.
My name is Ian Carter, and I’m the Chief Sales Officer for KaarbonTech.
I think the thing that attracted me most to KaarbonTech was potential and opportunity. Opportunity to grow the business, and potential to really help local authorities achieve their goals and deliver services with the amount of money they’re currently receiving, which is considerably less than they were a while back.
I’ve worked across local authorities for the last 20 or so years. I spent 10 years at Ordnance Survey as Head of Local Government, and I’ve worked for Capita, Northgate and Liberator too, all with a local authority focus.
So, it means I’ve got a good understanding of local authorities and how they work, but more importantly, I have an understanding of the requirements they have currently and the issues they may face in the future.
I think long-term outcomes for local authorities are absolutely supported by underlying relationships. Generating a really good relationship with the local authority is not always easy to do, but once you start to show what impact your services, software or advice can have, you start to be accepted as that trusted supplier or adviser that local authorities want to turn to for support.
Something that might surprise people about me is that I was the lead singer of a punk band many, many decades ago. One night, we played in a venue when The Jam were playing at a different venue, and my claim to fame is that we got a better write-up in the local newspaper than The Jam did.
KaarbonTech is different because we do it all. We do software, we do services, and we offer advice. That’s a unique package that I think has become more and more important to local authorities.
Not many organisations do that, so I think we will be seen as the organisation that local authorities turn to for support.
Ian Carter joins KaarbonTech as Chief Sales Officer, bringing with him more than two decades of experience working across local government and the wider public sector. With a strong understanding of how local authorities operate, the pressures they face and the support they increasingly need, Ian is focused on helping KaarbonTech build long-term relationships that deliver real value.
Understanding Local Government
Ian has worked with local authorities for over 20 years, including 10 years at Ordnance Survey as Head of Local Government, as well as roles with Capita, Northgate and Liberator. This experience has given him a clear understanding of how councils work, what they need today and the challenges they are likely to face in the future.
For Ian, supporting local authorities is about more than selling a product or service. It is about understanding the pressure they are under to maintain services with reduced budgets, while continuing to deliver for the communities they serve.
Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships
Ian believes strong relationships are central to delivering long-term outcomes. By building trust across different levels of an authority, KaarbonTech can become more than a supplier; providing the support, advice and practical understanding councils need when facing complex service challenges.
His focus is on helping customers understand the impact that software, services and advice can have when they are brought together in the right way.
Resilience, Preparedness and Practical Support
Preparedness is a theme that strongly resonates with Ian. With a forces background, he understands the importance of planning, preparation and resilience, particularly when services are under pressure.
For local authorities, that means being ready for challenges such as flooding, potholes and wider infrastructure risk. It also means bringing different departments together around a common purpose: protecting communities, reducing risk and helping places remain safe, secure and well managed.
Life Outside Work
Outside of work, Ian enjoys walking, cycling, reading and going to the theatre. He has recently moved to Southsea, where he enjoys walking along the seafront towards old Portsmouth as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.
Something that might surprise people is that Ian was once the lead singer of a punk band. His claim to fame is that his band once played in Southend on the same night as The Jam; and got a better write-up in the local paper.
In Ian’s Words
“Local authorities need to prepare, and they need to be resilient. Preparedness is vitally important.”