How an engagement unfolds
From the first phone call to the final review, here is what happens at each stage.
Discovery call
We start with a 30-minute phone conversation. No slides, no sales pitch. You describe what is going on in your business, what is working, and what is keeping you up at night. We ask questions about your revenue, team size, competitive landscape, and recent changes. By the end of this call, both sides know whether there is a fit worth exploring.
If there is, we schedule an on-site visit within the following two weeks. If not, we will tell you honestly and, where we can, recommend someone better suited to your situation.
Diagnostic assessment
This is where we dig in. Over two to five days on-site (depending on company size), we review financial statements, interview department heads, observe daily operations, and audit key workflows. We look at where money enters your business, where it leaks out, and where decisions get stuck.
We pay particular attention to the gap between what leadership believes is happening and what frontline staff actually experience. That gap is often the root of most operational problems. At the end of the diagnostic, we produce a written report with specific findings, ranked by impact and urgency.
Strategy proposal
Based on the diagnostic, we present a detailed proposal outlining the recommended changes, the expected outcomes, the timeline, and the fixed fee for each phase. This is not a vague document full of buzzwords. It includes concrete actions: which roles need to change, which systems need replacing, which pricing models to test, and what the projected financial impact looks like over 6 and 12 months.
You have two weeks to review the proposal. We hold a working session to walk through it together, answer questions, and adjust priorities if needed.
Implementation
Once you approve the plan, we begin execution. Depending on the scope, this phase lasts between six weeks and six months. We work alongside your team, not in a separate room. Our consultants attend your management meetings, sit with department leads, and help draft the new processes, scripts, or policies needed.
Every two weeks, we send a progress report showing what has been completed, what is on track, and what has hit a snag. If something needs to change, we flag it early rather than waiting for a quarterly review.
Measurement and handover
Before we leave, we measure results against the targets set in the proposal. Revenue changes, cost reductions, cycle times, employee satisfaction scores: whatever metrics we agreed on at the start. We compile these into a final report and present them to your leadership team.
We also create a handover document that your managers can use to maintain the new processes without us. It includes checklists, decision trees, and escalation procedures. Three months after the engagement ends, we schedule a free follow-up call to see how things are holding up.
Typical timelines
A focused project, such as pricing strategy redesign for a single product line, typically takes six to eight weeks from diagnostic to handover. Broader engagements that touch multiple departments or involve organisational restructuring run closer to four to six months.
We do not stretch work to fill time. If we finish ahead of schedule, you pay the agreed fee and nothing more. Our average engagement in 2024 came in five days ahead of the projected completion date.
For companies that need ongoing advisory support after the main project wraps up, we offer a monthly retainer option. This gives you four hours of consulting time per month, plus priority scheduling if a new issue comes up that needs deeper attention.
The retainer is month-to-month with no lock-in. About 40% of our clients use it for the first six months after an engagement, then step down to quarterly check-ins.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a typical engagement cost?
Costs depend on scope. A focused six-week project for a company with 20 to 50 employees usually falls between £12,000 and £25,000. Larger restructuring projects for companies with 100+ staff range from £35,000 to £70,000. We always quote a fixed price before work begins, so there are no surprises.
Do we need to prepare anything before the diagnostic?
We will send you a short checklist after the discovery call. It covers things like recent financial statements (last two years), an organisation chart, and access to your CRM or project management tools. Most clients need about two hours to pull everything together.
Will your consultants be on-site every day?
During the diagnostic phase, yes. During implementation, it depends on the project. Some weeks require daily presence; others need only two or three days. We agree on a schedule at the start of each phase and adjust as needed.
What if we disagree with your recommendations?
That happens, and it is fine. The proposal review session is designed for exactly this. We walk through each recommendation, explain the reasoning, and listen to your concerns. If a recommendation does not fit your culture or risk tolerance, we adjust it. You are never obligated to implement something you are uncomfortable with.
Can you work with our existing advisors?
Absolutely. Many of our clients have accountants, solicitors, or marketing agencies already in place. We coordinate with them rather than duplicating their work. Clear role boundaries make the whole project run better.