Tag Archives: management consultancy

21st Century thinking, there is no box!

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In today’s increasingly difficult economy with uncertainty around political and currency futures, is it any wonder that depression is expected to impose the second biggest health burden globally by 2020?

I have always believed that in order to predict the future it is up to us to create the future we choose and how we want to be in our outlook.  By empowering ourselves and being proactive in our approach to our work life-balance it is really down to us to affect the life we want for ourselves and our environment.  In doing so, we have a better chance of happiness and fulfilment and in avoiding melancholy, frustration and ultimately depression.  In order to avoid these pitfalls we must each begin to think and act outside of the box.  We need to let go of personal insecurities and embrace different and new approaches of achieving our objectives.  We must begin to become mindful of our approaches and actions and indeed mindful of our very selves.  This is harder to do than to talk about, however it is possible.  It is in this way that we introduce a frank and straightforward approach to how we engage with our clients on all levels.  It is only by boldly embracing new and fulfilling mind-sets that we can avoid the ruts and traps of tradition and in potentially becoming a statistic.  It is the fear of change that holds back the change that we so desperately need today and to move forward and create the 21st century we want.

I am constantly amazed that organisations, as well as individuals, continue to do things the same way over and over again and expect different results.  More and more people have said to me recently how difficult and worrying doing business is becoming and how frustrated and unhappy they are beginning to feel.

At Conduit, when we engage with new clients they initially state that ‘we do that ourselves why would we need you? We have been doing it this way for years with reasonable results’.  The fact is they may well do some aspects of what we offer as a business; however they do not specialise the way we do.  They do not have over 12 years’ specific hands on experience of direct commercial engagement over periods of time that have been proven in unlocking value.  They often fail to appreciate that our services may seem familiar on the surface, however they are completely different, we use new and exciting approaches in engagement at all levels in building value.

The Conduit building blocks and our commercial approach is unique, effective and proven. We diagnose businesses that are failing to meet expectations and enhance further those that are demonstrating potential.  Our approach identifies patterns and we unbundle and free up business models that are stuck or failing.  We engage as if part of the management group and work with the team day to day.  We ensure that the focus and alignment of the business is optimised, and that all aspects of the resource are operating in unison to deliver to plan.  We test current beliefs and encourage opportunistic thinking.  We develop together believable and achievable objectives and goals.  Quite simply we enthuse potential.  We mentor the team to choose the future they desire, we then empower them to create it themselves.  We not only think and act outside of the box; we don’t believe there is one. 

For more information on Conduit’s proven approaches please call 01235 831777 or email hollymunns@conduitpartners.co.uk

Time for a change?

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Ah, I get it now; there were more people who did not want to see my friend’s band than did! The ‘out of comfort zone ‘ was too much, then risk too great. I understand, nothing ventured and all that. Risk profile too high; however exposure to risk varies greatly depending on which hilltop you reside.

It surprises me the way we humans fail to learn from past models that have been unsuccessful; it is as if we are paralysed or fearful of trying something new, getting it wrong or getting fired. Given that shareholder value remains the key objective with great exits playing a huge part in this, indeed the primary objective; why aren’t more investor funds exploring alternatives, why are they not seeking out ways to reverse current trends, why are they not actively seeking ways to change their approach?

It turns out that some are. Since my last announcement it looks like we will be nearer 14X ROI if we close the current fundraising. We are now being contacted by funds and fund managers asking to how we achieved such returns particularly in such a poor economic climate and inquiring as to how we might work together. We welcome this; we want relationships with investors like the Carbon Trust, where we can add value in this level either as partners in JV’s or partnerships.

Therefore if you are seeking to attract and raise additional funds or have portfolio investments that need to get to revenue; we offer a proven approach and successful track record that offers a significant differentiator; indeed if you have companies that really need accelerating to unlock the value, or indeed if you wish to know if they won’t, then again we would be happy to talk to you about how we can assist.

We work in various ways: a strategy to scale programme; time and expertise for equity models; new innovative approaches to qualify commercial viability; generation of quality deal flow; IP FTO diligence; outsourced sales channel capability; understanding and control of the commercial process; or even to be your commercial expert on the board. We have proven our value through our approach in hundreds of early stage companies over the last ten years. We pride ourselves on a great value proposition that offers an inside track into deal flow and a clear route to maximise exit strategies.

It is a combination of these approaches and in working with fund and portfolio managers that have enabled us to deliver such a significant ROI.

Please call 01235 831777 or email info@conduitpartners.co.uk to discuss how your fund or your portfolio companies can benefit from our experience and approach.

Can you afford not to invest in your business?

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Can you afford to invest in your business? That’s what many company bosses ask themselves when they’ve driven their business so far, but now find their wheels spinning in the mud. They’re stuck, but terrified of the potential cost of calling in help to get their wheels in motion again.

By having the right management consultants supporting a business – over 90% of FTSE 100 companies use management consultants – the board, investors and stakeholders ensure the company has the strength and vision to thrive in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace.

Companies need that little bit extra to differentiate themselves, to launch new products, and enter new markets – and they bring in consultants such as Conduit Partners because they know we have years of experience and a first-class track record of success ourselves. We know what’s possible, and tell them honestly what they are capable of achieving. We help them look at their business in a new way.

We have seen more than 300 businesses, and very few are capable of coping on their own. They may need assistance, albeit for short periods, to reinforce their existing team, to augment their current activity, and to enhance their progress. They need people they can trust, people they like, people who can share the vision and build it with them; people who can challenge them, push them, and help them grow as a business and as individuals.

However, working with external consultants is too often seen as a cost they can ill afford rather than a value-add. Value is the key here. Many SME businesses struggle to understand their own value proposition, and where they fit into ever-changing sector value chains. More importantly, they grapple with understanding the cost benefit ratio of what management support companies like Conduit bring to the table.

What SMEs don’t realise is that for every £1000 a business spends on external management support, the ratio return (over a two-year period) is times six – therefore a £6000 return per £1000 return on investment. Why, then – particularly at the early stages – are so many businesses reluctant to engage? Not having the money is a common excuse rather than a valid reason.

A large percentage of the work we do has a positive return: we are prepared to share the upside with companies, to go ‘there’ with them, where we believe they have the potential to succeed. It would significantly benefit more start-ups, early-stage companies and SMEs to follow the larger corporations’ example and invest in supporting the business commercially. By sharing the challenges of building a successful business, they may well find they are able to build larger rewards much quicker than anticipated.

So, if your wheels are spinning and you’re asking yourselves ‘Can we afford to invest in our business?’ perhaps you should instead be asking ‘Can we afford not to?’