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How to survive and thrive with private equity investors

Private equity investment opens up exciting new opportunities, but also some unique challenges for a management team. As an experienced Private Equity firm operating partner, Michael Eidenschink has helped many senior leaders navigate the often tricky relationship with PE. Here he offers his advice on making that relationship more productive for everyone involved.  1. Your…

How to keep your prices at an optimum level

Market volatility, wage inflation and the spiraling cost of raw materials has forced many businesses to increase prices. But doing so without damaging sales or customer trust is a careful balancing act. Data scientist Ali Habasha explains why intelligent pricing is the answer. “Historically, a lot of organisations, especially B2Bs, have applied blanket price increases….

6 things to consider before selling part of your business

Divesting a business can streamline your organisation and generate capital to reinvest in its future. But where to start? What are the challenges? And what’s the most effective way to get the best price? Interim Managing Director Andy Halsall, a transformation and disposal specialist, shares his advice. 1. Consider your options Typically, when leaders consider…

6 things to do before starting your business transformation

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, or so the saying goes, and failing to prepare for a transformation programme – particularly a business critical one, can be extremely damaging. So, what should you be thinking about before diving in to ensure your programme’s a success? Experienced transformation expert Paul Sambhi outlines his key considerations. …

How to start building your AI capability – Tips for the CEO

Recent months have seen apocalyptic warnings on the dangers of artificial intelligence. But “AI transformation expert” Dean Zia Dar isn’t panicking yet – and says business leaders shouldn’t either. He offers these tips to help you standup AI capability in less than a year. 1. This is how AI helps you “Don’t let the technology…

Why social value is a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

Once largely viewed as the ‘fluffy stuff’ in bids, today social value is a significant and serious part of every government contract. In fact, says social value adviser Richard Dennis OBE, a former COO of Amey’s FM division, it’s fast becoming a significant and serious part of doing business full-stop.  Pick a number between 10…

How to earn the commute and win back your people 

Covid changed the way we work, enabling millions to either do their jobs from home permanently or drop into the office occasionally. But while hybrid has advantages, many companies are concerned about its negative impacts. So what can be done? Employee and customer experience expert Debra Ward believes it’s time for organisations to rethink their…

Should IT be leading this?

In some organisations IT projects have a habit of going over schedule, over budget and falling short of what the organisation actually needs. That, says business transformation expert Anthony Ward, is because they’re more than IT projects – they’re often major change programmes. And if that’s the case, should IT really be leading them?  There’s…

5 ways to improve your board pack and focus on the issues that matter

Board packs are essential for engaging senior stakeholders, bringing them up to speed on performance and guiding discussions that shape future strategy. They’re an indispensable component of every board meeting, but they can also be time-consuming and difficult to create. Is there a better way to build them? Management consultant and experienced interim manager Ashif…

Six reasons to carry out a value creation plan (VCP) – even if you’re not facing a PE buyout

When a private equity (PE) firm comes into a business and interrogates the data and your team to make a value creation plan, it can “feel like open-heart surgery while trying to run a marathon.” So says Mike Hawthorne, an executive advisor and former CEO of PE portfolio companies. But a VCP doesn’t have to…

Is a Chief of Staff the key to faster growth?

Busy CEOs may not be able to add more hours to the day or create a copy of themselves, but hiring a chief of staff (CoS) could be the next-best answer. Experienced CoS Les Murray explains how this still largely under-utilised role can lighten the load and significantly accelerate performance. For many, a chief of…

Pay rises in a post Covid world

Requests for pay rises are on the increase, and whether you are the manager/remco member or employee, the following information may prove useful. I am pretty certain that there have been far fewer conversations about pay rises over the past year than would usually take place. However, as offices start to re-open and employees contemplate…

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