Briefing · SME advisory
Consultancy notes that survive procurement
Business
Day rates vs fixed fees honestly compared
Plain-language notes on day rates vs fixed fees honestly compared.
Red flags in glossy proposals
Key questions around red flags in glossy proposals.
Reference calls that reveal culture fit
A calm walkthrough of reference calls that reveal culture fit.
Statements of work that protect SMEs
What to check before you act on statements of work that protect SMEs.
Change requests without relationship damage
A practical look at change requests without relationship damage.
Procurement portals and small firms
What UK readers should know about procurement portals and small firms.
Framework agreements worth joining
Plain-language notes on framework agreements worth joining.
Independent consultants vs boutiques
Key questions around independent consultants vs boutiques.
Big-four alternatives for mid-market
A calm walkthrough of big-four alternatives for mid-market.
Industry specialists vs generalists
What to check before you act on industry specialists vs generalists.
Local advisers vs remote teams
A practical look at local advisers vs remote teams.
NDAs that both sides understand
A calm walkthrough of nDAs that both sides understand.
Intellectual property in deliverables
What to check before you act on intellectual property in deliverables.
Retainers vs project fees for HR
What UK readers should know about retainers vs project fees for HR.
Fractional roles vs full engagements
Plain-language notes on fractional roles vs full engagements.
Post-merger integration timelines
A practical look at post-merger integration timelines.
Measuring Consultant ROI Without Fantasy Numbers
Metrics that survive board scrutiny.
Red Flags in Consultant Proposals
Vague deliverables, missing assumptions, and scope creep.
Writing a Consultant Brief That Gets Useful Quotes
Scope, outcomes, and budget bands consultants respect.
Operations
Day Rate vs Project Fee: Which Fits Your Problem?
When time-and-materials helps and when it does not.
Scoping workshops before hiring help
What UK readers should know about scoping workshops before hiring help.
Kick-off meetings that set tone
What UK readers should know about kick-off meetings that set tone.
Stakeholder maps before week one
Plain-language notes on stakeholder maps before week one.
Data access without security scares
Key questions around data access without security scares.
Handover docs that survive staff churn
A practical look at handover docs that survive staff churn.
Board packs consultants should produce
Key questions around board packs consultants should produce.
Workshops that end with decisions
A calm walkthrough of workshops that end with decisions.
Facilitation when politics run high
What to check before you act on facilitation when politics run high.
Culture diagnostics without buzzwords
What UK readers should know about culture diagnostics without buzzwords.
Employee surveys consultants run well
Plain-language notes on employee surveys consultants run well.
Performance management redesigns
Key questions around performance management redesigns.
Compensation benchmarking pitfalls
A calm walkthrough of compensation benchmarking pitfalls.
Job architecture for growing teams
What to check before you act on job architecture for growing teams.
HRIS selection without vendor theatre
A practical look at hRIS selection without vendor theatre.
Payroll outsourcing transition plans
What UK readers should know about payroll outsourcing transition plans.
Right-to-work audits before fines
Plain-language notes on right-to-work audits before fines.
Disciplinary process documentation
Key questions around disciplinary process documentation.
Grievance handling playbooks
A calm walkthrough of grievance handling playbooks.
TUPE when buying a business
What to check before you act on tUPE when buying a business.
Redundancy consultation timelines
A practical look at redundancy consultation timelines.
Settlement agreements and legal lines
What UK readers should know about settlement agreements and legal lines.
Diversity reporting requirements
Plain-language notes on diversity reporting requirements.
Gender pay gap action plans
Key questions around gender pay gap action plans.
Onboarding an External Consultant in Week One
Access, stakeholders, and success metrics.