Consulting & Advisory Service

Procurement & Commercial


Global resources, streamlined supply chain, and innovative cost reduction

 Optimising your Sourcing,

Costs and Contracts


Streamline
Processes

across Geographies, Suppliers & Contracts

Without the need to invest in a large in-house procurement team


We offer strategic consultancy to review your procurement practices and policies, helping to develop a holistic approach to the procurement life-cycle.


Whether you need to access new global resources and build carrier relations in a new geography, require a cost reduction strategy involving your supply chain and contracts, or wish to review your processes and policies on a global scale—we can build a team with the skills and experience necessary to deliver your outcomes on budget and on time.


How we help our clients

Our team has decades of experience designing process improvements that increase efficiency and reduce costs

Strategy

Supporting you to carve out and design a holistic glidepath to a successful procurement function, covering every input and output along the way.

Procurement as a Service

Offering outsourced procurement services to support you in understanding, streamlining, and executing all aspects of the procurement lifecycle.

Contract Management as a Service

Managing all aspects of supplier contracts to ensure that they are being compliant on their end, and negotiating to implement improved contracts where necessary.

Cost Reduction

Reviewing your current estate of products and go-forward contracts to optimise supplier renegotiation and service migration.

Process Reviews

Understanding how you have operated and approached procurement processes in the past in order to streamline and optimise them in the future.

Outsource Pricing Team Support

Providing necessary pricing support, strategies, and solutions for those procurement exercises which lie outside your usual scope.

Current Estate and Spend Review

Analysing your current portfolio and spend activities to better determine the requirements of your business going forward.

Digital Procurement Services

In an increasingly digital landscape, we can assist you in deciphering digital solutions for your procurement needs, from conception to implementation.

Invoice and Inventory Auditing and Analytics

Reviewing and evaluating your services, including supplier inventory, billing, and contracts, to make sure they are all aligned.

Supplier Performance Management

Getting to know your suppliers and their operations, metrics, and systems for reporting to make sure you are receiving the best possible services.

Featured Services



Our Procurement & Commercial practice is led by
Nigel Meacham

Managing Partner - Digital Procurement

Nigel began his telecom career in the late 80s, leading sales of iNet’s optimisation tools business. In the early 90s he co-founded Salford Networking International, developing tools to optimise backbone and access networks. At SNI, in addition to running sales of the companies' products to many multi-national and government organisations, he consulted on network design for organisations such as the National Grid and CAA.


In the late 90's Nigel co-founded another company, Magenta netLogic, where he led company sales and received two government export achievement awards. In 2012, Nigel founded a consultancy company, CSL, specialising in telecom audits and optimisation.


Nigel joined the Cambridge Managment Consulting team as Managing Partner and is also a co-founder and director of our procurement and carrier relation subsidiary, The Carrier Club.

Our team can be your team


Our team of experts have multiple decades  of experience across many different business environments and across various geographies.


We can build you a specialised team with the skillset and expertise required to meet the demands of your industry.


Our combination of expertise and an intelligent methodology is what realises tangible financial benefits for clients.

SPEAK TO THE TEAM

Our Procurement & Commercial Experts

Case Study

Delivery of Significant Cost Savings to a Large UK Retailer


A large UK online retailer went through a downsizing exercise in the early part of 2023. This caused significant changes in demand, meaning that expenditure in many areas was far more than the business requirement.


The goal of the project was to review all current vendor and supplier contracts, identify where savings could potentially be made, and then work with the procurement department to reduce the current level of expenditure to meet current business requirements. Our team was given a three-month deadline to make savings to the bottom line.


Utilising our significant experience in procurement and contract management, Cambridge MC delivered £10m of savings on an addressable budget of £80m.

READ CASE STUDY

Procurement & Commercial

Case Studies


Pillars of a building lit up by technicolour lights.
8 August 2023
Ensuring that University of Bristol remains the university of choice for students, academics and partners in a globally competitive market The University of Bristol is a Russell Group University and a leader in many global league tables, including the QS World University Rankings where in 2023 it ranked 9th in the UK. To strengthen its competitive position, the University is undertaking an ambitious digital transformation strategy. As a foundation of this strategy, the Modern Network will deliver a significant increase in capacity, flexibility, automation, resilience, security and experience for all users. Cambridge Management Consulting was selected as the consulting firm to help the University establish and refine the requirements, design the network in collaboration with University of Bristol experts and lead the technical procurement for a Modern Network. Cambridge MC’s technical and commercial expertise helped University of Bristol navigate a complex procurement exercise and deliver the first stages of the transformation programme. The Challenge The current University of Bristol campus network requires significant modernisation to support the University’s Digital Strategy. All staff, students and visitors interact with the University's network every day, whether it's connecting a device to Wi-Fi, emailing a colleague, or running a session on the University’s Digital Learning Platform. The University of Bristol recognised that improving their global competitiveness requires a step change in the digital experience offered to all users and so it launched its Modern Network programme. Key objectives of the Modern Network are to introduce a high-performance network that gives users access to comprehensive teaching and learning resources, as well as specialist equipment, data, and scalable fibre for innovative research. The Modern Network programme also aims to enable students to connect with friends and family, and socialise online from wherever they are on campus, at any time, day or night. The new network will enhance the Wi-Fi coverage and capacity to give users the best digital experience round the clock. The University realises that a significant increase in network performance is needed to support data intensive activities, including centralised and de-centralised computing, large scale sensor networks, media rich applications like augmented and virtual reality, data intensive instrumentation and modelling. The architecture designed is going to be more flexible, highly scalable, adaptable and evergreen. Security will be improved to cope with the continuously evolving threat landscape and to enable Modern Network users to safely perform their activities from any location in the world, with a consistent, hassle-free experience. The Modern Network will deliver a reliable platform with world-class operational capabilities, making the services easy to consume, monitor and manage. The Strategy Cambridge Management Consulting used its expertise and knowledge to quickly establish a comprehensive set of requirements and to test market appetite to deliver a Modern Network via an RFI. Requirements Management used a structured approach based on a Cambridge MC requirements catalogue. This accelerated the process of engaging University of Bristol stakeholders to validate requirements and helped to shape the University’s procurement process. An efficient and comprehensive stakeholder engagement process also saw the development of multiple personas that were used to explain how the Modern Network would deliver capabilities for students, academics, researchers and professional services colleagues. Cambridge MC, in conjunction with the university, then helped to shape a structured procurement approach. Modern Network capabilities were put into 3 main procurement categories to provide purchasing and transformation flexibility. Cambridge MC led the Procurement technical dialogue. Working in partnership with experts from the University of Bristol, a highly scalable, flexible, secure and resilient target state network was designed. The design is modular and makes use of multiple technical patterns. This provides a repeatable, standardised way for the University to deliver capabilities that can have customised performance service and levels. To assist the Procurement activities, Cambridge MC also created a Model Modern Network. The Model allowed a consistent financial assessment to be made at each stage of the Procurement, including providing a detailed estimate of the transformation milestones and payments. The Cambridge MC team also shaped the Modern Network programme. It was broadly shaped into mobilisation, discovery, design, prove, pilot and deploy phases. Cambridge MC are providing support in the early transformation phase to help the University of Bristol deliver the ambitious programme. The resulting Modern Network will be a high performance, flexible, resilient and secure platform. It will introduce self-service and automation, such as zero touch deployments and autonomous networks for research activities. It will leverage programmatic control and AIOps to improve the digital experience and inclusiveness, sustainability and the global competitiveness of the University. A technical modernisation like this requires a similar shift to a world-class operating model. Cambridge MC supported the service management redesign throughout the procurement phase. Using comprehensive requirements structured around ITIL, the team co-designed the enhanced set of service capabilities and are now helping University of Bristol to introduce these services. The new service management approach will provide full end-to-end visibility of the network, formal SLAs and SLA management and enhanced fault, change, configuration and knowledge management. This will complement the new technical capabilities and provide significant benefits to the University. The Team Cambridge Management Consulting provided procurement, commercial, technical business analysis and service management expertise. Cambridge MC also provided expertise for the procurement and post-procurement implementation activity. Cambridge MC worked exceptionally well with the University's digital and procurement teams to ensure end-to-end success for the University. Not only did the Cambridge MC team help support, but they also provided extensive knowledge transfer to, the University to minimise the future need for external support, minimise future costs for external consultants and help further develop the in-house ICT and procurement capabilities. Outcomes & Results 1. Cambridge Management Consulting's attention to detail ensured there were clear winners of the Procurement lots, with no challenges or disaffected potential suppliers. The winners of the three lots were all world-class organisations with a desire to support the University with its ambition to deliver a first-class service. 2. Cambridge MC have since assisted the University with other aspects of their Digital Strategy and continue to be engaged to help University of Bristol transform.
The side of a curvy skyscraper.
by Eric Green 8 February 2023
Our Procurement as a Service allows your internal resources to focus on what they do best essensys is a leading global software and technology company designed to solve the complex operational challenges faced by landlords and flexible workspace operators. essensys was using its sales & delivery teams to additionally procure services for their clients. This took resources away from what they do best: getting requests, chasing quotes and managing ordering & termination processes. As the inventory of services grew the client was missing out on the cost opportunities of procuring at scale. Rather than recruiting an in-house team, essensys turned to Cambridge Management Consulting for help with the procurement of their connectivity services from quotation to inventory management. The Challenge The initial contract was to help essensys meet pricing requests for ‘last mile’ connectivity enquiries from their Sales teams. To date this had been done through their Technical Delivery team and pre-sales engineers. The problem was that this took those specialised resources away from important core duties performed by the sales teams. Our pricing analysts took over quoting, originally for the UK and then for the US, supporting the essensys sales team and comparing the costs from suppliers with pricing from other clients. Pricing for essensys customer sites requires two diverse lines with different suppliers, providing as much resilience as possible to ensure a maximum uptime for essensys’ customers. Our team’s knowledge of suppliers and their networks ensures that maximum resilience is offered with each pair of quotes provided to the essensys team. Scope As essensys looked to expand their operations into the APA Region, we were asked to provide regulatory support establishing their operations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Once their PoPs were built, we supported these new markets by developing the supplier strategy for data centre space, access and IP Transit. We then helped the quote team expand their scope to include supporting sales enquiries for these new markets. When Sales started enquiring about connectivity in markets other than where essensys had operations, our PaaS practice located and introduced essensys to a partner organisation that would operate as their virtual PoPs, rapidly increasing the number of markets that essensys could cover while maintaining internet quality and client experience of the essensys platform. In 2023, essensys' relationship with our PaaS practice increased its scope again, supporting essensys in all elements of the procurement life cycle including all elements of inventory management (raising orders, submitting cancellations and ensuring that the inventory data is up-to-date) as well as supporting essensys in meeting their cost management targets. All of these services are supplemented with our PaaS contract management and end-to-end procurement strategy across their telecoms and data centre spend. The Team The team is led by Eric Green (Senior Partner) and Elisabeth Simao (Partner) who between them have over 60 years of experience in running telecoms procurement teams for some of the largest names in the industry including AT&T, Level 3 (now Lumen), COLT and SITA/Equant (now Orange Business) Backed by a team of analysts and calling on a roster of procurement specialists, the team is able to scale up and down to meet the changing needs of essensys as the project grew How Paas Works Our Procurement-as-a-Service team shares resources and knowledge with the Carrier Club (part of the Cambridge MC family of companies and focussed on telecoms operators). The team uses its view of aggregated spend across all clients to calculate what the right market price should be and then leverages this when negotiating new pricing We also benchmark suppliers and can manage all aspects of our clients' inventory management, proactive cost management and supplier management requirements Our clients effectively share a team of procurement specialists with decades of experience. This improves the decision-making process and gives you the edge over a traditional in-house procurement model
People in an office working at computers.
19 December 2022
Across a client portfolio that includes 3000+ sites in 120 countries Cambridge MC worked with a large company leading the workplace revolution and representing some of the largest brand names in the workspace-as-a-service market. This client had realised that internet services provided to customers were key to their business success. With 3000+ sites in almost 900 cities, in over 120 countries, they need to ensure that telecoms services are being bought at the right quality and at the best market price. Our client was following an aggressive acquisition strategy, and the procurement processes and contracts are currently failing to keep apace. They initially required a Procurement as a Service solution and market review of current spend. We sought to find ‘cash now’ savings and create a report outlining improvements to the process for telecoms procurement. The Strategy In August 2017, the team was brought on to run a global cost review for the group. As this project developed, the scope-of-work was expanded to include onboarding and managing new suppliers. The aim was to invigorate the cost base and improve the quality of experiences (QofE) for customers. We also led on programs to ensure that our client's centres have a bandwidth that is ‘cost sensible’ without affecting QofE. Analysis Conducted a review of client's data costs globally to find where the largest areas of opportunity and most likely areas for quick wins were. In this review, the processes in North America were found to be efficient and their pricing on-market. This region was dropped from the scope of work after getting our seal-of-approval Developed and ran RFPs for Australia, Japan, South East Asia and Africa in pursuit of improved market pricing. The RFP sought out new suppliers as well as sending out a wake-up call to some existing providers Renegotiated agreements for pricing across a number of markets and suppliers, including major suppliers to the group across Europe. Discounts were leveraged against introducing new services to client through the supplier's new operations in Asia Developed the mathematics behind sizing the bandwidth requirement for centres, as well as looking at new ways of deploying bandwidth into centres that was more focused on the way the bandwidth is used by the end-users Knowledge & Skills Extensive use of the Cambridge MC Group’s database of market rates, developed over time through extensive trading Knowledge of best practice procurement for telecoms, including understanding the operational impact of procurement decisions The ability to define, draft and manage end-to-end Procurement RFP processes across a large global network Our knowledge of a wide range of telecoms products The ability to work with stakeholders across different countries, time-zones and cultures Outcomes & Results 1. PaaS Solution As the client expanded, we led their centralised procurement for telecoms. We helped them to manage these contracts as their change in business model allowed franchisees to take on the responsibility for procurement 2. 2019 - £3.67m in savings In 2019 the team provided £3.67m in savings from its global activities with the group, while simultaneously increasing the provided bandwidth by over 20% 3. 2020 - £10m in savings In 2020, we saved the group nearly £10m, circa 30% of their global telecommunications expenditure 
The corner of a building with reflective glass windows.
10 October 2022
Meeting future needs by reaching the goal of cloud-first computing Cambridge Management Consulting was contracted to help PageGroup, a global resourcing company, undertake extensive SD-WAN transformation. The aim was to successfully procure and install the necessary infrastructure to achieve the high-level strategic goal of cloud-first computing. The Strategy We assisted PageGroup with project management and procurement, taking their network transport and management needs to market through RFI and RFP processes. This helped the company through the selection process to award for best-in-breed regional transport providers and an independent global-managed service provider. A More Agile Network For large companies like PageGroup that span geographically remote locations, the cloud offers the freedom to rapidly scale and connect systems. The advantages and agility this offers explains why over 94% of companies are now on cloud platforms. Adoption of SD-WAN as a solution for cloud infrastructures gave PageGroup a range of benefits: It unified their operation of complex networks SD-WAN can assess cloud-based applications and route them intelligently to increase performance A full-stack of security features is now available Increased the network flexibility Created a more-agile and cost efficient system A New Environment Because SD-WAN works at the application layer and makes decisions at a session or packet level, the advantage for PageGroup was an ability to ensure the network is optimised for applications at all times. This ensured a more robust and performant end-user experience. Network architects and managers were able to use this information to properly plan for business changes ahead. "Richard Brown has been key in shaping our network transformation. From strategy and SD-WAN to the detail of operational test plans, Richard's calm approach and considered manner across levels of detail and technical domains has bridged theory to reality, and helped give my stakeholders the confidence to move forward; with clarity on the real benefits of doing so." Mike Daley, Strategy and Architecture at PageGroup
SEE MORE CASE STUDIES

Industry insights


by Faye Holland 11 July 2025
Today, we are proud to be spotlighting Faye Holland, who became Managing Partner at Cambridge Management Consulting for Client PR & Marketing as well as for our presence in the city of Cambridge and the East of England at the start of this year, following our acquisition of her award-winning PR firm, cofinitive. Faye is a prominent entrepreneur and a dynamic force within the city of Cambridge’s renowned technology sector. Known for her ability to influence, inspire, and connect on multiple fronts, Faye plays a vital role in bolstering Cambridge’s global reputation as the UK’s hub for technology, innovation, and science. With over three decades of experience spanning diverse business ventures, including the UK’s first ISP, working in emerging business practices within IBM, leading European and Asia-Pacific operations for a global tech media company, and founding her own business, Faye brings unparalleled expertise to every endeavour. Faye’s value in the industry is further underscored by her extensive network of influential contacts. As the founder of cofinitive, an award-winning PR and communications agency focused on supporting cutting-edge start-ups and scale-ups in tech and innovation, Faye has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost marketing strategists. Over the course of a decade, she built cofinitive into a recognised leader in the communications industry. The firm has since been featured in PR Weekly’s 150 Top Agencies outside London, and has been named year-on-year as the No. 1 PR & Communications agency in East Anglia. cofinitive is also acknowledged as one of the 130 most influential businesses in Cambridge, celebrated for its distinctive, edge, yet polished approach to storytelling for groundbreaking companies, and for its support of the broader ecosystem. Additionally, Faye is widely recognised across the East of England for her leadership in initiatives such as the #21toWatch Technology Innovation Awards, which celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship, and as the co-host of the Cambridge Tech Podcast. Individually, Faye has earned numerous accolades. She is listed among the 25 most influential people in Cambridge, and serves as Chair of the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce. Her advocacy for women in technology has seen her regularly featured in Computer Weekly’s Women in Tech lists, and recognised as one of the most influential women in UK tech during London Tech Week 2024 via the #InspiringFifty listing. Faye is also a dedicated mentor for aspiring technology entrepreneurs, having contributed to leading entrepreneurial programs in Cambridge and internationally, further solidifying her role as a driving force for innovation and growth in the tech ecosystem. If you would like to discuss future opportunities with Faye, you can reach out to her here .
Cambridge MC Falklands team standing with Polly Marsh, CEO of the Ulysses Trust, holding a cheque
by Lucas Lefley 10 July 2025
From left to right: Tim Passingham, Tom Burton, Erling Aronsveen, Polly Marsh, and Clive Quantrill.
Long curving glass walkway looking out on a city. Image has a deep red tint and high contrast
30 June 2025
Cambridge Management Consulting is delighted to announce that we have been recognised as a Platinum-level telecommunications consultancy in Consultancy.uk’s 2025 ‘Top Consulting Firms in the UK’ ranking. This achievement places us among an upper tier of telecommunications consultancies across the UK, reflecting our continued commitment to delivering exceptional expertise and results for our clients in this rapidly evolving sector. A Rigorous Assessment The Consultancy.uk ranking represents one of the most comprehensive evaluations of the UK’s consulting landscape, assessing over 1,400 firms across the country. This methodology combines extensive client feedback from more than 800 clients and peer reviews from over 3,000 consultants, alongside detailed capabilities assessments that examine the reputation of each firm, project track records, analyst benchmarks, industry recognitions, and thought leadership. Within the telecommunications sector specifically, over 500 consulting firms were evaluated, with only 50 qualifying as top players. The ranking system operates across five distinct levels – Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze; thus, Platinum status cements Cambridge MC as one of the most trusted, expert, and influential telecommunications consultancies in the UK. This recognition is particularly meaningful given the competitive nature of the UK’s telecommunications consulting market, where established global firms compete alongside specialist independents. Our Platinum ranking demonstrates that Cambridge MC has successfully established itself as a leading authority in telecommunications strategy, transformation, and innovation. Building on a Foundation of Success This latest accolade adds to Cambridge MC’s impressive collection of recent achievements and industry recognition. At The Consultancy Awards 2024, we were honoured to receive three awards, winning in every category for which we were nominated. These included: Digital Transformation: Acknowledging our project management of a multinational oil and gas company’s EV charging hub portfolio. Productivity Improvement & Cost Reduction: Celebrating our delivery of over £10m in savings for a major UK online retailer. Fastest Growing: Recognising our remarkable 30% revenue growth and expansion across new geographies. Beyond organisational achievements, our individual team members continue to earn recognition for their expertise and contributions. Zoë Webster, expert at Cambridge Management Consulting for AI, Digital & Innovation, was named among AI Magazine’s Top 10 AI Leaders in the UK & Europe. Furthermore, Craig Cheney, Managing Partner for Public Sector & Education, was made an Alderman of the City of Bristol, and Marvin Rees OBE, a member of our advisory board, was introduced to the House of Lords. Craig and Marvin were also co-founders of the Bristol City LEAP project, which recently received the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Award of Distinction for Public-Private Collaboration in Cities. This £1bn partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco UK represents a world-first initiative in sustainable urban development, demonstrating our capacity to deliver transformational projects with genuine societal impact. At the Forefront of Digital Infrastructure and TMT Our Platinum ranking in telecommunications specifically reflects Cambridge MC’s deep expertise across the full spectrum of Telecoms, Media & Technology (TMT) challenges. We work alongside TMT companies to optimise digital infrastructure and estates while delivering integrated cost reduction services that enhance procurement and contract management functions. Our capabilities span from digital transformation, procurement and network transformation to data centre optimisation and emerging technology integration. The telecommunications landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with exponential data growth, IoT deployment, and the infrastructure demands of generative AI driving substantial transformation in both virtual and physical infrastructure. Our team support organisations to stay afloat in this changing market, with a proven track record including managing over $5bn in client revenues, saving organisations over $2bn, and driving procurement transactions exceeding $5bn. Recent case studies demonstrate the breadth of our telecommunications expertise, from conducting technical due diligence for major investment decisions, to designing and procuring modern network solutions for leading academic institutions. Our work with the University of Bristol, helping them to complete their progressive Modern Network transformation, exemplifies our ability to navigate complex technical and commercial requirements, while delivering measurable outcomes. Looking Ahead As we celebrate this Platinum recognition, Cambridge MC remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in telecommunications consulting. Ever since Tim Passingham founded Cambridge Management Consulting, to support telecommunications startups in the city of Cambridge, UK, our purpose has been to help clients make a better impact on the world. This mission drives everything we do, from individual product delivery to industry-wide transformation initiatives. This achievement belongs to our entire team of specialist practitioners who bring decades of hands-on experience to every engagement. As we continue to expand our capabilities and global reach, this recognition serves as both validation of our progress and motivation for the challenges ahead. Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey.
Wide angle photo of Pemrboke College on a sunny day
27 June 2025
Disclaimer: The text below was originally published on the Pembroke College website. Read the original post here to read the full article, including coverage of the award's other recipients, Duncan Rule and Ian Carry. 2025 Volunteers of the Year Announced Congratulations to Duncan Rule, Ian Carry and Tim Passingham (2022) whose contributions to Pembroke have been recognised in Pembroke’s Volunteer of the Year Awards for 2025. The award was introduced in 2022 to recognise not only the particular individuals who contribute their time and expertise for the benefit of the College and its community but also the value of volunteering itself. Duncan and Tim received their awards from the Master, Lord Smith of Finsbury, last week, with Ian set to receive his at the LEAP celebration event next term. Tim Passingham Since joining Pembroke as a William Pitt Fellow in 2022, Tim Passingham has become a highly valued member of the College community. A consistent supporter of the Corporate Partnership Programme, Tim has played a pivotal role in connecting students with real-world opportunities. Through his companies—Cambridge Management Consulting and partner firm edenseven—Tim has offered numerous internships to students on the LEAP programme, helping them build professional confidence and practical skills. Beyond internships, Tim and his team have supported LEAP students through reflective post-programme interviews, offering valuable feedback for both participants and the LEAP team. His impact is visible in many aspects of College life: from advisory work on the Milstein House sub-committee to generous support for Pembroke’s musicians, including the donation of a drum kit. Tim has also brought significant visibility to Pembroke within the wider Cambridge community. Under his leadership, the College was a key host during Cambridge Tech Week 2024, welcoming visitors for lectures, panels, and a Deep Tech Gala Dinner. Regularly using College spaces for high-profile meetings and team retreats, Tim has become a recognisable and influential figure around Pembroke—embodying the spirit of collaboration and innovation that the Corporate Partnership Programme aims to foster. On receiving this award, Tim said "when I was invested as a William Pitt Fellow in 2022, I stated that my desire was to give to the College and work hard to bring the worlds of Academia and Industry closer together. Since then, me and some of my team at Cambridge Management Consulting have supported numerous LEAP interns, sponsored our first PhD student at Pembroke, supported the CARA charity and initiative, supported the Mill Lane site programme, and given as much time and money as we have been able to support the Development Team and the growth of the College. I feel enormously honoured to receive this award which, for me, represents very much the beginning of a partnership which I hope will deepen and grow over many years to come. I look forward to the years ahead and to serving the College as we seek to continue to build on the incredible legacy of Pembroke by having a disproportionate impact for good on the world around us.”
A series of neon cubes in a line
by Mauro Mortali 23 June 2025
Disruption now occurs with unprecedented regularity, as industries are upended not by traditional competitors but by unexpected entrants wielding innovative technologies and business models.  The difference between thriving and becoming obsolete increasingly hinges on your organisation's ability to anticipate and adapt to disruption before it's too late. The Ur-case of this was Blockbuster, who ignored the threat of streaming technologies, and specifically Netflix (which it could have bought), until it was far too late to pivot and catch up. Our article explores how businesses can develop strategies that offer predictions and agility, embedding creativity and insight into frameworks and actionable steps that plot a course through the disruptive landscapes of the next few years and beyond. Understanding the Nature of Disruption Disruption is no longer just a buzzword — or the philosophy of ‘break things and move fast’ that drove the early tech start-ups that now dominate our waking lives. The theory of disruptive innovation, popularised by Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen, explains how new technologies, products, or services can start small but eventually surpass established offerings in existing markets[1]. This process typically begins when smaller companies with fewer resources challenge established or traditional businesses by addressing underserved market needs[5] in new ways; usually with business models that bypass normal routes to market and allow these companies to scale at pace. Recent examples include: fintech banks that challenge the need for brick-and-mortar; online over-the-top media applications that replace the need for print media and traditional broadcast television; digital media and the success of subscription models, replacing physical media for music, films and other forms of entertainment; and platform apps like Uber, which connect us to a fleet of independent drivers who are paid per ‘gig’ and regulated by a ratings system. Today's notion of disruption is characterised by several key features: Accelerated Pace of Change The pace of disruption has accelerated beyond anything previously seen, with transformative technologies reaching mainstream adoption faster than ever[15]. While it took decades for technologies like electricity and telephones to achieve mass adoption, modern innovations like smartphones and AI have transformed entire industries in just a few years. Cross-Industry Disruption Disruptive threats increasingly come from outside traditional industry boundaries. Companies must now monitor not only direct competitors but also adjacent industries and completely unrelated sectors where transferable innovations might emerge[15]. For example, tech giants have disrupted financial services, retail, healthcare, and automotive industries without prior experience in these sectors. Technology-Enabled Business Models Today's most powerful disruptions combine technological innovation with business model innovation. Examples include: Platform models: Uber revolutionised transportation by connecting riders and drivers through a user-friendly mobile app, utilising independent drivers who pay for their own vehicles for rapid scalability[1]. Subscription services: Netflix and Spotify transformed entertainment consumption by shifting from physical media to on-demand streaming with personalised algorithmic content recommendations[1]. Direct-to-consumer approaches: Tesla's direct sales model bypassed traditional dealership networks while integrating advanced electric vehicle technology and autonomous capabilities[1]. From Traditional to Adaptive Strategy Traditional strategic planning approaches — characterised by multi-year roadmaps and rigid implementation plans — have become increasingly inadequate in today's fast-moving business environment. We look at some of the challenges businesses now face below. The Limitations of Traditional Strategy Conventional strategies often fail because they: Assume relative stability in market conditions Take too long to develop and implement Lack flexibility to respond to unexpected changes Rely heavily on historical data to predict future outcomes The Adaptive Strategy Advantage Adaptive strategy, often described as the "Be Fast" approach, emphasises agility, experimentation, and continuous evolution[3]. This approach thrives in fluid industries with high uncertainty and a fast pace of change, such as technology, fashion, entertainment, and start-ups[3]. Organisations that embrace adaptive strategies gain significant advantages: Higher profitability: Companies ranking high in adaptability enjoy up to 75% higher profitability than their less adaptive counterparts[10]. Faster market response: Adaptive firms achieve approximately 60% faster time-to-market compared to traditional competitors[10]. Innovation capacity: The ability to experiment boldly and rapidly iterate creates an environment where breakthrough innovations are more likely to emerge[10]. Real-World Adaptive Strategy Success Consider Netflix's journey from DVD rental service to streaming giant to content producer. Rather than creating a 10-year plan, Netflix constantly evolved based on emerging technologies, customer preferences, and market opportunities. This adaptive approach allowed them to pivot whenever necessary while maintaining their core value proposition of convenient entertainment access[1]. A New Framework for Ensuring Strategy Relevance To maintain strategic relevance amid disruptive trends, companies need a systematic framework that balances stability with flexibility. Anticipate Disruption Through Trend Analysis Successful businesses identify potential disruptions before they manifest fully by monitoring Hard Trends — future certainties based on measurable facts[15]. These include demographic shifts, technological advancements, and regulatory changes that provide predictable directional guidance. For example, financial services firms that recognised the Hard Trend of increasing digital connectivity were better positioned to respond to the rise of mobile banking and fintech disruption. Build your Agility Organisational structures and processes must be designed to support rapid adaptation: Decentralised decision-making: Empower teams closest to customers and market changes to make decisions without lengthy approval chains[3]. Cross-functional collaboration: Break down silos between departments to enable faster information sharing and coordinated responses to change[3]. Agile methodologies: Adapt software development approaches like sprints, continuous integration, and iterative testing to broader business strategy[3]. Foster a Culture of Innovation Innovation cannot be an isolated function — it must permeate your entire organisation: Encourage experimentation: Create safe spaces for testing new ideas with minimal bureaucracy and fear of failure[3]. Customer-centric innovation: Ground innovation efforts in a deep understanding of customer needs rather than internal assumptions[14]. Structured innovation processes: Establish clear pathways for moving ideas from conception to implementation while maintaining flexibility[14]. KPIs that support innovation: For example, looking at the value of a portfolio of innovations rather than a specific innovation project. Leverage Data & Technology Data-driven insights provide a vital competitive advantage in your disruption response: Real-time market intelligence: Deploy advanced analytics to detect weak signals of change before they emerge fully-formed[3]. Predictive modelling: Use Agentic AI to identify patterns and forecast potential disruptions[2]. Digital transformation lifecycle: Invest in the necessary expertise and infrastructure to undertake on-going programmes of transformation — a big step, and potentially expensive, but it can help immunise your business against disruptive technologies and new models. Practical Implementation Steps Translating disruption awareness into effective action requires specific tactical approaches.
Neon 'Open' sign in business window
by Tom Burton 19 June 2025
SMEs make up 99% of UK businesses, three fifths of employment, over 50% of all business revenue, are in everyone's supply chain, and are exposed to largely the same threats as large enterprises. How should they get started with cyber security? Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) are not immune to the threat of cyber attacks. At the very least, if your business has money then it will be attractive to criminals. And even if you don’t have anything of value, you may still get caught up in a ransomware campaign with all of your data and systems made inaccessible. Unfortunately many SMEs do not have an IT team let alone a cyber security team. It may not be obvious where to start, but inaction can have significant impact on your business by both increasing risk and reducing the confidence to address new opportunities. In this article we outline 5 key questions that can help SMEs to understand what they need to do. Even if you outsource your IT to a supplier these questions are still relevant. Some can’t be delegated, and others are topics for discussion so that you can ensure your service provider is doing the right things, as well as understanding where their responsibilities stop and yours start. Q1: What's Important & Worth Defending Not everything needs protecting equally. In your personal life you will have some possessions that are dear to you and others that you are more laissez-faire about. The same applies to your digital assets, and the start point for any security plan needs to be an audit of the things you own and their importance to your business. Those ‘things’, or assets, may be particular types of data or information. For instance, you may have sensitive intellectual property or trade secrets; you may hold information about your customers that is governed by privacy regulations; or your financial data may be of particular concern. Some of this information needs to be protected from theft, while it may be more important to prevent other types of data from being modified or deleted. It is helpful to build a list of these assets, and their characteristics like the table below:
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