PfMaaS
Portfolio Management as a Service
The optimal approach to resource management & prioritisation
Select, Monitor & Manage your Risk
A portfolio manager is essential for companies balancing a large programme of projects
Portfolio management is the selection, prioritisation and control of an organisation's programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity to deliver a successful outcome.
The primary role of a portfolio manager is to ensure the appropriate selection of projects. It is common for businesses to undertake a restricted number of projects annually and therefore achieving ROI requires a detailed risk assessment and optimal strategy.
Our Approach
Key responsibilities of a portfolio manager may include:
- Aligning and prioritising projects
- Monitoring real-time analytics
- Managing financial resources
- Creating contingency plans for potential risk scenarios
We use industry-standard methodologies and years of experience to embed the right selection processes and resource management tools into your project portfolio management office (PPMO). We can run this for you 'as a service' or set up your PPMO and hire a Portfolio Manager using our own Executive Search and Selection capability.
Use our Experts
A proficient portfolio manager possesses a deep understanding of the business landscape and comprehends how each project aligns within it. They possess the foresight to anticipate the needs and wants of both employees and consumers, relying on market data and intuition to guide their decision-making.
A proactive approach to staying informed about internal and external affairs, coupled with a thorough understanding of root cause analysis and motivational factors, is also essential.
If your organisation lacks a mature in-house team to run a PMO with a Programme and Portfolio Manager, you can access our experts on demand. This option is also cost-effective for smaller businesses while they scale as it avoids one-off or large incremental costs.
Ready to talk?
Our Portfolio Management experts have years of experience and use agile and waterfall methodologies to significantly improve success rates.
Get in touch today to discuss how we can help.
"The Cambridge MC team have been instrumental in delivering a successful sales outcome for the Post Office Telecoms Business Unit”
Director, Post Office Telecoms
Industry insights
Edge computing, 5G, IoT and AI are contributing to a paradigm shift in retail that will imagine new possibilities made commercially viable by real-time data processing. In this article, we look at the convergence of these technologies and how they will offer a radical new vision of our high street by offering customers exciting new experiences that can rejuvenate in-store shopping and retail spaces. First, in Part 1, we look briefly at each technology and discuss the technical advantages they offer and how this supports new types of customer experience. Then in Part 2 we look at industry predictions about how the retail space might evolve over the next decade. Part I Edge Computing Edge computing involves processing data near its source rather than in a centralised location. In retail, this means deploying IT infrastructure in or near store venues where consumers interact with products. This ecosystem enables real-time decision-making and personalised customer experiences by analysing data from sensors and IoT devices within the store. Edge computing is a concept that applies to an integrated network of processing units, data centres and sensors that handle data close to the user. Micro Data Centres The compute part of edge computing needs to be housed in proper data centre facilities, to ensure that the expensive server equipment, especially those used by AI systems, are kept in the optimum conditions — this helps keep maintenance and operational costs down. Even though edge compute systems can be relatively compact, retailers will mostly be unwilling to give up valuable floor space for the IT equipment and its associated infrastructure (like cooling and electrical systems), so the more likely scenario is that smaller data centres will be used that can be located close by but in back-of-house areas, such as loading bays, car parks, warehouse areas and so on. These will often be operated as cloud services so that multiple retailers can benefit from edge compute without having to bear the upfront capital cost, and, most importantly, the ongoing maintenance required to keep them operational. 5G 5G networks offer high-speed connectivity and low latency, which are crucial for supporting advanced retail technologies like augmented reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The increased bandwidth allows for seamless integration of online and offline shopping experiences, enabling features like virtual try-ons and real-time product comparisons. This connectivity supports personalised marketing strategies that take place in real time and deliver targeted promotions in store. Internet of Things (IoT) The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected devices, machines, and sensors that collect, store, and transfer data over the internet. These devices are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to communicate with each other and with other internet-enabled systems. IoT plays a crucial role in enhancing the retail experience by providing real-time data on customer behaviours, security risks, buying preferences, inventory supply levels and daily operations. IoT devices will principally include cameras but also a range of other sensors such as RFID tags and smart shelves.
How to Connect Rural Britain and the Hardest-to-Reach Customers The lack of rural connectivity in the UK has become a pressing issue , creating a digital divide that impacts individuals, businesses and farmers. Modern society relies on digital services, and the lack of access to reliable, high-speed internet is a pervasive social issue that results in digital exclusion for communities, depriving them of fundamental services like online banking, health care, and education. This lack of access has a further impact on social mobility, particularly when around 37% of workers in the UK spend at least one day a week working remotely. In 2021 the Public Accounts Committee published a report on improving broadband which states ‘1.6 million UK premises, mainly in rural areas, cannot yet access superfast [internet] speeds’. Since then, we are happy to report that there has been some progress. As of early 2025, approximately 98% of all UK households have access to high-speed broadband (defined as speeds of 30 Mbps or higher) . In rural areas, that figure is 89% — a decent improvement in the last few years. However, the gap is larger when we consider gigabit speeds: only 52% of rural households can connect to gigabit-capable broadband, compared to 87% in urban areas There is still a significant gap to plug, but things are moving in the right direction. This allows the focus to shift, in part, to the next phase: establishing a modern digital infrastructure which can support a digital-first strategy in public services, as well as encouraging local innovation, such as smart city programmes. The hope is that this infrastructure will drive inward investment which then create a virtuous circle, where as more infrastructure is built, more innovative businesses are attracted to the region, which in turn drives demand for more advanced infrastructure. In this article we look at the improvements in rural connectivity and the programmes and innovations which are most likely to have a social impact.
What are Nature-based Solutions? Nature-Based Solutions can deliver multiple benefits in single locations, delivering greater impact for people, planet, and profit, and moving ESG from being just another cost to a competitive advantage. Today in the ESG space companies are expected to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, impacts on biodiversity, air, and water quality, and how their activities affect not only their staff but the communities they operate within. As a result, many companies now measure their impacts, and some employ companies to mitigate or offset their residual effects; however, this outsourcing approach is often costly and inefficient; with each residual effect mitigated or offset separately, uncertainty about the delivery or impact of the work, and delivery in other regions of the world meaning wider benefits are missed. The Business Case for Nature-based Solutions These costs and inefficiencies can be overcome however by mitigating and offsetting multiple residual effects at once by delivering Nature-Based Solutions on company land and buildings, or within the communities they serve. For example, creation or restoration of local grasslands, woodlands or wetlands would deliver carbon and biodiversity credits, water nutrient and air quality improvements, and reduced flood, drought, and wildfire risks in the areas where your company operates and your staff and customers live. Delivering these multiple impacts removes the costs of awarding and managing multiple contracts with different companies, whilst the schemes localness provides certainty of delivery and impact, and wider benefits including new local partnerships, provision of accessible natural greenspace improving staff and community health and wellbeing, and an enhanced corporate image and reputation. With ESG moving rapidly to the top of the social and political agenda the breadth and depth of ESG related disclosures that are required will only grow, so now is the best time to consider how you can deliver these more efficiently and impactfully through Nature-Based Solutions, positioning yourselves as a market leader and making this a key strand of your competitive advantage. Key Steps your Businesses should Take: Step 1: Evaluation of the measurement and management of environmental and social impacts Review of strategies, targets, costs, and impacts of existing approaches to measuring, addressing, and reporting on environmental and social impacts, including gathering stakeholder insights, and reviewing available resources, capabilities, assets, to identify where Nature-Based Solutions could be delivered. Step 2: Exploration of Nature-Based Solution delivery options Identification and assessment of Nature-Based Solution locations that deliver against company needs, including delivery and maintenance costs, partnership opportunities and appetite, and the potential for additional company benefits. Step 3: Delivery of Nature-Based Solutions Engage ESG team, local community, partners and contractors in detailed design and delivery of Nature-Based Solutions, develop and implement maintenance, monitoring, and governance protocols, collate and communicate lessons learnt, celebrate successes. How We can Help edenseven is the sustainability-focused sister-consultancy of Cambridge MC with an award-winning track record of helping businesses design and deliver data-driven sustainability strategies. With experts covering a wide range of sustainability subjects, from biodiversity & nature-based solutions, to electric vehicle fleet solutions, power purchase agreements (PPA), low carbon technologies, building optimisation, supply chain management, and end-to-end business transformation, we have experienced experts ready to help with any of your sustainability needs. With over 15 years' delivering nature-based solutions, Adam’s experience cuts across the public, private and third sectors having delivered time and again place-based solutions that increase profit whilst benefiting people and planet; the triple bottom line. Please get in touch below to find out more.
"Is it Snowing in Space?!" “Is it snowing in space?!” Asks a disgruntled Bill Murray in the film Groundhog Day when he is told that he cannot call out from the snowbound town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If there is a remake, Bill might not have to worry: signal dead zones may soon be a thing of the past due to recent advancements in satellite technology. Whereas the old picture of satellite communications was a scientist in the wilderness with a big clunky antenna, these days the technological payload is all in space. Recent advancements such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, advanced beamforming, and the use of mobile spectrum bands means that any phone supporting 4G LTE can potentially receive satellite data directly. This integration of satellite and terrestrial networks is set to reshape the mobile industry, creating both opportunities and challenges for traditional mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). In this article we give an overview of the technological advancements, the major players in the market, and then consider the effects this will have on traditional wholesale mobile market structures; concluding with the emerging opportunities for new revenue and growth. The Evolution of Satellite Connectivity Historically, satellite communications operated independently from terrestrial networks, serving specialised markets with limited scalability and high entry barriers. However, recent advancements, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology, have dramatically altered this scenario. The most well-known example is obviously SpaceX, which has played a pivotal role in democratising space: reducing barriers to entry and making satellite connectivity more scalable, performant, and accessible. SpaceX and other companies have found innovative ways to dramatically reduce costs. Since Sputnik 1 in 1957, launching payloads into space has been prohibitively expensive, with costs exceeding $100,000 per kilogram in the 1960s and averaging $16,000/kg for heavy payloads from 1970 to 2010. SpaceX’s innovations have brought these costs down through reusable rockets, vertical integration, economies of scale, and advancements in materials and manufacturing processes: leading to price points as low as $100 per kilogram in recent years. However, cost is just one of the barriers. The real gambit has been provided by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which typically orbit at altitudes ranging from approximately 160 to 2,000 km and offer low-latency, high-speed connectivity — making them ideal for real-time applications and direct-to-device communications. The latest generation of technologies now enable LTE mobile phones to connect directly to satellites without specialised hardware, marking a significant milestone in mobile communications. The Major Satellite-to-Cell Players While SpaceX's Starlink has garnered the most attention, several other major companies are actively developing satellite-to-cell technologies and forming strategic partnerships with terrestrial mobile operators. As of April 2024, Starlink had established 15 partnerships with mobile carriers globally — including T-Mobile in the US. T-Mobile has structured its beta program to begin with text messaging capabilities, gradually expanding to include picture messages, data connectivity, and eventually voice calls. As of February 2025, it is reported that 7,086 Starlink satellites are in orbit, with 7,052 being operational. AST SpaceMobile has emerged as a significant innovator, achieving a historic milestone in April 2023 with the first-ever two-way voice call directly with an unmodified smartphone, via their BlueWalker 3 satellite. AST SpaceMobile launched its first five commercial satellites, the BlueBird 1-5 mission, on September 12, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Lynk Global represents another significant player. In a recent expense report, it revealed that each satellite costs around $400,000 to build and up to $815,000 to launch into space. They hope to have up to 1000 satellites (for full continuous broadband coverage) in orbit by 2025 and 32 mobile network operator (MNO) partnerships by the end of 2025. The company has successfully demonstrated text messaging capabilities from satellites to standard cellular devices and continues to expand its constellation and service offerings. Huawei has partnered with China Telecom to demonstrate satellite-to-phone messaging capabilities, while Apple has worked with Globalstar to implement emergency satellite messaging features in recent iPhone models. Implications for Traditional Wholesale Mobile Market Structures Traditionally, the wholesale mobile market has been structured around MNOs, MVNOs, and wholesale aggregators. Revenue streams have typically included MVNO wholesale pricing, and IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions. However, the rise of satellite-to-cell technology poses potential threats to this established model. Disintermediation of MNOs and MVNOs Satellite-to-cell connectivity introduces the potential for disintermediation, where control traditionally held by MNOs could become fragmented across multiple parties in the value chain. As satellite providers increasingly offer direct-to-device services, traditional operators risk losing their central role in network management and customer relationships. Pricing Pressure on Wholesale Markets The increased availability and competition from satellite connectivity providers could exert downward pressure on wholesale pricing. As satellite services become more affordable and accessible, traditional wholesale providers may face challenges in maintaining their pricing structures and profitability. Competitive Pressure in IoT and Enterprise Applications Satellite connectivity is particularly well-suited for IoT and enterprise applications, especially in remote or challenging environments. As satellite-to-cell technology matures, traditional wholesale providers may face intensified competition in these segments, necessitating strategic adjustments to remain competitive. Emerging Opportunities in Satellite-to-Cell Connectivity Despite these challenges, the integration of satellite connectivity into mobile networks also presents substantial opportunities for innovation and growth. Forward-thinking operators can leverage satellite-to-cell technology to develop new business models and revenue streams. Hybrid Terrestrial-Satellite Subscription Models Providing Ubiquitous Connectivity Operators can offer hybrid subscription plans that seamlessly integrate terrestrial and satellite connectivity. Such models provide customers with uninterrupted coverage, enhancing user experience and creating differentiated service offerings. Wholesale Satellite Resale for MVNOs Satellite-to-cell technology opens new avenues for MVNOs to expand their service portfolios. By reselling satellite connectivity, MVNOs can offer enhanced coverage and reliability, particularly in underserved or remote regions, thereby attracting new customer segments. IoT and Enterprise-Focused Applications Satellite connectivity is a natural fit for IoT and enterprise applications, such as remote monitoring, asset tracking, and industrial automation. Mobile operators can forge strategic partnerships with satellite providers to deliver specialised solutions for these markets, tapping into new revenue opportunities. Emergency-Only and Disaster Recovery Plans Satellite-to-cell technology can play a crucial role in emergency and disaster recovery scenarios, providing a reliable backup to terrestrial networks when they are unavailable or overwhelmed. Operators can develop emergency-only plans that leverage satellite connectivity to ensure critical communications during crises. Conclusion Satellite-to-cell technology represents a convergence of space and terrestrial communications systems that promises to fundamentally alter global connectivity markets and players. The dramatic reduction in launch costs by a factor of 20 has enabled the deployment of massive satellite constellations that were previously economically unfeasible. The competitive landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk, and traditional telecommunications companies all pursuing various technological approaches and business models. Commercial text messaging services are already becoming available through beta programs, with video calling capabilities demonstrated and voice calls progressing toward wider availability. The integration of 5G standards with satellite networks continues to advance through collaborative industry initiatives, with projections of a $50 billion market by 2032. As this technology continues to mature throughout 2025 and beyond, it promises to eliminate mobile dead zones and create new application possibilities that were previously unimaginable. The future of mobile communications is undoubtably hybrid: blending terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks into seamless connectivity solutions that follow users wherever they go. This has wide reaching implications for connectivity in remote and isolated regions, and offers perhaps the fastest and most cost-efficient route to bridging the digital divide. It will also transform how we respond in disaster zones and hazardous areas — increasing the ability to protect and save lives with faster and safer humanitarian and emergency services.
Jeff Owen
Managing Partner - Programme Management
Our PfMaaS practice is run by Jeff Owen
Jeff has spent more than 30 years in the telecommunications and technology industries in a career spanning EMEA, USA and the Far East. He has held both Technical and Senior Management (Operations Director and Chief Operations Officer) responsibilities in a telecoms equipment manufacturer, Fixed Line Carrier, Virtual Network Operator, Ring Back Tone Service Provider, & mobile operators in Europe.
Jeff started consulting in 2009, and in 2021 he joined Cambridge MC as a Managing Partner, leading our Programme Management & M&A services.
With over three decades of Programme Management experience, Jeff is available to share his experience and provide technical insight into project oversight, alignment and resource management.
Get in touch with our Consultants today
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.
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Our Project Management Experts
Martina Pavlaskova
Project Coordinator
Martina is a Process Specialist and works on a variety of complex projects around the world. Martina’s experience includes: the coordination of service delivery, mapping and documentation of processes, testing project architecture, mentoring and training, internal communications, and leadership.
