Fixed fee
For work with a scope that can be defined clearly in advance — a review, a process redesign, a defined deliverable. The fee does not move unless the scope does.
Our approach
How an engagement runs from the first conversation to handover, what we expect from you, and how fees are arranged.
Engagement stages
Six stages, each with something tangible at the end
We do not open an engagement without a written scope, and we do not close one without a handover. What happens in between is adapted to the organisation, but the shape stays the same.
- Scoping conversationWe listen to how the problem looks from the inside, what has already been tried and why it did not work. There is no charge for this stage and no obligation on either side.
- Written proposalScope, deliverables, timeline, fee basis, assumptions and exclusions. If we think the engagement should be smaller, or should not happen at all, the proposal says so.
- Evidence gatheringInterviews, process walkthroughs, observation and review of data that already exists. We state clearly what evidence each finding rests on.
- Analysis and optionsFindings set out with their supporting evidence, and genuine options with their trade-offs — not a single recommendation presented as the only possibility.
- Implementation supportWhere instructed, we work alongside your team through the change: adjusting as reality intervenes, and keeping the original objective in view.
- Handover and closeDocumentation, training where needed, and an explicit point at which the engagement ends and your organisation owns the result.
Commercial terms
How fees are arranged
Fee structure is agreed in the written proposal before any work starts. We use whichever of the following suits the engagement, and we say which one and why.
Day rate
For interim support or advisory input where the volume of work is genuinely open-ended. Days are recorded and reported, with a cap agreed in advance.
Phased
For larger engagements, split into phases with a decision point between each. You can stop at the end of a phase without being committed to the next.
No charge before agreement. The scoping conversation and the written proposal are provided without charge. No fee becomes payable until a proposal has been accepted in writing. Any change to scope is documented and priced before it is carried out.
Common questions
How long does a typical engagement take?
A focused review is usually a matter of weeks; a process redesign with implementation support runs longer. We give an indicative timeline in the proposal, with the assumptions it depends on stated — most commonly availability of your people, which is the factor that moves timelines more than anything else.
Will you work with our existing advisers?
Yes. We frequently work alongside accountants, solicitors and sector specialists, and we will defer to them on matters within their expertise. We will tell you when a question should go to one of them rather than to us.
How do you handle confidential information?
Commercial information you share is treated as confidential and used only for the engagement. We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before the scoping conversation if you would prefer. Personal data is handled as set out in our Privacy Policy.
What if the engagement is not working?
Say so, early. The terms of business set out the notice required to end an engagement, and fees are settled for work properly carried out up to that point. We would rather stop a piece of work that is not delivering than invoice for it to completion.
Who owns the work you produce?
Deliverables produced specifically for you are yours to use within your organisation, as set out in the terms of business. Our own underlying methods, templates and know-how remain ours. The position is stated in the proposal so there is no ambiguity later.