One of the UK’s leading and fastest growing support service providers, May Gurney has plans to double the size of the business within 5 years. Recognising that technology would play a critical role in achieving this goal, F2X were appointed as strategic advisors to a 3 year programme of development and implementation of a significantly new and enhanced technology strategy and approach. We were also tasked with working in a hands-on delivery capacity during the early stages of the programme in order to affect the level of significant change required.

Our work included

• Developing a framework for aligning business differentiators with core capabilities
• Creating a flexible and agile approach to building new technology capability
• Developing a 3 year roadmap and high level programme to provide business guidance on key decision points, sequencing of introducing new capability, aligned to key stages of planned business growth
• Sourcing project to secure key building block of the new technology environment
• Negotiating significant discounts from preferred software supplier
• Advising on IS team structures, outsourcing and business engagement options to ensure full leverage of capabilities for the Group

Benefits delivered

• Aligned, approach to technology prepared and delivered for non-specialist sign-off by Board
• Flexible and agile approach delivered at lower level of risk and cost than more traditional approaches
• Clear programme plan with implementation stages aligned to business growth plans

“We selected F2X because they understood our markets and what we were looking to achieve. Their approach and advice was first rate and they played a key role in defining an innovative technology strategy, roadmap and critically selling this to the wider business. Our technology is now a key competitive differentiator in winning work and an essential element in delivering services for our clients.” Ian Cox – CIO and Transformation Director

Following regulatory change, our client - a leading regulatory body providing a service to most of the FTSE 100 and 250 companies –needed to increase its activity. To achieve this, the required an updated IT strategy to support the new business challenges.

F2X were commissioned to undertake a high level review and work with senior management to determine a new 3 year IT strategy for the organisation.

Our work included

• Working closely with senior business leaders at the outset to fully understand their needs and aspirations
• Agreeing and establishing the key business drivers and key needs from technology to ensure a new and more agile approach
• Developing a new IT strategy which was fit for purpose
• Benchmarking to ensure the body was obtaining value for money from both existing and planned services and initiatives
• Presenting and obtaining sign off on the new strategy from the Executive team

Benefits delivered

An IT strategy aligned to business needs, providing areas of clear focus for effort to deliver the recommendations

In striving to take advantage of changes in the market place, this leading insurance provider realised it needed a more flexible and responsive IS strategy that was closely aligned to the business strategy. F2X were commissioned to undertake a high level review and work with senior management to refine and develop a 3 year IT strategy.

Our work included

• Working closely with senior business leaders at the outset to understand their needs and aspirations
• Establishing and agreeing an overall approach which mapped the business strategy to the technology needs
• Workshop design, delivery and preparation of materials
• Presenting and obtaining sign off on the new strategy from the Executive team

Benefits delivered

An IT strategy aligned to business needs, providing areas of clear focus for effort to deliver the recommendations

Havi is best known as a European-wide provider of logistics services to McDonalds across 40 countries ensuring daily deliveries of provisions on a 24/7 basis. Success demands continuous focus on high quality standards and an ambition to deliver more value year on year. However, the systems environment was restricting the business’s ability to expand the client base. As a result, a brief was issued to F2X for the development of a longer term strategy and plan to create more flexibility in the technology environment.

Our work included

• Creating and delivering workshop programme to identify business differentiators and relationship with existing technology platforms
• Identifying and assessing likely future technology requirements and the options for suitable delivery solutions
• Assessing and undertaking risk/benefit analysis on former consultants’ recommendations to implement SAP over a 5 year period, in context of Havi’s needs, culture and capability
• Recommending and initiating a hybrid solution to integrate elements of SAP with differentiated aspects of the company’s technology environment
• Advising on restructuring the IS function and team and help with selection of new leaders for the IS functional areas.

Benefits delivered

• Aligned, approach to technology prepared and delivered for non-specialist sign-off by Board
• Flexible and agile approach delivered at lower level of risk and cost than more traditional approaches
• Clear programme plan with implementation stages aligned to business growth plans

This PLC provides professional and academic education supporting individuals in developing and managing their careers, and for corporate clients, the careers of their employees.

F2X have been supporting BPP in delivering Project ICE for both the Professional Education (PE) and Learning Media (LM) companies. The aims of the project are to improve customer experience and lower costs, through process and culture change as well as the implementation of new customer-facing & finance systems. However, the client was facing significant challenges in harmonising systems and processes across three divisions and its related companies.

Our work included

• Running process stream to train and mentor BPP business analysts
• Representing Business team in presenting business needs to system vendors & reviewing documentation
• Assisting on organisation design, business requirements & technical solution
• Coaching a small team from BPP to produce process maps level 0-5 covering marketing, business development, sales, professional partnerships, invoicing & payment, product delivery, sales & operational planning, product development, customer support and materials create & despatch

Benefits delivered

Experienced support driving a commitment to quality and the anticipation and resolution of risks and issues

“F2X’s professional approach knowledge transfer set them apart from many other consultancies and in particular their foresight was so effective that at times we did not realise the full benefit until many weeks or months later”. Phil Morey – Director

NG Bailey is the UK’s leading mechanical and electrical contractor providing install and maintain services and IT managed services across the construction, utilities and (selectively) financial services sectors. As part of a drive for continued improvement and increased customer service NGB commissioned a review of its service centres with a view to streamlining existing arrangements and creating a more optimised strategy. The main challenge to such an outcome lay in the ability to harmonise systems and processes for the multiple service centres already in place and determining a solution which was practical and achievable.

Our work included

• Evaluation of existing arrangements through interviews and workshops with key stakeholders
• Presentation of main findings to senior management to agree issues and share gap to best practise
• Leading workshops to define and shape future ways of working and plans for implementation

Benefits delivered

• Highly experienced support driving a commitment to quality
• Anticipation and resolution of risks and issues

“The F2X approach was excellent. They got stuck in and added value very quickly. I have no hesitation in recommending them to others”. David Johnson – Director

Brit is a fast growing, highly successful commercial insurer. A number of critical business systems underpin its success, enabling the company to manage the underwriting risk and transact and administer the business and with over 600 staff, IT service management and delivery have become increasingly important in supporting the day to day business and helping it to expand.
F2X were appointed to help implement ITIL based Service Management procedures in order to improve the service to Business users and meet the recommendations of its auditors.
The company had initiated the development of the Service Management system and enrolled all support staff on ITIL foundation training. It had also established a basic Change Management procedure.

Our work included

• Reviewing the material produced and developing the IT policy document
• Setting out procedures framework covering the ITIL approach to Service Management
• Assisting Brit to develop and embed each process using the define, draft, review, plan and implement cycle
• Developing and helping to implement the following procedures: Incident Management,Request Management, Problem Management, Release Management, Change Management redraft, Finance Management, Capacity Management, Availability Management, Initiated Operations Management

Benefits delivered

Highly experienced support able to summarise the relevant aspects ITIL for Brit and apply them rapidly.

As a global leader in the provision of professional management qualifications, our client’s senior management was concerned at the lack of sufficiently robust business continuity planning in the business and that as a result, the business risk was becoming unacceptable. F2X were engaged to assist with putting in place effective and robust Business Continuity Plans focused on the operations and customer service areas of the business.

Our work included

• Rapid assessment and evaluation of business operations to determine critical areas and establish a clear picture on operational risk.
• Design and delivery of workshops to examine resilience plans and contingency options
• Producing risk mitigation options and an integrated framework for assessing the level of continuity required in each business area

Benefits delivered

• Transparent approach to BCP and alignment to criticality of business operations
• Clarity among delivery teams of approach to business risk and continuity
• Knowledge transfer of framework and approach so that client can continue to develop and update the BCP over time

This leading recruitment and resourcing company with offices throughout the UK was experiencing uncertainty and confusion around the future strategy for IT within the business. F2X were appointed initially to undertake a review of the IS function and make recommendations on the best path forward for the function and its operations.

Our work included

• Strategic review of function and potential future requirements
• Recommendations governing short and medium term improvements to refresh the IS strategy, including the need for stronger management and leadership across IS
• Providing a part time IT Director to commence and lead the change and deliver the short term recommendations
• Introducing weekly reporting and progress updates, improved project management and governance procedures

Benefits delivered

• Experienced senior leader in place immediately provided management ‘backbone’ and focus.
• Visible improvements in IS team outputs
• Process compliance and overall IS efficiency improved

This global leader in the provision of professional management qualifications had become frustrated with some critical failings in a key IT Infrastructure relationship. These included such challenges as spiralling costs, service inconsistency and late delivery on key projects.

F2X were engaged to assess this key outsource relationship and recommend an improvement process that could deliver required outcomes to achieve greater satisfaction levels.

Our work included

• Rapid relationship assessment and a short term recovery plan
• Working closely with client and supplier to deliver improved governance, programme management and commercial direction
• Rebuilding commercial relationship to provide the foundation for improved trust and confidence
• Re-negotiating the service contract to realign services to business needs

Benefits delivered

• Enhanced service level agreements and service credits
• A more predictable cost model
• ~£4m cost savings over 5 year term
• Improved governance
• Improved service delivery / end user satisfaction

“F2X were exceptional. They arrived and through a clear, professional , agile approach helped bring the relationship back from the brink and restored confidence in the delivery model”.
SD – Group IT Director

Our client is a leading regulatory body providing a service to most of the FTSE 100 and 250 companies. Having previously outsourced its IT to a large blue chip provider, service had deteriorated and costs increased. F2X were commissioned to re-negotiate the existing contract to reduce costs and improve service quality.

Our work included

• Working with senior management and supplier to establish gap analysis on the current services
• Establishing prioritised business needs
• Creating a target framework for client and supplier to sign up to
• Adopting changes into a revised commercial framework whereby service lines could be procured separately, should the revised incentive arrangements fail to deliver the service

Benefits delivered

• Improved transparency and flexibility of service from the supplier
• Flexible commercial framework with service lines that could be procured separately
• Reduced costs of 15% of gross contract value

This successful and innovative business is a highly regarded provider of services to the construction industry. Historically each subsidiary business within the group has operated largely independently undertaking specialist concrete works; commercial interior fit-out; building, development; project finance services; and plant hire.

However, following a period of significant organic growth across the business, operating inefficiencies were increasing and providing barriers to further growth.

Our work included

• Detailed and thorough audit and review of group IT infrastructure and telecommunications covering network infrastructure, desktop and server infrastructure, group applications, fixed and mobile telecommunications
• Recommendations and proposals for improvement of each area including:
• Network design, optimisation and implementation
• Creating a scalable and centralised IT infrastructure
• Defining a common set of applications, and provide flexible access to resources to all users from all locations.
• Demonstrating substantial cost savings from a combined group telecoms strategy.

Delivering the following:

• Network design, formal tender to suppliers, contract negotiation and project management through implementation
• Infrastructure design, network integration, hosting centre contract negotiation, supplier management, project management and implementation
• Telecoms strategy into formal tender, contract negotiation with suppliers, project management

Benefits delivered

• New group network infrastructure connecting all sites and users
• Total telecom savings of £328K over three years
• New group IT infrastructure inc. full refresh of all core servers
• Flexible and dynamic infrastructure platform using VMware virtualisation
• Solid platform for future growth with long term cost savings

Weir Group is a FTSE 100 multinational pump manufacturing and servicing company with significant global growth ambitions. Operating as a decentralised group of companies, the group had a limited overview of its total spend on telecommunications which resulted in a lack of leverage in expenditure and less than optimal value for money.

Our work included

• Providing 'value for money' and capability reviews covering telecommunications, network provision and IT strategy
• Assisting in definition of key elements of overall strategy
• Analysing current contracts and spend using corporate strength profiling tools
• Benchmarking best available market offerings
• Commercial negotiation of appropriate contracts
• Reviewing assets and working practices across telecommunications billing
• Establishing ongoing control through reporting and standardisation

Benefits delivered

• Identified gross annual savings of £385, 000 from:

Mobile £290k

• Contract renegotiation on behalf of client
• Mid-Term resign credits
• Much improved Intl roaming and UK tariff rates

Landlines 95k

• Usage savings via carrier Pre-Select
• Rental savings via
• Wholesale line rental
• over capacity savings
• Improved conferencing rates

Our client is a market leader in providing risk solutions for many of the worlds leading organisations. As a global operation it requires rock solid IT and infrastructure to deliver resilient and flexible business services across the Group. However, the incumbent IT services provider, appointed 2 years previously, was falling short on delivery expectations.F2X were commissioned to work alongside TPI, the world-leading outsourcing advisory company, to perform an assurance role throughout a programme of relationship stabilisation, renewal and sourcing.

Our work included

• Providing independent assurance and guidance to the programme, liaising with senior representatives of all parties
• Ensuring convergence among stakeholder interests and needs
• Providing client-side representation for a sourcing initiative to ensure the sourcing strategy was fully developed based on real business needs.
• Appointing a new provider

Our work included

• Providing independent assurance and guidance to the programme, liaising with senior representatives of all parties
• Ensuring convergence among stakeholder interests and needs
• Providing client-side representation for a sourcing initiative to ensure the sourcing strategy was fully developed based on real business needs.
• Appointing a new provider

Our client is a leading insurance broker looking to develop direct channels to market for a new range of insurance products. The market was dominated by a large well established player so the entry level hurdle was very high and timescales for launch were pre-determined when we were appointed. Our challenge was to provide brand and online design and create fresh content to launch with a 50+= page website and associated marketing collateral. The site needed transaction processing facilities for agent and public sales, that could take payment and process instantly.

Our work included

• Leading the creative design process
• Designing and building the software solution to transact online
• Integrating the transactional processing engine with Compass Underwriting for a seamless customer experience
• Delivering to time and budget and launching site to critical acclaim
• Ongoing progression of e.g. SEO services and online marketing support

Benefits delivered

• Creation of a new brand and service offering with distinctive and attractive choices for consumers in the healthcare market
• Scalable platform from which the client can develop a stream of new products
• Clear attractive online presence, brand strategy and design

Our client is the leading regulatory body providing a service to many stakeholders in the Financial service sector . The regulator was concerned that their current online presence was failing to deliver sufficient clarity of communication, and content management and ease of use would both benefit from significant improvement.
F2X, along with our brand strategy partner Uffindell, were commissioned to undertake a high level review and to work with senior management to determine a more optimal strategy and approach for the regulator’s online presence.

Our work included

• Working closely with senior business leaders to understand needs and aspirations
• Establishing and agreeing the key business drivers and key needs from online communication
• Preparing and delivering a series of laboratory sessions and workshops to gain feedback and response to revised look and feel, content and navigation
• Developing a range of options to provide a more suitable and optimised approach to online communication

Benefits delivered

• A clear online presence strategy with revised design, content management processes
• Implementation plan which delivered improvements within 3 months
• Creation of building blocks for digital strategy improvements

One of the UK’s leading and fastest growing support service providers, May Gurney has plans to double the size of the business within 5 years. Recognising that technology would play a critical role in achieving this goal, F2X were appointed as strategic advisors to deliver a 2 year programme of development and implementation of a significantly new and enhanced technology strategy and approach. Part of this commission was to design a new IS architecture and solutions that could deliver critical competitive advantage for the business.

Our work included

• Working closely with the CIO to formulate options to achieve the right balance of technical strength, resilience and scalability with the flexibility to deliver progressive steps
• Adopting a service orientated architecture philosophy in conjunction with a BPMS tool to deliver a truly innovative solution

Benefits delivered

• Design of an innovative technology approach able to be implemented at manageable risk levels
• Opportunity for MG to create different perception in with its customers through promotion of the solution
• Competitive advantage was evidenced through bid feedback and increased contract wins

Having worked with clients in the insurance sector over many years, F2X realised that the industry faced a common and long standing challenge. Launching new products is a complex, time consuming and, for larger companies particularly, an expensive challenge. How could a business respond rapidly to changing client needs and offer new products at low cost? And if a new product is unproven, how could you assess its attractiveness in the market easily when launch hurdles are so high?

F2X decided to step up and take on this challenge by developing a radically new solution: a toolkit for business users where every aspect of designing, building and launching an insurance product was made entirely flexible.

With the idea in place, we recruited a suitably skilled team and built the toolkit from scratch.

Two years on and after industry input and feedback, the product was ready to launch and so far has been sold to several insurance and broking firms.

Benefits offered

The insurance industry is becoming know for great client service with companies such as Hiscox setting the standard. Now there is a easy to use, flexible and cost effective solution available for the management of new products ( See: www.Instanda.com)

Weir Group is a FTSE 100 multinational pump manufacturing and servicing company with significant global growth ambitions. Operating as a decentralised group of companies, the group had a limited overview of its total spend on telecommunications which resulted in a lack of leverage in expenditure and less than optimal value for money.

Our work included

• Providing 'value for money' and capability reviews covering telecommunications, network provision and IT strategy
• Assisting in definition of key elements of overall strategy
• Analysing current contracts and spend using corporate strength profiling tools
• Benchmarking best available market offerings
• Commercial negotiation of appropriate contracts
• Reviewing assets and working practices across telecommunications billing
• Establishing ongoing control through reporting and standardisation

Benefits delivered

• Identified gross annual savings of £385, 000 from:

Mobile £290k

• Contract renegotiation on behalf of client
• Mid-Term resign credits
• Much improved Intl roaming and UK tariff rates

Landlines 95k

• Usage savings via carrier Pre-Select
• Rental savings via
• Wholesale line rental
• over capacity savings
• Improved conferencing rates