It's the ‘Grit in the Oyster’ that makes the Pearl

Creating Pearls; the value of business advice from an Independent Perspective

We see ourselves as the ‘grit in the Corporate Oyster.’ A ‘critical friend,’ with specialist skills, experience and independence of mind, who can provide powerful insights and innovative solutions to the challenges facing our clients. Insights that drive change.   

When 48% of global businesses don’t know what their industry will look like in 3 years and 78% feel threatened by digital start ups.* (Dell Technologies) it’s clear business as usual is not an option.

At a time of constant and disruptive change, every company can benefit from an independent perspective with a large helping of ‘grit.’

For over 30 years, we at Independent Perspective have been providing strategic advice and creative solutions to create long-term competitive advantage for our clients.

Who are we?

We are a small group of highly-experienced, multi-disciplinary business consultants, creative thinkers and ‘Change Agents,’ committed to the success of our clients through the transfer of experience, expertise and new thinking. We work with major multi nationals as well as SMEs.

If you can’t afford to use one of the major big name consultancies, or are fed up of paying huge fees for bright but inexperienced young ‘consultants’ to learn on your business, speak to us for pragmatic advice and creative thinking, to help take your business to next level.

Information is the key to competitive advantage

We use research amongst your key stakeholder groups to help us understand the dynamics of the relationships, the strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities. We believe that every action an organisation takes, should be informed by insights into the needs and expectations of its customers, be they internal or external.

Knowledge acquired through our process, allied to the fact that we are totally independent, allows us to act as a ‘critical friend,’ to question assumptions, challenge decisions, test management thinking and say things others may be reluctant to say.

In addition to the unique insights obtained from our process, we add value by bringing years of experience, and creative thinking to bear on our client’s business and the recommendations and solution we offer.

Having a ‘critical friend’ offering a totally independent, objective view on issues you face and who can provide a supportive, informed, and creative space in which to discuss them, can be an invaluable addition to your armoury.

A critical friend combines aspects of mentor, advocate, coach, scrutineer, and sounding board. They take time to understand the context of the work and the outcomes you are working towards, but can see your business, through a different and independent lens.

‘Stakeholder Perception Audits’ - Taking the pulse of the business

Stakeholder Perceptions and Communications Audits are key to our approach and are offered as a stand-alone service or as a part of a broader program. They allow us to take ‘the pulse’ of the businesses and provide senior management with a quick overview of key issues from the perspective of stakeholders, the people who determine the success or failure of your business strategy.

They seek to identify the mismatches that exist in the perceptions of different groups. These mismatches provide the ‘meat’ for the development or refinement of strategy.

This is not traditional market research, but a dynamic, iterative, creative process, where we can test and develop ideas with your key stakeholder groups as well as gather unique insights into their concerns needs and experiences. They are a quick and powerful way for senior management to get ‘the pulse’ of the business and act as a powerful catalyst for change and a signal of change, to all those involved .

Because we are independent and our conversations completely confidential, people tell us things they might not otherwise be prepared, or comfortable to raise directly with the company.

To stay relevant and competitive, organisations need to know what their stakeholders really think and where the threats and opportunities really lie.

Stakeholder Audits are particularly useful when a new management team is being put in place, when you’re considering a merger, acquisition, a change of strategy, a significant investment, or simply when you and your management team are looking for a catalyst for new ideas.

How we can help you

The services we offer can be accessed individually, or as integrated programmes.

We deliver the services below using a combination of in-house expertise and where appropriate trusted Associates; individuals, or companies, with specialist skills. We operate in multi-disciplinary teams to ensure we maximise the value of each engagement.

Get in touch with us for information on any of the above services

The benefits of working with us

Why would you choose to work with us? Simple. We think and work differently. When it can no longer be ‘business as usual’ an independent perspective may be what you need!

We have an unusual blend of sophisticated business skills, practical experience and creativity that can add the missing pieces, or supplement the experience of your team.

4 Pearls

In addition to our specific experience and technical skills, there are four important elements that inform all our work and ‘add value’ to our offer:

1. Stakeholder Insights. Through the use of qualitative research, we seek to obtain a deeper understanding of your target audiences. Customers need to be at the very centre of your organisations thinking. Customer insight provides your competitive edge.

2. Integrating Strategic and Creative thinking. This encourages holistic, ‘whole brained’ thinking. The problems we face as businesses and managers are too complex to just use ‘half a brain’ when addressing them.

3. Effective Communications. This is essential for any leader to be effective and for strategy to succeed. We have the expertise and experience to develop both the strategy and the programme of activity that’s needed, to help you and your organisation communicate effectively be it ‘one to one’ or ‘mass market.’

4. Strategically-Driven Design. In the right hands Design is an immensely powerful and under utilised business tool. We work with all manner of two and three dimensional design. ‘Branding,’ one of our core skills, epitomises the symbiosis between strategic insight and creativity.

Our clients: Judge us by the company we keep

Get in touch

We are always happy to have an exploratory chat, to discuss any issues you are grappling with in your organisation. If we can help, we will put a proposal to you. If it is outside our area of expertise we will not pretend otherwise and will tell you that too.

- Jeremy Woolwich