Company: Sullivan & Stanley
Company Description: Sullivan & Stanley is an award-winning consultancy on a mission to end failed business change. Founded in 2016 by Pat Lynes, the core team of 40 plus 120+ extended network of experts are empowered to solve complex business transformation issues with their boutique approach. S&S is a 2022 Top 5 Great Place To Work for Wellbeing, with multiple awards for employee experience and culture.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Business or Professional Services - Medium-size
 Nomination Title: Sullivan & Stanley
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2020, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
In 2016, our Founder and CEO Pat Lynes recognised that traditional consulting methods were no longer working. Businesses were facing tech disruption, changing climates and unforeseen emergencies; this need accelerated when the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded in 2020 against the volatile backdrop of Brexit. Pat launched Sullivan & Stanley (S&S) and created the “The Change Society” movement as part of his mission to change the way businesses engage with change, and in particular, with interim teams, which Pat believes can tackle all problems facing businesses in today’s rapidly changing environment. S&S has devised boutique consulting models to solve these challenges. We digitally embed expert interim teams from our network within host organisations, equipping them with skills, knowledge, and assets to de-risk change. We have serviced 40+ top-tier clients since launching, including Shell and WH Smith, with award-winning results.
As a rapidly growing consultancy, we pivoted our strategy in 2021 to an employee-led and authored vision to further drive our growth. The output was our 2023 Vivid Vision, which empowers employees to deliver exceptional customer experience while supporting clients through complex change — all while continuously evolving how businesses engage with consultants, and preparing them to thrive in the fourth industrial era.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2020 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Since implementing our employee-centric 2023 Vivid Vision in 2021, our employees have remained fully invested in delivering outstanding customer experience whilst evolving our consultancy practice.
We have exceptional results:
- Grown revenue to exceed £20m annually (organically funded from a starting position of £0 in 2016);urnover forecasted to double to over £42m+ by March 2023;
- Maintained a 4.8* overall Glassdoor rating, with regular 5* reviews;
- Achieved 10x growth over a 3-year period, growing both revenue and profits;
- Grown from 1 office to 3 locations;
- Doubled our headcount;
- Been recognised as a 2022 Top 5 Great Place To Work for Wellbeing;
- Received multiple awards for customer and employee experience;
- Achieved a client retention rate of 90%;
- Donated 2% of our annual profits for good, growing to 5% in 2023;
- 100% of employees would recommend us.
Accolades
As our multi-award-winning agency has grown, our efforts have been rewarded. We are proud to be recognised as a 2022 Top 5 Great Place To Work for Wellbeing, and ranked 72 overall in the UK's Best Workplaces 2022. For example, we supported Shell Energy Retail to improve customer experience after their acquisition of a struggling energy supplier. Using our ‘Glass Tube’ methodology and 90-day release cycles, we improved customer journeys, removed legacy processes, and increased digital sign ups—reducing manual interventions and increasing CSAT scores from 2.0 to 2.9 in 3 months. The impact of our partnership was recognised with a Gold Award for Business Change & Transformation of the Year in 2021.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
S&S is unlike traditional consulting firms. We employ methodologies that tackle challenges while delivering excellent customer experience by working collaboratively with clients, embedding our interim teams in theirs, cutting through uncertainty to help deliver successful transformation. For example, WH Smith engaged us as they embarked on the largest organisational and operational change in their history. They planned to transform their Retail Operations and staffing model to deliver ‘Breakthrough Value’ for the organisation—all against the backdrop of challenging Covid lockdowns. We established a ‘Modern Delivery Programme’ governance framework alongside our trusted 90-day value release cycle, which saw WH Smith achieving ROI in under a year. They experienced a 37% increase in Average Transaction Value, despite the backdrop of double digit footfall reduction. They also achieved their highest-ever employee engagement scores as the programme rolled out.
Our methods have proven popular with clients. We now generate over £20M+ per annum in revenue from our £0 starting position, which we forecast will exceed £42M+ in 2023. Our rapid growth is being driven by a combination of satisfied clients and the outcomes of our unique employee-centric strategy. Our ability to develop long-lasting relationships, combined with groundbreaking digital tools, has created a consultancy model that many industries have simply never seen before. Thanks to focussed commitment and follow through on our strategy, we are leading the charge into a new wave of consultancy, breaking up dependency on big, traditional consulting firms, and giving clients the tools needed to thrive in the fourth industrial era.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
In the attached support document, you will find evidence of our achievements across:
Company
We have transformed the businesses of 40+ clients using our bespoke models, from our innovative ‘glass tube’ incubator methodology, to our 90-day release value cycle model that delivers results quickly and sustainably while de-risking projects, unlike the traditional consultancy firm ‘big bang’ project approach.
Colleagues
We have more than doubled our headcount while achieving excellent staff retention rates, with attrition below 5%. Our Glassdoor scores and staff surveys are consistently high, with 100% of employees recommending us.
Clients
Our customers champion our unique approach to tackling complex change. We include a case study from Shell Energy Retail, whose CEO describes our continuing relationship as a “culture change delivery partner” as much as a transformation manager. Our methods helped them dramatically improve service levels after they acquired a struggling energy supplier.
Case study from WH Smith, whose Retail Director described our project as “the biggest and most successful piece of transformation the company has ever achieved.”
Community
We committed to donating 2% of our annual profits for good, increasing to 5% from 2022. So far, almost £30k has been donated to a diverse range of organisations chosen by our employees. The fund has benefitted young people, the homeless, and a variety of causes from The Amos Bursary, providing talented youngsters of African and Caribbean descent the opportunity to excel in education, to Freedom Boxes, a humanitarian mission delivering thousands of essential items to Ukrainians.
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