Practical thinking on procurement and cost.
Short, opinionated pieces on where cost hides, how to get it out, and how to make sure it stays out - written for UK operators, CFOs and PE portfolio teams.
- 100 day plan: cost savings that stick
A week-by-week 100 day cost plan for new CFOs, PE sponsors and post-deal operators.
8 min read - EBITDA improvement: a procurement-led guide
Where EBITDA hides in a UK mid-market P&L and how to release it in 12-18 months.
9 min read - How to improve cash flow: a practical UK guide
Payment terms, working capital and spend discipline - the five levers that actually move cash.
8 min read - Margin improvement: a practical UK guide
Where gross and operating margin leak in UK mid-market businesses, and how to lift it 2-5 points.
7 min read - Reduce costs before selling the business
A 12-18 month pre-exit cost programme that lifts valuation without leaving scorched earth.
8 min read - Procurement cost reduction strategies that actually work in the UK mid-market
Sequenced strategies for UK mid-market, SME, manufacturing and PE-backed businesses - with sizing and quick wins.
10 min read - Indirect procurement: a practical guide for UK businesses
What indirect procurement covers, why it leaks, and how to build indirect procurement services that hold the savings.
9 min read - Spend analysis: a practical guide to the spend cube
How to run a spend analysis that actually drives savings - data, taxonomy and outputs.
8 min read - Supply chain resilience: a practical guide for UK businesses
Risk mapping, dual-sourcing, buffer strategy and supplier risk management for the UK mid-market.
9 min read - How to improve your supply chain: a practical UK guide
Operations, collaboration, visibility, efficiency and strategy - sequenced for UK mid-market businesses.
10 min read - How to reduce procurement costs: 7 levers that actually work
Practical, sequenced actions to reduce procurement costs without pausing the business.
8 min read - How to reduce business costs without cutting quality
A framework for finding cost out of the P&L in ways that stick - and do not damage the customer experience.
9 min read - Indirect cost reduction: where the hidden savings live
Indirect spend is where most businesses over-pay. Here is where to look first.
7 min read - Supplier consolidation: when it works, when it does not
Consolidation is a lever, not a strategy. A guide to using it well.
6 min read - Marketing spend optimisation for lean growth
How to compress marketing spend without starving pipeline.
6 min read - Energy cost reduction: a procurement-led playbook
Beyond bill validation - the procurement plays that move the number.
7 min read
Ready to find the savings hidden in your business?
Request a no-obligation Cost Review - typically 1–2 weeks, with minimal involvement from your team.