Actus Consulting

📢 CALLING ALL UK INDEPENDENT AGENCY FOUNDERS & OWNERS 📢 It's now less than two weeks until our exclusive Actus Consulting London breakfast event "Thrive in 2025." Our panel of experts will delve into the key questions agency leaders are asking themselves right now - what’s the biggest challenge agencies are facing and how can they solve it to thrive in 2025? During our panel session, you'll gain expert insights from industry leaders who’ve helped over 100 agencies grow and succeed. And you'll receive straightforward, practical advice you can implement right away. Our panel features: 💡 Managing Partner Dan Egerton; With experience advising over 100 companies, Dan will share strategies to remove barriers to growth and profitability, focusing on building long-term value. 💡 Head of People Alison Austen Chartered MCIPD; Ali’s 28 years of HR experience have helped agencies build exceptional teams. Learn how to elevate your recruitment, engagement and development practices. 💡 Head of Sustainability Genevieve Lawrence; a leader in purpose-driven business, Gen will explain how to integrate sustainability into your strategy to boost impact and profitability. 💡 Head of Performance Sarah Greenwood; Sarah excels in streamlining finance operations for clarity and efficiency. She’ll show you how to sharpen decision-making and enhance agency performance. 💡 Partner Treena Hales; With over 35 years of experience, Treena specialises in driving transformational change. Discover innovative solutions to complex business challenges. 💡 Partner Adrian Tripp; A successful entrepreneur with three business exits, Adrian will share his expertise on developing market-fit propositions and building scalable sales operations. Event Details: 🗓️ Wednesday 13 November - 8.30am to 10.45am 📍 Soho, London We proudly support Magic Breakfast, a charity ensuring no child starts their day too hungry to learn. For every attendee, we’ll donate £50 to provide nutritious breakfasts to children across England and Scotland, so we can extend our breakfast to those who need it most. We're very much looking forward to sharing our knowledge and engaging in all the conversation during and post this event. To secure your place, email partners@actus.consulting (we have limited places available for UK independent agency owners and founders).

As we approach that crucial time in the business calendar for appraisals, it’s essential to remember that appraisals shouldn’t be a once-a-year activity. Instead take this as an an opportunity to build a culture that thrives on continuous growth, learning and mutual respect. Read more about this in our latest article, via the link below.

📢 CALLING ALL UK INDEPENDENT AGENCY FOUNDERS & OWNERS 📢 Are you looking for your agency to Thrive in 2025? Join Dan Egerton and the Actus Consulting team for a timely breakfast meet-up in our Maximising Agency Value Series, where we'll address the key challenges holding agencies back and show you how to overcome them. What to expect? Our Actus practice heads were asked to address one question: “What’s the biggest challenge agencies are facing in your area, and how can they solve it to thrive in 2025?” Our panel will deliver focused, practical advice you can act on immediately, in a compact 90-minute panel session. Topics include: 🎤 Crafting a clear, actionable plan for 2025 🎤 Maximising agency profitability 🎤 Developing new business strategies that drive growth 🎤 Building a team that ticks like a Swiss watch 🎤 Leveraging purpose to strengthen resilience And why should you attend? 🔓 Gain Expert Insights: Hear from industry leaders who’ve helped over 100 agencies grow and succeed. Get straightforward, practical advice you can implement right away. 🔓 Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded independent agency owners and leaders, fostering valuable new relationships. 🔓 Achieve Your Goals: Learn to balance growth, purpose and exit value, setting your agency up for long-term success. Actus Consulting proudly supports Magic Breakfast, a charity ensuring no child starts their day too hungry to learn. For every attendee, we’ll donate £50 to provide nutritious breakfasts to children across England and Scotland. Details: Wednesday 13 November 8.30-10.45am, central London (breakfast will be served!) We’re looking forward to sharing our knowledge and engaging in all the conversation during and post this event. As always, we bring together a fantastic group of independent agency owners and leaders. So, everyone walks away from our events with some great new contacts… and a head full of ideas! To book your place to join us, then please direct message Dan Egerton directly for the event sign up link (we have limited places available for UK independent agency owners and founders). Alison Austen Chartered MCIPD Genevieve Lawrence Sarah Greenwood Treena Hales Adrian Tripp

Have you ever wondered what stands between you and your best performance? Why sometimes, despite all the talent and hard work, things don’t quite click the way they should? There's a simple yet powerful formula that might have the answer: Performance = Potential - Interference This concept, attributed to Tim Gallwey, highlights a fundamental truth about success - it’s not just about what you can do (your potential), but also about what gets in the way (interference). Let's break it down: POTENTIAL: Your potential is your innate ability - your skills, knowledge and talent. It’s everything you could achieve if you were at your absolute best, fully focused, without distractions. We all have immense potential, and it grows with practice, learning and experience. INTERFERENCE: Interference is anything that holds you back from realising that potential. It can be internal, like self-doubt, fear of failure, anxiety or negative self-talk. It can also be external - distractions, pressure from others, a lack of resources or an unproductive environment. These interferences are like weights holding you down, preventing you from reaching the heights you know you can. PERFORMANCE: Your actual performance is the outcome - the expression of your potential minus the interference. The more you can reduce the interference, the closer your performance will come to your true potential. So, how do we improve performance? 1) Develop Your Potential: Keep learning, growing and building your skills. Nurture your capabilities with consistent practice and by seeking new experiences. Growth never stops, and the more you invest in your potential, the higher your ceiling will be. 2) Reduce Interference: Identify what’s holding you back. Is it negative self-talk? Distractions in your work environment? Stress from external expectations? By addressing these interferences, you can create a clear path to unleash your potential. Techniques like mindfulness, creating a productive routine and working on your mental game can make a big difference. The magic happens when you work on both sides of the equation - nurturing your potential while eliminating the interferences. It’s how you move from being good to being great. Take a moment to think about it: What’s your biggest source of interference today? And what’s one step you can take to reduce it? If this resonates with you, we'd love to hear your thoughts. How do you maximise your potential and minimise interference in your life or work?

Thanks Angela O'Brien at Cleobella for your wonderful words 😍 As you summed up so brilliantly, becoming a B Corp is more than just a certification; it’s a commitment to doing business in a way that values people, the planet and profit equally. It’s about being part of a global movement that prioritises ethical practices, sustainability and transparency. We’re really pleased that thanks to Actus’ Genevieve Lawrence’s guidance, you now feel empowered to drive positive change and are proud to be a part of this community. 👏 #GrowthWithPurpose

“Find YOUR vibe” was the theme at our IT & Tech Services M&A event in partnership with Technology Holdings. ✌ Overall, we know the UK market has been hit hard but there are hot pockets of growth. So, what are businesses who are defying market conditions doing? They… 1) Have a culture of being entrepreneurial - taking risks (pivot!), learning, adjusting and growing. 2) Tap into current themes including behavioural science and cyber; but if they say “We do AI” then be clear on the detail! 3) Spread their risk via sector/service/diversified customer accounts. 4) Have a passion to do something different including creating IP. 5) Have an aligned incentivised team – prioritise creating a good ‘vibe’ and hire people with a high likeability factor. Measure employee satisfaction. And when getting ready to sell, what do should you do? a) Have your story – why you have invested as you have, even if this means a drag on profit. b) As the Founder know what you want personally and what exit means to you. c) Find the buyer who believes in you and wants to go on the journey. d) Have a detailed explanation of customer acquisition- once your network is exhausted what do you do? e) Know and be transparent about your weaknesses. f) And don’t game the 'EBITDA adjustment'; be transparent. And what advice did the panel give for 2025? Tim Birt from Osborne Clarke: emphasised that you must have management and leadership focus; having those conversations, then turning into action, is business critical. Bruce Robert Green from Technology Holdings: advised that you focus on what makes you different; we’re in a dynamic market so find the right home for you and don’t be swayed by distractions. Tom Maizels from Horizon Capital: reflected that businesses that can engage and sell at C suite level are outperforming those that go through procurement. One to consider? Christine Olmsted from Synechron: finished the session with “tell me your story” but remember buyers want honesty too – No one is perfect. It’s what you are doing about it that is important. And our own Dan Egerton reminded the audience that your focus should be to build a better business to sit in a fast-changing world. This doesn’t mean a free form, chaotic business, you still need to adhere to processes. Remember agility and stability can complement each other. In summary, 2025 is expected to remain challenging but that does not mean that great businesses won’t sell. By focusing on managing the buyers’ risks, keeping a flexible cost structure and being clear about the need, you can achieve your ambitions. Many thanks to our curious and attentive guests and our wonderful co-hosts Technology Holdings in creating an Event that was thoughtful whilst being fun. Remember, incredible things happen when you focus on growth with purpose!

We're thrilled to announce that Tim Birt will be joining the panel at our IT & Tech Services M&A event, in partnership with Technology Holdings, on the 26th of September!   Tim is a Senior Consultant in the corporate department at Osborne Clarke. He has built a strong reputation for advising clients in the marketing, media, technology, consultancy and data-centric sectors on governance, growth capital and M&A. Many of Tim's clients now have an international reach or operate in increasingly international markets.   Tim joined Osborne Clarke in 1987 and was instrumental in establishing the firm's London office before serving as the firm's Senior Partner between 2006 and 2013.   With extensive experience in the sector, Tim brings an unparalleled and unique knowledge of what it takes to protect and maximise a business's value. He will also discuss the importance of innovation, entrepreneurial leadership, and succession management in building value.   To secure your place, please send a direct message to digital@technologyholdings.com - we have limited spaces available! #GrowthWithPurpose

📢 CALLING ALL UK IT & TECH SERVICES FOUNDERS & OWNERS 📢 Just one week left until our exclusive London breakfast event: ‘IT & Tech Services M&A: Buyer Trends, Valuation Drivers, and Key Exit Strategies – What Lies Ahead in 2025 after a Challenging 2023/24.’ In partnership with Technology Holdings, our panel of experts will delve into the Tech Services M&A market, outline the impact of recent economic shifts on buyer and investor behaviour, reveal key insights into what makes a business more attractive and increases valuation, and share their predictions for the next 12-18 months to help you consider the impact and opportunities for your business in 2025. During our thought-provoking panel session, you’ll gain valuable insider perspectives from both the ‘buy side’ and the ‘sell side’, featuring: 💡 Insights from an M&A Deal Maker: Bruce Robert Green, Director at Technology Holdings, is a leading Tech Services M&A deal maker, who brings over 10 years’ experience advising clients on their business exits. He has witnessed the evolving M&A landscape and knows how businesses should best position themselves, to navigate future challenges. 💡 The Buyer’s Perspective: Christine Olmsted, Managing Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Synechron, brings over 25 years of experience in tech services corporate development. As an active strategic acquirer, she has made dozens of acquisitions, and offers a valuable perspective on the mindset of a buyer. 💡 The PE Investor’s Viewpoint: Tom Maizels, Partner at Horizon Capital, has over 10 years’ experience as an active PE investor in the technology sector. He offers a unique viewpoint, combining insights from both the investor and seller. Tom understands what investors are looking for and how behaviours have evolved. 💡 Strategic Advice from a Consultant: our Managing Partner Dan Egerton, will offer strategic and operational advice for growing businesses, sharing insights and practical tips on how to prepare your business for an exit or position it optimally when opportunities arise. Details: Be sure to join us, for what promises to be an engaging and informative event, as we explore the Tech Services M&A market, outline the impact of recent economic shifts on buyer and investor behaviour, reveal practical tips on how to position your business for success, and share predictions you should consider as you look ahead to 2025. Event Details: 🗓️ Thursday 26 September - 8.30am to 11:00am 📍 London, Soho To secure your place, please send Dan Egerton a direct message or email partners@actus.consulting We're really looking forward to it! #growthwithpurpose

📢 CALLING ALL UK IT & TECH SERVICES FOUNDERS & OWNERS 📢 We would love for you to join us alongside a panel of expert speakers as we delve into the Tech Services M&A market, outline the impact of recent economic shifts on buyer and investor behaviour, reveal practical tips on how to position your business for success and share predictions you should consider as you look ahead to 2025. In partnership with Technology Holdings this event will provide valuable insights from both the ‘buy side’ and the ‘sell side’, featuring: • M&A Deal Maker: Bruce Robert Green, Director at Technology Holdings • The Buyer’s Perspective: Christine Olmsted, Managing Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Synechron • The PE Investor’s Viewpoint: Tom Maizels, Partner at Horizon Capital • And our Dan Egerton, will be offering strategic advice as Managing Partner of Actus Consulting Key discussion points and takeaways from this event will include: 📈 Understand what’s happened in the Tech Services M&A market: Experience a deep dive into the present state of the Tech Services M&A market, including changes underway, and the indicators for and against a return to increased activity in 2025. 🔍 Gain an insider’s perspective on the current mindset of buyers and investors and what they are looking for: Discover how buyers and investors are evaluating businesses differently in the wake of a challenging macro-economic period in 2023/24. 💡 Receive practical tips on how to position your business for success: Walk away with actionable tips and strategies on what you can do now to set yourself up for an eventual ‘exit event’ and ultimately attract strong buyer and investor engagement for your business. 💼 Hear expert predictions on the market as we look ahead to 2025: Get an insider’s perspective on what the future holds for M&A in the Tech Services sector in 2025, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve. Details: Thursday 26 September 8.30-11.00am (breakfast will be served!) in Soho, London. We’re really excited to bring this event together with Technology Holdings; sharing our knowledge via this awesome panel and sparking lots of conversation during and post this event. To join us, then please message Dan Egerton directly for the event sign up link (we have limited places available). #GrowthWithPurpose #TechnologyServices

Running a business can be overwhelming and it can be tough to figure out where to focus your efforts in order to maximise stakeholder value. Our Business Performance Index (BPI) provides you with a benchmarked score that offers the clarity you need to run your business more effectively. The BPI evaluates the eight core areas of your business by asking ten important questions in each area. This evaluation is based on stakeholder interviews, supported by a detailed analysis of management and financial information, as well as market intelligence. The BPI report then offers a clear and objective assessment of the business's current state and sets the foundations for future growth. Looking for clarity? Please get in touch to find out more. 😊 #GrowthWithPurpose