The Operating Systems Group
Case studies|Small businessesMedium businesses
Case studies — medium businesses

Scaling with structure and confidence

Established businesses with teams of 10–100. These are the stories of founders and CEOs who had built something real — and needed the right support to take it further.

7

Client stories

10–80

Team size range

3 continents

UK, US & Middle East

180+

Years combined expertise

Client details have been anonymised where requested. Outcomes are specific to each engagement and will vary.

Manufacturing45 employeesUK Midlands
Scaling without structure

From founder-dependent to operationally independent

The situation

A second-generation manufacturing business had grown rapidly under a hands-on founder but was beginning to buckle under its own weight. Every decision ran through one person. There were no documented processes, no management layer with real authority, and no clear picture of where the business was heading.

What we did

  • Conducted a full business analysis to map decision bottlenecks and operational dependencies
  • Designed and implemented a management structure with clear accountabilities
  • Produced a suite of operational SOPs and an HR framework
  • Built a 24-month strategic roadmap with the leadership team

The outcomes

  • Founder reduced operational involvement by over 60% within 9 months
  • Management team took ownership of day-to-day operations
  • Business achieved its highest revenue year on record
"For the first time in 15 years, I took a two-week holiday and the business didn't just survive — it thrived."
— Managing Director

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Professional Services28 employeesLondon
Merger integration

Uniting two cultures, one business

The situation

Two professional services firms had merged on paper but remained two separate businesses in practice. Different cultures, different systems, and a leadership team that couldn't agree on direction were threatening to undo the commercial rationale for the deal entirely.

What we did

  • Facilitated a structured leadership alignment process across both legacy teams
  • Designed and managed a phased change programme with clear communication at every stage
  • Developed unified policies, processes, and a single operating model
  • Provided fractional CEO support to the newly appointed MD throughout the transition

The outcomes

  • Full operational integration achieved within 12 months
  • Staff retention above 90% through the transition period
  • Combined entity exceeded pre-merger revenue projections in year one
"They held the whole thing together when it could easily have fallen apart. The calm, structured approach made all the difference."
— CEO, merged entity

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Family Business12 employeesSouth West England
Succession planning

Preparing the next generation to lead

The situation

A family-owned business was approaching a generational handover. The founder wanted to step back, but the next generation lacked the commercial confidence and structural foundations to take the reins. Without intervention, the business risked either stagnating or losing its founder's institutional knowledge entirely.

What we did

  • Worked directly with the incoming MD through a 12-month fractional CEO support engagement
  • Documented the founder's knowledge, relationships, and decision-making frameworks
  • Built a strategic roadmap for the next phase of the business under new leadership
  • Supported the transition communications with staff, clients, and suppliers

The outcomes

  • Smooth handover completed with no disruption to client relationships
  • Incoming MD described feeling 'genuinely ready' to lead
  • Business retained all key staff and major clients through the transition
"Having someone with that level of experience sitting next to me every step of the way was invaluable. I couldn't have done it without them."
— Incoming Managing Director

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Construction & Real Estate60 employeesDubai, UAE
Rapid regional expansion

Building the infrastructure to match the ambition

The situation

A construction and project management firm operating across the Gulf had secured a significant pipeline of new contracts but lacked the internal structure to deliver them without quality or margin erosion. The leadership team was stretched, roles were unclear, and the business was at risk of winning work it couldn't execute.

What we did

  • Conducted a rapid operational diagnostic across all active project teams
  • Redesigned the organisational structure to support concurrent project delivery
  • Introduced project governance frameworks and reporting cadences
  • Developed a strategic roadmap for controlled regional expansion over 36 months

The outcomes

  • Business successfully delivered its largest-ever contract on time and within budget
  • Leadership team capacity increased without adding headcount at the top
  • Secured two further major contracts on the strength of improved delivery reputation
"We had the contracts but not the engine to deliver them. They built that engine alongside us — fast, and without disrupting what was already running."
— CEO

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Technology35 employeesAustin, Texas, USA
Post-investment scaling

Turning Series A funding into sustainable growth

The situation

A B2B SaaS business had closed a significant Series A round but was struggling to translate the capital into structured growth. The founding team had deep technical expertise but limited experience building commercial operations at scale. Investor pressure was mounting and the board lacked confidence in the execution plan.

What we did

  • Worked alongside the CEO to build a credible 18-month commercial roadmap
  • Designed the go-to-market structure and defined clear roles across sales, marketing, and customer success
  • Introduced operational cadences and reporting frameworks to satisfy board requirements
  • Provided ongoing fractional CEO support through the first two quarters post-investment

The outcomes

  • Board confidence restored — next funding conversation initiated ahead of schedule
  • ARR grew by 40% in the 12 months following engagement
  • CEO described the engagement as 'the best investment we made with the Series A'
"We had the money but not the map. They gave us the map — and walked the first stretch of the road with us."
— Co-founder & CEO

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Hospitality & Leisure80 employeesAbu Dhabi, UAE
Culture and performance transformation

Rebuilding a team from the inside out

The situation

A hospitality group operating premium venues across Abu Dhabi was experiencing high staff turnover, inconsistent service standards, and a management team that had lost the confidence of the frontline. Revenue was flat despite strong market conditions, and the owners were considering significant restructuring.

What we did

  • Conducted a full people and culture diagnostic, including confidential staff interviews
  • Redesigned the management structure and introduced clear performance frameworks
  • Led a change management programme to rebuild trust between leadership and frontline teams
  • Developed and embedded a service standards framework across all venues

The outcomes

  • Staff turnover reduced by 45% within six months
  • Guest satisfaction scores improved significantly across all venues
  • Revenue grew 22% year-on-year in the period following the engagement
"They didn't just fix the structure — they changed how our people felt about coming to work. That's what drove everything else."
— Group Managing Director

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation
Professional Services18 employeesNew York, USA
Strategic repositioning

Finding the right market before the runway ran out

The situation

A boutique advisory firm had built a strong reputation in a niche that was contracting. Revenue had plateaued and the partners knew they needed to reposition — but couldn't agree on direction, and lacked the external perspective to break the deadlock.

What we did

  • Facilitated a structured strategic review with the full partner group
  • Conducted market analysis to identify adjacent opportunities aligned with existing capabilities
  • Built a repositioning roadmap with phased entry into two new service lines
  • Supported the internal communications and change process as the firm transitioned

The outcomes

  • Partners reached consensus on direction for the first time in three years
  • First new service line generating revenue within four months of launch
  • Firm returned to growth and expanded headcount within 18 months
"We were stuck. Not because we lacked ideas — because we had too many and no way to choose. They cut through it."
— Managing Partner

Facing a similar challenge?

Start a conversation

180+

Years of combined business and strategic expertise

3

Continents — UK, US, and Middle East

7+

Industries served across multiple markets

Your business could be the next success story.

Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell us where you are and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.

Book a Discovery Call