Experience

History

Critical Path Solutions was established in 2001.

At that point, insights gained through fifteen years working in the Financial Services industry, both in line roles and as external advisers with Big 5 experience, revealed a strong demand for consulting services that were different in a number of key respects from the mainstream offerings of the larger firms. In particular:

• People: The client has a right to expect the ‘A’ team to be fielded in every instance – highly skilled, qualified and experienced practitioners who are the right people for the assignment; with CPS you don't get whoever is available at that time ‘on the bench’. In addition, beyond the core strengths and capabilities of CPS, the Trusted Partner model provides rapid access to consultants who have depth and pedigree in a number of complementary disciplines
• Value: Cost to the client is based on value delivered; with CPS, fees are not driven by brand or the need to fund a large fixed cost base
• Attitude: the difference is best experienced rather than described, however for illustration some adjectives typically used by clients include: commercial, expert, passionate, committed, fun, determined, open, resilient and humble.

Profile of CPS Practitioners

CPS Practitioners are mature professionals, who have either built the foundations of their careers in large consulting firms, held senior line roles and are experienced buyers of consulting services or have built and operated successful independent consulting businesses. Practitioners share a number of distinguishing characteristics:

• Enduring relationships: have built long-term, stable relationships with clients and a tight network of like-minded, trusted professionals
• Best Practice: skilled and qualified technicians, committed to investing in their own professional training and development, yet able to blend technical rigour and discipline with pragmatism and common sense
• Passionate about delivering great outcomes for clients; to this end, the default approach is to actively avoid hierarchy, bureaucracy and politics and invest energies in creating value

Sectors

Since 2001 CPS has worked predominantly in the private sector in Financial Services, particularly Banking and Life & Pensions. In addition, most Practitioners have significant supplementary experience in at least one other industry.

In Q1 08 CPS initiated discussions to explore the potential for a joint venture with a Trusted Partner who is acknowledged to be the leading UK provider of independent Project Review services to the public sector.

In the short term, the potential benefits will be in combining experience and resources, and applying insights and learning from one sector to the other. Beyond this, the intent is that through the course of 2008 and beyond, CPS Practitioners gain experience and ultimately achieve the accreditation necessary to lead Gateway Reviews in government infrastructure projects including property construction, procurement and technology enabled business change.

Geography

CPS operates throughout the UK and mainland Europe.

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