It is well understood that the healthiest businesses grow sustainably and create long term value for ALL of their Stakeholders.

Yet Founders of SME businesses and their management teams, working to short-term growth pressures and conflicting stakeholder needs, can struggle to make the business transitions needed for long term profitability and business health.

At IOC we are an SME’s trusted change partner. We provide stakeholder health insights, clear operational development pathways and on-call consulting at a pace that works for founders and their teams. With the shared aim of creating a purposeful business that grows sustainably and makes a positive impact for all of its stakeholders.

For your competitiveness and resilience.

Why ‘Purposeful’ matters to your business - Knowing why you do it.

Financial Performance

Purpose driven businesses achieve Higher Returns on Equity.

Amongst businesses with good strategies, those that integrate sustainability outperform those that don’t by 10%.

(Mckinsey: The Triple Play - Growth, Profitability, Sustainability. 2023).

Sustainable success outcomes:

  • Improved brand loyalty and market differentiation.

  • Reduced risk and improved resilience.

  • Improved innovation, responsiveness and Ops efficiency. 

  • Access to more investment and at lower cost of capital.

  • Improved talent acquisition and retention.

  • Improved staff engagement and productivity.

Your market drivers - Direction of Travel

In 2019 - The American business roundtable (Top 180 companies in the US) issued a statement that ALL Stakeholder value was now the prime purpose for businesses, moving away from the traditional Shareholder primacy that had been the purpose of business since the 20th Century. All stakeholders are now a key competitive dimension for a business.

91% of corporate customers

Consider sustainability as a factor in corporate purchasing decisions. Up from 73% two years ago.

(HEC procurement survey 2024).

9% higher Return on Equity

For Purpose driven businesses compared to the S&P average.

(Forbes-IDEO 2024)

66% of employees

In the UK, consider leaving their employment due to lack of Learning and professional development.

(Docedo survey 2022).

$80 trillion

Value of trade expected to be executed through partnerships by 2030.

(McKinsey 2024).

80% of global investors

Have sustainable investment policies in place. Up from 20% two years ago.

(Deloitte/Tufts survey 2024).

47% of UK staff (18-34 yr old)

Consider leaving a company due to lack of commitment to ESG practices.

(Robert Half survey 2022)

Challenges we find in growing SME businesses

  • Lack of capacity: Leaders are time-challenged, meeting short term financial targets.

  • Balancing between competing Stakeholder interests.

  • Culture shift & internal resistance.

  • Mindset: Moving on from early stage uncertainty to long term growth mindset.

  • Regulatory and Governance adjustments. Skills to deliver new ‘non-financial’ KPIs.

  • Cost. Investing in long term profitability vs investing in immediate challenges.

Re-thinking how you see success in your business

A Stakeholder balance sheet

Changes to consider in your business

You will need a culture that respects & recognises value delivered as much as value received.

Where people ask: Is this the best we can do, is this the best we can be?

You will need a clear business purpose with which all stakeholders can engage. And that can provide an anchor for clarity & efficiency in decision making.

You will need a living and transparent policy framework that sets the Quality expectations and trust for stakeholders in your business. Evolving as you grow.

You will need KPIs that cover your Purpose and quality success with all stakeholders. An integrated Stakeholder balance sheet to accompany your of traditional financial data, integrated into your teams.

There is no sustainability without profitability.

You will need efficiency and clarity of ownership in your processes. Minimising friction and effort for your stakeholders whilst increasing trust and engagement.

You will need Product and Services decisions anchored by your purpose. And clear means for customers to understand this purpose & positive impact and value throughout their lifecycle. The same is true for any Partners and Suppliers that may be included in your Products and Services.

Our offer

Like a GP for your personal health. We are your Change Partner committed to the long-term health of your business. And an authentic stakeholder in your business success.

With deep hands-on experience, we specialise in developing successful pathways to value for each stakeholder type in a fast-moving startup & scale up setting.

We deliver insights quickly and save you time and effort in improving your stakeholder balance sheet and business quality. Providing guidance, roadmap clarity and the tools you need for the journey.

We provide cost effective help, when and where you need it across your stakeholders. High touch or low touch, or on call. Depending on changing needs along your journey, decided by you.

Get in touch.

Whether you have a project need, looking for guidance or simply want to bounce some ideas, we’d love to hear from you.