A PIONEERING consultancy has announced a radical transformation to escape the trap of becoming a “monolithic company which chases revenue”.

Employees at NixonMcInnes, based in Brighton, are now associates with independent spin-out initiatives in partnership with the company.

The move away from a traditional business hierarchy is an attempt to have long-term impact with purpose.

Founder Tom Nixon said: “If your purpose is to make money and sell the company in a few years, that’s okay.

“But if you’re in the long-term impact business like us, then it’s not.

“It can be a big distraction from finding and delivering the most purposeful work, which often isn’t the most profitable in the short-term.”

The rejig, described as the biggest in the company’s 14-year history, is aimed at making the company more resilient in today’s volatile, uncertain world.

The company, previously named one of the most democratic in the UK, started life under a typical professional services model, with a flat structure and management team at the top.

Tom said: “Almost all of our team have spun out their own companies, and I’m incredibly proud and excited to announce them today.

“We now have a flexible network of associates who can work alone or in collaboration with one another to serve our clients.”

The move was inspired in opposition to the “month-in month-out pressure to hit the numbers”.

Monthly fees and revenue are subject to “boom and bust cycles” and have little positive impact on the world, he said.

A fixed, in-house team gets in the way of putting the very best, world class team together for projects and allowing people complete autonomy to choose the work they love.

He added: “I believe the future of work is not building fixed, monolithic companies which chase revenue.

“We can do much better than that and we’re going to have a lot more fun creating a lot more impact.”

NixonMcInnes spin-out businesses

  • 45 Baker St – Max St John, Charles Davies and Nina Timmers’ Brighton studio will pull ideas to pieces and rebuild them bit by bit.
  • BrightCultures – Danielle Sheerin and Caroline Yetman are behind this digital transformation consultancy which specialises in financial services and social media.
  • Built on Purpose – Tom Warner promises to create “lean, meaningful” software, with “impactful innovation” in large organisations”.
  • Collaboration Catalyst – Belinda Gannaway helps boost collaboration culture through training, coaching, behaviour change tools and techniques.
  • Improvising Change – Matthew Matheson uses group work, listening, commitment and trust to boost innovation.
  • Meaningful Events – Louise Ash produces purposeful conferences, events and gatherings, such as Meaning Conference for NixonMcInnes.
  • Purpose Lab – Jenni Lloyd explores ways to make businesses work better to create value for people and planet.