The Corporate Client

Shell have used Quirk Solutions expertise in Business Wargaming to stress test their programme for decommissioning the Brent oilfield in the North Sea. Role players were used to represent a host of stakeholders, including, among others, environmental groups, Fisheries Federations, petrol station owners, the public, the exploration and drilling teams, the media, unions and wider Industry. It proved so successful from Shell’s perspective that Quirk Solutions continue to support them with further wargames, as well as other strategy and planning work.

The SME Client

As MD of an SME Telecoms business, growth is first and foremost in my mind. I asked Quirk Solutions to help us develop a formal strategy for growth and then produce a plan to implement it. The way that they facilitated the sessions was innovative and so different to the consultancy I was used to. They got our own team to explore the options, debate and discuss the different aspects before being guided in writing a plan for implementation. This meant that my team had not only enjoyed the process, but were ‘bought into’ the plan and wanted to see it succeed. The light touch that Quirk Solutions brought was highly effective and they have been a key factor in our success. We continue to have them on call to help us and for SME businesses, their ‘retained consultancy’ offer is hugely beneficial.”

The Professional Body

Quirk Solutions facilitated a business wargame for AAT on their membership development strategy. The day-long session looked at the strategy from four different aspects and incorporated ‘red team’ stakeholders representing 11 different viewpoints. These ‘critical friends’ were invaluable in identifying where the strategy could be improved, where there were unforeseen risks and how to potentially mitigate them.

The Academic Body

Chris gave a very insightful guest lecture on wargaming as part of a strategy module on the MSc Business and Management Course at Plymouth University. Chris’s presentation gave the students an introduction into a valuable technique for planning the execution of strategy. This was very well received by the students and they strongly recommended that he should be invited again.”

The International Client

Quirk Solutions sent Chris Paton to the Middle East to support Digital Soula Systems in the development of a classified system. Bringing huge experience in defense matters, Chris was quick to understand the nature of the problem and to identify the real needs of the end customer. His deep experience in the arts of strategy, plans and their implementation, produced rapid results and clear recommendations that we have subsequently produced to the great satisfaction of our own clients. Quirk Solutions provided us with a rapid response, flexible intellectual support and written and verbal solutions that were both entirely practical and immediately usable.”

The Recruitment Client

Chris has worked with me at Hays to deliver various presentations around war-gaming, strategy and stress-testing plans to audiences predominantly composed of Finance Directors and CFOs. People find his former military career fascinating particularly where he provides stimulus by utilising examples like the UK drawdown in Afghanistan in order to demonstrate that business needs to stress-test plans and approach problems in a pragmatic way, but with a difference! A recent delegate commented ‘Very interesting and relevant for all finance change programmes, strategic development, business reviews and of course risk management.’ Chris is interesting to listen to, makes you think about life in a slightly different way and always gives fantastic delivery. I would highly recommend him.”