Member Article

New starters in at Leeds’ Whitecap Consulting

Leeds-based Whitecap Consulting is gearing up for a busy 2016 on the back of new client wins, announcing an expansion of its office space coupled with the appointment of six new employees.

Established in 2012, the management consultancy works with CEOs of predominately northern based mid-sized businesses with a turnover of circa £10-£300m, providing strategy and commercial consultancy.

The expanded offices are at No 1 Aire Street in the centre of Leeds. The new team includes consultant Marie-Elise Loesche; and Ruth Irving, David Crawford, Stefan Haase, Natasha Crump, Tessa Birch and Stuart Clarke who have joined as associates with expertise in consumer goods, digital, product, technology, business transformation, research and insights and strategic partnerships.

Richard Coates, Managing director, revealed: “Our own growth is a mirror image of what we are seeing with our clients. They are ambitious in their plans and we are helping them create the strategies to achieve growth.

“When we started the business four years ago, our focus was to become the leading strategy consultancy in the north. We expect to continue our strong growth into 2016 and are delighted to be creating jobs, taking on larger office space and working with top quality businesses.

The new clients include Bibby Financial Services, Shepherd Direct; The Pensions Trust; BuildStore; Ryman Stationery; Documobi and NKD Pizza.

He continued: “An area of particular success has been fulfilling the role of part-time marketing and/or strategy director for mid-sized companies. These are roles that some businesses can’t justify filling on a full time basis, but having a part-time resource with access to our broader strategic thinking can be an attractive combination.”

He added: “The range of our work across our clients includes international business strategies; global rebrands; operating model designs; strategic marketing reviews and investment business plans to obtain external funding.”

Natalie Sykes, Regional Director of the Institute of Directors in Yorkshire and the North East, added: “As I travel around our region to meet IoD members, the message is clear: there is confidence in the economy. Companies such as Whitecap Consulting are contributing to regional prosperity by investing in and supporting businesses to create growth, new product development and employment. The entrepreneurial reputation of this region is in safe hands.”