Insights & Tools
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England and Wales population growth slows sharply as net migration falls
Population growth in England and Wales slowed to 0.4% in the year to mid-2025 as net international migration fell sharply. The figures point to an ageing population, weaker workforce growth and widening regional differences with significant…
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Tough Mudder and Spartan: From Obstacle-Race Rivals to a Global Endurance Platform
Tough Mudder and Spartan transformed obstacle racing into a global fitness industry before financial collapse, acquisition and the COVID-19 pandemic threatened their future. This extensive case study examines their origins, contrasting brand strategies, event economics, safety…
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The BBC: From Wireless Pioneer to Public-Service Media at a Crossroads
From its beginnings in wireless radio to its current struggle with streaming, declining licence numbers and global media competition, the BBC has shaped British culture for more than a century. This extensive strategic case study examines…
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LEGO: The Brick That Became a Global System of Play
From a small Danish carpenter’s workshop to the world’s most powerful toy brand, LEGO has built a global business around one brilliantly simple system of play. This detailed case study examines LEGO’s history, near-collapse, remarkable turnaround,…
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Gymshark: From Bedroom Brand to Global Fitness Challenger
Gymshark is one of the most important British consumer brand stories of the last twenty years. It began in 2012 with Ben Francis, then a 19-year-old student from the Midlands, selling fitness supplements online and making…
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Magnet Group: From Yorkshire Joinery to Kitchen Retail Turnaround
Magnet is one of the best-known names in the British kitchen market. For more than a century, it has been associated with joinery, fitted kitchens, showrooms, trade customers, design appointments, home renovation and the practical business…
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A.G. Barr and Irn-Bru: Scotland’s Soft Drink Champion in a Global Drinks Market
A.G. Barr is one of the most unusual companies in British food and drink. It is not the largest soft drinks company in the UK. It does not have the global firepower of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig…
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Stress Testing
Stress testing is a planning, risk management and decision-making tool used to test how an organisation, project, forecast, system or strategy would perform under difficult, severe or adverse conditions. At its simplest, stress testing asks: What…
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Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity analysis is a planning and decision-making tool used to test how changes in key assumptions affect an outcome. At its simplest, sensitivity analysis asks: What happens if one of our assumptions changes? That makes it…
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Forecasting
Forecasting is a planning tool used to estimate what may happen in the future based on evidence, data, assumptions, trends and judgement. At its simplest, forecasting asks: What is likely to happen, what evidence supports that…
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Horizon Scanning
Horizon scanning is a strategic planning and foresight tool used to identify early signs of change that could affect an organisation, sector, market, project or community. At its simplest, horizon scanning asks: What is changing, what…
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Risk Appetite Statement
A risk appetite statement is a governance and risk management document that explains how much risk an organisation is willing to accept, tolerate or avoid in pursuit of its objectives. At its simplest, a risk appetite…
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Internal Audit
Internal audit is an independent and objective assurance and advisory activity used to help an organisation evaluate and improve its governance, risk management and internal control arrangements. At its simplest, internal audit asks: Are the organisation’s…
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Business Continuity plan
A business continuity plan, often shortened to BCP, is a practical management document that sets out how an organisation will continue operating, recover critical activities and communicate effectively during and after a serious disruption. At its…
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Bow-tie Analysis
Bow-tie analysis is a risk management tool used to show how a risk can develop, what might cause it, what consequences could follow, and what controls are in place to prevent or reduce harm. At its…
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Assumption Log
An assumptions log is a practical management tool used to record, track, test and review the assumptions that an organisation, project, service or decision relies upon. At its simplest, an assumptions log asks: What are we…
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Issue Log
An issue log is a practical project and management tool used to record, track, manage and resolve problems that have already occurred or are currently affecting a project, service, organisation or decision. At its simplest, an…
