Operations Consultants UK for SMEs

Signs your operations need attention

If two or three of these sound familiar, it's usually time.

"Everything depends on a couple of people, and if they're off, things stop."

"We type the same order into three different systems."

"Sales promise dates that operations can't hit."

"We bought an ERP, but half the business still runs on spreadsheets."

"We're busier than ever, but margins keep shrinking."

"I spend my week firefighting instead of running the business."

What an operations consultant actually does

Operations is everything between a customer placing an order and the money arriving in your bank: buying, making or picking, storing, shipping and invoicing, plus the systems and people that hold it together. In a growing SME, most of the waste sits in the handoffs between those steps.

I start by walking the process with your team, end to end, so we can see where work waits, gets re-keyed, or depends on one person's memory. Then we fix the problems in order of impact, with changes your team can run without me.

Process mapping and redesign

Documenting how work really flows today, removing duplication, and setting out clear steps and owners.

Systems, ERP and integration

Choosing, setting up or rescuing an ERP or MRP, and connecting it to your CRM and accounts so data only gets entered once.

Stock and supplier control

Reorder rules, stock visibility and supplier scorecards that stop shortages without tying up cash.

Operational KPIs and reporting

A handful of numbers, such as on-time delivery, stock value and order lead time, reviewed regularly so problems show up early.

Roles and responsibilities

Making clear who owns what, so decisions don't all land on the owner's desk.

Scaling up

Getting ready for a new product, a big contract or a move to outsourced fulfilment, before the pressure arrives.

Hands-on and independent, wherever you are

Most operations consultancies are built for large companies, with teams, long programmes and fees to match. You work with me directly, from the first call to the last change, with clear fixed prices agreed up front.

Remote and on-site

A lot of operations work can be done remotely: reviewing data, mapping processes with your team over video, and setting up systems. Some problems are easier to see in person, so I visit sites where it adds value, usually at the start of a project.

Commercial as well as operational

Alongside 20 years in manufacturing, electronics, procurement and supply chain, I've carried sales targets and managed customer relationships. That means operations fixes are judged on what they do for your customers and your margin, not just how tidy the process looks.

Recent operations work

OEM scale-up, delivered in 3 months

From spreadsheets to connected systems

A growing OEM was running purchase orders, stock and finance through Excel and Xero, with no ERP, no warehouse management and no structured product release process, just as it moved from prototype to production.

I selected and implemented a full ERP, connected it to HubSpot CRM and Xero so orders and financials flow automatically, set up warehouse management and stock control, and designed a new SKU structure and product release process. Three months from start to full implementation.

"Nick came in and built our systems from the ground up to scale from start-up to small business. This included a full ERP transition and automating our other systems to link them together and work autonomously."

Clean Energy

How it works and what it costs

Clear pricing, agreed up front. If a price is agreed, it won't change.

1

Free intro call

Phone or video, 30 minutes

No commitment, no pitch
An honest view of whether I can help

2

Scoping session

Fixed fee, £750

Operations and process review
Written action plan you keep

3

Hands-on support

Optional monthly retainer

From £1,400/month
Implementation alongside your team
Regular check-ins and reporting

Operations consultancy FAQs

What does an operations consultant do?

An operations consultant looks at how work actually gets done in your business, from order to delivery, and fixes what slows it down or costs too much. That usually means processes, systems, stock, suppliers and who is responsible for what. My work is hands-on, alongside your team, not a report.

How much does an operations consultant cost?

It starts with a free 30-minute intro call. A scoping session is a fixed £750 and gives you a written, prioritised action plan to keep. If you want help putting it in place, monthly support starts from £1,400.

Do you work across the UK?

Yes. I work with businesses across the UK. Much of the work can be done remotely, with site visits where they add value, such as walking the shop floor or warehouse at the start of a project. I'm based in the South East, so on-site work there is easiest to arrange.

What size of business do you work with?

Mostly owner-managed and family-run businesses with roughly £250k to £10m turnover that make, buy, store or ship physical products, and have outgrown the processes they started with.

What's the difference between an operations consultant and a fractional operations director?

An operations consultant usually tackles a defined problem or project, such as a new ERP or a stock control fix. A fractional operations director takes ongoing responsibility for operations a few days a month. Many clients start with a project and move to fractional support.

How quickly will we see results?

The scoping session usually identifies a few quick wins you can act on straight away. Bigger changes take longer: as an example, a full ERP implementation for an OEM scale-up, connected to its CRM and accounts, took three months.

Let's talk about how your business runs

A free, no-obligation 30-minute call. No hard sell, no jargon, just an honest chat about what's slowing you down.

Book a free intro call

Working with SMEs across the UK, remote and on-site.
Or call 07872 617 397 · nick@clearrouteconsulting.co.uk

Operations consulting for SMEs that have outgrown how they run