Advisory & Business Strategy

Introduction - Work in Progress (WIP) Improves Cashflow If you run a construction or engineering business, you’ve probably said something like: “We’re busy and the jobs are going well… so why is cash tight?” “We made profit last month… but the bank balance didn’t move.” “We’ve invoiced loads… yet we’re still being squeezed by suppliers.” Most of the time, the missing link is  Work in Progress (WIP) . WIP is not “an accountant’s adjustment”. It’s a simple idea: WIP is the valu

Should More Resource Go to Volume Work or Technical Work? Introduction - Right Balance Between Productivity and Effectiveness? Fast-growing construction and engineering businesses often hit the same wall: engineers are flat out, but profit doesn’t rise the office feels overloaded, but work still slips directors are dragged into every decision, so nothing moves quickly you’re “busy”… but not in control This usually isn’t a sales problem. It’s a  capacity and focus problem . In

Introduction - KPIs Every Construction Sales Team In construction and engineering businesses, especially lift companies, M&E contractors, FM providers and refurbishment specialists, the sales department is often misunderstood. Many business owners think a “busy pipeline” equals success. It doesn’t. Quality, conversion, lifetime value, and margin protection matter far more than volume. A sales department can generate enquiries all month yet still weaken cash flow, harm margins

Introduction - KPIs for Refurbishment & Installation Teams The refurbishment and installations department is often the most complex area of a construction or engineering business. It handles modernisations, full installations, technical surveying, RAMS programmes, project management, procurement, WIP forecasting, and final commissioning. It also carries the  highest revenue, longest timelines, and biggest commercial risk . And yet, most SMEs track performance poorly. Director

Introduction - KPIs Every Repairs Department Must Track The repairs department is one of the most influential profit centres in a construction or engineering business, especially in lift engineering, M&E, HVAC, and specialist technical trades. Repairs generate reactive revenue, drive additional quoting opportunities, and are often the fastest route to cash. But they can also be the biggest source of margin leakage, scheduling issues, and customer frustration if the business d

Introduction - KPIs Every Service Department Must Track For construction and engineering businesses, especially those running lift engineering, FM service teams, M&E services, or technical maintenance divisions, the  service department is the heartbeat of predictable revenue . It handles call-outs, planned maintenance, aftercare, safety inspections, LOLER reporting, and customer relationships. Yet many SMEs don’t truly know if their service department is performing well beyon

In construction and engineering businesses, department heads play a bigger role than many directors realise. They control the flow of information, influence margins, shape delivery, and directly impact cash flow. Yet most SMEs, especially those scaling quickly, don’t truly know whether their department leads are performing well. This happens because many owners rely on gut feel, verbal updates, or firefighting indicators rather than structured performance metrics. In this blo

Introduction - Finance Training for Engineering Teams Many construction and engineering firms rely on site managers who excel at operations but struggle to read financial statements. In an industry driven by budgets, cash flow and margin control, that gap is costly. This guide shows how to train a site team to understand numbers in 90 days. The plan is broken down into two‑week tasks and is tailored for a £5 million business where each project manager or foreman needs to conn

Introduction - Financial Leadership Prevents Business Firefighting In the fast‑paced world of construction and engineering, unexpected issues will always arise from delayed supplier deliveries to cost overruns. However, “firefighting” should not be the default mode for your business. Strong financial leadership provides a strategic framework that turns chaos into organised action. This blog explores the top intangible skills a finance leader needs, the red flags they should w

Introduction - Financial Controllers Fail Without Authority Small and medium‑sized construction and engineering firms often view the financial controller as an accounting workhorse. Yet controllers are not magicians; they need authority, information and support to succeed. When business owners delegate  responsibility  without equivalent authority, they set the controller up for failure. In a £5 million construction firm, a controller might be expected to reconcile accounts,

Introduction - Building Internal Controls For construction and engineering SMEs, internal controls can feel like bureaucratic red tape. Business owners fear that adding checks and approvals will slow down projects. However, robust controls are like an immune system for your business. They detect errors, prevent fraud and build stakeholder confidence . This blog explains how to implement controls that protect assets without creating bottlenecks. Are Impactful Implementations D

Introduction - Fractional Controller vs Fractional Finance Director As a growing construction or engineering business, you may hear terms like  fractional controller ,  fractional finance director (FD)  or  fractional CFO  used interchangeably. Understanding the difference is crucial for making the right hiring decision. This blog compares the two roles, explains the business needs that drive each, and offers guidance on when an FC alone is enough. What Tasks and Business Nee

Introduction - What is a Fractional Controller Construction and engineering SMEs often juggle rapid growth with complex projects, making financial oversight both critical and challenging. Owners frequently assume that sophisticated finance roles are only for large corporations, leaving them without the strategic insight they need. This blog explains what a  fractional controller (FC)  is, why it matters for small but growing firms, and how to evaluate whether your business sh

Introduction - Automation in Construction: Threat or Opportunity? Automation is becoming a major talking point across the construction and engineering sector. From CRM systems to job management apps and digital timesheets, more businesses are trying to use technology to “save time and improve accuracy.” But here’s the real question:  is automation actually helping your business, or is it slowing your team down? Many SMEs rush into software adoption expecting instant efficienc

Introduction - Price Sales Commission Correctly for Contract Wins Getting sales commission right is more than choosing a percentage. For construction and engineering SMEs, where contracts vary in length, complexity, margin and lifetime value, poorly calculated commission can wipe out profit before the job even starts.In this blog, we break down how to price sales commission correctly, how to calculate customer lifetime value, and which KPIs protect your margins. This is esse

Introduction If you run a construction or engineering business, you’ve probably invested in a CRM, job management system or project platform to “save time.” But here’s the truth:  if your operating systems don’t align with your finance function, they create more problems than they solve .Instead of saving time, your accountant ends up manually re-entering data, fixing errors, and trying to reconcile systems that don’t speak the same language. This blog explains why CRM, accou

Introduction In fast-growing construction and engineering businesses, the biggest financial problems often have nothing to do with invoices, cashflow or project overruns. They come from something far simpler:  people sitting in the wrong roles . Whether it’s a site manager trying to run procurement, an office manager forced into bookkeeping, or a supervisor covering commercial tasks, one misaligned role can create bottlenecks, low morale, slow problem-solving, and weak leader

After years of building your construction or engineering business, there may come a point where you decide to  step back, sell up, or hand over the reins . Whether you’re planning a full exit, transferring ownership to family, or bringing in new investors, the reality is this: 👉 The way you plan (and time) your succession will determine  how much of your sale proceeds you keep, and how much goes to HMRC. The truth is, many SME owners  wait too long  to think about tax effici

Running a construction or engineering business means managing constant uncertainty, material prices, labour rates, project delays, and client payment terms. Yet, too many companies rely on “best-case” budgets and hope for the best. That’s where  sensitivity analysis  comes in. It’s one of the most powerful (but underused) tools for construction SMEs. It helps you see how changes in key assumptions, like a 10% material price increase or delayed stage payment, will affect your

You may not be thinking about selling your construction or engineering business today, but you should be building it like you are. Why? Because when it’s time to exit, whether in 3, 5, or 10 years, buyers will only pay a premium for businesses that run smoothly  without  the owner. If everything’s in your head, or held together by your personal relationships, the value drops significantly. This is where many construction, trade, and engineering SMEs fall short. They’re brilli