As well as client work, everyone at Fairgrove takes on an internal role to help the business run and grow. These roles vary from Slide Of The Month Manager through to team development. Andy wears two non-project hats: he is Head of Marketing and also supports the firm’s IT function. Here, he talks about what that involves, what he enjoys most and how these roles have helped shape his skills.
Responsibilities outside client work
Alongside client projects, I lead Fairgrove’s marketing function and support our internal IT. On the marketing side, that means working closely with Josh and Max, the other Fairgrove-consultants-turned-content-creators, to manage our day-to-day activity – from running our LinkedIn presence and getting thought leadership pieces out, to preparing reports for board meetings, client emails, and overseeing larger projects like our recent brand and website redesigns. On the IT side, I help set up new joiners, support the team with systems, and troubleshoot issues. (Though truth be told, most problems are solved by turning things off and on again – whether the team agrees I’m any good at IT is another matter!)
What I enjoy most
What I enjoy about these non-project roles is the chance to stretch into different areas and develop new skills. Marketing, in particular, gives me exposure to broader market trends and lets me try my hand at things like design and further develop my writing skills. Redesigning our PowerPoint templates, for example, was a great way to blend creativity with making our output more professional. These responsibilities let me bring a different perspective to my consulting work, while also building skills I might not otherwise have developed.
Strategic initiative
One initiative I’m especially proud of is leading our brand and website redesign, alongside our partner branding agency. As Fairgrove has grown, it became important that our outward presence reflected who we are: a modern, premium boutique strategy consultancy. The project refreshed our visual identity, made our reports cleaner and easier to digest, and helped us stand out more clearly to the market. I worked across everything from coordinating design input to managing the rollout, and it was rewarding to see how the new brand has elevated the way clients and potential clients see us.
Skills and strengths
I think the most important skill for anyone taking on internal responsibilities is curiosity – being open to learning things you’ve never done before. You’re first and foremost a consultant, but roles like marketing, IT, or recruitment give you the opportunity to expand your expertise and pick up new capabilities. Organisation is also key, since you’re often juggling internal projects alongside client work and external stakeholders. If you enjoy stepping into new challenges and finding ways to add value, you’ll thrive in these roles.
