What I can help with
Operations consulting shouldn't be vague, so here's what I actually do. If your challenge isn't listed, ask. It probably still fits.
Efficiency and productivity
Getting more out of the people, space and equipment you already have.
- Process mapping and bottleneck analysis
- Layout, flow and capacity
- Performance measures that mean something
- Getting busy operations under control
Cost reduction and analysis
Finding where money leaks, and whether the fix is worth it.
- Cost-to-serve and labour analysis
- Supplier and contract reviews
- Business cases with realistic numbers
- Make-or-buy and outsourcing decisions
Automation and modernisation
Right-sized technology, not tech for its own sake.
- Spotting manual work worth automating
- Systems and software reviews: do your tools talk to each other?
- Choosing, specifying and implementing tools
- Equipment and automation payback
Health, safety and compliance
Safer sites and fewer nasty surprises.
- Site safety walk-throughs and risk reviews
- Safe systems of work and procedures
- Incident and near-miss processes
- A qualified specialist brought in wherever the law requires one
Governance and CSR
Operations you can show to customers, auditors and investors.
- Policies, procedures and documented controls
- Audit readiness and customer audits
- Sustainability and supply chain responsibility
- Ethical and responsible sourcing practices
Bringing operations in-house
Leaving a 3PL or outsourcer and running it yourself.
- Cost comparison of outsourcing against in-house
- Site, layout, equipment and systems
- Hiring and building the team
- A realistic plan, timeline and transition
I've run these operations. Now I help you run yours.
I'm Toby. I've spent my career in operations, from Amazon, Boots and Dyson to Cromwell Tools and Fulfillable, and I've just finished an MBA in business innovation and transformation at the University of Birmingham. Now I use that experience to help other businesses run better.
When you work with TWF Consulting, you talk to the person who actually does the work, and you get advice built around your business. You can see my full background on LinkedIn.
Honest
I'll tell you if you don't need me, and I won't take on work I'm not qualified for.
Reliable
I stay through the implementation. You don't get a report and a goodbye.
Practical
I give you things you can actually act on, tested on a real shop floor, not theory and slide decks.
I spotted that falling volumes meant in-house labour could move to a third party. I mapped the whole operation, wrote the business case, ran trials and kept the team on through the change. The result was a significant annual saving in my region, and the model was then rolled out UK-wide.
A fast-growing 3PL with three UK sites, where people and safety systems hadn't kept up with growth. I audited the operation, briefed the founders on priorities and wrote the contracts and HR policies myself. Within three months the whole team was trained and certified, everyone was on a contract, risk assessments were in place and the equipment issues were fixed.
How it works
The first two steps are free. Nothing paid starts until you've seen my estimate and signed off.
Free intro call
A quick chat to make sure I can actually help, so neither of us wastes time.
Free site visit
I come and see how your operation really runs. No charge for the first visit.
Estimate and timeline
You get a clear estimate of the hours and a timeline. Work is paid hourly, so if it could run over I'll tell you early. We can then talk options, such as less detail or working to agreed assumptions.
Contract signed, work begins
Once you're happy with the plan, we sign a simple contract and I start. Paid work never starts before this.
Work completed
I hand over everything in writing: documents, processes and anything you need to carry on without me.
Ongoing support
Need a hand later? Ad-hoc help is there when you want it, as one-off hours or on a retained plan.
Pricing
Straight pricing, in plain English. One hourly rate. No packages to decode and no surprise extras.
A quick call, then a visit to see your operation. No strings attached.
You get an estimate first, and you pay for the hours actually worked.
A quick answer to a single question that can't wait. 24-hour response target, excluding weekends.
Up to 24 hours of questions and advice a year, which works out at £50 an hour. Extra hours at £75. Same 24-hour response target.
Estimates are a guide, not a fixed price. I'll never do work you haven't agreed.
Tell me what you're looking for.
Send a short message and I'll reply to arrange a free intro call.
Or email toby@twfconsulting.co.uk