Unlocking Value Podcast, episode thirty-three

In this episode, John is joined by Andrew Laird, Chief Executive of Mutual Ventures, a specialist consultancy focused on public service reform and local transformation.

Andrew co-founded Mutual Ventures over 15 years ago with a clear but unconventional ambition: not to build a large consulting firm, but to create a vehicle for doing meaningful, impactful work in public services. Since then, the firm has grown steadily, building a strong reputation for combining central government policy insight with practical, on-the-ground delivery.

Now, as the business enters a more deliberate phase of growth, Andrew reflects on what has changed, what has stayed constant and what it really takes to scale a consultancy without losing the culture and values that made it successful in the first place.

A central theme throughout the conversation is the idea that growth should be a consequence of value, not the objective itself. Andrew shares a candid perspective on the consulting industry, highlighting where it adds real value and the areas where he thinks it falls short, particularly in public services.

Andrew and John discuss:

  • Why Mutual Ventures was never built for growth in the traditional sense and what has prompted a more intentional shift towards scaling the business
  • How culture, team structure and internal investment underpin sustainable growth, even in smaller consultancies
  • What it takes to embed business development across a team and why consulting “sales” is fundamentally about relationships, not selling
  • The role of thought leadership in building credibility, creating demand and differentiating in a crowded market
  • Andrew’s perspective on the legitimate role of the consulting industry, including the importance of delivering real value and knowing when to step away

If you lead a consulting or professional services firm and are thinking about how to grow without compromising what makes your business distinctive, this discussion offers a thoughtful and practical perspective on what to prioritise and what to avoid.

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🎧 This episode is available to stream below or on any of your usual podcast platforms (such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts)

Host: John Howard, Partner at Garwood Growth
Guest: Andrew Laird, Chief Executive of Mutual Ventures

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