| | More

March 2000

Cambridge Consultants builds a new model for a global business

Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL®), the European technology centre of global consulting firm Arthur D. Little, has announced it is to implement a new business model that will pave the way towards CCL becoming the world's most significant technology innovation business.

The new model will increase radically the rate at which CCL creates new businesses through creation, incubation and launch of new ventures. Areas already designated for business development under the new plan include e-commerce, drug delivery devices, digital printing and microcontrollers.

Already recognised globally as a creator of new, world-class, businesses, having spun off many throughout its 40 year history, CCL's design and development business will form the core of the new model. This will be enhanced by new focused Business Units operating at various stages of independence from the core.

CCL's core business will continue to service clients with high-value, complex assignments. Services will span the exploitation of technology to product, process and service development. Areas of focus that demonstrate particular potential for growth will become recognised as distinct and specialist Business Units. Although self-managing from day-to-day and free to recruit from within the core business, or from outside, they will be co-ordinated from the core business, from whence they will continue to obtain systems and support. Business Units will provide CCL with a fertile seedbed in which to cultivate new spin-off companies.

In addition to forming a closer, global, partnership with CCL, parent company Arthur D. Little will be supporting the new ventures with investment from a Technology Investment Board, the creation of new CEO, Lorenzo Lamadrid.

Employees will have the opportunity to grow their careers within the core, or the peripheral Business Units, or by driving the creation of new spin-off businesses. Rewards will follow from what is becoming increasingly a merit-driven career structure.

Howard Biddle, CCL's Managing Director, said "CCL has been a leader in Europe for 40 years. Our new business model describes our route to becoming the foremost technology innovator in the world. The model facilitates us to forming partnerships, gives us the freedom to experiment with innovative ideas and to create new businesses. We can do all this while continuing to offer our clients the security of working with a globally established firm." CCL will form the backbone of Arthur D Little's Cambridge Campus, located on the Cambridge Science Park.

The Campus enables both ADL and CCL to offer a more comprehensive service than either could offer alone. Clients are able to work with management consultants, who understand technology, and technologists who understand business and management, thus enabling real change to be implemented. Offering services that help clients to innovate through the generation, application and management of technology, the Campus provides the right environment in which business creation, incubation and the generation of spin-offs can take place.

For further information: