PLANNING IS EVERYTHING at the transformational change consultancy Project One, which starts preparations for its annual conference eight months in advance. The company's January Kick-Off event, which brings together the 106 staff based at 23 sites around the UK, has included festival-style performances and a game show at MediaCity in Salford. Active communication is key for the Cheshire-based business, which has led more than 2,000 change initiatives for clients including the Co-operative Group, O2 and Virgin Media since it was founded in 1998. Regular account meetings at clients' sites, fortnightly “lunch and learn” sessions via Skype and quarterly regional meetings ensure that departments work well together and there are no power struggles in teams (both scoring 83% positive). Staff are fairly paid (83%). The average salary of a consultant is £150,000 and 77% of the male-dominated workforce earn more than £100,000 a year. Project One is said to be run on sound principles by its founder and managing director Ian Hellens (90%) and the senior managers are considered good listeners (84%). www.projectone.com
