Operations professionals dedicated to helping your creative business become more productive.
Our Services
Workflow
Evaluation of ways of working
and roles & responsibilities
Bespoke recommendations for
best practice, improvements
and deliverables
Recommendation of online tools to deliver the improvements you require
Resource Management
Evaluation of both internal and external resource allocation
In-depth resource analysis including full-time vs freelance options
Clear proposals to increase productivity and margins
Project Management
Analysis of roles and responsibilities for managing projects from client brief through to delivery and going live.
Recommendations for best practice, efficiencies and implementation where required
Production Management
Analysis of internal production and
3rd party supplier management
Evaluation of production processes across all platforms
Identifying efficiencies in both delivery and financial performance
Finance
Project budget tracking and management
Advice & assistance with financial forecasting
Company & project margin analysis
Procurement
Evaluation of your existing procurement process and strategic advice for the future
Recommendations for best practice in purchasing
Support when dealing with
client tenders
Who needs us?
You’re a creative agency, a studio, perhaps a design and production company, or even a growing brand.
It could be that business is going well, you are growing and the work just keeps on coming – but maybe as a result of this growth, the way you have managed your business in the past needs rethinking. You are so busy working ‘in the business’ that you don’t have time to work ‘on the business’.
Or maybe business is challenging. For one reason or another, things aren’t going quite so well. Maybe you’re not delivering effectively as you used to, or you’re not making the margins you did before.
You might know the reason, or you might just realise there’s a problem but not have the resources to find out what it is, and how to put in place the measures required to improve it.
Whatever the situation, you feel that you need some additional support, and don’t necessarily want to go out and hire a permanent and costly Operations Director.
Enter - the Ops Guys!
We approach each case as a partnership with extensive operational experience in the advertising, marketing and events industries. We understand the often-conflicting demands of a business that needs to be creative - and also profitable.
We are used to working with all strands of these businesses, from Client Service, through strategy, to creative and delivery. Our skills lie in pulling these various strands together to create a better-functioning operations strategy that helps your business become more productive.
We have unparalleled experience working with some of the biggest and best UK & global creative agencies. We are now focused on using our operational expertise to help agencies become more productive.
We work individually or together depending on your needs. And we also have an extensive contact book of other professionals who can help should there be a particularly specific requirement in, for instance, finance, HR or IT support.
What can we do for you?
How do we work?
Our first step is always a meet and greet with you to better understand your particular business, and to hear an overview of the challenges you are facing. We don’t charge for this session.
We then work with you on a consultancy basis to analyse the business challenges in greater depth. Only then will we deliver a proposal of clear recommendations to improve your operation.
We also prefer to work with you as part of your team to actually implement these changes and really deliver the difference.
We are not what you might consider traditional management consultants: we are hands-on people, well-used to working with project and creative teams. We are here to bring the value of our experience to help improve your business.
Meet the Team
Steve Squires
With over 25 years in the industry, from his early experience in delivering events and exhibitions around the world to his running of the marketing division operations of a major advertising agency, Steve has experience to burn.
He has worked within delivery, management and consulting roles across agencies, corporates and management consultancies. He specialises in assisting companies who need additional operational support as a result of growth or changes in the business.
His portfolio includes working with both agencies and clients in the UK, Dubai, Ghana and South Korea.
What is it like to work with us
Steve worked as a Global Head of Operations setting up new internal systems and processes for our teams across the regions. I would fully recommend him for his strong working methodology and logical approach.
Diana Cawley,
COO
BBDO Germany
Steve and I worked together 5 years ago and have stayed in contact ever since. Why? Because Steve is a classy operator. He drives priorities, builds processes, coaches others to execute; and has that rare gift of anticipating risks and issues.
Sam Hunt,
Chief Technology Officer,
MillTech FX
I've been lucky enough to work with Steve as an Ops Director in an agency environment and as a supplier managing experiential events. In both roles I have found him to be extremely reliable, efficient and a total pleasure to work with... I totally recommend Steve, you won't be disappointed.
Tobias Horrocks,
Head of Delivery, EMEA
VaynerMedia
Steve Squires is one of those highly professional people who you sometimes have the luck to work with. He is incredibly organised, in control, dependable and never fails to deliver.
Florence Gladstone-Thompson,
Board Account Director
Arc Worldwide
Not only is Steve Squires diligent, organised and permanently on the ball but he retains a level-headed approach to all issues even under difficult circumstances.
He is an absolute joy to work with and I would highly recommend his services
Julia Herd, Global Marketing Director,
HTC
Steve Squires is a steady calm hand…that helped steer our business through a significant growth period, coupled with a change programme and a diversification of offers
David Wilson,
Board Director
Engage Works
Our Clients
Contact us
We'd love to hear from you so please call us on +44 7968 119805
Steve Squires
steve@theopsguys.net