Digital transformation is a key driver of change and growth, and an ongoing process leveraging digital technologies to transform and improve your business performance.

This is done by creating operational efficiency, enhancing customer engagement, and developing innovative products or new business models. It is a multifaceted effort which is essential for long term competitive advantage, and it involves people, processes, technology and application portfolio.

Our experienced team help businesses achieve growth and operational efficiency, supporting organisations from vision through to digital objectives and strategy, aligning the markets and client requirements with the right technology.

Our method

Working with you in partnership, our experienced consultants begin with a current assessment, understanding the key drivers for change and what is required for a successful business outcome. Within this is the identification of gaps and definition of the actions and resources required to fill these.

We then set out a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap to suit your budget and capabilities, creating a schedule of work with defined timings, costs, and resources. Using a Target Operating Model we can provide an overview of the business vision and core capabilities, internal factors and external drivers, organisational and functional structure, technology and information resources of a company. This will align the strategic objectives with operating capacities, and detail the business vision, prioritising aspects such as ROI and risk.

Process

• Undertake business analysis and manage the requirements
• Structure, define and plan your transformation journey
• Support the planning and delivery of migration activities
• Establish a positive culture for sustainable change
• Benefits are identified, measured and analysed throughout the process

Specialist knowledge transfer and engaging training services encompassing highly effective management and leadership techniques with the development of emotional intelligence.

These proven methodologies are used to instil trust and confidence in trainees. Our experienced trainers have worked with many diverse groups using skills gained from challenging environments at HM Prisons and the Armed Forces. These services can be bespoke to suit your company requirements.

Effective and motivated workforce

The influence of an organisational leader or manager cannot be overstated. The best leadership is optimised not just to lead but also to engage, creating highly motivated, powerful teams. This is critical for the future wellbeing of your organisation, and the isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for this more than ever before.

Organisations which consider the needs of their people and invest in them are more likely to retain their workforce for longer, not only by building loyalty and trust, but also improving morale and productivity. Motivated teams mean a better experience for everyone who interacts with your people, and a significant positive impact on productivity and staff retention.

Business coherence

Inconsistencies in management styles across the organisation can cause unrest among staff. Building relationships is key in business, and central to that is understanding how your words and actions affect others, which may require changing outdated attitudes. We can also evaluate any complicated hierarchical structures which may be in place and chains of command which might be slowing down decision-making.

Our approach

Using a distinctly empathetic approach combining sensitivity with acute awareness of how to handle the toughest situations, we empower candidates to be great leaders by becoming better prepared, informed and equipped to deal with any situation.

Our trainers bring decades of experience working with elite sports performers and top public schools. They have a wide range of experience in both military and civilian environments and a thorough understanding of the successful working practices of each, and how they can be successfully integrated together where necessary.

SA Group’s reputation for ongoing support of the Armed Forces community arises from a strongly held belief in the value ex-military people can bring to the wider commercial world. We’re proud to have assisted many candidates with their resettlement programme, and last year received a Gold ERS award from the Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of our efforts.

Services offered

We offer a wide range of training services which can be bespoke to your requirements. These can be in large or small groups, or one-to-one, and can be delivered face-to-face or online. Contact us today for further information.

• Soft skills leadership training
• Management including planning, prioritising and delegation
• Train the trainer – coaching others to effectively deliver training
• Developing effective teams
• Leading through change
• Relationship management
• Assertiveness and communication
• Planning and analysis of organisational design, skills and resources
• Analysis and refinement of business processes
• Individual mentoring 

Our extensive knowledge of public sector procurement and tendering enables us to provide high quality procurement support and the capability to advise, manage and prepare bids on behalf of clients.

We have a strong technical understanding of the different terminology involved, and what specific skills are required for each role, allowing us to manage contracts and develop procurement and support strategies.

Our experts can take control of the whole procurement process, or just provide assistance where necessary. We have a wide understanding of most public sector frameworks including the Digital Marketplace / G-Cloud framework, Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) and Technology Services 2 (TS2).

• Preparation of procurement documents and business cases
• Negotiation support and evaluation of contracts
• Providing expert advice and establishing best practice methods
• The identification and verification of various procurement routes
• Detailed funding options, business analysis and feasibility assessments
• The supply of strategic and delivery support to competitive tenders and supplier engagements
• Business continuity planning, preparation and support
• Cost modelling and validation
• Workshop assessments and reviews generating valuable analysis of bids
• Procurement governance and compliance including risk management
• Analysis of current procurement functions and suggested improvements
• The management and optimisation of supplier relationships
• Accurate requirements capture, analysis and specification
• Support in planning and managing system rollouts and support contracts

We have a thorough understanding of the procurement process within UK Government Frameworks from start to finish, including:

• Pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ)
• Invitation to Tender (ITT)
• Evaluation, contracting and award
• Request for Information (RFI)
• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Request for Quotation (RFQ)

Our qualified Cyber professionals are highly experienced in protecting all types of organisations against cyber threats. Starting with a comprehensive review of current defence measures, identifying security vulnerabilities and advising on the best route for protection, we ensure your company is compliant to best practice security certification, including Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001.

We undertake risk assessments, ensure data protection compliance and assess and advise on Security Architecture and Infrastructure Design options to ensure correct functionality, and that it meets operational and mandatory safety requirements as well as providing value for money.

Our approach is to proactively monitor and prevent cyber threats before they cause a problem. We are adept in all types of security testing including penetration testing and IT Health Check (ITHCs), along with the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 (NIS Regulations) and Joint Service Publication (JSP) We have proven experience in meeting requirements and generating formal security assurance documentation such as Risk Management and Accreditation Document Sets (RMADS). Our experts have developed and implemented security policies, processes, risk assessments, standards and governance.

• Cloud Security Assessment
• Security Assurance Coordination and Management (SAC)
• Smart City Cyber Security
• Cyber Security Training
• Defence PKI (DPKI)
• Data Communications & Collaboration Technology
• Cyber Security Health Che

We have a proven track record in successfully managing large scale programmes, technologies, domains and platforms including those which are cloud-based.

Our highly experienced Project, Programme and Portfolio Management (P3M) team support clients in achieving their goals and create business value whilst minimising risks using best practice project management methodologies and management control frameworks such as Scrum, Waterfall, PRINCE2 and Kanban.

On engagement, our subject matter experts conduct a thorough review of the proposed change initiative in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the internal and external factors influencing success. We look at regulatory and legal issues, the technical domain, commercial imperatives, contractual positions and a host of other factors.

We have been involved in large scale and complex service migration projects, and both traditional and agile change programmes. In addition, we have delivered quality and configuration management, and enacted the end-to-end cloud journey. Integration with existing systems and processes is often necessary, and our experienced team will make recommendations to enable future growth.

Our Project, Programme and Portfolio Management services include:

• Technical Support Functions
• Project Support
• Business Case Production
• Programme and Project Assurance Services
• Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O)
• Cost Modelling
• Specialist Technical and Subject Matter Expert Support
• Business Modernisation
• Project, Programme and Portfolio Management Maturity Model (P3M3)
• Requirements Management and Business Analysis
• Alignment to the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) framework
• Conducting managed workshops
• Programme and Portfolio Management
• Creating and implementing Project Charter (PC) methodologies

We have designed and implemented secure and innovative technical architecture including the definition of overall system structures.

These systems are aligned to organisational strategies and compliant with Government Digital Service (GDS) Standards and the Technology Code of Practice.

Enterprise Architecture

Developing Enterprise Architectures for complex system design, to support organisational transformation, and to align with long-term organisation goals. This includes business advisory services on the development of Open Architectures and uses recognised Enterprise Architecture methodologies including The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).

Security Architecture

Identifying and managing threats and risks using industry standard security controls. We work alongside existing security teams to ensure your cloud journey is built with security at its core.

Concept Design

Creating solutions using high and low level (HLD and LLD) security and design artefacts in order to optimise services utilising the most sophisticated hardware. This includes the end-to-end delivery of cloud solutions – click here to find out more about our cloud services.

Integration of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Successful implementation of VOIP for a number of organisations including a highly secure system for British Military which significantly enhanced international Partners of Choice (POC) capabilities. Read the full case study here.

Business Architecture

Interpreting and defining the strategy for operational needs is something our Business Architects are adept at doing, in addition to initiating and managing change for continuous improvement, and business transformation and innovation initiatives.

Systems Engineering

The role of Systems Engineering has gained importance due to the host of benefits its application brings to complex projects. We have comprehensive experience within the systems engineering domain, having developed a novel framework and tool for the elicitation and management of risks that result from the complexity of an engineered system.

Solution Architecture

A solutions architect concentrates on the technical decisions involved in creating and implementing solutions for the business needs based on best practice guidelines and processes. They consider the technological solution from the perspective of the Enterprise Architect, and also the technical, business and information elements.

Digital Architecture

The management of any element of the architecture featuring digital technologies.

Data Architecture

Creating and implementing the formal process or framework as to how data is collected, stored, used, distributed and secured, for application with IT infrastructure.

Information Architecture

The organisation and structure of information to assist users in accessing information and completing tasks.

Cloud Integration Services

There are numerous advantages of cloud integration and we help our clients understand this at an architectural level, along with what is achievable for their business. Click here for more information about our cloud solutions.

Frameworks

We have experience using the following frameworks:

• Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework (MODAF)
• Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF)
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Civil service project development career framework
• Digital, data and technology (DDAT) framework
• Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA)