2019 winner

Grant Thornton

Making the most of the apprenticeship levy is not the most obvious route into innovative client service. But GT impressed the judges with the way it took its own experience of employing the levy and turned it to advice for clients. By partnering with external providers the firm has created a really powerful offer to help its clients take advantage of apprenticeship schemes. It has also involved its own staff as coaches and mentors. In so doing GT has broadened its client relationships beyond the traditional finance function into the wider talent space.

“We are excited to have our approach to apprenticeship levy advisory recognised as an important and innovative service for growing, dynamic mid-market businesses. Since 2016, Grant Thornton has supported over 2,000 organisations to help them understand changes to the Government’s apprenticeship policy, including the introduction of the apprenticeship levy. We have worked tirelessly to change the mindset from the levy being perceived as an additional tax to being seen as a strategic opportunity to support people’s development. The Apprenticeship Levy represents an untapped opportunity helping develop the workforce of the future and, in the context of Brexit, is now more relevant than ever.”
Justin Rix, Partner and Head of People Advisory at Grant Thornton

Lucy Porter, the team from Grant Thornton and Ben Wightwick (HighQ)

2nd place

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

BCLP impressed the judges with the innovation embedded within its new Cantilever legal operations consultancy service. A multifaceted approach, Cantilever provides clients with a services that combines highly qualified process engineers, data scientists and technologists to work with in-house lawyers to advise them on the best ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their legal delivery and better manage risk, using a combination of strategy consulting, process optimisation, legal technology and data analytics. As a very young service this is certainly one to watch and the judges are excited to hear more of the impact of this innovative client service in future years.