Refreshed Strategy, Plan & Budget for an Admission Services Provider to Adapt to a New Sector Reality

The Challenge

Our client, a tertiary admissions provider, faced mounting pressure from a shift to a more planned and capped tertiary sector, tightening institutional finances, and broad feedback to sharpen focus on core service and reduce prices.

A new executive team called for re-alignment on the vision for the business and capacity constraints in core teams were limiting delivery.

The client needed support to develop a refreshed strategy and translate it into an approved two-year plan and budget within compressed timeframes, requiring significant consultation and alignment across the Board and Executive.

The Solution

Developed an independent fact-base to identify the client’s strategic challenges as a baseline for decision-making, accompanied by an overview of their purpose, current position, client dynamics, competitive position, and the regulation/policy impacts on their operations.

Facilitated Board and Executive workshops underpinned by the independent fact-base, as well as external market and sector analysis, building an early view of goals for the next two-years and key priorities.

Built a 360-degree financial scenario model to assess the combined impact of market changes, pricing options and cost optimisation levers, informing a refreshed strategy on a page and two-year strategic plan.

Identified product opportunities based on partner value, the client’s strategic intent, and the capabilities that could be leveraged or scaled.

Conducted a pricing review covering fee levels and structures, benchmarking the client’s position against the estimated cost of members managing services in-house, and assessed alternative pricing models against client value, financial viability and implementation feasibility.

Embedded alongside the finance team to develop the next financial year budget, stress-testing revenue assumptions, identifying cost saving options, and developing the strategic narrative connecting the budget to the approved two-year strategy.

Developed a robust operating plan through a well-facilitated executive offsite, creating alignment and a clear, pragmatic approach to delivery over the next two-years.

The Impact

Our end-to-end support moved the client from early strategy through to a Board-approved full-year budget within six months.

The engagement laid the groundwork to refocus on core admissions services, ensure fit-for-purpose operations and reform pricing in line with institutional expectations, positioning the client to deliver better value to universities and applicants as the sector evolves.

The budget positions the client to navigate a tightening education environment marked by volume decline, institutional financial pressure and sector reform.