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EEDA Positive Work Life Regional Award

Winner: Obsidian Consulting

Obsidian Consulting is a business consultancy based in Cambridge, offering support to client organisations in strategies, processes, team and individual development. It is a partnership of specialist consultants specifically designed to attract and engage experienced former senior managers by creating a vehicle in which they can offer their expertise and experience to other companies. This expertise is offered under a respected brand, whilst maintaining their own interpretations and preferences for work-life balance.

Only individuals who have held senior management positions are recruited to the business, inevitably this leads to more candidates who are over 50 years old being attracted to the organisation, however this does not preclude a broad spectrum of age. 45% of consultants fall under the 50’s group.

Obsidian is led by Managing Partner, David Downing (aged 55) with responsibility for aspects of the management going to the partners with the most relevant expertise.

All the partners are self-employed but committed to working through Obsidian and are encouraged to become shareholders. Remuneration is gained from fees earned from partners’ own clients or from the clients of other partners. Partners work independently and/or in teams, as required to deliver client’s needs. Each partner is free to determine and act upon his/her own work and external priorities, with no hierarchical direction. Every partner is assessed regularly by a peer feedback process such as is used with clients, to help them understand their perceived strengths and areas for development.

Impact

The average age of the partners was 53.45 in 2008

45% of Partners fall under the 50’s age group

In 2008, the last Managing Partner retired - aged 70

Obsidian was a Case Study for an academic paper “Older workers and employment; managing age relations”