“These are some of the best people I’ve ever worked with”. Matt Hamnett is reflecting on the firm, MH&A, which he founded - “just me and a laptop” - in 2018. The business, and its team, has grown to more than 20 people since then; “we’ve recruited genuine experts to our cause, in a slightly Ocean’s Eleven way”.

The business has grown organically, responding to impressive demand for MH&A’s services in its three key target markets: education, economic development, and major programmes - “big and difficult public service initiatives”. The firm has successfully delivered projects in central Government, regional and local Government, and the education sector.

 
 

Matt leveraged his impressive CV to build MH&A. After almost a decade in the civil service, he worked in large consultancy and BPO organisations – PWC and Capita – before taking a “grisly” Chief Executive role in the education sector. After completing that transformation effort, he wanted to set up his own business, so MH&A was born.

MH&A works with clients on strategy, service design and programme delivery. Matt stresses that the firm is focused on helping its clients translate strategic intent into customer and community outcomes, saying: “we’re not going to just give you a pretty slide pack describing your problems back to you. We will give you a gorgeous deck, sure; but what we’re really about is helping you solve the problem and make a difference.”

The firm’s approach relies on three pillars:

  • expertise - “people who are genuine experts in their field”;
  • experience - “people who’ve been there, and aren’t really scared by anything”; and,
  • empathy - “people who understand the client context, and commit to working with them on an embedded, supportive, basis.” When Matt describes the firm’s success, it almost sounds like it’s been easy, but he insists this has not been the case. “It’s not been a cakewalk. But it’s been the adventure the team and I wanted. And our plan is to continue enjoying the adventure. We don’t just want to grow; we want to do interesting and worthwhile work with great clients. We’ll grow because of their trust, and their advocacy for what we do. We don’t take either of those things for granted.”

Can MH&A continue to grow without watering down what makes it special? Matt responds that he’s investing in the business, not least by bringing exceptional people into the fold. “I’m not sure anyone in the country knows more about apprenticeships than Jaine Bolton; Chris McKibbin has incredible expertise in emerging technology, innovation and disruption in public services; Emma Cooper is a real expert in economic development and business support. I could go on…”

MH&A has worked with Bramble Hub for almost its entire four-year history, and Matt suggests that our service is uniquely valuable – enabling MH&A to bid for large public sector projects, and giving public sector buyers access to the firm’s expertise.