What if the insight you need to grow and strengthen your business is already within reach...you just need someone to unlock it?

A retained source of business-critical insight; ready to underpin every key decision you face.



Many organisations wait too long to gather the evidence that could help them take their next big step.

The Impact Partner Retainer from Rachel Dunford, the Impact Specialist, gives you continuous, strategic insight - drawn from the people who experience your work - so you can confidently make the right decisions about growth, strategy, funding and beyond.

It's not about listening for the sake of it.

It's about insight that drives action, progress and momentum, exactly when you need it.

Honest, focused, thoughtful conversations with your clients - revealing what they really value, need and expect

MULTIPLIED BY

Independent, expert guidance, deep listening, sharp questioning and decades of experience turning insight into action

EQUALS

Actionable insight that sharpens decisions, strengthens messaging and accelerates growth

JUMP TO...

"I would very much recommend Rachel if you wish to understand your impact.

Her analysis and insights are shaping how I think about my business and how I structure it, as well as providing me with crucial client intelligence."

KARA STANFORD, STRATEGIC MARKETING COACH, THE MARKETING SPACES

If you’re serious about growth, clarity and impact, keep reading...

THIS IS FOR YOU IF:

You lead a business delivering complex, strategic or transformational work

You want sharper, ongoing insightS to guide big decisions

You’re preparing to launch new services, apply for grants, expand into new markets or build your team

You’ve outgrown anecdotal feedback and need clear, usable evidence that supports your next steps

You want a trusted partner who can provide an external, objective view and help you act WITH CONFIDENCE

You’re committed to outcomes, integrity and values, but also want clarity, structure and momentum

“I raised my day rate. And I've started pushing for more strategic work - I'm showing up differently now.

It has given me perspective on what I am delivering for my clients and the confidence to stop playing small."

KATE HAMER, MARKETING AND DIGITAL CONSULTANT, KATE HAMER LTD

The problem isn’t that you don’t listen.

It’s that they won’t always tell you.

WHY DOES IT WORK?

The best decisions come from being closely connected to the people who experience your work.

Most organisations make plans based on assumptions, internal conversations or delayed reviews.

But real-time insight, gathered regularly and fed back with context, lets you adjust as you go, not after the fact.


Here's the truth.

You could try to gather this insight yourself.

But clients and stakeholders rarely open up fully to internal teams.

They hold back, soften their words or simply tell you what they think you want to hear.


This is where I come in. I bring...

✔ An independent, unbiased perspective that clients trust
✔ Sharp, honest questions that draw out the answers you need
✔ The ability to spot patterns and opportunities others miss
✔ Decades of experience in analysing impact and applying it strategically
✔ Clear, focused insight that leads to smarter, faster, more confident decisions


This isn’t just listening. It’s expert insight-gathering and strategic sense-making, delivered in a way that’s clear, usable and designed to fuel smarter, faster, more confident decisions.

“The work that you do: game-changing.

The way that you do it: in partnership (and always with a smile).

The results you deliver: transformational!”

RACHEL BIBBY, DIRECTOR OF MEMBER EXPERIENCE, ICHEME

Clear. Strategic.

Always listening.

WHAT YOU WILL GET...

1. Up to 3 client or stakeholder interviews per quarter
Impactful, focused conversations to uncover meaningful insights, without overwhelming your clients or team.

2. A 90–120 minute strategy session every quarter
A deep dive to unpack the insights and use them to sharpen your messaging, improve outcomes and guide your next steps.

3. A strategic summary you can act on
A clear, jargon-free write-up that highlights what’s working, what needs attention and where to focus next.

4. Monthly Impact Surgery hour
An optional drop-in session for you or your team to ask questions, solve problems, explore ideas or get guidance on applying insights.

5. Light-touch support between sessions
Access to me via email or voice note for advice, feedback or sense-checking whenever needed.

"I asked Rachel to do an Impact Review for Flourish Retail, speaking directly to our clients and asking all the questions I’d never thought to ask. And the responses?

Some made me cry (happy tears, to clarify). Some made me smile. Some made me sit back and go wow!

So if you’re wondering about the impact your work is having?

Honestly, speak to Rachel. You won’t regret it."

SARAH JOHNSON, MERCHANDISER, FLOURISH RETAIL

Here’s how I help my clients turn insight into action...

IMPACT INSIGHT REALLY IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE TOOL...

  • Funding and grants
    They strengthen their bids and grant applications by weaving in clear, credible evidence of their value and outcomes.

  • Investment and pitches
    They use their clients' perspectives and impact stories to build stronger, more compelling cases for investors or stakeholders.

  • Growth and expansion
    They plan recruitment, launch new services or expand into new markets - all based on what their clients actually need, not assumptions.

  • Partnerships and mergers
    They bring independent, external insight into strategic conversations, helping them approach partnerships, mergers or restructures with clarity and confidence.

  • Service refinement and innovation
    They fine-tune existing offers or shape entirely new services, ensuring everything they create is rooted in what their clients actually want and need.

  • Communications and marketing
    They refine their messaging, build campaigns and showcase their impact in a way that feels authentic and persuasive.

"Without Rachel, we’d still be guessing but not knowing what our clients think of us - she gave us the confidence to build on what we believed, and a few useful correctives too!

We are mining Rachel’s report to improve our strategy, marketing, sales and client services - it’s a very rich seam."

PHIL GAUDOIN, ECONOMETRICIAN, METAMETRICS

Ready to turn insight into your greatest advantage?

What is your investment?

The Impact Partner Retainer is £4,500 + VAT for a 3-month strategic cycle.

That’s 3 monthly payments of £1,500 if preferred.

"Thank you for what you are doing for the business, Rachel, and for the energy you are injecting into the team"

DAVID SOMERS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, Road Skills Online

Get ready to work with a multi award-winning Impact Specialist...

Why should you trust me with your business?

I’m a trained management consultant with a background in delivering complex, large-scale change programmes. I understand how strategy, insight and implementation come together.

I also spent over a decade leading sensitive research and evaluation projects, asking the right (and sometimes difficult) questions to uncover insights others often miss.

I’ve worked with sustainability consultants, brand strategists, marketers, financial strategists, econometricians, merchandisers, and HGV training providers...from solo founders to SMEs with multi-million-pound turnovers.

The common thread?

They care deeply about the quality of their work and want to make decisions rooted in truth, not guesswork.

I’m also a multi-award-winning impact specialist, known for asking the right questions — the ones others don’t think to ask — and for creating safe, open spaces where clients and their customers can speak honestly.

I’m brilliant at spotting what others overlook and translating raw feedback into sharp, actionable insight, and showing clients how to use that insight as a strategic tool.

For every business I work with, impact becomes more than a measure - it becomes a secret weapon for growth, clarity and confident decision-making.

I’ve helped countless businesses, charities and not-for-profits get to the heart of their impact, giving them the language, tools and confidence to talk about it, prove it, and use it to grow and prosper.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...

How does the Impact Partner Retainer work each quarter?

Every three months, we follow the same series of steps:

Step 1: We plan your priorities for the quarter
Step 2: I gather research, client insight or evidence on your behalf, by talking to your clients and trusted stakeholders.
Step 3: We meet to review my findings, spot opportunities and set actions
Step 4: You receive a full Insight Report, packed with quotes, data and next steps

Repeat every quarter, building a powerful rhythm of reflection and growth.

What other support will I get in the Impact Partner Retainer

Beyond the quarterly cycle of activity, you will also be able to take advantage of:

* Monthly Impact Clinics - a drop-in session for you or your team to ask questions, explore ideas or get guidance on applying insights.

* Light-touch support between sessions - access to me via email or voice note for advice, feedback or sense-checking whenever needed (with a fair use approach applies—we’ll keep it reasonable, respectful and manageable for us both.

Is there a minimum tie-in period?

The Impact Partner Retainer starts from £1,500 per month (plus VAT), with a minimum commitment of three months to allow you to experience at least one quarterly cycle.

Higher level support packages are available on request.

Let’s explore what would work best for you.

I'm worried about what you might find out if you talk to my clients...

Don't be. Enter into this partnership with an open mind, and be prepared to listen and perhaps to hear things you didn't expect, but I guarantee you will be delighted with the results. Your clients are often your best advocates, they just aren't great at telling YOU that!

In reality, the feedback is usually far more positive than my clients expect. And when something constructive does come up, it’s often something small but useful - something you can act on before it becomes a bigger issue. You won’t be blindsided. You’ll be supported, and you’ll come away feeling clearer and more confident than when we started.

And, remember - your clients use your services day in, day out. So they are best placed to help you spot opportunities, gaps and improvements.

What if my clients can't or won't make the time to talk to you?

Don't worry - I've got this covered. I'm used to inviting people to take part in research interviews and I have plenty of experience of persuading people to give their time for something as valuable as this.

We will work together to invite your clients to talk to me at a time that works for them - and I also promise they will enjoy the discussion too! It's also in their interests to engage with us, because this is an opportunity for them to make sure that their needs are met and that you genuinely understand their experience of working with you.

What if I don't learn anything new?

This has never happened! Even my most confident, assured clients have found out things they didn't know through my engagement with their customers, and best of all, they've been thrilled with the revelations I've shared with them.

I'm nervous about letting someone else talk to my clients - what if it feels intrusive?

That’s completely understandable. Your clients matter to you and it’s a big deal to let someone else into that space.

The way I handle client conversations is one of the most valued parts of this service. I'm sensitive, respectful and professional at every stage, and past clients regularly tell me that their clients enjoyed the experience and felt heard:

“The fact that you handle client conversations sensitively is a huge trust signal. That’s rare.”

You’ll have full visibility on who I’m contacting and when, and I’m always happy to adapt the approach to fit your tone and relationships.

Which clients or stakeholders should I choose for you to talk to?

I’ll guide you through this, but generally, you’ll choose a selection clients or trusted stakeholders who know your work well.

They don’t need to be your “best ever” clients, just people who’ve experienced the full scope of what you do or who have a good understanding of your work..

Often it’s a mix of long-term relationships, recent wins, and people who’ve had different service experiences.

Is this right for me if I've only worked with a small number of clients?

This process isn’t about quantity - it’s about the quality of our engagement with your clients or colleagues.

I recommend that we talk to up to 3 clients each quarter to ensure you have a good stream of impact intelligence feeding into your business, but if you don't have access to that many people in any single quarter, we can be flexible and roll any unused interviews over to the next period.

I can also conduct interviews with team members, or with other stakeholders relating to your business - we will always be able to find someone whose perspective will be useful and interesting to you.

Each individual client interview can surface rich feedback, strong quotes, and game-changing clarity. If you’re unsure whether you’ve got enough to work with, we can talk it through first.

WHAT DO MY CLIENTS SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH ME?

Without the review, we’d still be guessing but not knowing what our clients think of us - this gave us the confidence to build on what we believed, and a few useful correctives too!

We are mining Rachel’s report to improve our strategy, marketing, sales and client services - it’s a very rich seam.

Philip Gaudoin

Can I just urge you ALL to get Rachel to do an Impact Review on your business? People always say I have a successful business - the figures prove it, but it's not until you see the sort of comments that have come out from her research in black and white that you realise you ARE doing OK and you are doing things right.

You kind of know because of the numbers, BUT the impact thing has so much more MEANING!

It's the best money I've ever spent - and will help me move the business forward in a way I never would have thought of on my own.

Thank you SO much Rachel

Pippa Birch, Pipster Solutions

The review allowed me to really see how my clients feel about my business in every aspect.

It let me explore the areas my clients wanted me to improve and how I could provide a better service.

It’s given me so much positive feedback for my marketing that I am blown away!

Sarah Brason, Brand Amplifier

Rachel clearly laid out the benefits we offer to clients through our consultancy work.

We used her report to further develop our customer personas and in our marketing too.

The way the Impact Report has shaped our business strategy has led to a sharper focus and increased income already.

Kara Stanford, The Marketing Spaces

It's been a really positive process. It has reinforced some things that I thought I knew and has also boosted my confidence in other areas of my business. I feel better equipped to work on the strategy for my business going forward and feel optimistic about the way I can do business in the future.

If I hadn't worked with Rachel on this, I don't think I would have the clarity that I have now to take into my plans for the future.

It has given me perspective on what I am delivering for my clients and the confidence to stop playing small.

Kate Hamer, Kate Hamer Ltd

The review was the perfect way to gain anonymous feedback to give me an insight into how my services were being received and the impact they were making.

Rachel’s detailed feedback was both positive & negative so I could tweak my services, but also feel assured that I was on the right track.

Alex Hughes, Auxilium Business Consulting

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