Chapman Consulting Business Development Ltd

Chapman Consulting is a leading marketing management consultancy that specialises in providing customised consulting and agency services to the property and construction industry. Led by its Founder and MD, Sarah Chapman, the firm offers a comprehensive range of services encompassing various marketing and business development disciplines including marketing strategy, communications strategy, sales strategy, customer relationship management and organisational development to supercharge an organisation’s business growth.

“Our expertise lies in the property and construction sector, and we don't try to be everything to everyone. Rather, we prioritise leveraging our extensive knowledge of this industry to provide clients with bespoke marketing strategies as well as leveraging our many long-term connections to ‘help companies grow’,” says Chapman, remaining true to the saying “stick to our knitting.” Through its extensive experience and connections within the sector, the firm is dedicated to fostering client success through comprehensive, bespoke strategies.
At the heart of Chapman Consulting’s approach lies its flagship service, the Strategic Business Development Review™ (SBDR). This exclusive offering functions as a thorough audit tool that examines all aspects of a client's sales and marketing techniques to help them achieve greater business success. Since its introduction in 2011, SBDR has successfully transformed over 60 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Chapman Consulting uses the SBDR to assess a business's current sales and marketing activity, and then crafts bespoke marketing strategies that align with its development. The firm initiates its process with the Power 100™ audit questionnaire, featuring a comprehensive set of 100 detailed questions for the organisation’s key stakeholders and senior executives. Following the interview, the firm gathers additional insights, supported by additional documentation and meticulous research, to compile a comprehensive SBDR report.

The confidential report concludes with a detailed, strategic plan covering all aspects of sales and marketing, competitor analysis, communications, customer relationship management and organisational development and offers detailed strategic recommendations for efficiency enhancement and ROI maximisation alongside a 12-month timeline and budget outline. While the SBDR service can be standalone, over 90 per cent of clients choose Chapman Consulting for implementation, as it usually works on a retained basis for at least a year. The firm seamlessly integrates with the internal team as an outsourced marketing or business development resource.

The company then delivers workshops on strategy, business planning, and Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV) as well as SWOT analysis, which foster clarity and strategic growth, and bring the management teams together on an agreed direction. In addition to the SBDR, Chapman Consulting also provides a full suite of agency services, including creative branding, website design and digital lead generation campaigns.

The success of these services can be attributed to Chapman's extensive industry knowledge. Having held director-level and equity positions at two major construction companies, she brings three decades of sales and marketing experience in the property and construction sector to her clients. Her expertise spans commercial office fit-out, retail, health, education and high-end residential markets. Awarded the first equity-level sales and marketing director position of a plc construction company in 2002 led the way for board-level involvement in many organisations’ sales and marketing management, leading to the establishment of Chapman Consulting in 2005.

Chapman faced significant hurdles when transitioning from a corporate environment to entrepreneurship. Defining her role and creating the product required hard work, dedication, and reinvention while staying true to her values and capabilities. Chapman continues to adapt and overcome challenges such as managing staff expectations, ensuring client satisfaction, and navigating external factors like the pandemic and the recent economic crisis.

Under her guidance, Chapman Consulting has built a well-established team comprising full-time employees, known as “the Hub” team, and a broader network of experts, who are referred to as her “band of brothers (and sisters!).” The company’s specialists include graphic designers, copywriters and bid experts, whose collective expertise and industry connections ensure exceptional value delivery for their clients, surpassing the pace of an in-house team.

Over the years, Chapman and her team’s accumulated experience has allowed the firm to help numerous clients with strategic business planning. In 2020, KBS Electrical & Data Services Ltd, a UK-based electrical contractor, approached Chapman Consulting for an SBDR. Through extensive review, it was identified that the client considers a rebrand, which led to the development of a modernised brand identity centred on the acronym KBS. The firm also redesigned KBS's website and provided recommendations for LinkedIn-focused social media marketing. A monthly website analysis showed a significant boost in traffic, leading to its inaugural email marketing campaign emphasising sustainability efforts, notably its Carbon Offset Programme. The collaboration yielded excellent results, a revitalised brand image, a modern website and an enhanced social media presence.

Chapman has worked for many organisations across the industry and is proud of the length of service to her customers. She states, “Clients return to us time and time again, having tried others who give the big sell! We really care about our customers’ businesses and will do everything we can to deliver for them.”

Looking into the future, Chapman focuses on transitioning the SBDR into a cloud-based product utilising advancements in AI, which is being trialled at the time of writing. This initiative aims to streamline and accelerate the SBDR’s international delivery while maintaining its customised nature.

With a blend of consultancy, agency services and the audit tool SBDR, Chapman Consulting is always striving to help businesses seeking success in the property and construction industry.