Friends, Partners and Sponsors

Devonshire House collaborates with a range of external organisations and individuals on matters of mutual interest and joint commercial value around our Purpose.

Our purpose, at Devonshire House, is to create for our members thinking time and space for key business issues, and where people make the difference. Our key activity is making connections. And sharing these with stakeholders. We provide Forums for developing these connections amongst senior decision makers keen to discover and explore original thinking.

We collect ideas; we watch and observe; we gather information generated from many sources and create Events – collaboratively wherever possible – and share these with stakeholders. Collaboration means adding to Partners’ promotional activities, sharing costs and meeting and developing new business contacts. For those who do this anyway, Devonshire House delivers more of it.

Pre-Covid, we would, ideally, plan out the year’s Programme – In some cases conducted under the Chatham House Rule – but, post-Covid , it’s looking more like immediate responses to immediate opportunities may well predominate.

Friends, Partners and Sponsors

Working Free supports the Senior Executive considering or embarking on a new career as an independent professional. We work with Individuals directly and with Organisations as part of restructuring, redundancy, outplacement, career development or other mid-career transitioning arrangements and where independent working at senior levels is seen as an attractive way forward.

The Working Free Programme consists of an expanding range of MasterClasses covering Career Options, Support Topics and Guest Workshops – and delivered Live Onsite or Online or OnDemand – and through our Learning Management System and specialist Delivery Partners. We offer additional bespoke Follow-On Groups for those who ask for them. We also invite all those who have attended our Programme to join our Working Free Strategy Groups – an expanding and valuable working, thinking – and alumni – Group.

The background to all this lies in our changing world

Covid, Tech, ESG and Brexit have all combined in having a dramatic impact on the ways we work – and lead our working and private lives. Much of this continues to unfold – and looks likely to continue for some time. Virtually instantaneous communications – in many forms; a resetting of the Employer/Employee relationship; a rethinking of the work/life balance philosophy; replacing line-of-sight management with trust – and education; the upending of the meaning of friendships; learning how to reconcile new concepts of individualism with collaboration and team-work – and short-term needs with longer-term relationships. These are the new driving forces. We publish a deeper analysis of this – and some interesting conclusions at Diaspora Business Networks.

“Better comes Next” is our collaborative and inclusive Management Mission

We see our relationships with clients as bespoke, continuous and integral to our Clients’ relationships with their own growing people diasporas.

Working Free Ltd 08081 565604 – 07785 297059. Contact – charles.russam@WorkingFree.co.uk Working Free Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Regd number: 08963376. Regd Office: 45 Pall Mall, London. SW1Y 5JG. www.WorkingFree.co.uk.

Charles Russell Speechlys

Charles Russell Speechlys is a major law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong. The firm originated from a merger in 2014 between Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham. Both firms had a rich and varied history stretching back over 150 years. The firm has over 170 Partners and over 500 lawyers.

The association between Devonshire House and Charles Russell Speechlys goes back to 2014 when Devonshire House Network was formed from the Devonshire House Management Club, and was introduced to Charles Russell Speechlys by Nick Hurley, Employment Partner and DMP of the Employment, Banking, Immigration and Pensions Group.

Group https://www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com/en/people/n/nick-hurley/ .

Their support in those early years is very much appreciated. In particular many of us recall CRS co-hosting our Summer Debate on 12.7.17 when about 80 attendees listened to a spirited discussion on “Will leaving the EU damage the UK’s Financial Services Industry. Many will remember the drinks and food against the backdrop of a lovely summer evening sunset over the city, as sections of the debate continued! No doubt many enduring and worthwhile contacts were made at that time.

CRS also hosted us with Sir Steve Webb – then Director of Policy & External Comms at the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd. In contrast, we were pleased to welcome Nick Bitel. Chairman of Sport England and CEO of the London Marathon in November 2018.

Charles Russell Speechlys, 5 Fleet Place, London, EC4M 7RD, United Kingdom, 020 7203 5000. www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com

Eversheds Sutherland

As a global top 15 law practice, Eversheds Sutherland provides legal advice and solutions to a global client base ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to the largest multinationals. Eversheds Sutherland was created from a merger of the law firms Eversheds LLP and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in February 2017 and is one of the 50 largest law practices in the world. It is a full service law firm, acting for the public and private sector.

We are pleased to collaborate with Eversheds on our joint Events through Sophie White. You can read about these at – https://www.devonshirehousenetwork.co.uk/devonshire-house-talks-13-11-18/. In particular, Sophie chaired our highly regarded Panel Discussion – “Are we all now Gigworkers?” on 29.9.20 – https://www.devonshirehousenetwork.co.uk/gigworker-report – and our updated Event in May 2021.

Eversheds Sutherland, Wood St, London EC2V 7WS.

www.eversheds-sutherland.com

Mercer

Mercer is a global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments. Mercer helps clients around the world advance the health, wealth, and performance of their most vital asset – their people. Over 20,500 employees are based in more than 40 countries and operate in more than 130 countries. Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, a global team of professional services companies offering clients advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital.

We are pleased to have worked with Mercer on a number of projects.

Mercer Limited, Mercer|Kepler. Tower Place West, London, EC3R 5BU. www.uk.mercer.com

Russam

(Please NOTE that an MBI in 2014 saw Jason Atkinson and Ian Joseph take over the company from Charles Russam . Following this, Charles acquired www.DevonshireHouseNetwork.co.uk and established www.WorkingFree.co.uk . Charles Russam and both companies are very grateful to them for their very early support and which continues.)

Jason Atkinson and Ian Joseph write:-

“Our story began in 1982 when Charles Russam identified the potential to help organisations find interim professionals. 40 years later we have four core strands to the Russam business: Interim Management, Executive Search, Board Practices and Russam on Demand.

We believe in enabling organisations and individuals to thrive. As the original pioneers of UK interim management and a leading executive search business, we use our experience, depth of knowledge and business networks to drive our clients to success.

What makes us different is our speed in immersing ourselves into a business. We blend science and experience in order to match the perfect professional.

There are four core strands to the Russam business today: Interim Search, Executive Search, Board Practices and RussamOnDeman. Our sector experts have extensive insight into the industries they serve, from finance and manufacturing to technology, the public sector and not-for-profits.

With access to a global network, we serve a client base ranging from ambitious start-ups to multinationals in any market. We have a proven track record in providing the right professionals to deliver transformation, crisis management, business turnaround and rapid growth.”

Trustees Unlimited

Trustees Unlimited develop trustees, strengthen boards and drive change for a better society

Step on Board.

Our Step on Board programme prepares skilled individuals for their new life as a Trustee and connects them with exciting board opportunities.

Please contact us 0207 099 2222 | hq@russam.co.uk to discover more.

Russam, The Gridiron Building, One Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG