Turning Insight into advantage

About

GCS is an award-winning consultancy that supports entrepreneurial management teams and their investors at critical moments of the growth journey. 
We combine analytical rigour with clarity of thought to help you build conviction, manage risk, and move further, faster.

35
%
Annual growth since inception
$
3
bn+
Aggregate deal value supported
20
+
Deals recognised in awards shortlists
10
/10
Employee recommendation rating

Deep Expertise

Explore our comprehensive service offerings

01

Commercial Due Diligence (CDD)

Supporting management teams and investors with evidence-based insights for the moments that matter most. Whether acting on the buy-side or sell-side, we combine deep primary research, analytical rigour, and a clear point of view to help you make confident, informed decisions.

Key areas of analysis:

  • Market sizing and growth

  • Customer behaviour and satisfaction

  • Competitive positioning and risks

  • Business model attractiveness and growth drivers

  • Equity story and exit readiness

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02

Customer Value Creation

We believe deep customer insight is at the heart of any successful strategy. Our work helps clients understand how and why customers buy — and where opportunities exist to deepen loyalty, reduce churn, and grow share of wallet.

Core analytical lenses:

  • Voice of customer research — qualitative and quantitative

  • Churn analysis and retention drivers

  • Segmentation and cohort performance

  • Customer acquisition efficiency

  • Pricing and willingness-to-pay insights

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03

Strategic Growth

We help businesses unlock new revenue through international expansion, product innovation, and business model shifts — all grounded in rigorous market analysis, competitive insight, and a clear view of what it takes to win.

Areas we investigate:

  • International market prioritisation

  • New product and service evaluation

  • Competitive advantage and “right to win”

  • Business model optimisation

  • TAM/SAM analysis

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04

M&A Strategy

In a complex deal environment, we help clients unlock value throughout the investment cycle. Our work identifies the most attractive opportunities, measures risk, and supports successful execution, providing focused, actionable advice at every step of your journey.

How we support clients:

  • M&A target origination, mapping, and screening

  • Strategic fit assessments

  • Light-touch “pulse checks” and focused customer referencing

  • Assessment of bolt-on acquisitions

  • Exit preparation and value driver review

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What we do

Our Services

Commercial Due Diligence (CDD)
Insight-led buy- and sell-side support for management teams and investors
Customer Value Creation
Strategy grounded in a deep understanding of the customer
Strategic Growth
Unlocking new revenue streams through products, markets, and business models
M&A Strategy
Focused support across the investment cycle, from bolt-ons to exit prep

Work that matters, with people who care

Join our mission to deliver sharp strategy and real-world impact.

Explore careers at GCS

Deep Expertise

Our Specialisms

Software
Scalable platforms reshaping industries
Tech & Data Services
Services solving tomorrow's complexity
Business & Professional Services
People-driven businesses with platform potential
Property & Built Environment
Where compliance, sustainability, and technology converge
ESG & Impact
Turning purpose into commercial advantage

Deep Expertise

Our Specialisms

Software
Tech & Data Services
Business & Professional Services
Property & Built Environment
ESG & Impact

Software is one of the most resilient engines of growth.

We've supported both established leaders and fast-growing challengers, helping them scale with stronger customer strategies that turn rapid growth into sustainable success.

Market positioning
Evaluating value proposition, adoption curves, and customer stickiness
Product & service differentiation
Benchmarking product portfolios, roadmaps, and service wrap
Business performance
Analysing retention, expansion, and unit economics to identify value drivers
Growth headroom
Evidencing opportunities for new wins, cross-sell, and upsell

Tech and data services are the backbone of digital transformation and AI adoption.

We support investors and management teams in navigating one of the fastest-moving services markets.

Sector expertise
Spanning data & AI, cloud, CX/CRM, ERP, cyber, core IT, networks & infrastructure, and MarTech
Revenue models
Evaluating the balance of project, recurring, and re-occurring revenues, and identifying levers to strengthen resilience over time
Client resilience
Assessing contract structures, relationship depth, retention, and growth trajectory
Differentiation & outlook
Clarifying distinctive capabilities and the future opportunities they enable

Services businesses succeed on trust, expertise, and their ability to leverage technology to drive scalability.

We’ve supported management teams and investors across a wide range of sub-sectors, helping evidence growth potential, test resilience, and shape strategy.

Human capital
Recruitment, staffing, education, and training
Consulting & advisory
Specialist and knowledge-based services across multiple sectors
Finance, legal & compliance
Regulated and risk-driven service models
Marketing, media & comms
Agencies, platforms, and communication services
Outsourced & intermediated services
Procurement, broking, and BPO/shared services
Technical & specialist services
Industrial services, occupational health, forensics, and testing, inspection & certification

The built environment is being reshaped by technology, sustainability, and new ways of working.

We partner with businesses that are driving change in how buildings and infrastructure are managed, operated, and future-proofed.

Facilities management
Hard and soft FM across commercial and public sectors
Advisory services
Surveying, property management, and data-driven consultancy
Sector-specific software & data
CAFM, ERP, BMS, BIM, cost management, and workflow tools
Compliance-driven services
Fire, water, asbestos, H&S, and related assurance
Energy & Net Zero
Retrofit, renewable power, utilities procurement, and broader sustainability solutions
Building products & infrastructure
Smart systems, IoT, access control, lifts, and transport/infra services

ESG has become central to business strategy, driving demand for companies that enable others to meet their sustainability and impact goals.

We help articulate and evidence the value of these businesses — clarifying their propositions, highlighting growth opportunities, and giving investors and management teams confidence in long-term outcomes.

Sustainability & carbon
Decarbonisation and Net Zero services, retrofit solutions, clean energy, and circular economy models
ESG data & analytics
Platforms and consultancies enabling disclosure, benchmarking, compliance, and climate risk insights
Social impact
Businesses in healthcare, education, housing, and social infrastructure with measurable social outcomes
Governance & risk
Compliance frameworks, GRC software, and risk advisory models

Trusted By Leading Investors and Ambitious Teams

Trusted by the Industry

Awards & Recognition

Mergermarket British Private Equity Awards

Winner, Commercial Due Diligence Provider of the Year 2024

Consultancy.uk Awards

Top Consulting Firms of 2025 (Private Equity)

Real Deals Private Equity Awards

Finalist, Commercial Due Diligence Provider of the Year 2023, 2024, 2025

Finance Monthly Awards

Advisor of the Year 2024

University of Oxford Employer Awards

Gold Standard Internship Host 2025

How can we help?

Get in touch

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GCS Updates

Latest News & Insights

Deal Announcements

GCS supports Beech Tree on its investment into Simpson Associates

GCS is pleased to have provided Commercial Due Diligence to Beech Tree Private Equity on its investment in Simpson Associates, a leading UK-based data and AI services business.

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Deal Announcements

Bowmark-backed Lendscape acquires US-based software provider WinFactor with support from GCS

GCS is pleased to have supported Lendscape on its acquisition of WinFactor, a US-based software provider serving the receivables finance and factoring sector.

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GCS supports LDC on its investment into Shoptimised

GCS is pleased to have provided Commercial Due Diligence to LDC on its investment in Shoptimised, a fast-growing performance marketing technology business based in the North East.

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Tax Systems acquires Loctax with support from GCS

GCS is pleased to have supported Tax Systems on its acquisition of Loctax, a leading provider of AI-driven tax control and compliance solutions for global in-house tax teams.

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Deal Announcements

Three-Hills backed LCap Group acquire PeopleWise with support from GCS

GCS is pleased to have provided Commercial Due Diligence to the LCap Group, the global, tech-enabled leadership advisory firm, on its acquisition of London-based leadership consultancy Peoplewise.

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Deal Announcements

Congratulations to Leonard Curtis on securing investment from Pollen Street Capital

GCS is pleased to have provided Vendor Commercial Due Diligence to Leonard Curtis, the Manchester-headquartered professional services firm specialising in restructuring, legal, funding, M&A advisory, and business services, on its majority investment from Pollen Street Capital.

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