£250,000 Saved on a 16,000 sq ft Commercial Fit-Out
Before Construction Even Started.
How an independent commercial review and lean delivery approach helped a UK business avoid unnecessary overspend on their flagship headquarters.
Project Overview
Client: Entrepreneurs Circle
Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Project: 16,000 sq ft CAT B commercial fit-out
OMMC Role: Client-side commercial leadership and lean delivery oversight
This was a seven-figure commercial fit-out for a growing professional services organisation relocating to a flagship headquarters.
The Challenge
Initial proposals from traditional fit-out providers presented several risks:
- Costs exceeding £1,000,000 with limited transparency
- Specifications misaligned with actual business priorities
- Core infrastructure excluded from headline pricing
- Limited visibility over margins and risk allowances
- Delivery models that reduced client control
The client faced a familiar dilemma:
Accept a complex, expensive proposal — or delay the project with no clear alternative.
They needed independent commercial clarity.
What OMMC Actually Did
OMMC was engaged to restructure the project approach and protect the client's commercial interests.
Key actions:
- Re-defined the scope around business outcomes, not technical assumptions
- Benchmark-tested costs against market rates
- Reconfigured procurement to improve transparency and control
- Simplified delivery structure to reduce overhead
- Provided ongoing commercial oversight throughout delivery
Technology and benchmarking tools supported analysis,
but decisions were driven by experience and commercial judgement.
The Outcome
Original proposals
Final delivered cost
Verified savings
Specification: Maintained and enhanced
Programme: Delivered on time
Savings were reinvested into:
- EV charging infrastructure
- Commercial kitchen facilities
- Enhanced AV and collaboration spaces
The client achieved a higher-quality outcome — with significantly lower total cost.
Client Feedback
"Having someone working directly for us — not the contractor — made a huge difference. Craig brought clarity, control, and commercial insight that ultimately saved us over £250,000."
— Nigel Botterill, Founder, Entrepreneurs Circle
What This Case Study Shows
Most commercial fit-out projects are not overpriced because of incompetence.
They're overpriced because:
- Incentives are misaligned
- Complexity hides inefficiency
- Clients lack independent commercial insight
This project demonstrates what happens when a business has independent oversight before and during delivery.
Two Delivery Approaches
Traditional Model
- Layered management structures
- Bundled margins
- Limited cost visibility
- Reactive variation management
Client-Centric Model
- Simplified accountability
- Transparent cost structures
- Direct commercial oversight
- Proactive cost control
Result: Greater clarity, control, and cost efficiency.
About to Approve a Fit-Out Budget?
Before you sign anything, get an independent commercial review.