Founded 1986 | Parent organization Cello Group | |
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The value engineers the customer journey
The Value Engineers is a global strategic brand consultancy based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in the UK and Manhattan, New York City. The company employs around fifty consultants and has been part of the Cello Group plc since 2005.
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History
The Value Engineers was founded in 1986 by Graham Harding and Paul Walton, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011.
Harding began as a graduate trainee with Longman Group (now Pearson Group) in 1974 after studying at the University of Cambridge and worked there until 1984 in Harlow, Edinburgh and London. He went on to become Publishing Director, as well as setting up Longman’s first software development unit. He later moved to London advertising agency, The Creative Business in 1984, where he was Account Director for two years before establishing The Value Engineers in 1986.
Walton studied Modern History at Brasenose College, Oxford, before moving into advertising. After spells at French Gold Abbot and Young and Rubicam, he joined The Creative Business as Director of Planning and Research, before finally co-founding The Value Engineers with Harding.
The company was sold in 2005 to the Cello Group, an AIM listed market research and consulting group.
In September 2010, the company opened their first overseas office in Manhattan, New York.
The company’s proposition is to help clients ‘outthink rather than outspend’ their competitors using brand strategy.
Specialities
The Value Engineers focus their work across four core practice areas: Branding, Innovation, Marketing Strategy and Insight. However, beyond this, much of their work involves other core marketing practices such market research and market segmentation.
Clients
The Value Engineers have worked primarily on branding, innovation and insight projects across a number of industries and categories, including fast-moving consumer goods, financial services, retail and communications. Some of their most notable clients have included AkzoNobel, BSkyB, BP, The Coca-Cola Company, Sony and Unilever.
Publications
Several of The Value Engineers' directors have published notable books. Walton and Harding co-wrote The Bluffer’s Guide to Marketing in 1987, and this went on to become a number three bestseller in the 2003 list of Britain’s business books.
Executive Chairman Giles Lury has also written three books, Adwatching, Brandwatching and Researchwatching.