Nigel
After 4 years in the Army and 30 years of working for a number of businesses, predominantly in the Leisure industry developing now famous brands such as Pitcher and Piano bars, Nigel identified a niche market in analysing and reducing costs for such organisations. Hence the idea of setting up the Cost Reduction Company in 2010, based in Henley on Thames where he has lived and worked for 25 years. As well as reducing costs, Nigel embraces opportunities to help clients to use less stuff, an aspiration widely discussed in society but rarely achieved in earnest without outside help. Nigel’s new book, Using Less Stuff, will be invaluable to any organisations interested in knowing how to motivate staff to be environmentally friendly and to promote personal responsibility amongst staff.
Harriet
Having studied Politics and Law at Southampton University, Harriet worked for Motiveforce Group, a full-service marketing and incentives agency. She started as an Account Manager running corporate incentive campaigns, then ran the Awards Services and Buying Departments. Her time at Motiveforce was cut short when her husband’s job took them to the Far East, where she taught English as a foreign language, worked as a marketing consultant for an interior design company, and learnt to speak Thai. Back in the UK, now with three children, Harriet wrote a Thai Cookery book, ran Thai cooking demonstrations and designed several websites. Once her youngest child started in full time school in 2012 it felt like the right time to return to the workplace, and she joined The Cost Reduction Company as a partner.
James
James trained as a professional orchestral musician at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and thereafter gained 34 years’ experience working in music education, the last 25 years as a full-time Director of music and schoolmaster at a boys’ boarding prep school. Keen for a career change, the opportunity to join The Cost Reduction Company as a partner seemed a good match for his experience in independent schools and transferable skills. James is keen to help schools, institutions and organisations increase their future security by reducing costs and moving towards more sustainable operation. He is particularly interested in helping organisations to understand, prepare and plan for the inevitable changes that will be needed in the coming decade making it imperative they adapt, and plan how and when they are going to do this and how they will pay for it.
‘I am very excited to be stepping into a completely different workplace, and hope that through collaboration with integrity I can develop positive relationships, bring ideas and encouragement, and become a trusted agency for change for the good for the organisations I work with.’
Dan
Dan plays a key role in keeping our business running smoothly day‑to‑day. As Operations Manager, he oversees the core functions of the company and works closely with our partners to ensure we consistently deliver an excellent service to our clients.
Before joining the team, Dan spent nearly a decade in the sports industry with a global coaching company. There, he supported franchisees around the world, helping them develop, grow, and strengthen their businesses — experience that now shapes his practical, people‑focused approach to operations.
Outside of work, Dan enjoys playing darts and guitar, and he’s a passionate football fan with unwavering support for Liverpool.
Professional, approachable, and always ready to help, Dan brings both experience and enthusiasm to everything he does.