BITS Group
Multi-Entity Group Services

AI strategy and implementation, Activate Group

Five entities operating as separate businesses with inconsistent standards and limited group-wide visibility

Location
UK
Duration
12 weeks
Team Size
5 entities
Activate Group case study

Executive Summary

Activate Group faced critical challenges with five entities operating as separate businesses with inconsistent standards and limited group-wide visibility. This situation was impacting their operational efficiency, causing financial strain, and limiting their ability to scale effectively.

BITS Group partnered with Activate Group to deliver a three-layer ai workspace spanning group, entity and functional projects, backed by tailored training and safeguarding-led governance. Through a structured 12 weeks engagement, our team of 5 entities worked closely with their stakeholders to understand requirements, design solutions, and implement transformative changes.

The results speak for themselves: Consistent group-wide standards, cross-entity visibility for leadership, and a workforce trained to operate as one organisation.

The Challenge

Five entities operating as separate businesses with inconsistent standards and limited group-wide visibility

When Activate Group first approached BITS Group, they were facing significant operational challenges that were hindering their growth and efficiency. The existing infrastructure was no longer meeting their business needs, creating bottlenecks and limiting their competitive advantage in the Multi-Entity Group Services industry.

The situation required immediate attention. Their team was spending valuable time managing issues rather than focusing on core business activities. This was not only affecting day-to-day operations but also raising concerns about long-term sustainability and scalability.

Key Issues Identified:

Communications, reporting formats and standards varied significantly across five entities
Limited group-level visibility for leadership into performance across the portfolio
Ofsted and safeguarding obligations requiring careful governance for entities working with children and young people
No shared platform or embedded context to build genuine group cohesion
Consistency could not be mandated by policy alone and needed a practical, everyday mechanism

Our Approach

At BITS Group, we believe that successful technology implementations begin with deep understanding. We assembled a dedicated team of 5 entities who brought diverse expertise across infrastructure, security, and multi-entity group services sector knowledge.

Our methodology focused on three core principles: minimal disruption to ongoing operations, stakeholder collaboration at every stage, and sustainable, scalable solutions designed for long-term success.

We conducted extensive discovery sessions with key stakeholders, documented current workflows, identified pain points, and co-designed solutions that aligned with Activate Group's strategic objectives. This collaborative approach ensured buy-in across the organization and set the foundation for successful implementation.

The Solution

A three-layer AI workspace spanning group, entity and functional projects, backed by tailored training and safeguarding-led governance

Based on our comprehensive assessment, we designed and implemented a tailored solution that addressed both immediate needs and long-term strategic goals. Our approach combined cutting-edge technology with proven methodologies, ensuring Activate Group could continue operations without interruption while we transformed their infrastructure.

The solution was implemented in carefully planned phases, allowing for thorough testing and validation at each stage. We worked closely with Activate Group's team throughout the process, providing training, documentation, and ongoing support to ensure smooth adoption and long-term success.

Designed a group-level project holding structure, entity context, leadership information and commercial data
Built dedicated entity-level projects covering brand, tone of voice, operational context and audience
Created functional projects for financial analysis, cross-entity reporting and communications at scale
Delivered six training sessions tailored by audience and function using the group's own data and examples
Produced a governance policy distinguishing Claude's enterprise-grade security from professional safeguarding obligations

Implementation Process

Our structured 12 weeks implementation approach ensured seamless delivery with minimal disruption to Activate Group's operations. Each phase was carefully planned and executed with clear milestones and stakeholder communication.


1

Discovery & Architecture Mapping

Mapped the group's structure, entity context and commercial information to design the three-layer workspace

3 weeks
2

Workspace Build

Built nine projects and eleven skills across group, entity and functional layers

4 weeks
3

Training & Enablement

Delivered six audience-specific training sessions using Activate Group's own data and examples

3 weeks
4

Governance & Safeguarding Policy

Tested and finalised an AI usage policy addressing Ofsted and safeguarding obligations

2 weeks

Results & Impact

Consistent group-wide standards, cross-entity visibility for leadership, and a workforce trained to operate as one organisation

The transformation delivered measurable, sustainable results that exceeded Activate Group's expectations. Within the first few months of going live, the improvements were evident across all areas of operations. Staff reported significant reductions in time spent on manual processes, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities.

Beyond the immediate operational benefits, the solution positioned Activate Group for future growth. The scalable infrastructure and modern systems provided a solid foundation for expanding services, supporting new initiatives, and maintaining competitive advantage in the Multi-Entity Group Services sector.

Measurable Outcomes:

Nine projects and eleven skills built across group, entity and functional layers
Leadership gained cross-entity visibility that was previously difficult to achieve
Six tailored training sessions delivered to leadership, finance and all staff across every entity
Each entity's outputs now reflect shared brand, tone and standards by default
A clear, workable AI governance policy addressing Ofsted and safeguarding obligations
Work that previously required manually pulling data across entities now completed in a fraction of the time

"Activate Group is now operating with enhanced efficiency, improved security, and the confidence to pursue new opportunities in their market."


"We had five entities that were all doing well individually but not really operating as a group. BITS came in, understood that problem before we even got to talking about technology, and built something to help address it as part of the group's AI strategy. The way the platform is structured means every part of the organisation is now working from the same foundation. The training sessions brought the whole team together around it too, and was customised for different functions within the business. It has been a genuinely useful engagement, not just a software rollout."
Luke Sutton
CEO, Activate Group

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