Client Stories

Client Stories > Business & professional services > Laings

Laings, a purveyor of luxury jewellery and watches, has been defined by its creative spirit since 1840. With its flagship showroom in Glasgow, this British institution has showrooms in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Southampton.  

Laings has been pursuing an ambitious growth agenda, encompassing all aspects of the business. They asked Freeman Clarke to support their technology transformation, which was a crucial part of their plans. 

Freeman Clarke Principal Martin Symmers has helped Laings identify the needed changes to their technology capability and also helped with change management, all with an eye on supporting his client’s business goals. 

The changes included the technology itself, and also organisational issues, and dealing with contracts and suppliers.  

Some of Martin’s key contributions included: 

➤ Implementation of programme governance
➤ Unblocking barriers to progress, technical and otherwise
➤ Elevating leadership understanding of how to scope, contract for and manage change programmes
➤ Guiding Laings senior leadership on uplifting capability, including an approach to technology strategy, a new organisational structure, and creation of a Head of IT role
➤ Specifying and supporting hiring into the Head of IT role
➤ Providing a detailed ‘health check’ to equip the incoming Head of IT
➤ Ensuring a smooth handover

With Martin’s help, Laings are now in a much stronger place in terms of their technology capability. And, as they close in on two hundred years at the forefront of their sector, Laings is well-placed to thrive and grow.