AssistKD and Herd Consulting Announce their New Partnership at BA 2024

AssistKD and Herd Consulting have added to the ‘buzz’ at this year’s BA Conference
Europe by announcing a new business partnership, having collaborated informally
for several years.

The partnership is in response to the many and complex challenges and
opportunities facing BA practices during this time of accelerated growth and change
– from setting up user-centred digital services to navigating changing markets.

Industry Leading Training
AssistKD is the UK’s leading specialist business analysis training and skill
development company, offering high quality, industry leading training and Ofsted
outstanding apprenticeship schemes. AssistKD’s trainers have in-depth industry
knowledge and are experts in their fields.

Specialists in doing business analysis and building BA services
Herd Consulting offers business analysis consultancy and resource augmentation
services, led by industry-recognised leaders. They also provide bespoke support to
help organisations to establish, scale, or improve their BA services, so they’re best
placed to tackle the most complex opportunities and challenges.

Championing the BA Profession
Both AssistKD and Herd Consulting are advocates of a growth mindset, lifelong
learning and knowledge-sharing. Their shared goal is to champion the BA profession
and to help organisations establish or maintain optimised and thriving BA services
peopled with skilled-up, confident BAs.

A Winning Combination
The business analysis profession is under pressure, facing an ever-changing
business landscape and the accelerating rise of AI. AssistKD and Herd Consulting
together offer a way forward – high quality training backed up by tailored consultancy
support and hands-on delivery. A winning combination for organisations, the BA
profession and individual business analysts.

Says Jamie Toyne (CEO of Herd Consulting):
“I’m delighted to announce our new business partnership between Herd Consulting and our friends at AssistKD. Organisations across all sectors are facing unprecedented amounts of both opportunities and challenges in an increasingly more complicated world. We know good business analysis is at the heart of effective and impactful change and transformation, so I’m excited that together we can better support businesses and amplify their BA service”

Says Debra Paul (CEO of AssistKD):
“Successful resolutions to the numerous and complex challenges facing organisations today require a combination of skills, primarily a growth mindset, analytical thinking and an outcome focus. This new and unique collaboration between AssistKD and Herd Consulting has these skills at its core, providing a comprehensive training and consultancy service that is delivered by highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals. It is a pleasure to announce our joint service offering, which has the potential to benefit many organisations in the future.”

About AssistKD
Dr Debra Paul is a highly respected thought-leader in the world of business analysis and the co-author of many BCS publications including ‘Delivering Business Analysis: The BA Service Handbook’; ‘Business Analysis’ ‘Business Analysis Techniques’; ‘Agile and Business Analysis’; ‘Business Architecture’ and more. Debra is a regular keynote speaker at business transformation conferences and is a visiting fellow at Henley Business School.

AssistKD offers comprehensive training leading to BCS business analysis qualifications and, more recently, the new A4Q service designer qualification, and works with numerous blue chip companies and Government departments. AssistKD is an ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ apprenticeship scheme provider offering apprenticeships in business analysis and service design – ideal for companies wishing to nurture new talent or develop existing employees.

About Herd Consulting
Jamie Toyne is a highly experienced business analysis leader, having headed up
thriving BA services across public and private sectors, ranging in size from 20 to 300
analysts. He co-led the UK Government’s well regarded Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) definition of the Business Analyst profession. Jamie is also a regular speaker, blogger, and podcast guest on all things business analysis, digital, and change – including AssistKD’s BA Brew podcast.

Herd is an award-winning Product, Analysis, Change and Transformation consultancy, with a strong specialism in business analysis and Product. Experts in Discovery & Recovery, Herd is proud to be trusted by some of the world’s leading universities, Central Government departments, FTSE 100 companies, and fast-growing technology businesses. The company was recently recognised by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to work in the UK.