“I’d recommend Simon to small practices who want to simplify and improve how they run their business less stressfully, and how to be more resilient.

Following 6 years of building my team and practice, I saw an opportunity for an independent review and advice on how we could refine systems and processes to improve our bottom line. 

I was slightly apprehensive about opening our doors to someone external, but from the first meeting with Simon, I felt comfortable that he had the professional experience, skills and knowledge to be able to assist. 

Simon showed me how small improvements in my business could make a big difference to achieving my vision for the business. He has worked with us to bring rigour and structure to our on-business operations, to achieve clarity and consistency across the board. “

Matt Woodward – Matthew Woodward Architecture

You launched your firm without a safety net, offering to do your very best for your clients and their projects. You’re determined to make a success of it and you’ll do whatever it takes, however you often don’t get recognised for the all that you do.

But it’s about as close as it gets to having control of your creativity and technical skills, working IN the business on projects.

You are your own boss, most of the time, and the risks are high and the margins are small, so figuring out a way to become a better boss managing a better practice is the most worthwhile investment you can make. We’d like to work with you – practically as partners, so you can make it happen.

Practically Partners

Practically Partners is a niche small business advisory working exclusively with boutique architectural, design and project-led businesses.

Our name describes how we work.

PRACTICALLY – refers to our pragmatic, hands-on approach to working with you, both virtually and in person.​

P A R T N E R S – refers to the importance we place on working side by side with you, aligning our focus with your objectives.

We design and implement improved, simplified processes, so you can focus on the parts of the business you’re passionate about, without ever dropping the ball.

We back up 40 years of experience with hard data and combine the two to create the blueprint on which our advice for systematically improving each function of your business is based.

Using the Pareto Principle to focus on 80% of the benefits through improvements, for 20% of the time and effort needed for perfection. 

Together, we will propel your business from striving to thriving using the Exception Management model helping to reduce time lost to errors, unnecessary work and double handling.

We keep businesses agile and primed to take preemptive action against external threats.

Don’t just navigate your challenging periods alone, work with us to actively steer your business on the road to generating your greatest profitability to date during these times.

Your business is a brave act.

We get it – we’ve been there – that’s why we created this business.

LET'S HAVE A CHAT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
Simon Maddox

Practically Partners was founded by Principal Partner Simon Maddox in 1998.

A born entrepreneur, Simon set up his first business making custom surfboards in the garage with his neighbour, at the age of 13.

At 25, Simon took a struggling workplace design and project management consultancy, from 3 architects and designers to 25, in just 5 years.

At a time when the industry was focused on building a great design studio, Simon created a successful business that delivered award winning design.

He then sequentially established an architectural practice, retail design consultancy, strategic facilities planning consultancy and project management business added to his portfolio, Simon then went on to be initial CEO for a now ASX listed start-up, COO for a national project services and logistics business, and founder of a PMO software business.

Simon’s business management and project experience now spans 40 years.

He has completed over 200+ projects, primarily as principal consultant, with a combined value of $850M+ for Government, multinational, and top tier corporate clients.

Simon holds a University of Technology Sydney Interiors BA (0.) and returned to undertake a postgraduate Master of Design, with thesis research focused on Quality Assurance for Professional Services in Construction.

​He is a past member of the DIA and Project Management Institute, experienced in Waterfall, Iterative and Agile project lifecycles.

From the 13-year-old boy designing and building surfboards for local schools to fund the purchase of his first car, Practically Partners bring his lifelong dedication to the pursuit of innovative business solutions full circle.​

LET'S CHAT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS A LITTLE ABOUT My Entrepreneurial Seizure