Simon Pringle

Director

Simon is a senior commercial strategy and sustainability expert with extensive board-level experience. With more than 25 years’ experience, he has a proven track record of delivering measurable impacts, improved performance and entrepreneurial success across multiple sectors, jurisdictions and geographies.

An Associate Fellow of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Simon is also Visiting Professor of Sustainability and Innovation at the University of Chester. A regular speaker and effective presenter, he holds leadership roles across the private, public and third sectors. He specialises in the alignment of commercial strategy with sustainability, risk and reputation.

Building on expertise gained from serving on the UK and global boards of a large PLC and as a Partner at an international change management firm, Simon has led strategy development and engagement-driven change programmes for clients including regulated utilities, professional services firms and listed companies.

The author of the IMechE guide to commercialising clean technology, Simon has also worked with many earlier stage businesses, successfully supporting them through market entry and into growth. His work with investors focuses on commercial due diligence and the value propositions of portfolio companies.

Simon currently serves as a Leeds City Region LEP board member and Chair of the Leeds City Region Green Economy Panel, and is on the advisory panel for Cranfield University Agri-Food programme. A Fellow of the RSA and RGS, Simon is Chair of Solutions for the Planet, a not-for-profit focusing on STEM skills and innovation. He was co-founder of the Community Energy Charity ‘Pure Leapfrog’ and was part of the team that evolved the Integrated Reporting framework.

Why do I work with Project Rome?
We set up Project Rome because the market was asking for a combination of strategy, communication and campaign skills to address complex challenges. All roads were leading in that direction – which also explains where the name came from.

What do I feel most proud of?
I have cycled from Gibraltar to John O’Groats. Admittedly not in one go, but nevertheless….

What our clients say

Project Rome worked with us to develop a purpose-driven strategy for Yorkshire Building Society, aligning our commercial ambitions with our societal and environmental responsibilities. The team were an absolute pleasure to work with, and their knowledge and experience were invaluable. We couldn’t have delivered the work without them.

Tanya Jackson, former Head of Corporate Affairs, Yorkshire Building Society

Project Rome has helped shape, challenge and then support the further development of original thinking, critical to the successful transformation of our sustainable business and asset strategy. They are also hugely well connected regionally and nationally. Their work has led to enhanced customer value and environmental performance for Yorkshire Water – an important outcome at a pivotal time.

Jon Brigg, Manager of Innovation, Yorkshire Water

The team at Project Rome are great to work with; consistently delivering results and adding valuable contributions but also easy and enjoyable to collaborate with. They are impressive in their ability to build rapport with different audiences and quickly apply a strategic mindset and technical expertise to bring structure, clarity and direction.

Gordon Rogers, Head of Sustainability, Yorkshire Water

It has been my pleasure to work with Project Rome over a number of years. Simon has always brought clear strategic thinking and analysis at corporate level and worked with me as a member of the executive team in WYG plc over an extended period as we grew the business. I have greatly appreciated his wisdom and help in setting direction for growth and implementing strategy.

Douglas McCormick, Executive Chairman, Gleeds UK and former CEO of WYG

I would sum up Project Rome in three words: diligence, expertise and accuracy. But what’s more, they are a true pleasure to work with. If we have a complex project, Project Rome is our first port of call.

Jeremy Biggs, CEO, NCL Technology Ventures Ltd

Project Rome worked on a one-to-one basis to quickly build relationships and gain the trust of key stakeholders, from clinicians and support teams to Executive Directors. The result was a significant leap forward in our ability to effectively collaborate at all levels. They were also an absolute delight to work with, bringing humour and a sense of fun to the team. We loved every minute of working with them!

Rebecca Malin, former Programme Director, Acute Provider Collaboration, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Project Rome team has an open, approachable style that worked well with our entire team, from Executive Directors to junior admin colleagues. They were politically and culturally sensitive to the need of the population and the multiple stakeholders, and creative and thoughtful about ways to get the optimum outcome from their work.

Stacey Hunter, Executive Director Acute Provider Collaboration Airedale FT and Bradford FT NHS Trusts, Chief Operating Officer, NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber

Project Rome provide FirstGroup with excellent regional intelligence and wise political counsel. They help us engage with our key stakeholders in a meaningful and focussed way.

Mike Katz, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, FirstGroup plc