Driving social change in 2024 with the Q5 Foundation

Reflecting on a year of meaningful impact

2024 was an amazing year for the Q5 Foundation, as we deepened our commitment to social impact and supported over 30 charities and community organisations globally. Together, we achieved remarkable milestones that demonstrate the power of collaboration, expertise, and passion.

Reading time: 6 minutes

A year of empowering communities

This year, the Q5 Foundation proudly donated over £1 million in consulting time and expertise. This incredible milestone reflects the dedication of Q5ers across our eight global offices, who volunteered their skills to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities. From strategic support to hands-on initiatives, our contributions have tackled challenges in education, health, economic empowerment, and workplace inclusion.

Watch our video showcasing the incredible impact of our 2024 Q5 Foundation initiatives!

Pop-Up Consulting: making an immediate difference

One of our standout initiatives in 2024 was our Pop-Up Consulting programme. We worked with 25 different organisations on high-impact, pro bono consulting projects to bring our expertise to organisations that may not have access to such resources otherwise. For instance:

• The Big Issue Group: in the increasingly challenging world of print magazine, consultants leading our Media and Not for Profit sectors helped this iconic British charity’s leadership teams ideate, prioritise and prototype solutions to support The Big Issue’s Vendors of tomorrow.
• Leeds Community Foundation: In our Leeds office, consultants worked closely with this local charity to strengthen its strategic initiatives and enhance its community impact.

These projects showcase how focused, expert-driven collaboration can create lasting results.

Research Collaborations: systemic change in society

Over the year, we launched reports in several areas, supporting meaningful change in improving minority representation in business, addressing inequalities in public services, tackling issues of poverty, social mobility, and jobs for marginalised communities, and driving sustainability transformation. Powerfully combining research and analytics together with practical recommendations, these provide actors with the actionable insights and tools necessary to effect real change in society.

• The 10,000 Interns Foundation: Our research and analytics team played a pivotal role in evaluating the impact of their work on reducing workplace inequalities. Through in-depth interviews, desktop research, and data analysis, we helped the leadership team understand and evidence the successes and the gaps and refine the mission to better support black talent in the workplace.
• Sustainability Transformation: in another groundbreaking study, we uncovered insights from 160 organisations and over 50 leaders across 27 countries. Together with our colleagues in the The Transformation Alliance, we explored how businesses can practically navigate sustainability transformation.

Investing in the future: our initiatives for young people

Equipping the next generation with the tools and opportunities to lead change is a cornerstone of our mission. In 2024, our Young People programmes expanded significantly, including mentoring programmes and skills workshops. Highlights include:

• Youth Panel: for the sixth consecutive year, twenty 15-to-18 year olds explored the future of work and gained valuable skills and mentoring from our consultants.
• Futures Taskforce: for the third year, we welcomed twenty students from across universities and disciplines to explore future megatrends in our key sectors with the 2024-25 cohort already generating fascinating insights on how AI and automation will transform the world of work.
• University Consulting: we mentored and coached student teams at Bath and Nottingham universities on pro bono projects for charities and non-profits through partnerships with student-led organisations like 180 Degrees Consulting.

Our efforts to provide young people with the mentoring, skills, voice and opportunity to impact the world reflect our belief that investing in the next generation is key to creating sustainable change.

Global community partnerships

The Q5 Foundation is deeply embedded in the communities where we work. This year, our global offices continued to foster meaningful partnerships with local charities and causes:

• Houston Food Bank: Our team in Houston rolled up their sleeves to support this vital organisation, contributing both time and resources to address food insecurity.
• Arab Women Entrepreneurs: In the Middle East, our consultants partnered with this organisation to promote female economic empowerment, providing mentorship and training to aspiring business leaders.
• Power Up London: Big Issue Invest invited Q5ers in the UK to join their Accelerator Programme as mentors for the 2024 cohort. Consultants supported three early-stage social trading organisations – Raphael’s Room, Amplify and Black Farmer’s Market – each addressing social and environmental issues and providing services to marginalised communities in London.

Q5ers dedicated countless hours to volunteering and providing strategic guidance to causes close to their hearts. These partnerships not only strengthened the organisations we supported but also enriched our team’s understanding of the diverse challenges faced by communities worldwide.

Behind the numbers: a collective effort

Driving impact through collaboration

The Foundation’s achievements this year were powered by the passion and expertise of our consultants. By applying the same tools, methodologies, and frameworks used in commercial projects, we delivered solutions tailored to the unique needs of the third sector. This approach ensured that our efforts were not just impactful but also sustainable.

Looking ahead to 2025

“Reaching the milestone of £1 million in consulting time is a testament to the incredible passion and dedication of our team,” said Daniel Levy, Head of the Q5 Foundation. “It’s a privilege to work alongside such inspiring organisations and to witness the difference our support can make.”

As we look to 2025, we are excited to build on this year’s momentum. From expanding our Pop-Up Consulting programme to forging new partnerships, we remain committed to driving meaningful change in the communities we serve.

A note of gratitude

To the incredible charities and not-for-profits we’ve partnered with: thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey. Your resilience and vision inspire us every day.

To our Q5ers: your dedication to going above and beyond your consulting roles has made this year’s achievements possible. Together, we’re proving that business can be a force for good.

Join us in creating change

As we close out 2024, we invite you to join us in continuing this journey of impact. Whether through collaboration, partnership, or simply spreading the word, your support helps us create a brighter future for all.

Does this interest you? We’d love to chat!

Daniel Levy

Head of the Q5 Foundation

[email protected]