Take the 5-min test
Data, AI & Technology Consultancy for SMEs

The world is changing. Are you ready for what's next?

A collective, not a corporation.

Senior expertise. Clear direction. Measurable impact.

Take our 5-minute AI test → How we help
Spanning technologies & industries
  • Microsoft Copilot
  • OpenAI
  • Claude
  • Shopify
What we do

Better businesses, enabled through technology.

We bring together strategy, data, AI and innovation to help businesses work smarter, grow faster and unlock new opportunities.

  • 01Strategy & TransformationFind the right direction.We assess how your business operates, identify opportunities for improvement and shape practical strategies for growth, efficiency and innovation.
  • 02Data & IntelligenceTurn fragmented information into better decisions.We connect systems, improve data quality and create intelligent reporting that gives businesses a clearer picture of performance.
  • 03AI & AutomationPut AI to work where it matters.We build intelligent assistants, agents and automated workflows that save time, improve customer experiences and increase productivity.
  • 04Digital Products & ExperiencesCreate better ways for customers and teams to interact with your business.We design and build digital tools, platforms and experiences that help businesses grow.
How we work

Assess. Prove. Build. Evolve.

We find where the value is, prove it on a real problem, then build the right solution. We stay on as your technology and innovation partner, whenever you need us.

01 · AssessMost popular · start here

Business Transformation & Growth Assessment

A half day in your business, then a clear, costed plan. We look at how you operate, your systems and your data, and show you where the savings and growth are.

£3,000inc VAT · fixed fee
Book an Assessment →
What you get
  • Strategic discovery on site
  • Systems, data and process review
  • Target architecture
  • Savings estimate and business case
  • Prioritised roadmap, with risks to validate
  • Recommendations for growth, data and AI
10x+Every Assessment so far has found savings and opportunities worth more than ten times the fee.
02 · Prove

Pilot & Proof of Value

4–6 weeks · fixed outcome

We take the highest-value opportunity from your roadmap and prove it on a real problem, with clear success measures, before you commit to more.

03 · Build

Delivery

Scoped to your roadmap

We build and roll out the right solution: an AI integration, connected systems, automated workflows or a digital product, always focused on value.

04 · Evolve

Innovation Partner

Monthly, flexible days

Your part-time Head of Technology transformation. Innovation and new opportunities as the tools change. We drive outcomes, not roles.

Enterprise programmes

Need something bigger?

For scaled transformation programmes, RFPs and delivery at scale, we stay independent and on your side, from the first recommendation to the right delivery partner.

Talk to us →
  • Independent recommendationVendor-neutral advice on the right approach, platforms and partners.
  • Validation supportWe help you test proposals, plans and costs before you commit.
  • The right partnerIntroductions from our onshore and offshore network for delivery at scale.
Recent work

What we've delivered

A small selection of the value we deliver for SME clients across industries, from fashion and hospitality to manufacturing and e-commerce. Every Assessment we run has identified savings and growth opportunities worth more than 10 times the fee.

Custom Fittings · Replatform & build

D2C sales up 120% after moving from Magento to Shopify

See the detailsClose
What we found
A Magento store that relied heavily on outside support, with search and ordering that slowed customers down.
What we built
  • A Magento to Shopify migration, accelerated with AI
  • Enhanced UX and search, so customers find and order faster
  • Integrations with courier partners
  • In-house capability set up, so the team runs it themselves
The results
  • D2C sales up 120%
  • Quicker time to order
  • Less reliance on external suppliers
Cashmere fashion brand · Assessment

£100k+ a year in potential savings and efficiency identified

See the detailsClose
What we found
Wholesale, online, inventory, finance and email each ran on separate tools that didn't share data. With no cost of goods in the system there was no reliable margin figure, and staff lost weeks to manual exports and re-keying.
What they got
  • A target architecture: one commerce platform for wholesale and online, with finance connected
  • A business case built on licence savings, time saved and margin visibility
  • A prioritised roadmap of 10 tasks, with dependencies and risks to validate
  • Growth recommendations, including where AI could add value and how to reinvest the savings
Sports & hospitality group · Assessment

A new product and conversational AI model, ready to build

See the detailsClose
What we found
A significant IP opportunity: a new product built around conversational AI. Internally, slow manual quoting was costing hours and accuracy, and holding back sales.
What they got
  • A defined new product proposition with its own IP
  • A conversational AI model and target architecture
  • A plan to speed up quoting and close the sales lag
  • A prioritised roadmap from idea to launch
Applied Ingredients · Design & build

A Data & AI platform across 900+ ingredients and 5,000 technical documents

See the detailsClose
What we found
Customers relied on a standard website search to find ingredients and technical answers.
What we built
A bespoke Data & AI platform with an AI agent at its core, giving customers formulation help, costings and technical support.
The results
  • Higher conversion and bigger baskets
  • Longer time on site
  • Less customer-service time per sale
All Steels · Steel manufacturer · Build

A digital catalogue for every wholesale customer and partner

See the detailsClose
What we found
Product information spread across spreadsheets, reports compiled by hand, and no live lookup.
What we built
  • A web app for phone, tablet and desktop, installable like a native app
  • AI search, so customers find products by describing what they need
  • One place for all wholesale customers and partners to browse the range

Swipe to see more →

North running a strategy workshop with a client team North speaking on a panel about purpose and innovation
20+

years of expertise across manufacturing, supply chain, technology, data and AI. Enterprise experience, applied to everyday business.

About North

Find your North. Then make it happen.

North Project is a collective of experienced specialists helping ambitious businesses find clarity, set direction and make meaningful progress.

We bring enterprise-level thinking and expertise to SMEs, without the complexity, overhead or big-consultancy approach. The right people, the right expertise and a clear path forward, with senior specialists hands-on from start to finish.

  • Vendor-neutralWe recommend the platform that fits, whoever makes it.
  • Advice and deliveryWe build it with you, not just a slide deck.
  • Safe and responsibleBusiness-grade set-up, UK GDPR and a clear AI policy.
  • Your team, set up for successIt's your IP and your new process. Run it with confidence after we leave.

How ready is your business for AI?

Twelve quick questions. See your score straight away, then get a short personalised report.

Take the 5-minute test →

Free. No sign-up to see your score.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We're a small business. Is AI really worth it for us?

Often more than for large firms, because small teams feel every hour saved. We only recommend what clearly pays back, and start small so you see the return first.

Where are you based, and how do you work?

We're based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. We run sessions in person whenever it helps, and spend time inside your business as an extension of your leadership team.

What does it cost to get started?

The 5-minute test is free. The Business Transformation & Growth Assessment is a fixed £3,000 including VAT: a half day on site, then clear recommendations and a prioritised roadmap. Every one so far has found more than ten times the fee in savings and opportunities.

Should we use ChatGPT, Claude or Microsoft Copilot?

It depends on your work, your systems and your budget. Many businesses do best with one main platform and a second for specific tasks. We compare them on your real work and give you a clear recommendation.

Is it safe to use our business and customer data?

It can be, with the right set-up. We make sure you're on business-grade accounts with the right data settings, aligned with UK GDPR, and give your team a simple policy to follow.