About Leading Edge

Mel brings a wealth of experience to the team with 30 years in the building materials and construction sectors.

During that time he has built up a valuable blend of hands-on experience at a senior level in the industry, together with a proven track record in management consultancy and market research.

Prior to Leading Edge he was Sales and Marketing Director at Marley, a manufacturer of waterproofing and flooring materials. Before Marley he was Marketing Director at Hall & Co, a £200m builders’ merchant group, now part of Jewson. In a consultancy capacity he has worked in the Strategic and Marketing division of Price Waterhouse Coopers Management Consultants and for Management Horizons, a specialist market research agency. He has a degree in Economics and Statistics and an MBA from Imperial College.

As a management consultant, his clients have ranged from small start up companies to large multi-national businesses. He has experience of many industry sectors including: manufacturing, construction, distribution and public utilities. His areas of expertise include market research & analysis, strategy development, market planning, product marketing and business development.

Elly has been the driving force behind more than 150 projects since joining us in 2013. Heading up our construction and building product projects, she’s worked with a wide range of companies including manufacturers, distributors, contractors and membership organisations.

Elly oversees the project management, being our clients point of contact as well as managing the researcher teams. Her diverse project experience shines through when she takes clients objectives and develops questionnaires that really hit the mark.

When it comes to report writing her forte lies in her ability to take complex data and weave it into actionable insights and meaningful findings, making her an invaluable asset to our team and clients alike.

Chris has been a pivotal figure in shaping the environmental and energy arm of Leading Edge for over 25 years. His efforts have significantly contributed to positioning the company as a top-tier marketing consultancy in this niche sector.

Before his tenure at Leading Edge, Chris honed his skills at ECOTEC, a Birmingham-based consultancy, focusing on strategic business consulting and research. He also lent his expertise as a technical consultant for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Chris has worked with a diverse range of clients in our environmental and energy division, both in the UK and overseas. These range from government departments and regional development agencies to the private sector.  He has collaborated with major companies in sectors such as water, waste, environmental services, and energy as well as a cross section of private sector SMEs.

Known for his practical and grounded approach, Chris has consistently earned the trust and appreciation of both small and large organizations alike, including longstanding clients of Leading Edge. He has first degree in Geography and a Diploma in Marketing as well as being member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Chartered Marketer.

Claire specialises in conducting comprehensive qualitative interviews for our construction industry clients. Her strong knowledge of the field enables her to extract detailed insights during these interviews, uncovering the core issues. She is also adept at analysing and interpreting the gathered data and identifying key patterns and trends for our clients.

Her time at Leading Edge spans 15 years and a wide range of projects, involving interactions with building product distributors, contractors, architects and specifiers for various clients. Claire has further applied her skills to research projects in the environmental and utilities sectors, showcasing her versatility and depth of expertise.

Claire’s background with the market research agency Frost & Sullivan gives her excellent experience in questionnaire development and interviewing techniques to ensure the maximum level of insight is obtained from every interview.  She also spent time leading Frost & Sullivan’s training division, developing her project management and business development skills. As a key member of the training division, she was responsible for the management training sector and logistics department.

Patsy brings a wealth of experience to the research team, having worked in market research for over 30 years. She has an excellent knowledge of the construction market and applies a high level of skill when interviewing. The projects she works on will typically involve interviewing senior-level executives, architects and technical consultants.

Xanthe supports Leading Edge’s day-to-day marketing and administration, helping with social media posts, website and blog updates, contact databases and general office tasks.

Jo brings to the research team the ultimate combination of experience in both construction marketing and market research. Her previous industry knowledge has ensured that she has been able to conduct in-depth interviews with senior-level respondents from organisations such as Housing Associations and Local Authorities through to Architects and Engineers.

Nichola boasts a remarkable 25-year journey in the construction market research sector. Her deep-seated expertise has been pivotal in conducting telephone interview projects for an array of construction-related entities, including building product manufacturers and main contractors. Her involvement has spanned interviewing a diverse group, from installers, specifiers and subcontractors to local councils and industry experts, giving her a comprehensive understanding of industry jargon, technical product information and the key issues the industry is facing.

Her organisational prowess is unmatched, and coupled with her exceptional interviewing and communication skills, Nichola has continually demonstrated her ability to gather and interpret complex industry information effectively.

Stuart runs the administration and book-keeping for Leading Edge. He has worked in a finance environment for over 20 years and has experience of working for a number of small and large organisations. It is his responsibility to ensure that the Leading Edge office runs as efficiently as possible.