Our promise and purpose
Our promise: A bigger idea of success
In 1999, Tim Orton founded Nous with the aspiration of building a consulting firm that made a substantial, positive contribution. Not just to our clients and their businesses, but also to the customers and communities they serve. Our enduring purpose – to deliver positive influence that significantly improves people’s lives – guides our behaviours every day and our ambition for a better future.
Our purpose: Positive influence
Our enduring purpose – positive influence – guides our behaviours every day and gives shape to our ambition for a better future.
We deliver positive influence through our partnerships with organisations in the corporate, public and community sectors on projects that improve outcomes for people and communities, strengthen business performance, support productive and inclusive economies, and protect the natural environment.
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we shared our reflections on positive influence, how it has anchored our firm throughout its growth and how we grapple with the challenges of being a purpose-driven firm in today’s world. Download the full report.
Our name: Nous means ‘we’ over ‘me’
We recognise that diversity in people, thinking and approach can solve the most complex challenges.
The roots of the word ‘nous’ form the foundations of the unique experience that is working with Nous.
Working in the spirit of We, Wits and Wisdom, we blend your strengths thoughtfully with our expertise and the power of AI, to create something that is far more than the sum of our parts. Together we think bigger, and achieve better outcomes.
Our brand: The meaning behind the murmuration
Our visual brand takes inspiration from a murmuration: the natural phenomenon where large flocks of starlings fly together in a dynamic, fluid motion. This ‘we’ is far more powerful and inspiring than the many ‘me’ it is made up of.
The murmuration inspires us because it is energetic, collaborative, has a shared purpose, and is an intelligent, elegant system operating on simple principles. It is a powerful metaphor that exemplifies how we value collective intelligence, and how we partner with you.
Our story so far
Positive influence, fuelled by the expertise and passion of Nousers past and present, has underpinned our evolution since 1999. As we’ve extended into new markets and broadened our capabilities, our purpose has been our rudder. This means continually asking ourselves: What sectors should we work in? What issues should we work on? How can we partner with clients in ways that will have a significant positive impact on people’s lives? How can we help our clients achieve greater, more sustainable success in a fast-moving and challenging global environment?
Our journey so far has been one of growth, expansion and evolution. Here are some of the highlights.