SHAPING UP
FOR THE FUTURE

We help financial services firms navigate regulatory change, build operational resilience, and transform their business with deep expertise and practical solutions.

EXPLORE OUR SERVICES
VIEW CLIENT STORIES

Expert Guidance

Risk & Compliance

A shield icon with an orange background

Strategic Change

Business Transformation

Graph showing an upward trend with orange bars increasing in height

Board Advisory

Senior Expertise

Icon of three orange human figures on a white background.
Business Continuity Business Transformation Performance Improvement Board & Strategic Advisory Learning & Development Regulatory Change Operational Resilience Risk, Compliance & Conduct
Business Continuity Business Transformation Performance Improvement Board & Strategic Advisory Learning & Development Regulatory Change Operational Resilience Risk, Compliance & Conduct

ABOUT US

Resilience Through Change

We are a boutique management consultancy that helps you take practical steps to develop, shape and grow your business whilst remaining in control and complying with your regulatory obligations.

Whether it's exploring new business opportunities, scaling your business or adapting to regulatory change, Shapes First can be your trusted partner in the ever-changing business landscape.

  • Deep expertise in the regulatory landscape
  • Breadth of experience in transformation programmes
  • Practical, deliverable solutions
  • Senior-level engagement throughout
Logo for 'Shapes First' with a stylized geometric figure and text 'Est. 2015' on a gray rounded square background, surrounded by overlapping diamond shapes in blue and orange.

WHAT WE DO

SOLUTIONS & SERVICES

We deliver deep expertise in the regulatory landscape coupled with breadth of experience in shaping and delivering transformation and change programmes.

A shield emblem with an orange background and a dark orange border

Risk, Compliance & Conduct

Navigate complex regulatory requirements with confidence. We help you build robust frameworks that protect your business and customers.

Orange line graph showing upward trend on a grid background.

Business Transformation


Drive meaningful change across your organisation. We deliver transformation programmes that achieve lasting results.

Orange bar chart icon with upward trend lines

Performance Improvement


Optimize your business performance. We identify opportunities and implement solutions that deliver measurable outcomes.

A brown leather handbag with a short handle and a gold clasp

Regulatory Change

Stay ahead of evolving regulations. Our experts guide you through implementation with clear, traceable methodologies.

Icon of a gear or cogwheel symbol.

Operational Resilience

Build resilience into your operations. We help you identify, prevent, and recover from operational disruptions.

Icon of three orange human figures representing a group or team.

Board & Strategic Advisory

Access senior-level expertise and guidance. We provide strategic counsel to boards and leadership teams.

Icon of a graduation cap

Learning & Development

Build capability across your organisation. We design and deliver tailored training programmes.

Learn More About Our Services

OUR TRACK RECORD

Proven Results

A dark blue card states '70+ Projects Delivered Successfully completed' with the number 70+ in large red font.
Infographic indicating 20+ clients served across financial services.
Dark blue background with orange and white text stating '250+ Years Experience' and 'Collective expertise'.
A dark blue rectangular badge with rounded edges displaying '100%' in large orange text, 'Client Satisfaction' in white, and 'Committed to excellence' in light gray.

TESTIMONIALS

What People Are Saying

Reviews

  • “They provided a capable and highly experienced team to ensure we delivered what was a complex programme and achieved Board approval ahead of the regulatory deadline.”

    —CAO, Global Interdealer Broker

  • "I appreciated the way their advice was delivered, and the robust way in which they went about helping us to change our risk management culture."

    —CFO, Global Payments Firm

  • “It’s rare to meet people who know and do. They gave us clear advice and when I asked them to do it, they just got on with it and delivered for us.”

    —CEO, Broking Firm

  • “They delivered exactly to brief, & provided a robust, workable, commercially sensible framework designed to suit an organisation of our scale.”

    —COO, Asset Manager

  • “They made what was quite a dry subject interesting and then presented the data to us in a way that we understood and was meaningful to us.”

    —CEO, e-Money Institution

OUR TEAM

Meet The Shapers

We are an experienced team of specialists that never lose sight of the bigger picture. Our combination of capabilities means we can help you shape coherent solutions across your business.

  • Simon  Tweddle

    Simon Tweddle

    Founder

    Over 25 years of experience in financial services, specializing in risk, compliance, and regulatory change.

  • Karen Latham, Senior Consultant

    Karen Latham

    Senior Consultant

    Expert in operational resilience, business continuity, and transformation programmes.

  • Michelle Bailey, Senior Consultant

    Michelle Bailey

    Senior Consultant

    Michelle has over 15 years’ financial-services experience specialising in anti-financial crime, and in her spare time she’s a keen creative who loves crafting and painting.

  • Anna Nicolis

    Anna Nicolis

    Senior Consultant

    Anna has 10+ years’ experience delivering regulatory change and risk transformation across banking, broking, trading and FX, and holds a Cambridge Master’s in AI Ethics.

  • Solène Sharpe

    Solène Sharpe

    Senior Consultant

    Solène has 25+ years’ financial-services experience in senior risk roles, supports clients on risk frameworks, ICAAP/ICARA and stress testing at Shapes First, and is a black-belt karate champion.

  • Donna Turner

    Donna Turner

    Senior Consultant

    Donna has 25+ years’ financial-services experience in market risk, compliance, anti-financial crime and whistleblowing, and outside work loves skiing and diving.

  • Chris Ham

    Chris Ham

    Senior Consultant

    Chris has 25+ years’ experience across banking, finance and consulting, is known for pragmatic strategic and transformation leadership in risk, operating models and technology, and is a watersports fanatic.

  • Karen Marson (née Macdonald)

    Karen Marson (née Macdonald)

    Senior Consultant

    Karen has 20+ years in financial services, moving from hedge fund software development to leading global regulatory change, and now advises on compliance; she loves photography, surfing and yoga.

  • James Hastie

    James Hastie

    Senior Consultant

    James has 25+ years in financial services, is a former FSA Client Assets Unit founder and client money/assets risk specialist, and now prefers skiing to marathon running.

  • Mike Charters

    Mike Charters

    Senior Consultant

    Mike has 25+ years in financial services delivering front-to-back strategic change, and outside work he plays guitar and spends time in his recording studio.

GET IN TOUCH

Ready to Shape Your Future?

Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss anything. We are more than happy to have an informal chat about your requirements and answer any questions you may have.

CONTACT US
SCHEDULE A CALL