BM561 Business Consulting Research Report: LSST and FSB Analysis

This research report, prepared for the Business Consulting module BM561, analyzes the business challenges faced by London School of Science and Technology (LSST) and Fairfield School of Business (FSB). The report begins with an executive summary and introduction, followed by problem statements for both institutions, highlighting issues such as increased competition and the need for skilled human resources. An industry analysis examines competition, target markets, and external factors using PESTLE analysis to assess political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental influences. The report then details the specific issues faced by the clients, including lack of skilled human resources, high competition, and ineffective marketing strategies. Based on the analysis, recommendations are provided, emphasizing the need for skilled staff, advanced technology, and attractive course packages. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and reinforces the importance of strategic planning in addressing the challenges within the education sector. The report is supported by references to academic and industry sources. The report uses the assignment brief to address the challenges of both the LSST and FSB, looking at how the marketing and IT departments can overcome these challenges, with recommendations for the future.

London School Of Science and Technology and Fairfield School of Business
Business Consulting
CW1 Research Report
Student I.D. Number:
prouser
Word Count 1500 (+/- 10%)

Table of Contents Page Numbers
1.1 Executive Summary 3
1.2 Introduction 3
1.3 Problem Statement 3, 4
1.4 Industry Analysis 4, 5
1.5 Client’s Issues 6
1.6 Recommendations 7
1.7 Conclusion 7
1.8 References 7, 8
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1.1 Executive Summary
Business environment is highly dynamic which makes it crucial for businesses
like London School of science and technology and Fairfield School of Business to
adopt appropriate ways to sustain their position in market. PESTLE analysis assist in
ascertaining the factors that influence business functioning. Adoption of suitable
stratgeies helps in dealing with the issues effectively.
1.2 Introduction
The current business environment is highly competitive which requires
organisations to use latest technologies and innovative ways to offer products and
services to customers and gain their attention towards the offerings of organisation in
an effective way (Neuman, 2014). This report is based on two organisations named
as, London School of science and technology and Fairfield School of Business. Both
the organisations are community based learning providers and faced the similar
issues while operating their activities and functions of business. Both organisations
strive in market to find out the ways of attracting new clients towards the college.
This report includes problem statement of both the colleges and the analysis of
industry that includes competition, target market and external factors. In addition to
this, the issues of the clients are discussed and appropriate recommendations are
provided on the basis of that in the report.
1.3 Problem Statement
1) London School Of Science and Technology (LSST) / Marketing Department –
It is a privately managed college and has four campuses in London. It offers
the courses like Health and Social Care, Business and Management and Information
Technology and Computing. From some years, many new entrants are enter into the
market which increases the competition and creates a threat for institution. The
organisation also has decided to maximize its product portfolio and introduced them
in next academic year. But, it faces the issue of lack of human resource for
specialist qualifications like ACCA or CIMA.
2) Fairfield School of Business (FSB) / IT – Digital Marketing Department –
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It is also a community based learning provider and privately managed
institution of United Kingdom. As the demand of business oriented skills are
increases, the institution places direct emphasis on administering vocational
education to the candidates. As London School of Science and Technology, it is also
one of the biggest college. The organisation is facing similar issue as LSST faces,
i.e., high competition in the market due to which a threat of being proliferated by
rivalry is developed. It also has decided to explore potential of enter into new market
instead of just continuing competing in saturated market.
1.4 Industry Analysis
a) Competition
There are many competitors available in the education industry like Imperial
College of London, Queen Mary, University of London, University College London,
Kings College London etc. which provides tough competition to London School of
Science and Technology and Fairfield School of Business. These institutions use
various strategies in order to attract more number of students towards the college
(Lipsey, Farran, and Hofer, 2015). Apart from this, they utilise frameworks like PESTLE
analysis in order to determine the factors which influence functioning of business and
also helps in development of appropriate strategies that will lead the business
towards success and growth. The businesses in education industry utilize effective
marketing strategies that help them in attracting large group of students and also
provide students with facilities like online learning and other qualifications which
creates high competition in the market. In order to compete with rivals, both the
organisations require to offer facilities like online qualification and also introduce
some new courses like diploma in marketing automation, ACCA, CIMA etc. The
organisations also requires to provide attractive course pacakages for students to
attract them more towards the college. The biggest strength of both the colleges is
that they are the biggest colleges of United Kingdom which are well known many
people. So, it becomes easy for organisations to attract large group of customers
and beat the competition prevail in market effectively (Bakoğlu, Öncerb, Yıldızc and
Güllüoğlud, 2016).
b) Target market/ customers –
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 Segmentation: Both the colleges, London School of Science and Technology
and Fairfield School of Business segments their market on the basis of
demographic segmentation in which the market is divided on the basis of age
and education.
 Targeting: The target audience of London School of Science and Technology
and Fairfield School of Business is young students globally.
 Positioning: Both the organisations can positioned themselves in the market
by using effective marketing and promotional strategies and offering new
courses to the students that helps them in developing their skills and
knowledge in an effective way.
c) External factors - PESTLE analysis
There are some factors which influence the businesses of London School of
Science and Technology and Fairfield School of Business. These factors are
mentioned below:
Political factors: This comprises of factors like foreign students and public
funding that influence higher educational organisations in United Kingdom. Cutting
down of budget by government creates an issue for organisations (Barik, and Kumar,
2018). Moreover, many of the students from different nations studied in UK which
provides an opportunity to it but, the political disagreement may decline the foreign
students in the nation which influence on education sector adversely.
Economical factor: The forces such as the weak job market and student debt
influence the sector. For completing the education, most of the students take debt
which creates an issue as many students initiate their career with financial setback.
Apart from this, non ability to pay the loans makes the prospect of high education
less attractive in United Kingdom. The job market of nation is also not so strong
comparatively to United States and other nations which may makes the country less
preferable by students to get education.
Legal factor: All the laws and legislations which are developed by government
related to education needs to be followed by all the the organisations operating in
educational sector. Following the legislations helps London School of Science and
Technology and Fairfield School of business to run their business effectively (Policy,
2016).
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Technological factor: Use of higher technology like augmented learning,
artificial intelligence, virtual reality influence the educational sector of United
Kingdom. Today, huge amount of educational resources are available online and it is
very common in universities to provide online learning experience to students. This
creates an opportunity for both the institutions to make use of Technology for
providing good learning experience to students.
Environmental factor: People are very concern towards environment which
makes it crucial for the institutions to adopt such ways that do not harm the
environment in anyway. The most emphasize on reducing waste and its disposal,
use of photocopy toner etc. to perform business operations effectively.
Social factor: Because of declining significance of further education, students
directly jump to working lives which shows requirement of job on entry level position.
Students want to get relevant experience after completing their graduation. Debt
acceptance is also an issue which declines the student number in educational
organisations (Abbott, 2015).
1.5 Client’s Issues
1. Lack of skilled human resource:
For providing specialised qualifications, Both the colleges do not have skilled
professionals to provide good learning experience to students. This is the issue
which the colleges face that restrict them to offer specialist qualifications to student
along with high quality learning experience.
2. High competition in education sector:
From past some years, there are various new entrants enter into the
educational sector of United Kingdom who adopt effective ways to render learning to
the students. The entry of new entrants create threat for both the organisations
which is the issue that they face.
3. Ineffective marketing:
This is the another issue which both the organisations face. There are many
competitors available in the market who utilise effective marketing strategies as well
as Technology to promote their products and services. In this, use of traditional
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methods to market and promote products and services creates an issue for
organisations in promoting them effectively in market and attract large group of
customers (Aronoff and Ward, 2016).
1.6 Recommendations
Based on the above analysis, it is recommended to both the organisations
that they should emphasise on hiring skilled staff which is able to provide effective
learning experience to students who undertake any course from the University. Apart
from this, they also must use high end technological tools in order to promote their
products and services in market, instead of using traditional ways. This will help in
attracting more students towards the universities at global level. Moreover, the
organisations should offer attractive course packages so as to grab the attention of
large number of people towards the institution.
1.7 Conclusion
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that in United
Kingdom, the are some issues faced by organisations in education sector like
ineffective marketing, lack of skilled human resource and high competition. These
issues influence the ability of organisation to grow and succeed in market. Use of
PESTLE anlaysis help in determining the forces which influence business functioning
and developing effective strategies to run it effectively.
1.8 References
Abbott, R.J., 2015. Pestle Analysis for Students.
Aronoff, C. and Ward, J., 2016. Family business governance: Maximizing family and
business potential. Springer.
Bakoğlu, B., Öncerb, A.Z., Yıldızc, M.L. and Güllüoğlud, A.N., 2016. Strategy Development
Process in Higher Education: The Case of Marmara University.
Barik, B. and Kumar, S., 2018. Macro Environment of Indian Life Insurance Business: A
PESTLE Analysis. Bimaquest, 18(3).
Lipsey, M.W., Farran, D.C. and Hofer, K.G., 2015. A Randomized Control Trial of a
Statewide Voluntary Prekindergarten Program on Children's Skills and Behaviors
through Third Grade. Research Report. Peabody Research Institute.
Neuman, W.L., 2014. Basics of social research. Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
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Policy, P., 2016. What is pestle analysis.
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