Landmark transformation programme for PA Media Group
One of the UK’s largest news and media agencies, PA Media Group, was at a pivotal point in their transformation journey, realising that their existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution no longer fully supported the evolving needs of the business.
We partnered with PA Media to replace a ‘patchwork’ of outdated internal systems with a single cloud-based software, SAP’s biggest UK public cloud deal of 2024.
As the digital backbone of a large organisation, ERP systems are integral to modern businesses, encompassing the tools and processes that support core functions such as human resources, manufacturing, supply chain management, finance and more.
We came on board to help PA Media embrace this opportunity to standardise ways of working, streamline processes and create more scalable platforms to support the business’s growth ambitions.
James Howarth, Senior Manager at Nine Feet Tall, said:
“This programme is one of the largest and most complex transformation we’ve delivered to date. Supporting a multinational organisation like PA Media through a critical ERP and HR transformation required careful planning, strong partnership and disciplined execution.
“Together, we’ve delivered modern, scalable platforms that simplify processes, improve efficiency and position the business for long-term growth, all whilst keeping their teams informed, supported and empowered.”
The transformation programme covered recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, finance, reporting and payroll processes for over 1000 employees in the UK and India.
Bruce Marson, Group CFO at PA Media, said:
“We made a significant investment to modernise our technology for the future, and this implementation will be transformative for PA Media. The programme delivery has been a success because of the hard work and careful planning of all involved.”
After reviewing existing systems, our team delivered workshops for senior leaders to set the vision and align business goals.
New operating models were developed to support day-to-day delivery, and structures designed for clarity within teams.
We guided PA Media through the selection of human resource information systems (HRIS) and ERP solutions, ensuring all decisions were grounded in value.
Implementation was carefully phased. Technology was introduced hand-in-hand with changes to ways of working. Governance, change management and training were embedded from the outset. This approach ensured the new systems were adopted quickly, with minimal disruption to ongoing operations, and that staff were equipped to use them effectively.
In April 2026, we were extremely proud of the team for being named finalists in the prestigious Change Awards, a global programme recognising outstanding achievements in change management, transformation and innovation. Find out more here: https://changeawards.co/finalists-2026/#
