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After Exeter MBA, Law Firm CEO Launches Start-Up To Challenge Market Leaders

Exeter MBA graduate wants to shake up legal services sector

By  Seb Murray

Thu Sep 24 2015

BusinessBecause
Trevor Worth wants to shake up the legal services sector. After 27 years as the chief executive officer of Portcullis Legals, a UK law firm, he is launching a start-up venture that he hopes will challenge existing players.

To do so he embarked on an MBA at Britain’s University of Exeter Business School. Exeter’s One Planet MBA (OPMBA) focuses on global economic, environmental and social disruptions.

A perfect storm of technology, legislative changes and consumer demand means the industry is ripe for innovation, Trevor believes. Legal Innovation Group will launch in 2016.

Previously, he founded and coordinated soccer coaching academies for young players across southwest England.

He also serves as director of Inspiration Academy, an educational environment that helps aspiring young entrepreneurs develop their business ideas.

Tell me about your business model and how it is disruptive, and how the idea came about.

Following my MBA dissertation last year and the research I have since conducted, it was apparent that the perfect storm of technology, legislative changes and consumer demand was upon us.

I believe that the legal services market offers existing players and new entrants alike fantastic opportunities to service consumers in a cost effective and progressive way that leads to greater customer loyalty, engagement and retention. The strategies from the MBA were a significant factor in implementing this innovation. We are due to launch it in the first quarter of 2016.

How attractive was the One Planet MBA's unique focus when you were applying to business schools?

The choice of the One Planet MBA was the only one for me realistically. Firstly it made sense from a geographical perspective as I lived within an hour of campus and this enabled me to keep my business interests running and I could still see my young family every evening.

The main driver though was the commitment of the business school to engage with us all to consider and then implement better ways of operating with the focus of sustainability.

It is probably true of most businesses that there is a periphery of knowledge on the subject of sustainability, but the One Planet MBA gets to the heart of the matter. It’s a thread that runs throughout the MBA and stays with you when you are back in the commercial world.

Given the One Planet MBA is focused on innovation (although you studied a previous curriculum), which modules have been of most benefit to you?

The modules I most engaged with were focused on marketing, collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation. However governance and ethics modules stimulated greater consideration, and made me see how taking a stance on these issues and making it clear to prospective customers and stakeholders is a valuable asset.

What is your assessment of the Exeter location of the program?

Exeter is a truly beautiful campus that allows students to gain a real sense of belonging and almost a throwback to how university locations used to be. It is a major advantage in an age where universities’ growth elsewhere has led to buildings opening up all over cities, which can sometimes provide a disconnect. You do not get this at Exeter.

How has the MBA been of benefit to your overall professional career?

The MBA for me was all about validation and innovation. I have been in business since I was 23, in a very competitive, professional sector. I wanted to give myself an advantage and gain the knowledge that would help me innovate my business.

This has been of significant benefit in terms of opening new doors, and providing me with a more assured approach to business. Those three letters have given prospective stakeholders additional confidence in me.

What support was there for entrepreneurs and what support did you personally receive?

As the OPMBA has developed, there is a greater focus on attracting and developing entrepreneurs and the support from the teaching staff in this respect is first class.

With both academic and commercial experience in abundance, it is an advantage to be able to run things past the team, and also to share in the wide-ranging experiences of your cohort. 

I have personally received excellent support post-MBA.

What are your goals for Legal Innovation Group?

My aim is to continue to create an umbrella organization that all of my brands can work under in a collaborative way, to best service the needs of existing and new customers.

This also includes the attraction of innovative new talent who wish to challenge the status quo of the professional service sectors.

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