From a basement office to a global portfolio, Millennium Consulting celebrates 30 years

Philip Keet, CEO of Millennium Consulting, talks to Sarah Dale about running a successful 30-year-old business, his expansion plans and why giving back – both here in Kent and in Kenya – is so important to him.

In May, Millennium Consulting celebrates its 30th anniversary. It is a monumental milestone for a business that was started in a basement office in Philip Keet’s home in 1995.

In a pre-internet world, business was conducted via phone calls, letters, faxes and face-to-face meetings, but as technology developed and the company grew its international client base, Millennium Consulting now has its headquarters based in Hythe in Kent, an office in Milan in Italy and a team of more than 30 people.

“I can’t believe it’s been that long,” says Phil. “We have moved several times and there have been a lot of changes, particularly over the past five years with Covid and the economy. To survive, you have to be flexible, adaptable and resilient.”

Phil’s vision when he founded Millennium Consulting was shaped by his early career in financial services in the City of London where he developed a keen interest in technology-driven change to support commercial success. Recognising the urgent need for businesses to prepare for the much-anticipated ‘Millennium Bug’,

Phil set up Millennium Consulting to help organisations implement Y2K-compliant software.

Quickly gaining traction, demand for the company’s expertise grew across the UK and Europe. Initially operating from Phil’s basement office in Farnham, Surrey, it soon expanded and moved offices to Ironmonger Lane in London’s historic Square Mile. The firm then relocated to larger offices at Prince Rupert House, near Cannon Street, a move which coincided with the expansion of their portfolio of software products.

The arrival of the new millennium brought less disruption than anticipated, thanks to widespread preparation and software updates, so Millennium shifted its focus to improving business processes and deploying solutions globally with consultants assigned to projects across North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The rise of e-commerce enabled Millennium to expand its clients’ portfolio even further and integrate financial and e-commerce platforms. This diversification led to new opportunities in industries such as retail, media, pharmaceuticals, logistics and energy. The company then moved from Cannon Street to Covent Garden, near the iconic Rules restaurant.

In 2008, Millennium made the strategic decision to relocate its headquarters from London to Hythe on the South Kent coast. Phil wanted to locate the company closer to his home and recruit talent from the local Kent community. The head office is housed in a Grade II listed building, which was a former NatWest Bank.

“I have spent a lot of time in London and then an opportunity to relocate to Kent came up,” he says.

“My wife’s family are based in Kent and we made the move too. We don’t need to be based in London anymore; our clients are all over the world and we can have meetings online.

“When we were based in London, our staff were commuting from different locations. Now, we have built a community in Hythe and our staff live in the area.

“The work/life balance is better. I have four kids and when I was working in London, I didn’t see them growing up and now it’s totally different. I’m not leaving to go to

London every week. I can spend more time with my family and friends, go swimming in the sea and take our Golden Retriever out for a walk.

“Having a hybrid model works for us. Our Kent staff work three days in the office and two at home which is better for them and our other staff were already working remotely.”

The firm has established partnerships with several software companies including Unit4, IFS, Avalara, Icorp, Trintech, and more recently, Xledger.

Giving back is something that is really important to Phil and as part of his company’s commitment to social responsibility, employees are encouraged to take time off to support charitable causes of their choice. So far, activities undertaken have ranged from regular beach cleans in Hythe to providing maintenance support for the Wildwood Trust, a registered charity dedicated to protecting, conserving and rewilding British wildlife.

Phil, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, has also formed a close affinity to two charities based in the African country: Raising Futures Kenya, which empowers young people through vocational training and business skills development, and The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, renowned for running the world’s most successful elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation programme.

“As a result of our charitable activities in Kenya, I was invited to a function at Buckingham Palace in 2023 for the 70th anniversary of Kenya’s independence and met King Charles and Queen Camilla,” says Phil, who is a Patron of Raising Futures Kenya.

“It was an amazing experience to meet them in person and because of our charitable work.”

They have been members of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce for several years, which Phil credits for keeping him and his team in the loop about the local business landscape and helping forge new connections.

“You can meet some interesting people who can lead you down different avenues and you can share ideas,” he adds.

Looking ahead, Phil says they are in talks with other software companies to partner with and has his eye firmly on continuing the firm’s growth trajectory.

“Whether you are a new start-up or an established business, perseverance is key,” he says.

“If you are starting out, don’t be disheartened at any backward steps you need to take. Keep on putting the work in and keep on being persistent.”

In May, Millennium Consulting is holding a special 30th anniversary celebration at Hythe Imperial Hotel.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity to thank everybody who got us to where we are.” purpose@cripps.co.uk

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