Aktis Strategy
UK security and stabilisation contractor (2012–2023) whose biggest client was the FCO via the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
| Aktis Strategy Limited | |
|---|---|
| Trade name | |
| Logo | |
| Type | Private limited company |
| Founded | 12 December 2012 (incorporated) |
| Founder(s) | |
| Defunct | Dissolved 22 June 2023 |
| Headquarters | London |
| Industry | Security, justice and stabilisation programmes |
| Services | |
| Parent | |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Revenue | |
| Number of employees | |
| Homepage | |
Aktis Strategy (Aktis Strategy Limited, Companies House number 08327972) was a London-based contractor delivering security, justice and stabilisation programmes in conflict-affected countries. According to Devex, it "scaled rapidly to become one of FCO's regular contractors for a range of security and development programs in countries including Iraq, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Somalia, and Lebanon", and the "FCO was its biggest client, mostly through the controversial cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund."[1] The company entered an insolvency process in March 2019 and was dissolved on 22 June 2023.[1][2]
CSSF and government work
Devex reported that besides the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Aktis worked for the Department for International Development, the Home Office, the Dutch and Danish governments, the European Union, the United Nations and the US Department of State.[1] A CV submitted in a bid for the FCO's Access to Justice and Community Security (AJACS) programme in Syria describes the holder as "Project Director, Aktis Strategy Ltd, FCO Community Security Programme (Syria)" in 2014, directing "a large-scale project to deliver community engagement with the Free Syrian Police, and other S&J actors, councils, and communities in opposition-held Syria", and refers to an Aktis "Integrated Community Security" programme (ICSP) run from Turkey into Syria.[3]
| Award date | Contract | Value (£) | Supplier name as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-11-03 | THE CONFLICT STABILITY AND SECURITY FUND (CSSF) Overseas Communications | 6,900,000 | AKTIS STRATEGY LTD | [4] |
Insolvency
Co-founder Andrew Rathmell told Devex that the firm went into an insolvency process at the start of March 2019 and attributed its collapse to poor financial management that left it unable to manage rapid scale-up and a growing number of low-margin projects. A document sent to staff said the company had lost a number of major contracts, including from the FCO; there had been an audit of its Iraq work in 2018, after which, Rathmell said, Aktis was given "a clean bill of health by the FCO and its external auditors." A government spokesperson told Devex: "The government has a small number of contracts with Aktis Strategy Limited."[1]
People
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Benedict Lowry Martin | Director | 18 July 2013 | 13 January 2020 |
| Alexander Benedict Lowry Martin | Director | 12 December 2012 | 2 January 2013 |
| Andrew James Rathmell | Director | 12 December 2012 | 13 January 2020 |
| Matthew John Waterfield | Director | 18 July 2013 | 1 March 2017 |
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Devex, Exclusive: Major UK aid contractor Aktis Strategy goes bust Devex, March 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Companies House, AKTIS STRATEGY LIMITED (08327972): officers Companies House, accessed 16 October 2026.
- ↑ WYG plc, Technical Envelope: Part B – Resource, Access to Justice and Community Security in Syria (AJACS): key staff CVs (leaked bid document) Avalon Library, n.d.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, THE CONFLICT STABILITY AND SECURITY FUND (CSSF) Overseas Communications Contracts Finder, 2016-11-03.