I’ve Left Operance – What’s Next? My 90-Day Reset to Rebuild & Refocus

SP
Mar 10
6 min read

Closing One Chapter, Opening Another

After 8+ years of co-founding, building, scaling, and leading Bimsense and Operance, I’ve officially stepped away from the business.

From co-founding a startup to growing a team, raising investment, and driving digital transformation and building safety in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry, it’s been an incredible journey. But as any founder knows, there comes a time when stepping away and finding the next opportunity is the right move.

A Strategic Exit & The Future of Operance

Recently, Operance was acquired by Zutec, marking a transition that will see the company move in a new direction under its ownership. The acquisition was positioned as a strategic fit, aligning with Zutec’s ambitions in Building Safety Act compliance and digital handovers.

For me, this was a moment of reflection—after years of driving product innovation, helping build a super strong, talented team and shape the company’s vision, I made the decision to step away.

This wasn’t a move made in haste. I chose to exit knowing that there are some great people at Zutec with big ambitions, but I needed to take the time to think and be fully intentional about what comes next.

So rather than rushing into the next opportunity, I’ve taken a structured 90-day reset, a deliberate, strategic pause to recover, rebuild and refocus, and ensure my next move is built on the lessons of the last.

Why a 90-Day Reset?

Most leaders never stop. They exit one role and immediately step into another, often without truly considering if it’s the right fit.

I wanted to approach this differently. Rather than rushing into the next thing, I’m lucky enough to be able to take my time. For me, this reset is about:

🧘‍♂️ Recovering – Decompressing from years of high-intensity leadership, regaining my health, fitness, energy, and personal discipline, while stepping back to gain fresh clarity and balance.

🏗️ Rebuilding – Strengthening my professional relationships before fully re-engaging, getting back to basics with hands-on learning, CPD, and new skills, while building momentum in both my network and knowledge.

👀 Refocusing – Gaining clarity on the right next move (not just the first one that comes along), by exploring opportunities with intention, ensuring alignment with my skills, passion, and impact potential.

(💡 If you’re building something exciting in AECO, PropTech, ConTech, or AI, let’s chat—scott@scottpilgrimltd.com.)

A Reintroduction To Little Old Me!

From Bricklayer to Digital Innovator:

Not many digital product leaders start their careers on a building site, laying bricks in the cold, hands covered in mortar, learning the trade from the ground up, but I did.

I started out dreaming of becoming an architect, fascinated by how buildings came to life from sketches on a page. But I quickly realised that true industry expertise isn’t just learned in a studio—it’s forged on-site, in the thick of it. So, I left art school to gain practical experience, trading the drawing board for bricks, trowels, and real-world craftsmanship.

From there, my career evolved organically but relentlessly, driven by a passion to understand and improve the built environment at every level:

🔨 Master Craftsman – Honing traditional building skills, gaining deep respect for the trades.

🏗️ Construction Management – Moving into the office, learning the ropes of quantity surveying, estimating, contracts, and project planning—getting my first taste of the complexity behind the industry.

📈 Development & Business Strategy – Shifting into property development and business development, learning not just how buildings are made, but how they’re funded, managed, and scaled as businesses.

Through all of this, one thing became painfully obvious; the construction and property industry was suffocating under outdated processes, inefficiencies, and disconnected information. The same problems plagued every part of the sector, from site work to management to development.

I knew there had to be a better way.

That’s when I started developing digital solutions, not just for the sake of technology, but to solve real, painful problems I had experienced firsthand.

This led to co-founding Bimsense, a consultancy focused on making sense of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for the industry. But soon, we saw an even bigger opportunity—to build a platform that could change the way the industry managed its information.

🚀 Enter Operance.

We built Operance to digitally transform the way construction, development, and property teams manage critical building data, especially in the wake of new regulations like the Building Safety Act and the push for the Golden Thread.

Because I’ve been on all sides of the fence—as a tradesperson, contractor, developer, and strategist—I don’t just identify industry problems. I’ve lived them.

And that gives me a unique advantage, I don’t just build digital products:

✅ I design and build solutions that work for the people who actually use them.

✅ I speak the language of the industry, from site workers to CEOs.

✅ I understand the pain points deeply because I’ve experienced them firsthand.

Now, after co-scaling Operance from an idea to a business that caught the attention of investors and acquirers, I’m at the next stage of my journey—exploring what’s next!

And whether it’s leading a product team, driving strategy in a high-growth business, or building something new from the ground up, I’ll bring the same deep industry knowledge, problem-solving mindset, and ability to bridge the gap between construction and digital transformation that has fueled my career so far.

(📩 Want to explore how we can work together? Let’s chat: scott@scottpilgrimltd.com or visit scottpilgrimltd.com.)

Who I Am: The Psychology Behind My Leadership & Problem-Solving Mindset

Having taken a few psychology tests over the years, they tell me that I'm:

🚀 Visionary Thinker – I anticipate what’s coming next.

🎯 Strategic & Analytical – I break down complex problems into actionable solutions.

🛠 Relentlessly Resourceful – I thrive in creative, fast-moving environments.

🤝 Empathetic Leader – I help build strong, high-performing teams.

🔥 Driven by Innovation & Change – I challenge the status quo and create new ways of doing things.

(But don't take my word for it, check out the results of my personal profile findings here: scottpilgrimltd.com/about.)

What I Bring to the Table – Skills & Expertise

💡 Product Discovery – Identifying real problems worth solving.

🎨 Product Design – Creating intuitive, high-impact digital solutions.

📈 Product Marketing – Positioning and launching products effectively.

🧭 Product Management – Leading teams to execute strategy.

🗺️ Roadmap Management – Ensuring product evolution aligns with market needs.

I'm incredibly fortunate and humbled that this approach has led me be awarded with the following:

🏆 Building Innovation Champion Winner 2023

🏆 ’42 under 42’ Inductee 2021

🏆 Housing Digital Innovation Champion Finalist 2023

My Approach to Industry Expertise – From the Building Safety Act to What’s Next

So what do I do best? I immerse myself in industry challenges, research the hell out of them, and position myself as someone who can drive real solutions.

A recent prime example was of course: The Building Safety Act & The Golden Thread.

Long before the Act became law, I was already deep in the details, understanding how legislation would reshape the industry and what solutions were needed. Since Dame Judith Hackitt’s first report, I:

🔍 Researched, analysed, and engaged with the evolving legislation.

🏗️ Worked directly with industry professionals to understand their pain points.

💡 Designed a digital solution that aligned with the real needs of those responsible for compliance, not just theoretical guidelines.

This wasn’t about just keeping up with industry changes, it was about being ahead of them and helping others navigate them too.

That’s how I approach every opportunity:

Deep research & strategic positioning.
Understanding complex problems at their core.
Discovering, designing and leading the implementaiton of solutions that actually work.

Now, as I explore my next move, I’ll be applying the same depth, strategy, and problem-solving mindset to AI, PropTech, ConTech and the next wave of industry innovation.

(📞 Let’s discuss how I can help your business as either a cofunder, non-exec, employee or consultant – email me on scott@scottpilgrimltd.com or visit scottpilgrimltd.com.)

Explore My Work: Case Studies & Success Stories

One of the best ways to understand my expertise is to see what we and the brilliant team at Opernace delivered.

📂 Explore my portfolio here: 👉 scottpilgrimltd.com/work

Let’s Talk – Where Should My Next Move Be?

I’m open to:

✔ A Key Role in a Global Goliath – Bringing an innovative startup mentality to a large org.

✔ Startup Business Leadership – Sharing experiences in a well-funded startup.

✔ Employment in a Scaled-Up SME – Leading teams or driving growth.

✔ IC in a High-Impact Role – Product, AI, PropTech, ConTech or digital transformation.

If you’re building something ambitious, let’s talk!

📩 Email me at scott@scottpilgrimltd.com or book a call via scottpilgrimltd.com.

This isn’t about taking a break. It’s about making the next move count.

Let’s start the conversation! 🚀