Grow Lead Enjoy
“He doesn’t just tell you what to do. He helps you figure out what you’re actually trying to achieve, and then works backwards from there. That shift in thinking has been invaluable. If you need someone who’s practical, honest, and genuinely gets what it’s like to build something - Neil’s the person.”
Helping founders build profitable, well-led businesses they actually want to run.
Most founder-led businesses reach a point where further growth is possible but clarity, energy, or enjoyment start to fray.
I work with founders and their leadership teams to bring structure, confidence and direction back into the business without burning out.
Who this is for?
The work I do is for founders and leaders who have built something from the ground up, typically an established SME rather than a startup and are now feeling the strain of carrying too much themselves.
You may recognise some of this:
The business relies too heavily on you.
It’s getting harder to maintain profit margins
Growth feels possible, but messy or exhausting
Decisions take longer than they should
You want the business to work better, not just grow faster
If that sounds familiar, you are in the right place.
Why Grow, Lead, Enjoy?
Many founders focus on one part of the picture at a time. In reality, sustainable success comes from integrating all three
Grow
Growth without leadership creates dependency, pressure and fragility.
Lead
Leadership without direction creates noise, drift and frustration.
When growth, leadership and enjoyment work together, businesses perform better and founders stay in the game.
Enjoy
The founders wellbeing has a big impact on growth and leadership. And to be frank, what’s the point of the other two if you don’t enjoy it,
“Neil has a way of really listening to what's going on in your head and in your business, and asks questions that make you think about things in a totally different way - and for the better. If I met any founder that was struggling, I would definitely point them in Neil's direction.”
— Vicky Kerridge, Founder“Neil's wealth of experience is matched by a total lack of gatekeeping. He listens carefully, makes no assumptions, and openly shares his contacts and knowledge in a way that's genuinely helpful. If you get the opportunity to work with Neil or join one of his events, sign up quickly.”
— Louise Turner, Founder“Neil's ability to draw on his own personal experience of running and building a business, alongside expertise from others and leverage all of that to deliver the results and guidance that business owners in this tricky space need, is unparalleled. It's super helpful.
One of the biggest things I've found, beyond Neil's guidance and insight, is how he's built a community around leaders.
That's really powerful, because you can often feel quite isolated as a leader. Having someone who brings you all together in a space completely free of judgement makes you feel so much better.”
— James Starkey, FounderWhere I can help.
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Coaching & Mentoring
For founders who want space to think, challenge assumptions and lead with more confidence and perspective.
Most founders are too close to the business to see it clearly. This is dedicated time and space to step back, think differently and make better decisions - with someone who has been where you are.
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Consultancy & Advisory
For businesses that need clarity, structure and momentum.
When the business feels busy but not quite purposeful, this is where we bring focus. Clear priorities, practical strategy and decisions that actually stick - without the consultancy theatre.
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Board & Non-Exec Support
For founders who want experienced, commercially grounded input at board level.
An experienced perspective in the room, without the ego. Whether you need a sounding board, sharper governance or someone to ask the questions nobody else will - this is calm, direct and commercially focused support.
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The Founder Reset
For agency founders who need to step away from the business to think clearly about where it's going.
A three-day residential retreat in a countryside spa hotel, designed around three things most founders never make proper time for - clarity, planning and recharging. You leave with a strategic plan, a 90-day action plan and people around you who understand exactly what you're building.
The Founder Reset
Three days away from your agency. One strategic plan you'll actually follow.
Next event: November 2026
The Founder Reset
Three days away from your agency. One strategic plan you'll actually follow.
BenchPress 2026, the UK's most-read agency benchmark report, found that 35% of agency founders feel anxious about their business at least once a week. Only 1 in 8 say their energy is 'great'. That's not just a personal struggle or wellbeing issue. It's a profit problem.
When was the last time you properly stepped away from running your agency, not for a holiday, but to actually think about it?
For most agency founders I speak with, the honest answer is months, years or even never.
The business looks successful from the outside. But inside, the cycle of clients, team management, cash flow and constant decisions leaves almost no time to lift your head. Strategic thinking happens in stolen moments - on a train, during a walk, or late at night. The ideas are there, but they disappear the moment you land back in the chaos.
The Founder Reset is a 3-day residential retreat for a small group of agency founders, designed to give you the space, the structure, and the right people to think clearly and plan properly, so you return to your business with renewed energy, a 90-day action plan, and a 3-year vision you'll actually follow through on.
About me
I am a former agency founder who spent 25 years building, growing and eventually exiting my own multi-million pound business.
I now work with founders and leadership teams who want to build something successful and sustainable. A commercially strong business that supports the life they want, not consume it.
I believe good businesses are built with clarity, care and intent, and that enjoying the journey is not a luxury, but a requirement.
“A lot of people who do what Neil does sold their agency 20 years ago and are detached from the realities of how today’s industry works. Neil is completely different - finger on the pulse, having done it recently. He’s very open and honest about his experiences, good and bad, which creates a very healthy, transparent dynamic.”
Start with a conversation
If the business needs to work better, not just harder, the best place to start is a conversation.
No pitch. No pressure. Just a chance to explore whether this is the right fit.