Sophie Seddon established her PR consultancy after leaving a career in journalism and communications to spend more time with her young family. What began through a chance introduction and word-of-mouth referrals gradually developed into a business. Sophie found herself learning how to run it along the way. 

“I became a business owner by accident, really, more than anything else,” she says. “Just opportunities, chance and just seeing where it would take me.” 

With a strong background in communications and client delivery, Sophie was confident in her professional expertise. However, she recognised that she needed to develop her commercial and management skills to build a more sustainable business. 

“The challenge wasn't just delivering the great work for clients, it was about stepping back and thinking more strategically about how I grow the business and the sustainability of it.” 

Essentials provides a foundation

Sophie started Help to Grow: Management Essentials to gain a better understanding of the wider business skills she had not needed in previous employment, including pricing, business development and financial planning. 

“It gave me a really useful introduction, made me realise there was value in stepping back from day-to-day business,” she explains. 

The course helped Sophie recognise the importance of understanding her business’s foundations, from its current position and future direction to its target audience and the value it offers clients. 

It also gave her greater confidence in making decisions. 

“When there's not a team around you, it's very lonely. So it kind of gave me that reassurance, that confidence, the skill set to own my lane and to continue forwards.” 

The experience with Essentials encouraged Sophie to progress to the full Help to Grow: Management Course, where she could explore business growth in greater depth. 

Developing a more commercial mindset

The full course offered Sophie the structure and dedicated time to work on the business, rather than remaining focused solely on delivering work for clients. 

Sophie has since reviewed her pricing, become more deliberate about business development and identified opportunities to turn individual projects into longer-term retainers. She has also placed greater emphasis on gathering client feedback and measuring outcomes. 

The learning has influenced how Sophie presents her services. As her consultancy has developed, she has recognised that her existing website no longer reflects her positioning, leading her to review her messaging, branding and website. 

The support offered by Programme Lead Katey Curtis and the wider team at the University of Huddersfield who contribute to the workshops and mentoring support was also vital to Sophie. The expertise, encouragement and willingness of those who deliver the course was “invaluable in helping me think more strategically about the future of my business.” 

As she continues her mentoring journey with Katey, Sophie is looking forward to having someone challenge her thinking, offer encouragement and provide an external perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing her business. 

Looking towards sustainable growth

Sophie is now developing her business with a greater focus on consistency, boundaries and long-term sustainability. Rather than relying entirely on individual project opportunities, she wants to build stronger, longer-term client relationships while maintaining a balance with family life. 

The course has encouraged her to think beyond her role as a practitioner and develop the mindset of a business owner. 

“I'm becoming more conscious of the commercial side of it, where my value sits, how I communicate that value, how do I add benefit to people's businesses and how I create a business isn't entirely dependent on winning the next project.” 

For Sophie, the next stage is about strengthening the foundations before deciding how the business might grow, whether through employing staff, continuing as a sole trader or developing a hybrid model. 

“My story personally isn't that I necessarily needed management training because I manage a big team. It's that it's helping me to develop the management and commercial thinking needed to build the business on strong foundations.” 

With the support of a 1-2-1 mentor, structured learning and a growing focus on strategic planning, Sophie is continuing to shape the next chapter of her business. 

Find out how both Help to Grow: Management Courses can enable you to grow here.  

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