Design Grove

Design Grove I help businesses to take their marketing to the next level with strategy, design and copywriting.

Something has been holding me back with my business for a while. As a creative person, I just kept hitting a block with ...
13/08/2026

Something has been holding me back with my business for a while. As a creative person, I just kept hitting a block with my own marketing and creating content.

So I thought on it a lot.

You can probably see the dabbling that’s been going on in my grid. It’s been all over the place. But I’ve found my vibe.

The person I was in 2019 when I started The Design Grove was fresh out of the work world. It was officey and constrained.

Now I feel like a butterfly 🦋 emerging from a chrysalis of expectation, fear, self consciousness and into a mentality of authentic, unashamedly being me.

So this is me. A bit less polished. But polished. If you know what I mean.

And the blockage has lifted. So you shall be seeing more from me. Ps the website is a labour of love so bear with me on that one.

What do you think???

Less shiny things, more doing… your marketing moves your business when it’s consistent. It’s easy to get pulled into all...
14/07/2026

Less shiny things, more doing… your marketing moves your business when it’s consistent.

It’s easy to get pulled into all sorts of new ideas. Like magpies, searching for the next big idea, the next big trend, but sporadic bursts will not make the impact you’re after.

Being consistent, focused and clear about your comms will.

I work with businesses on their comms every day. As their outsourced head of marketing. But I also work alongside businesses who want to do it themselves.

Either way the trigger is the need to make progress and together we can. Give me a call if you need some help.

Last week I spent a morning in the woods with Emma England, in a session hosted by the team at You Matter. It was calm, ...
14/07/2026

Last week I spent a morning in the woods with Emma England, in a session hosted by the team at You Matter.

It was calm, restorative, wellbeing session and was a great start to my day.

Emma does these sessions for businesses of all shapes and sizes across the northwest, to help their employees feel better equipped to handle everything that work throws at them.

So if wellbeing in the workplace is on your agenda, and it’s more than just a tick-box thing, Emma’s worth talking to.

03/07/2026

Sometimes business looks like this.

Day in the life of a solopreneur, networking in Manchester.

If you’ve ever wanted to give networking a try I could definitely vouch for The Universe Cafe. First Friday of the month. I plan to make this a regular for me, for the energy in the room.

does an amazing job of filling the room with inspiring business owners. I love it.

Get in touch if you want to come with me next month. Hopefully the train won’t be a replacement bus next time. 💪🏻

How do you score? Don’t overthink it.... answer some of these questions below?BTW it’s fine if you didn’t get full marks...
01/07/2026

How do you score? Don’t overthink it.... answer some of these questions below?

BTW it’s fine if you didn’t get full marks, your website is a work in progress, but hopefully this helped you identify the areas you need to work on?

Can I help?

The daily struggle is real! Ya feel me??
24/06/2026

The daily struggle is real! Ya feel me??

23/06/2026

If you’ve ever been stuck for a business card, did you know you can share your LinkedIn profile using the QR code in the app. Here’s how to find it!

7 years ago today I decided to leave employment. Take a chance on myself that there may be some money in this freelancin...
19/06/2026

7 years ago today I decided to leave employment.

Take a chance on myself that there may be some money in this freelancing malarkey.

Set myself a lofty target of £500 a month, smashed through that in the first week.

1 client, 2 clients, 3 clients by March 2020 and then, bu**er! What now.

Thanks to an amazing community from MOVE - the two years that followed were amazing.

Post Covid people spending their unspent budget on marketing left, right and centre.

Some stability for a while. Hit 2024, and diagnosed with diabetes, took my foot off the gas for a bit sorting my sugars out, and business suffered a bit I won’t lie.

2025 was a weird year. Combination of market factors, my positioning, my mental health, just fell a bit flat.

Thankfully 2026 has been a cracker so far, my health is fair to middling, the clients I have are fabulous and the future is looking promising again.

Only time will tell whether we get any global stability and whether that improves or gets worse, but for now, I am really happy and optimistic for hitting that 10 year mark.

I am looking for a team member to join me. I think the Design Grove needs to go big or go home, so very excited for what’s to come.

Life is never promised, living with no regrets. Let’s do year 8!!!

This week I’ve been a networker, speaker, delegate, bus rider, metro passenger, and mums taxi. Kicking off the week with...
14/05/2026

This week I’ve been a networker, speaker, delegate, bus rider, metro passenger, and mums taxi.

Kicking off the week with Shout Bury, had a great laugh with everyone and looking forward to seeing their faces more often.

Heading into Wednesday I delivered a talk on employee engagement/internal marketing to a room full of HR professionals.

Ending Wednesday at the launch party of this years’ Rochdale Business Awards at Defiance Spirits - bringing good vibes with that place.

Thursdays adventures took me into Manchester to spend the day with the ever lovely, Jean Atkinson.

We went along to Del Parsons Marketing & Sales Summit - the highlight of which was hearing from the CEO of WUKA and her work in creating VAT free period pants.

Seeing her receive a standing ovation for the work she has done was truly inspiring.

So all in all, one hell of a week - who said being a solopreneur is lonely - not this week!!!

Next week though, it’ll be head down, grafting, kind of a week. Finalising plans for two websites and content creation for all my clients. Onward and upward.

Address

Manchester

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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