SMALL BUSINESS CASE STUDIES | NORTH YORKSHIRE & UK
Here you’ll find real examples of the business consultancy, freelance project support and event work I’ve delivered for small businesses, founders and organisations in North Yorkshire and across the UK.
No two businesses are exactly the same – which is why I don’t believe in forcing them through the same formula. Sometimes the challenge is an operational one: a process isn’t working, a team needs more confidence or the customer journey could be better.
Sometimes there’s a project that simply needs someone to take hold of it, work out what needs to happen and get it moving. And sometimes it’s about bringing people together – creating an event that builds community, raises awareness or gives people a reason to show up.
Projects focused on business operations, customer experience, processes, team development, sales, visibility and helping businesses work more effectively.
Freelance project support covering research, feasibility, business planning, operational improvement, concept development and delivery.
Event planning and delivery for business networking, female founder, community and fundraising events in Ripon and North Yorkshire.
From improving customer journeys and developing teams to increasing sales, footfall and customer loyalty, this work is about finding the things that are getting in the way of a good business becoming an even better one.
Project type: Business operations & customer journey
Creating a smoother customer journey for a growing rural business operating across the UK
As Modugroup grew, its customer journey became more complex. I reviewed communication, ownership and handovers across the business and developed practical recommendations to create a smoother experience for customers and staff.
Outcome: Clearer processes, stronger handovers and a more consistent customer journey across the business.
Project type: Small business consultancy & growth
Helping a female-founded independent shop increase visibility, loyalty and footfall
When Rebecca needed to increase transactions to keep her Ripon shop viable, we looked at the business from the customer’s perspective – identifying practical ways to increase visibility, strengthen marketing and give people more reasons to visit and return.
Outcome: Increased footfall, stronger customer engagement and improved confidence around marketing and growth.
Project type: Team development & customer experience
Building confidence, customer service and sales in a female-led rural retail team
Working with the all-female team at this long-established Malton business, I developed practical sales and customer service training designed around the realities of an independent rural retailer – helping the team feel more confident service customers and spotting opportunities to sell.
Outcome: Greater team confidence, stronger customer service and a more consistent in-store experience.
Project type: Staff development & customer service
Turning weather-dependent quiet periods into useful staff development time
For a cafe whose customer numbers can change dramatically with the Yorkshire weather, traditional staffing plans only go so far. Instead, we created ways for quieter periods to become useful – with menu training, dietary knowledge and customer-service role play that helped staff feel better prepared when customers arrived.
Outcome: Improved staff confidence, better product knowledge and a stronger customer experience.
Some projects don’t fit neatly into the day-to-day running of a business. They need research, structure, coordination and someone willing to ask the questions that turn an idea into a realistic plan.
That’s where I come in.
Project type: Feasibility study & business planning
Testing the feasibility of a new rural retail and community hub
I was brought in to assess the feasibility and viability of a proposed creative retail and community space in Tadcaster. That meant going beyond desk research – speaking directly to local people, running public surveys, attending community events and developing a business plan grounded in what the town actually wanted and needed.
Outcome: A clear, evidence-based business plan and viable operating model for the proposed community hub.
Project type: Concept development & market testing
Creating and testing a new co-working concept for rural professionals
Medley started because my co-founder and I were also the target customers: two women running businesses in a rural area who wanted somewhere professional, flexible and sociable to work. Before committing to permanent premises, we tested the idea through surveys, pop-up co-working days and events – building a community while gathering real-world evidence about demand.
Outcome: A tested coworking concept, stronger local business connections and valuable insight into demand for flexible workspace in Ripon.
Good events aren’t just about what happens on the day.
They’re about understanding why people would want to attend in the first place, creating an experience that feels worthwhile and making all the moving parts work together behind the scenes.
Project type: Event concept & delivery
Creating a community clothes-swap event with two female founders at its heart
The Wardrobe Exchange began as a collaboration between two Ripon female founders and grew into an event combining sustainable shopping, community and the chance to support another local organisation. From developing the credit system and customer journey to ticketing, venue logistics and the event itself, we created and tested a format that could grow into something much bigger.
Outcome: A successfully delivered community event with positive feedback, strong collaboration and a clear model for future events.
Project type: Networking event & fundraising
Turning a networking event into something more
What began as an opportunity to showcase a new venue at The Ripon Inn became an evening that brought the local rural business community together while raising money for a local charity. I developed the event concept, managed the logistics and introduced a silent auction designed to raise funds without taking over the evening – ultimately raising over £600 for The Ripon Walled Garden.
Outcome: A well-attended local business event that strengthened connections and raised £595.50 for Ripon Walled Garden.
Project type: Community & business networking
Building a business community for women working in and around a rural city
Running a business in a rural area can sometimes feel surprisingly isolating – particularly when you don’t have a team around you.
The Ripon Women Business Network was created to make those connections easier, bringing female founders and businesswomen together in an informal, supportive environment where relationships, collaborations and opportunities could develop naturally.
Outcome: A growing local community giving female founders regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and support one another.
I work with small businesses, founders, SMEs, charities and community organisations across a range of sectors, with a particular interest in female founders and rural businesses.
My work includes business operations, customer journey improvement, team development, feasibility studies, business planning, concept testing, project delivery and business and community events.
No. I’m based near Ripon in North Yorkshire and much of my work is rooted in the region, but I also work remotely with businesses and organisations across the UK.
Absolutely. A lot of the projects I take on don’t fit neatly into a predefined service. If something needs untangling, organising or delivering, tell me about it and we can work out whether I’m the right person to help.
You don’t need to know exactly what kind of support you need before we talk.
You might have an idea you can’t quite turn into a plan, a part of your business that isn’t working as well as it should, a project that’s been sitting on your list for months or an event you’d love to make happen.
That’s exactly the kind of thing we can unravel together.