Case Study

Salad staff member

Salad

Nicole at Salad, a Design Agency in Poole took part in the Business Growth Dorset funded Growth Group with Evolve Advisory. 

When Salad became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), it marked a major milestone—and a shift in thinking. For Nicole, it meant stepping more firmly into a strategic leadership role and focusing on the longer-term direction of the business. 

Joining the Evolve Growth Group gave Nicole the space to think. Surrounded by other business owners and leaders, she was able to reflect on her own role, pick up commercial insights, and challenge her own assumptions. “There was a real value in being reminded of things I knew but hadn’t thought about in a while—sometimes a little wisdom goes a long way,” she said. 

The programme covered key areas like leadership, planning, commercial strategy, and team engagement. For Nicole, it reinforced the importance of clear direction and strong communication and gave her the tools which she could go to her business to use.    

Nine months on, Salad continues to strive and innovate. Nicole is more deliberate in her approach and more confident in shaping the business’s future.  

Nicole’s experience is a great reminder that even experienced leaders benefit from stepping back, talking it through, and gaining new perspective—from peers who truly understand what it’s like.

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