From Corporate to Consultancy: The Surrey Hills Marketing Story
09 / 04 / 2026
I’ve worked since I was 16.
Not in a “casually figuring it out” kind of way, more in a “here’s a whistle, you’re now responsible for people not drowning” kind of way. Yes, I started as a lifeguard. Which, in hindsight, is excellent preparation for a career in marketing.
From there it’s been a bit of a whirlwind: chalet host (glorified cook/cleaner/therapist in the Alps), receptionist (professional juggler of phones and patience), Events Manager (organising chaos with a clipboard), Marketeer (spinning a lot of plates), and eventually Head of Department (spinning even more plates… but now in meetings).
And I’ve loved it. Truly.
But somewhere between building a career, building a home, and building a family… something shifted.
The juggle got real.
And the idea of doing things my way, on my time, for my clients started to feel less like a “one day” and more like a “why not now?”
So here we are. Self-employed. Sole trader. Mum-entrepreneur (still deciding if that word is empowering or slightly chaotic).
The Bit No One Talks About
It’s nerve-wracking.
There’s a moment, usually around 2am, where you think:
“Am I actually qualified to do this?”
And then you remember…
You’ve been doing exactly this. For 15+ years. but for someone else.
The strategy.
The campaigns.
The problem-solving.
The firefighting.
The “can you just quickly…” requests that were never quick.
So I’ve decided to back myself.
What I Actually Do (In Plain English)
I’m a marketing consultant - but not the fluffy kind.
I work with businesses to:
Get clear on what they’re actually trying to say
Make sure their website doesn’t confuse people within 3 seconds
Turn “we should probably post something” into actual, consistent marketing
Join the dots between brand, PR, social, content, and real-life results
Think of me as an extension of your team, just without needing a desk or stealing your biscuits.
Why Now?
Because life isn’t linear, because flexibility matters, because I want to make the Easter school parade, and walk my own dog in daylight hours, and not at 5am before leaving the house to head to the office.
And honestly? Because I want to build something that fits around my life - not the other way round.
The First Step
If you’re thinking about doing it, going solo, starting something, taking the leap, here it is:
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to start.
It won’t be perfect.
You will question yourself.
You will Google things you feel like you should know.
But you might also find… it’s the best decision you’ve ever made. I am already seeing the love from so many local small businesses, and I am loving hearing your journeys / stories.
It might just be the best decision to date…
Stay tuned…here goes…