Evolve spotlight – meet the team
We’re proud to support businesses at every stage, from starting out, growing and planning for their next steps. At Evolve, we have a team of business advisors and specialists who bring a mix of experience and personality to everything we do!
What do you do at Evolve, and what do you enjoy most about your role?
One of the things I love most about my role at Evolve is the variety – no two days are ever the same. My main focus is helping businesses grow and reach their full potential. That can mean acting as a Fractional CFO, preparing financial forecasts to support funding applications, or carrying out exit feasibility reviews to assess how ready a business is for sale and how much additional value could be built beforehand. I also help businesses explore the right funding options by making introductions to suitable funding partners and supporting them in choosing the best solution for their needs. Alongside that, my experience in both practice and industry means I am well placed to review accounting systems, processes and finance teams to make sure they are efficient, effective and ready to support growth.
What’s one common challenge you see businesses facing right now – and your advice to overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I see businesses facing at the moment is finding the right people. Recruitment can be difficult, especially when hiring for finance roles, and making the wrong appointment can be costly. That is something I can help with by supporting businesses through the interview process, particularly when they are hiring their first finance team member or recruiting for a senior finance role without having in-house financial expertise. Having someone who understands the role and can properly assess candidates can make a real difference in finding the right fit.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of business advice I’ve received is: “Make sure you consider all the ingredients in the recipe of your business.” I think that resonates with me because it reflects exactly why I enjoy finance so much. Finance should never operate in isolation – it needs to be fully integrated into the wider business. When it is disconnected from the rest of the organisation, it can quickly create problems rather than support progress.
What book or podcast would you recommend?
I’m really enjoying the CFO 4.0 podcast at the moment. As for books, I read Steven Bartlett’s Happy Sexy Millionaire on holiday recently and found it really hard to put down.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
I love spending time with my family, going on long dog walks and fitting in the occasional run. I also really enjoy cooking and baking – although I never seem to have quite enough time for the baking!
Where’s your favourite place to visit in Dorset?
It has to be the coast – especially Old Harry Rocks. The whole Dorset coastline is beautiful, though, and I also love visiting Wareham.
You recently compared business funding to ice cream… so what’s your go-to flavour, and why?
If we’re talking about real ice cream, it has to be mint choc chip. If we’re talking about metaphorical ice cream – or business funding – then it really depends on the business and what it needs at that moment. That was the whole point of the analogy: there are lots of different flavours available, and the right choice depends on what suits you best.
