About us
The Business Allotment story
The Business Allotment started in 2003. It was an illustrious year for many reasons, not least the retirement of Concorde, Mick Jagger being knighted for services to hip mobility promotion and the launch of the cutting edge Nokia 3200. At this time, the Allotment operated under the brand name of Creative Consulting, and we primarily worked with businesses running idea generation workshops. Our clients included such names as Dorothy Perkins, ITN, the Telegraph, the Press Association and Yahoo, as well as a raft of smaller but no less interesting businesses.
We helped these businesses come up with big ideas, whether for seasonal high street campaigns, product and service launches or organisational change projects. We used a unique creative thinking process and a huge range of creative tools that we designed to help these businesses create new ways of doing their business and lead their industries with innovation.
From 2007, we took this creative approach, rebranded to The Business Allotment and focused all of our creative strategic thinking into helping SME owners grow their businesses through ideas, strategy and support. We built the Allotment on a bedrock of belief that great ideas drive business growth. Thinking creatively about business growth brings fresh perspectives that drive new insights, and our practical tools can create rapid results and sustainable change. We hope you enjoy spending time in the Allotment… it’s the place where businesses grow.
Meet the Business Allotment team
The Owners
Jodie Newman
Hello. I am Jodie Newman, the founder and co-owner of The Business Allotment and one half of the Allotment team.
I am married to Mike and we have two boys, which makes me a good plate spinner, ball juggler and answerer of burning questions such as why bagels have holes and what would happen if a volcano exploded in Essex.
I trained as a furniture designer at the Royal College of Art. My career path turned away from the noble art of designing something to put your bottom on, but it has left me with an enduring love of design and a creative approach to most things.
“Jodie is that extremely rare blend of creative and practical. She was extremely professional and inspiring. Selfishly, I would love to work with her again, I learned so much!”
I strive for everything I do in the Allotment to be practical and creative. Practical, so that it is of maximum use and minimum flannel for our clients. And creative, so that there is always a fresh perspective or new idea to take away. I hope to deliver business growth in a way you won’t have experienced elsewhere.
Oh, and I love networking. So I am always up for a cheeky 121 to get to know you.
And in the true spirit of a personal profile that is dragging on too long, I enjoy cracking open my fineliner pens for a spot of illustration, indulging in some very amateur ceramics, and listening to comedy podcasts.
Mike Newman
Hi. I am Mike Newman, Jodie’s partner and the other half of The Business Allotment team.
I joined Jodie and The Business Allotment with the intention of using my experience of growing outsource service businesses, to help small business owners to position and structure their businesses for sustainable, profitable growth.
I particularly enjoy working on the five P’s: proposition and pitch, essential for winning clients and people, process and procurement in order to successfully scale your business. I write a mean tender document and love disruptive presentations that make you stand out from the crowd.
I lead the consultancy offering from The Business Allotment working alongside owners and their teams, both on and in the business, to make sure changes identified through the strategic review process are delivered and goals achieved.
So what makes me qualified to help you? Mainly a lot of grey hairs and experience gained from over 30 years managing, leading, energising and developing teams and companies.
“If you use Mike Newman to look at your business and processes like most consultants he will apply himself to the problem with great skill and intelligence. Unlike many, he will also bring a huge amount of integrity, honesty and absolute determination to get you, the client, the right answer.”
One of the most challenging roles was MD at print management company Charterhouse, where we grew the business from £12 to £60 million in under 4 years. I learnt a lot about how to (and how not to) manage growth and acquisition, experiences I now share with other businesses.
When not working I spend as much time as I can with Jodie and our two boys, while listening to Radio 4 in the background and despairing at the plight of Sunderland AFC.
The Business Allotment is a member of The Creative Collective network. If you are a creative business, and you haven’t visited TCC… you really should.