Amethyst Racoon has brought clarity and responsiveness to the financial workings of New Mills Festival. We can now see the current state of each project and event within the Festival as well as overall figures. Additionally by having immediate access and understanding of all our figures when she attends meetings Sara-Jayne is able to directly respond to any queries that arise on whatever aspect of our finances.

For the project that I was directly responsible for she ensured that it came in on budget and was able to follow through on all grant requirements, etc. Beyond that she is personally interested in how the various events are doing and can contribute informed suggestions on how to proceed.

I would happily recommend her services to any arts organisation or individual trader.

Anyone who has ever had eureka moments will want to be in a mastermind that’s built the way Sara-Jayne structures them. It can take a little group of creatives in various iterations of a business-orientated world and give them a well-rounded perspective that helps clarify what they can do, and how they can set about to do it.

It doesn’t demand, but it reveals. It empowers, because there is something reassuring about bouncing ideas around with contemporaries who inhabit different worlds but utilise the same business philosophy, principles, and standards. More self-employed people need this as part of their strategising — I certainly benefit from it.

A must-attend fixture in my schedule every month – I really value the opportunity to explore burning operational and strategic issues in this confidential and collaborative environment.

I worked with Sara-Jayne on creating new initiatives for improving the on-line structure of a charity organisation. I’ve been more than impressed by her ability to quickly understand a problem and create easily achievable answers. She is approachable at any stage of the design process, quickly producing prototypes which are close or ready for production.

The group conversations in the mastermind have been fascinating and productive.

As expected, we’ve had an opportunity to talk through anything we’re finding tricky or problematic in business and hear other experiences and perspectives. The level of support has been fantastic and the small group dynamic really aids the speed in which you get to know each other and open up. There have been recommendations for useful resources, technology and information so I leave a session with ideas and plans to try new things.

An unexpected bonus of these sessions is meeting business owners in very different fields, with very different income expectations, and recognising that whether your business turns over £10,000 or £1,000,000, you can have moments of doubt. As a business grows, new challenges come up and you have to be a learner again. You may have been in business for 10 years but a newbie can offer a different perspective or recommend new software. These conversations have a respectful equality that encourages all to participate.