ARE YOU LOOKING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?

New Forest businesses have Big Ambitions

Is your business growing?

Growing a business is one thing... sustaining that growth is another.

Our business advisors are available to help (that's James Mackrill and Sam Harland in the pics).

We are funded to provide advice to ambitious business owners in the New Forest. We can support you to grow, to sustain that growth... and to help you do it sustainably.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

We're ready to share our advice and experience

Marketing

Work to get your Marketing working like a well oiled machine... and automate where you can.

Artificial Intelligence

Whenever you think of AI, it's happening now. You need to be ahead of the game, and you need to be doing it now.

Strategy

Having somebody to discuss how your business is going to change for the future can be hugely valuable.

Peer Learning

Working with a group of other like-minded business owners can provide more value than a score of experts.

Leadership

Are you a business owner or a leader? As your business grows, you have to be both, but often no one shows you how.

Sustainability

Going Green ensures the future of your business as well as the future of our planet. We want to support you with that journey.

Big Ambitions is a new programme of support

for businesses in the New Forest

We want to help you grow by 20% or more

We work directly for you, but the bill is paid for by New Forest Council (via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund)

Launching September 2025, Big Ambitions is open to motivated business owners in the New Forest who are looking to grow their turnover by 20% or more every year. You must employ 5 or more people to be eligible.

The support includes:

- Deep-dive business assessment that's great

- 12 hours with an experienced business advisor

- 4 peer learning sessions

- 3 specialist clinics (AI, Sales, Leadership)

- 8 optional workshops

93%

Rated our help as good or excellent

98%

Our clients recommend us to colleagues.

WHY US

Experienced Business advisors

Digital Islands has been running programmes of Business support on behalf of local councils for nearly 10 years.

Quality working

We have a brilliant team leading the support for businesses in the New Forest, backed up by a team of different subject matter experts to lead the various clinics and workshops.

Business mentors

James MacKrill and Samantha Harland are two of the best business advisers in the game, and they are available to work with you over the next 12 months. But only if you take action. And only if you are a motivated and ambitious business owner based in the New Forest.

Testimonials

"The support provided through your programme has been invaluable. It's not an exaggeration to say that the full day workshop you ran on artificial intelligence has changed my life."

Mel Burrows

Echo Me Sound Therapy

“I have loved the programme – the quality of individuals, their enthusiasm and passion are incredible – I feel smarter every time I come out of a session.”

Business participant, Big Ambitions independent evaluation 2024

Meet Our Awesome Team

Samantha Harland

James Mackrill

Gavin McWhirter

Gareth Kemp

Frequently Ask Question

How much does this cost?

The support has a value of approximately £3,000 per business, but this is funded by the New Forest District Council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Can I talk to someone to find out more?

Absolutely. We want to have an informal chat with everyone to help you be sure that this is a support that is right for you, you can book up a 30-minute call via the 'Book a Call' button above

Will I be eligible?

If your business employs 5 of more people (including yourself as the business owner), you are based in the New Forest, and you are ambitious to grow, ideally by more than 20% per year, and able to commit the time to be part of the programme, then YES.