Testimonials

Proudly collaborating with…

  • The Success Plan: Offering to business owners across the UK even more business support with finances, marketing strategy, branding and events management to ensure your business is on everyone’s lips for the right reasons.
  • PIM Performance In-Mind with SE Associates Ltd: Corporate training in 3 parts, intuitive eating, stress resilience and business planning all tied in together to help small business owners and team leaders become Mindful Productivity Ninjas!
  • Liverpool City Region BIPC program: Delivering workshops from February 2022
  • Liverpool City Region Growth Platform: Assigned Business Advisor to Ashley School, a high school for students on the spectrum. Delivering marketing talks, finding ideal student careers and skills-based business guidance.
  • Connected Comms Society: Part of the club of expert consultants who work with companies to scale up and boost their marketing strategy and comms.

Underwing has helped a diverse range of clients soar like never before…

Autism in Motion

Jo is the director and founder of Autism in Motion CIC, a parent-led organisation that provides support, advice, and guidance to families of children with neurological conditions, primarily Autism and ADHD. The organisation has benefited from six business coaching sessions offered by BIPC LCR, focusing on managing life and business as a neurodiverse individual. Additionally, Underwing has assisted with the preparation work necessary for Autism in Motion CIC to transition into a charity.

“I learned to say ‘No thank you’ (..) I am now able to pick what I take on and it is around my business rather than me trying to adapt to meet the needs of others.”
“Francesca enabled me to take the steps I needed to make myself a priority in my business.”

Southport Market Blinds

Southport Market Blinds is a family-run business led by Tracy. The company has benefited from Underwing’s business and marketing coaching sessions, funded by BIPC LCR. Underwing provided valuable support in distributing the workload more effectively and developing a social media strategy, giving them the tools to successfully showcase their business online. Additionally, Underwing played a key role in helping the business achieve growth.

“We now feel as a small business that we understand the power of advertising on social media.”
“The coaching really brought to our attention ways in which we can work towards growing our business.”
 “I would highly recommend Fran as her style of coaching is fantastic, she’s really good at what she does. She turned something that felt big and complicated into something I now understand and feel able to do.”

Uniform7

Uniform7, owned by Rachael, has evolved to include Our Smart Project CIC, becoming the first provider of sensory-friendly branded uniforms, made possible through Innovate UK funding. Underwing has helped the business focus on growth while also introducing the CIC. Rachael, who has ADHD and a son with PDA, receives continuous 1:1 business coaching from Underwing in a neurodiverse-friendly way, supporting both her personal and professional development.

“Fran’s support helps me take a step out of the business and plan for the future, keep on top of important tasks, and manage challenging situations.”
“Fran is a fantastic coach and able to adapt to many industries. Her specialism in the SEN industry is rare and we need more people like Fran to support us. It’s very common for entrepreneurs to have ADHD traits.”
“My experience has been empowering with supportive encouragement that I can achieve the growth I am aiming for.”
“I have worked with Fran from Underwing for over a year with strategy support for my small business.  This support has been invaluable in keeping us on track with the workload. As a 36-year-old mother of a 7-year-old boy (ASD, ADHD, PDA) life is extremely busy working alongside my family duties. Frans support keeps me on track, helps me prioritise the workload and gives me guidance with the challenges I may face. As we work in the field of providing products and services for the Neurodiverse community, Fran’s support is specifically tailored. I wouldn’t be able to find this support anywhere else and I am very lucky to work with Fran. Over the last 12 months, we have done work on pricing strategy, marketing & PR communications. As a new employer, I have worked and discussed with Fran my staff management and development. We have worked together on funding applications and achieved successful outcomes. Fran is like having a business partner without shares. She believes in me and my business and always provides positive encouragement.When I look back at the business position over the last 12 months, we are in a much better position and reached our biggest growth so far. Frans support clearly works and I look forward to working with her in the future.”

Gill Smith Illustration

Gill is a freelance illustrator who specialises in illustrating books and prints. Following a recent ADHD diagnosis, she has turned to Underwing for support. With their help, she has improved her diary management, learned to prioritise tasks effectively, and managed multiple book deliveries more efficiently.
“I implemented scheduling breaking down tasks, and started asking myself important questions about goals. I also have a bigger vision for the future.”
“It renewed my sense of purpose and belief in making changes. It was good to just talk about my hopes and fears as often my work can be very isolated without support.”

Landscape Gardener

Joseph, who is autistic, dropped out of school due to an uninclusive environment. He started his career as a gardening apprentice before becoming self-employed, despite having no prior business experience. Underwing provided him with essential support in areas such as social media management, bookkeeping, understanding client capacity, time management, and customer service skills, helping him to build a successful business.

“I left with a clear strategy and lots of mini practical steps to help me when everything seems too much”

Global Director

N is a global director who utilized Underwing’s neurodiversity business leader coaching to enhance their leadership skills. Underwing provided them with effective strategies for managing multiple teams, preparing and delivering presentations to a global audience, and implementing change in a neurodiverse-friendly manner. Additionally, the coaching helped them navigate the challenges of neurodiversity in both their professional and personal life.
“Working with Fran since my ADHD diagnosis has been great in helping me to understand how I can harness the strengths this can bring, whilst recognising how I think differently to others.  I have embedded the things that we discussed in my daily life which has delivered such positive benefits for me, not only at work, but also personally with family and friends.  I’m not sure where I would be now without her support.”

Biddis Lifestyle Design

Liz is an interior designer who became self-employed after returning from maternity leave with her second child. Underwing has been instrumental in helping her grow her business by ensuring that her strategies encompass all aspects of her work while also supporting her in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

“I have been working with Fran and Underwing since July 2020 after hearing Fran speak at an online networking event a couple of months earlier. Fran is now a fundamental part of my marketing and business strategy for my business.
I was immensely inspired by the talk she gave and just felt like I couldn’t miss an opportunity to work with her, get some business clarity and drive growth in my business.
Fran has a natural talent to make you feel at ease when talking about often taboo subjects like finances and fears of failure.
I started with an 8-week course and during that time landed 3 new projects which all fit the ICA I had described.
Since then I have moved on to Fran’s annual coaching programme and I would be lost without her. We work on everything from, how to target who I want to work with, to cash flow forecasting and making sure I bring home what I need each Month. One of the biggest things for me is accountability and having Fran each week check in on my to do list and asking am I doing it and if not challenging me to do so.
I would highly recommend to any entrepreneur that Fran’s services are invaluable when growing and running a business.”

Neurodiverse Coaching Client

Suzanne worked with Underwing to address neurodiversity in the workplace. Underwing helped her create a comprehensive visual document that consolidates all processes and procedures into one accessible location, rather than having them scattered across different areas. This document outlines step-by-step instructions for various tasks and highlights where to find relevant information, making it particularly beneficial for neurodiverse individuals who may find visual aids easier to navigate.
“I would like to pass on my sincere thanks and appreciation to Francesca for the three coaching sessions I had with her. It was the first time I’d had the opportunity to sit down and discuss my Autism and how it impacts me in the workplace with a specialist since my diagnosis 5yrs ago. I learnt many important things about neurodiversity and my condition specifically about which I’d previously had no idea. So, overall, for me the time I spent with Francesca was invaluable.”

100% of coachees said: "It helped me gained clarity, make a plan, put a structure in place, It gave me more knowledge about how business growth and marketing work"