Between juggling nursery drop-offs, school sports days, and mammoth marketing campaigns, Blueberry’s Zoe Thorpe somehow found the time (and energy) to go back to university.

But this time, there were no pot noodle dinners, last-minute essay submissions or student overdrafts – just big business ideas and the occasional Teams call in activewear.

The devoted mother-of-three recently completed a Help to Grow (HTG) Management Course at Leeds Beckett University (LBU).

Why Help to Grow?

“We always recommend Help to Grow cohorts to our clients and their businesses – so I figured, why not practice what we preach?” said the 34-year-old. The experienced Projects & Resources Manager also craved a deeper understanding of the ‘business side of things.’

“I saw it as an opportunity for self-development – I’ve always wanted to understand business strategy, culture and growth better, and see how I could apply that at Blueberry.”

The 12-week programme equips small business leaders with the tools, confidence, and inspiration to drive growth, develop strategy, and effectively lead their teams. Throughout the course, students explore topics ranging from digital transformation and marketing to finance and organisational design. The course content is both theoretical and practical, featuring real-life business case studies that allow students to analyse what worked and what didn’t.

A Pint-Sized Powerhouse

Zoe joined Blueberry full-time in 2011 after graduating from LBU with a First in English Literature and History. Fast-forward to today, she is an integral part of Blueberry’s education team, spearheading campaigns like Harper Collins, AQA Education, Serco, and Book Trust.

“I’ve worked at Blueberry my entire adult life,” she smiled. “And I still love it! The people make it, and I still get a buzz from winning campaigns in new business sectors.”

A natural-born organiser, Zoe’s passion for education may just be hereditary – she is the daughter of a headteacher. The mother-of-three immerses herself in every project, recruits and supports her team, and ensures that the right people are matched to the right campaigns. She strongly advocates for staff development, believing in upskilling others as much as she does herself.

“I take a real interest in staff training and development. I want to help people grow and develop at Blueberry, whether they’re part-time students or full-time staff.”

Back on Campus (without the obligatory Freshers’ Week hangover)

Returning to Leeds Beckett’s Rose Bowl building (a shiny upgrade from her undergraduate days), Zoe quickly embraced her mature student status on the HTG course.

“Everyone was in the same boat – juggling businesses, families, and deadlines. The course team were great. And I actually enjoyed the 9 am starts and face-to-face sessions – 20-year-old me would have despised them!”

The Government-funded course combined online learning, in-person seminars, peer group calls and real-life business case studies. For Zoe, the magic lay in the face-to-face interactions.

“I’m a talker. I learn by bouncing ideas off people. Give me a lively discussion over an online seminar any day. My favourite module was Vision, Mission and Values. If your culture’s wrong, nothing else will stick. This was the game-changer for me. And I loved the Employee

Engagement & Leading Change – it was so practical.”

The not-so-fun bits? “Finance and Financial Management was my least favourite module. I am a people person; accounting and numbers are not for me. I also struggled with Digital Transformation – full of AI – fascinating but also a bit overwhelming for someone not tech-savvy like me.”

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast! You can have the best plan in the world, but you’re going nowhere if your culture is off,” said Zoe.

People Make the Programme

One of the real joys of HTG for Zoe was the networking. There was a lively online seminar, peer group calls, and weekly in-person meet-ups.

“The people on the course were amazing – they came from so many different industries: garages, sportswear, event companies, recycling firms – you name it,” she recalled. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m not one to keep quiet. I shared work scenarios, asked lots of questions, and learned so much from others. Hearing how they tackled similar challenges was invaluable.”

To top it all off, Zoe was featured in the official Help to Grow promo video. “It was a bit outside my comfort zone, but it was great fun, I’m glad I did it!”

[Watch Zoe in action here]

Mum’s the Word!

And there’s no let-up at home – Zoe’s a busy mum to three children under six (yes, really). So, when she’s not organising training sessions or campaign timelines at work, she’s navigating soft play areas or dashing out on a last-minute Calpol emergency.

“I had three babies pretty close together – so three maternity leaves in a row,” said the Apperley Bridge resident. “Coming back each time was daunting, but everyone at Blueberry was incredibly supportive and understood any changes I had to make to my work patterns. I work three days a week now, which gives me the balance I need. And yes, sick toddlers sometimes pop up in Team calls, but it’s all part of the charm!

“The support system at Blueberry has been instrumental in helping me balance my professional and personal life. I have zero complaints about being a working mum; my boss, Faresh, encourages me to attend PTA meetings, school plays and summer fairs. After all, they’re only little once, he says.”

And in Her (Minimal) Spare Time …

Outside of Blueberry and motherhood, Zoe’s no stranger to challenges. Describing herself as a “chubby teen turned marathon runner,” she has raised thousands for Marie Curie and The Alzheimer’s Society. She has also tackled the Tough Mudder and smashed the London Marathon in a mind-blowing 3 hours and 31 minutes! On weekends, you’ll find her giggling over pizza with friends, wrangling crayons off toddlers, or plotting her next personal best (after a solid nap).

“I might be pint-sized, but I’m pretty determined,” Zoe laughed.

Applying the Learning

Armed with new ideas and renewed clarity, Zoe wasted no time in applying what she had learned. Zoe is:

• Reconnecting with previous clients and reigniting relationships.
• Challenging the Blueberry team to rethink its values and culture: “What do we actually stand for?”
• Engaging the whole team in shaping Blueberry’s future together. “I want our values to be lived, not just written on a poster in the kitchen.”

Final Thoughts?

Would she recommend HTG? “Without hesitation – 100 per cent! Just make sure you carve out enough time to sit the course and reflect on the learning. It was a challenge, but the energy, ideas, and confidence you get at the end are worth every second.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” Zoe added, channelling her inner Peter Drucker (aka The Father of Management). “I believe that more than ever. You can have the best plan in the world, but you’re going nowhere if your culture is off. I aim to continue helping make Blueberry a place where values are real, voices are heard, and people want to stick around.”