Strategic Business Consultancy for Founders, Creatives and Independents
Good work deserves to be seen
- and built to last
Whether you're a founder scaling a food and drink brand, a maker or creative who needs a stronger voice or a design business looking to sharpen your strategy and reach — this is where we start.
I'm Susanne Currid, lead consultant at The Loop. For over 25 years, I've worked as a strategic consultant, business advisor and trusted thinking partner to creative and commercial businesses across the UK. I've helped household names and up-and-coming independents alike — from hospitality startups and craft breweries to design businesses and lifestyle brands.
My approach is practical, honest and always tailored to you. I see the bigger picture first, then we build a focused, agile plan for where you want to go.
Scroll down for services and impact, or jump straight to one of my signature consultancy offers via the buttons below.
Credentials Highlights
Lead consultant Susanne Currid has developed a reputation as an impactful strategic advisor to ambitious and purposeful small business founders and non-profits.
25+ years of business consultancy and project delivery
Author of Build Your Tribe (2013) — top-ranked hospitality marketing book on Amazon UK for five years
Former UK Gov funded SME Advisor (Growth Accelerator & Growth Voucher schemes)
Distinction-grade MA, Art History & Museum Curation, University of Sussex (2025)
Guest expert, BBC's The Apprentice, speaker and media contributor
Who I work with
I work with people doing meaningful, creative and commercial work — including:
Food & drink founders — breweries, restaurants, producers and hospitality businesses
Lifestyle and design businesses looking to grow their brand and reach
Creative consultants and independents who want a strategic sounding board
Serial entrepreneurs ready to build their next venture with more confidence
What we can work on together
Strategy & Business Planning
Clear, practical strategic planning for growth — from business model development to investor-ready planning. Using tools like the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, I identify your real strengths, sharpen your point of difference, and build a roadmap that reflects your ambitions and your resources.
Brand, Voice & Communications
Whether you're repositioning a brand, or figuring out how to talk about what you do — I help you find language that is true to you and compelling to the people you're trying to reach. This is work I do with individuals and small teams, in workshop sessions and through iterative development. For those looking to grow at speed, I advise on the development of agency and specialist provider partnerships.
Sales & Marketing Strategy
A joined-up approach to commercial growth — covering digital, direct, trade and consumer channels. I help you cut through the noise, prioritise what actually moves the needle, and avoid wasting limited time and budget on strategies that aren't right for your business.
AI Business Strategy Consultant
As a digital pioneer, I’ve worked at the cutting edge of business technology since the early 90s, devising systems and content that harness the power of software and internet connectivity. Today, smart businesses are increasingly realising the exciting potential of AI. I help you review and identify the areas of your business which are best placed to leverage time-saving AI-powered processes and procedures. Simultaneously, I help you assess and mitigate risks by signposting best practices that work for your business, your team and your customers.
Working Together — Services & Investment
Whether you're looking for a single focused session or ongoing strategic support, there's a way to work together that suits where you are right now.
Strategy Shakedown
From £295 | 90 minutes
A single, high-impact session designed for founders and creative business owners who want straight-talking, experienced perspective — fast.
In 90 minutes, you'll get a real-world assessment of your current business strengths and weaknesses, along with dedicated time to work through up to three burning questions that are keeping you up at night. No fluff, no generic frameworks — just honest, practical thinking tailored to your business.
Ideal if you're at a crossroads, preparing for growth, or simply need a sharp outside eye before making a key decision.
Get in touch to find out more »
More ways to work together — including the 360 Consultation Programme and hands-on project support — are available for businesses ready for deeper, ongoing strategic partnership.
360 Consultation Programme
From £950 | 4 sessions within 4 to 6 months
For founders and creative businesses ready to move from thinking to doing — with a trusted strategic partner alongside you for the journey.
This is focused, structured support built around a single goal or challenge that matters most to your business right now. Whether you're developing a new business plan, building a funding proposal, shaping a capacity development strategy, or defining a brand vision — we work through it together, session by session, with real momentum and clear direction.
Over four sessions within a four- to six-month period, we meet online or in person to develop, review and refine your thinking. Each session is practical and purposeful, often supported by digital planning tools that sharpen decision-making and keep your strategy grounded in what's genuinely achievable.
We start where it counts — with an honest picture of where you are: your strengths, your gaps, and the opportunities you may not have fully articulated yet. From there, we build something that is both strategically sound and realistic for a business of your size and stage.
This isn't off-the-shelf advice or a generic framework dropped into your inbox. Every engagement is shaped entirely around you, your business, and what you're trying to build.
What People Are Saying
“Susanne came with a ‘can-do’ attitude based on personal experience combined with an originality of thinking which was always solution-focused. She builds on what had been a varied and diverse career, picking up an invaluable skill set, quite unlike any other I have encountered in my 40 years in the leisure, tourism, educational or charity sector.”
— Adam Wide, Trustee, Leisure & Learning“The guidance provided by The Loop has been invaluable to Werewolf Beer, from concept, start-up, to growth. Susanne gets the best out of us not only as an enthusiastic supporter but also as a pragmatic advisor, willing to speak to the reality of the current business climate as well as my professional and personal blindspots. Without her expert guidance we would not be on the upward trajectory we are now.”
— Rich White, Founder, Werewolf Beer Co.“Working with Susanne has been nothing short of a pleasure, her understanding of people, culture, and arts engagement has proven a real asset to Picnic’s photography community.”
— Joe Charrington, Director, Picnic CIC “In her role as consultant she has acted as a mentor for a new member of marketing staff, helping us to get some much needed communications and procedures in place. She methodically took us through a process of identifying improvements needed in the restaurant from a customers point of view, addressing signage and clarifying our offer messaging. She has got us to a stage where we have the processes and suitable software packages in place to be able to manage our marketing in-house with the added benefit of an ongoing advice service, which she continues to provide.”
— Tony McKinley, CEO, Towercrest Enterprises “Thank you for an amazing session yesterday. I really appreciated all the insights and direction …. it felt like such a significant breakthrough.”
— Founder, Lifestyle Startup"I cannot express how useful it is and how you have hugely simplified the task in hand. The sessions we have had were simply fantastic, totally realigned us, focused our efforts and made the challenges seem manageable. All your advice is totally invaluable. Thank you.”
— Alex Head, CEO, Social Pantry/
CLIENTS
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Hackney Brewery
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Darwin & Wallace
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Kingston Laverty Design
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Jill Furmanovsky Archives
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East Coast Concepts
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Squerryes
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Between Time
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Pig & Porter
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Graham Ford Architects
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Social Pantry
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Nirvana Brewery
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Hastings Commons
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Werewolf Beer
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DBLO Architects
/ CLIENTS / Hackney Brewery / Darwin & Wallace / Kingston Laverty Design / Jill Furmanovsky Archives / East Coast Concepts / Squerryes / Between Time / Pig & Porter / Graham Ford Architects / Social Pantry / Nirvana Brewery / Hastings Commons / Werewolf Beer / DBLO Architects
Ready to find your next steps?
If you're not sure whether this is the right kind of support for you, the best place to start is a conversation. Get in touch and tell me a little about what you're working on.
