Business Growth Support &

Recruitment Partner for Scaling SMEs

Build the team you trust to run the business without you.

Helping CEOs of scaling construction, property, & built environment businesses design the right roles, hire people who take ownership, and embed the structure that removes founder dependency, so growth continues without everything continuingly ending back with you.

“Freedom follows structure, and I will help you build both.”

I’m Nicola Anderson, founder of Capacity to Grow, Business Growth Partner and People Performance Specialist.

I help founders and CEOs of scaling SMEs (£500k–£30m+) build teams and leadership structures that perform without constant oversight, so they can step out of the day-to-day and lead with clarity, confidence, and freedom.

After 25+ years in senior leadership roles across construction, property, and service businesses, managing £50m+ portfolios and teams of 150+ I saw the same pattern repeatedly:

  • Growth outpaces structure

  • The founder becomes the bottleneck

  • Decisions slow

  • Momentum drains

Businesses don’t stall because of a lack of ambition.
They stall because the team, leadership and operating model haven’t evolved quickly enough.

My work is focused on solving that, by building the clarity, capability, and leadership confidence that allow a business to perform without relying on one person at the centre.

My Approach...

Scaling is a people challenge before it’s a strategy problem.

I combine commercial experience with behavioural insight to design organisations where:

  • Roles are clear

  • Accountability is shared

  • Leaders think, decide and act independently

I believe freedom follows structure.

When the right systems, rhythms, and expectations are in place, performance becomes consistent, and founders regain the time and headspace to lead strategically.

What It’s Like to Work Together...

I don’t advise from the sidelines.

I work alongside founders and leadership teams as a Transitional Fractional COO / Growth Partner, focused on building internal capability, not dependency by instilling structure, ownership, and leadership capability, with a clear intention to step back once it's embedded.

Every engagement is outcome-led and time-bound, focused on:

  • Stronger leadership

  • Clearer structure

  • Measurable improvements in team performance

Many clients begin with a Business Growth Audit to identify what’s really limiting progress, before moving into focused work, often Recruit to Grow™, to build the next layer of their team properly, first time.

The aim is not ongoing reliance. It's internal capability that lasts.

Credentials & Credibility...

>25+ years in senior leadership roles across construction, property and the built environment

>Managed £50M+ operational portfolios and led teams of 150+ people

>Specialist in leadership development, team performance and scalable operating structures

>Trusted partner to CEOs of scaling SMEs (£500k–£30m+)

What Clients Say...

Every testimonial here reflects real results, stronger teams, clearer, leadership, scalable operations, and leaders who’ve reclaimed time and freedom to focus on what matters to them most.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I have had the privilege of working with Nicola on several occasions and I have seen firsthand how dedicated and hardworking she is. Her focus and attention to detail means she is always delivering above and beyond and it is ingrained into her DNA! If you are lucky enough to work with her then grab it with both hands.”

Amazing 3D Goals LTD
Marketing Director
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Nicola is the consummate professional. Her communication skills are fantastic and she understands the need to keep all stakeholders informed of developments on projects. I love working with her and cannot recommend her highly enough.”

Global Mediation
Senior Leader
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“We had a tight deadline to find a new member of senior staff, Nicola pulled it off effortlessly! She was great to work with. Her extensive knowledge of the recruitment process and much more found us a great new member for our team.”

Spiritfilled
Head of Operations
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Nicola brought together the team in a manner that facilitated significant change which resulted in significant efficiencies and savings.”

TEG Risk & Sustainability
Founder
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Nicola is smart, grounded, with an awesome business brain and endlessly reliable, just great to have around and work with. If you get the chance to collaborate with her, do it, she will bring all the skills and support you need to grow your business to the next level!”

Roar Training
CEO & Founder

Why I Do This Work...

Because I’ve been the leader who was too busy to lead.

I know what it feels like when success starts to cost your time, energy, and freedom.

My mission is to help founders build businesses that grow calmly and confidently, with teams that can think, decide, and lead without constant direction.

Because freedom doesn't come from working harder.

It comes from building the team, structure, and leadership capability that make growth sustainable.

"Freedom comes when you stop being the only answer in your business."

“Growth isn’t just about doing more, it’s about creating the capacity to lead better.”

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