Accelerating Growth: How Alice Potter Built an Award-Winning Business in Just 12 Months
From a passion for social media to an award-winning business, AJP Social Studio founded by Alice Potter has seen significant growth, going from 0-100 in just 12 months. Since starting her business, founder and CEO Alice has helped over 100 businesses gain confidence with their online presence. During that time, she has also been recognised as “One to Watch” (Highly Commended) at the 2024 Enterprise Vision Awards (EVA’s).
Alice launched AJP Social Studio in September 2023 transforming her vision into a successful business with the support of the Blackpool Growth Business Academy. With a decade of experience in social media and content creation, she set out to equip business owners and leaders with the confidence and skills to engage their audiences effectively. As a social media confidence coach she offers 1-2-1 consultations, social media coaching, content creation, and corporate masterclasses.
Understanding the importance of continuous learning, Alice turned to the Blackpool Growth Business Academy early in her journey. “The workshops the Academy offers are invaluable for businesses at all stages,” she says. “I attended the Self-Leadership Masterclass with Sarah Fletcher, which gave me a huge confidence boost in those early days.”
That first workshop opened the door to a wealth of business support. Alice went on to attend additional sessions, including workshops led by scale up specialist Nikki Hesford, which provided her with the tools to manage the growing demand for her services.
“AJP Social Studio grew so quickly that I knew I needed extra support to sustain it,” Alice reflects. “The Academy specialists were incredibly helpful, they understood exactly what my business needed, and their advice made perfect sense.”
Alice’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve led her to an AI-focused workshop, ensuring she remained at the forefront of an ever-evolving digital landscape. “I am always looking to strengthen my expertise. Every workshop I’ve completed with the Academy has reinforced my confidence in my abilities and my business,” she says.
With a passion that extends beyond business growth, Alice is dedicated to empowering young people as well as current business owners, sharing her knowledge and providing them with social media skills in a world where social media is vital for all businesses. She helps them to build confidence in their digital presence and their ambitions to grow a business, through 1-2-1 sessions and workshops. The Academy has seen many businesses begin with a passion and offer support to many entrepreneurs like Alice on their journeys.
The Academy’s first step was to create a tailored business strategy to enable Alice’s business to grow successfully. The plan outlined a clear path to refine the business goals and ensure successful course launches, which led to increased exposure and business expansion. As well as supporting high growth established businesses, the Blackpool Growth Business Academy provides young businesses with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to turn ideas into sustainable ventures.
The impact of the Academy’s support is evident. Within a year, Alice had not only built a hugely successful business but also gained industry recognition. In September 2024, she was awarded ‘Highly Commended One to Watch’ at the EVA’s, a testament to her hard work and dedication. “It was an incredible honour,” she says. “To be recognised in a category that was being awarded for the first time and that isn’t returning this year makes it even more special.”
Following the Academy’s support, Alice’s commitment to supporting others has continued to grow. In 2025, Alice will be sponsoring the Young Entrepreneur award at the EVA’s. Additionally, she has been invited to be the Fylde Coast lead for Pink Link, a network supporting women in business. Through group sessions, she now helps 30 to 35 women develop their businesses with confidence.
Her advice to others is, “Take every opportunity to learn and step outside your comfort zone. I found that the support from the Academy, whether through workshops, one-to-one guidance, or online resources, has been invaluable in getting my business to where it is today.”
“We are incredibly proud to have been part of Alice’s journey. Her success is just one example of how the right support from our specialists, combined with passion and determination, can turn a vision into reality,” says Growth Specialist Nikki Hesford.
If your business is wanting to experience a growing customer base or is already experiencing one, and you are looking for support with creating an effective growth strategy, contact the Blackpool Growth Business Academy today for support from one of our growth specialists.
