The GROW Formula® and Programme

Strengthening practitioner capability, professionalism, and readiness for sustainable practice.

A practical, evidence-informed capability framework designed to support safe, ethical, and resilient work across Health & Wellness professions.

About the Formula

The GROW Formula® is an evidence-informed competency framework that strengthens the non-clinical capabilities essential to safe, ethical, and sustainable practice.

Developed from research across behavioural science, service marketing, occupational health and microbusiness management, it complements clinical training and addresses the real-world demands practitioners face once they enter independent practice.

It encompasses four competency domains that align closely with the sector challenges identified by professional bodies and regulators. The domains are:

1. Get Clients

Visibility, communication, clear expectation-setting

2. Relationships

Trust-building, boundary clarity, consistent client experience

3. Ourselves

Self-regulation, workload management, reflective capacity

4. Wealth

Financial literacy, decision quality, operational stability

 

About the Programme

The GROW Programme is the practical delivery mechanism for the Formula, turning the framework into structured, applied learning for practitioners.

For organisations, the Programme offers:

  • ready-made, evidence-aligned CPD
  • early-career preparedness support
  • reduced practitioner attrition
  • a scalable, low-lift partnership option

Why it Matters

Across Health & Wellness professions, practitioners routinely face challenges that fall outside clinical training, including:

  • communication and expectation-setting
  • boundary and relational clarity
  • emotional labour and self-regulation
  • workload fragmentation
  • administrative consistency
  • financial pressures and decision-making
  • professional isolation

These non-clinical pressures directly influence professional behaviour, complaints, and public trust.

Universities, regulators, and membership bodies increasingly recognise the need for structured, accessible support in these areas.

The GROW Formula® and Programme provide a practical, evidence-aligned response.

Explore Evidence

Who We Partner With

Universities & Colleges

Supporting practitioner readiness, curriculum coherence, employability, and alignment with professional standards.

Regulatory Bodies

Strengthening public protection through clearer expectations, risk-reduction, and practical capability development.

Professional Membership Organisations

Enhancing member support, wellbeing, and professionalism through evidence-aligned CPD and development pathways.

Partnership Options

We offer flexible, low-lift partnership pathways that allow organisations to integrate GROW in a way that suits their remit.

All options are designed to be proportionate, evidence-aligned, and straightforward to implement.

Evidence & White Papers

Our work is grounded in interdisciplinary research and sector-specific insights. These papers provide detailed evidence, rationale, and alignment for institutional stakeholders.

Academic Foundations Paper

For universities, curriculum committees, and academic validators.

Download PDF

Regulator Briefing Paper

For statutory and voluntary regulators focused on public protection and standards.

Download PDF

Membership Body Practice Brief

For professional associations supporting practitioner wellbeing, standards, and member development.

Download PDF

Quality, Standards and Safeguarding

Our work is aligned with core expectations across the sector, including a commitment to safe, ethical and consistent practitioner behaviour, clear alignment with professional standards and codes of conduct, and evidence-informed design rooted in recognised theory.

We maintain robust data protection and privacy practices, prioritise inclusive communication and accessible learning, and ensure continuous improvement through ongoing participant feedback.

We welcome discussion about how GROW can align with your organisation’s specific frameworks.

About the Team

The GROW Formula® and Programme were developed by a multidisciplinary team bringing together expertise in clinical practice, small-enterprise development, behavioural science, pedagogy and microbusiness finance.

Sarah Attwell

Originator of the GROW Formula®

A practitioner, educator and former Chair of the British Acupuncture Council’s Governing Board, Sarah brings extensive experience in professional standards, practitioner development and the lived realities of solo practice.

Shiao Yee

Marketing & Business Strategy

Shiao contributes analytical and strategic depth across service marketing, business design and behavioural decision-making, supporting the Formula’s integration of microbusiness, client acquisition and organisational theory.

Jon Attwell

Start-up Growth & Systems Design

Jon is highly regarded in the start-up sector, having held senior roles in high-growth environments. His expertise in data-driven decision-making, strategic experimentation and systemisation directly strengthens the Formula’s emphasis on visibility, operational clarity and sustainable business routines.

Paige Warwick

Self-employed Financial Capability

Founder of Bee-Accountable, Paige contributed specialist expertise in self-employed accounting and microbusiness finance. Her input supported the validation of the Wealth domain within the GROW Programme, ensuring alignment with HMRC requirements and recognised principles of sound financial management.

Contact Us / Expression of Interest

We welcome exploratory conversations with organisations interested in practitioner development, professional standards, or member support.

© 2025 Sole Trader Courses. All rights reserved. The GROW Formula® is a trademark of Sole Trader Courses. Materials provided through this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional, legal or financial advice. Sole Trader Courses maintains responsibility for programme content and delivery. Partner organisations remain responsible for their own regulatory and professional obligations.