The Cactus Agency MBA

The Cactus Agency MBA has been specifically designed for more experienced agency owners who have grown their business beyond £1M in revenue.

Having launched and grown your business, you are now focusing on the challenges of scaling further with an eye on a potential exit at some point in the future. You have started to realise that the skills and knowledge that have enabled you to grow your agency to this point, will not necessarily get you to the next level. You need to invest in yourself in order to invest in the future of your business.

Learning from others who have been in your shoes, and networking with people who are currently on the same path is the best way to equip yourself for future growth.

The inaugural course will commence in 2024 and run for 16 months. It will enable you to:

  1. Run your agency more efficiently and profitably

  2. Attract more business and top talent

  3. Retain your clients and develop your service offering

  4. Increase the value of your agency

The Syllabus

Our comprehensive program will provide you with more in-depth knowledge and skills. It’s a practical course packed with content that you'll be able to apply to your own agency and see real results. In 16 months we will cover a wide range of topics.

Including:

  • Month 1 - Foundation Day

  • Month 2 - Vision & Goal Setting

  • Month 3 - Positioning & Proposition

  • Month 4 - Online Assessments

  • Month 5 - Marketing & Lead Generation

  • Month 6 - Agency Leadership

  • Month 7 - Finance & Commerciality

  • Month 8 - Online Assessments

  • Month 9 - Delivery & Operations

  • Month 10 - People & Culture

  • Month 11 - Client Retention & Development

  • Month 12 - Online Assessments

  • Month 13 - Emerging Technology

  • Month 14 - Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Month 15 - Recap

  • Month 16 - Online Assessments & Graduation Day

Course Delivery

We work with agency owners every day so we understand how busy you are.  Like you, we use technology to connect, run our business, and navigate our daily lives. We are different though, at Cactus we believe in the power of human connection and interaction. For this reason, this course is delivered entirely in live sessions and is not available as distance learning or via a platform.

The syllabus will be delivered in 12 full-day (10.30am to 5.00pm) sessions at a venue in central London with a virtual assessment every 4th month.  The sessions will be recorded so you will not miss anything if you absolutely cannot attend, but we encourage you to only sign up only with the intention of attending every session.

In addition to 12 full day learning sessions you will benefit from:

  • The Cactus Agency MBA workbook with templates, notes and practical activities and tasks to keep you track.

  • Exclusive access to tried and tested Cactus tools

  • Complimentary access to our Cactus Academy training courses

  • Peer support in a dedicated private messaging group

  • Complimentary copies of the best selling book “Agencynomics” by Spencer Gallagher & Pete Hoole and Gareth Healey’s award winning book “STANDOUT OR DIE” 

Your course leaders

Gareth Healey BA Hons. DipM

Gareth has over 25 years experience in the agency sector and for 15 years ran his own £12.5M, 175 person agency. Award winning author of STANDOUT OR DIE, he now enables other agency owners to achieve their potential and scale their businesses efficiently.

Alfie Wenegieme FCCA

Alfie is an agency commercial finance consultant focussing on profitable growth, M&A and board level support. A chartered accountant with over 15 years agency experience in agencies. Prior to joining Cactus, Alfie ran his own consultancy business focussing on agency profitability.

Investment

The most important investment you will make in the Cactus Agency MBA is your time. Only by fully committing to the programme will you achieve your potential.

You must be prepared to commit a minimum of 1 day a month to attend the sessions and a further day a month to implement the concepts in your agency.

COURSE FEES

Initial payment to secure your place: £569 + VAT (1st month’s fee)

Followed by 15 monthly payments of £569 + VAT by Direct Debit (starting from the first month of the course).

Applications are now open to a maximum of 18 agency owners.

To be considered to join this programme you will need to satisfy all of the following:

  • You must be the founder, majority shareholder, and/or main director (MD/CEO) of an independent agency.

  • You must have been operating for at least 3 years.

  • You currently employ between 10 and 30 full time equivalent PAYE staff.

  • You achieved a turnover in excess of £1M in your last financial year.

  • You are willing and able to dedicate a minimum of 2 days a month to the programme.

No higher education qualifications are necessary. The Cactus Agency MBA is not a formal qualification in itself.

 

Next step

To step-change your skills and boost your agency and profits, learn more below.