So how are Grow’s new team of volunteer consultants doing on Uganda600? Matthew Crawford, a member of the Young MCA and a Management Consultant at Atkins, shares his experience so far.

“I’m just a few weeks into my Uganda 600 experience, but already it’s been a fantastic experience with some invaluable lessons to learn. Having previously worked in South Africa and Ghana I had some idea what to expect, though every new opportunity brings with it some challenges!”

“My client, Stephen Byarugaba, is a young entrepreneur balancing his time between running a retail shop (open around 16 hours a day!) and studying software engineering. He’s looking to understand how to manage his finances and expand his business in spite of significant competition in the local area – challenges that are familiar to many small businesses.”

“Having called Stephen briefly to introduce myself and subsequently having to deal with some ‘inconsistent’ reception, I set up a first session and invited Stella, my client manager, to join as well. The two of them have been fantastic in making themselves available and despite the difficulties involved with technology, we’ve managed to get into a regular routine. Whatsapp has been essential in helping us to keep in touch and we’ve even succeeded in using it to hold our sessions.”

“Stephen has been a pleasure to work with thus far and has lived up to Grow Movement’s description of a typical client – he has some fantastic ideas, is always keen to learn and has completed the tasks I’ve set him so far to a high level of detail. We’re now looking to set up a financial model that will enable him to track his finances month-by-month, while also seeking feedback from his customers and exploring how to improve the service offered to them. With four sessions completed we still have a lot of work to do, but I’m hoping that we can work together to give Stephen’s business a real advantage in the future.”

Good luck for the rest of your sessions Matthew and Stephen from all at Grow Movement!