What does it really take to grow a business from a side‑hustle into a multi‑million‑pound, award‑winning brand?

In this episode, Paul Avins talks to Sheena Marsh, founder of Oxford Garden Design and RHS Gold Medal winning garden designer, about her journey from the classroom to building one of the UK’s top garden design companies.

Sheena shares her honest story of overcoming bullying, facing financial fears, and making the terrifying leap from solopreneur to CEO. Today, her company turns over more than £2 million a year, employs 30+ people, and works with dream clients creating beautiful, wildlife‑friendly gardens.

Whether you run a service business, a creative brand, or you’re ready to scale past seven figures, Sheena’s story is packed with lessons on leadership, focus and resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Why the hardest moment of Sheena’s career became the foundation of her success
• The identity shift of hiring employee number one — and why it changed everything
• The danger of chasing money over alignment (and the costly mistake it caused)
• How to say no to the wrong clients so you can attract the right ones
• Why a predictable business is better than an exciting one if you want freedom
• The power of pruning — how to cut back distractions, people and products to grow stronger
• Why financial dashboards and a CFO are essential once you pass seven figures
• How passion fuels profit — and why your energy disappears if your heart isn’t in it
• The branding impact of winning high‑profile awards like RHS Gold and People’s Choice

About Sheena Marsh

Sheena Marsh is the Founder of Oxford Garden Design, one of the UK’s leading garden design and landscaping companies. Starting her career as a teacher, Sheena took the bold leap into entrepreneurship after adversity pushed her to follow her passion for gardens and design.

Over the last 20 years, she has transformed Oxford Garden Design from a small solo venture into a multi‑million‑pound business with over 30 employees, delivering award‑winning garden and landscape projects across the UK.

Sheena is also a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gold Medal Winner, and her company won the coveted People’s Choice Award at RHS Malvern, making history by taking home four awards for a single show garden.

Today, Sheena is recognised not only for her stunning designs, but also for her leadership in running a true “grown‑up business” — one that’s predictable, profitable and no longer depends on her day‑to‑day presence. Beyond business, Sheena is on a mission to educate homeowners on how simple changes in their gardens can help wildlife and biodiversity thrive.

Resources & Links

• Connect with Sheena Marsh on LinkedIn → linkedin.com
• Learn more about Oxford Garden Design → Oxford Garden Design
• Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights on LinkedIn → Paul Avins | LinkedIn
• Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat → The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025

Next Steps

Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours.

Think bigger: Want to grow your business to the next level — get your free resources at Paul Avins

Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter

Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!