A journey of growth with Goldman Sachs

Tracey Burridge, SANDBOX

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to be part of something truly transformative.

That opportunity came when Tracey Burridge, director at SANDBOX, was selected to join the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme.

“This was a journey that challenged, inspired, and reshaped how I see our business and myself as a leader,” said Tracey.

At SANDBOX, we’ve always believed in dreaming big, working hard, and staying true to our values. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme gave us the opportunity to think bigger and look for wider opportunities.

It took a year of determination, applications, and interviews to secure a place on the programme with the hope of acceptance to help push our business forward. And what a privilege it was to be chosen to be one of 70 elite businesses selected to be coached through the intensive course, set in place to boost the UK economy and support high-growth in small businesses.

“I was thrilled, honored, and maybe just a little bit terrified. I knew this was going to be a great opportunity, but I had no idea just how much it would demand of me, or how much I would grow because of it,” said Tracey.

14 weeks of transformation
The programme was rigorous. A gruelling, exhausting, mind blowing, thrilling whirlwind of deadlines, workshops, seminars and coaching sessions that touched every corner of running a business. All with the intention of unlocking the potential of what SANDBOX could achieve. Every week brought new challenges, deadlines, and insights that pushed us to think differently about how we operate.

“It was very demanding and consuming,” said Tracey. “But it was also very rewarding. At a time when the business landscape felt so uncertain, this programme gave us the clarity and confidence to move forward with purpose.”

While the programme was demanding, it wasn’t a solo effort. SANDBOX’s two other directors were instrumental in ensuring the lessons learned and plans developed were sense checked and right for the business. Regular updates, collaborative brainstorming sessions, and shared reflections meant we could translate the insights from the course into actionable strategies.

Tracey added: “What stood out during those 14 weeks was the sense of community. I was surrounded by other ambitious, high-growth leaders—people from all walks of life, running businesses across the UK. The camaraderie we built, the shared struggles and victories, became one of the most invaluable aspects of the programme. We weren’t just learning from the world-class educators and coaches; we were learning from each other. The diversity of experiences in the room meant there was always a fresh perspective or insight to draw on.”

Graduation Day
Tracey completed the course and proudly represented SANDBOX in graduating at the historic Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford University where 27 Prime Ministers, 30 international leaders and 50 nobel prize winners have graduated in the past.

The Future
Now, 12 months on from graduation it’s been insightful to look back as a business over the last year and forward to the next year.

A large proportion of businesses have had a tough 2024, SANDBOX being no exception. However, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme has ensured we start 2025 with clarity, confidence and a plan to achieve our goals. For SANDBOX, the year ahead is filled with ambition, growth and the intention to make a meaningful impact in our industry and for our team and clients.

Tracey said: “To any leader thinking about applying for the Goldman Sachs course I would say: Go for it. It will expand your thinking , reshape how you see your business and your role within your business. And most of all, set everything in motion for growth.”

For any passionate leader interested in applying for this course, we at SANDBOX are true advocates. But be prepared, it’s not for the faint hearted.

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