OUR STORY

Unique blended expertise, common sense thinking, founded upon deep experience of delivering profitable business growth

We've held senior leadership roles across strategy, business development, retail, entertainment & marketing for international brands and companies that have expanded to a global footprint. We know what it takes to grow businesses and are well placed to help you navigate your path to growth, taking your business to another level.

We've spent more than 20 years working with and for some amazing people. As a result, our network of personal contacts and connections is extensive and allows us to make introductions that open doors and start conversations.

We've have deep knowledge and experience across a broad range of business sectors, across both B2B and B2C markets. We've led, managed and delivered projects and programs at a local, national and international level. We’re your trusted partner, however large or small your project may be.

Why to another level

We're huge fans of Simon Sinek and in particularly his TED Talk and book "Start with Why".

So enough about all the HOW and the WHAT, here's WHY
To Another Level gets out of bed every day.

We're passionate about making a difference to the businesses and people we touch

We have a drive to keep learning and stretching ourselves

Integrity, honesty and openess mean the world to us

We love sharing the knowledge and experience we've built up over more than 20 years

We love stories; creating them, listening to them, recounting them

We love building relationship with like-minded people

On our business cards, we have quotes or sayings that
we admire and live by:

"Practicing random acts of kindness everyday" - Sara

"The best stories are found between the pages of a passport" - Helen

"If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves" - Alistair

"Everything you can imagine, is real" - Charlie

Our Heritage

We are the sum of experiences gained from working with
inspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who have created amazing
companies and motivated teams.

We're extremely proud of our heritage and experience. Highlights include working alongside Anita Roddick in her 'Greenhouse Creative' team as the business grew into a household name with 2,500 stores world-wide. Leading the global expansion of Hamleys from 6 stores to 100 stores in 24 markets across 4 continents in 5 years. Evolving Williams Lea from a UK facilities management company to a global BPO specialist employing 6,000 staff. Leading the Global Marketing Team at Caffè Nero as it expanded from the UK to the Middle East, Turkey, Poland, Cyprus & the US and grew to 600 stores. We Co-Founded a 13,000-sq. ft. destination store that was ranked number 3 in a review of "The Top Ten Coolest Concept Stores in The World".

We've worked our way through the ranks; from Marketing Exec to Global CMO, from Sales Executive to Global Business Development Director, from Consultant to Chief Strategy Officer, from Retail Operations to CEO, from employee to Co-Founder. We've rolled our sleeves up and delivered! We've founded, managed, grown, expanded and exited businesses. We've launched products and brands, built global propositions, written business plans and created financial forecasts. We've bought and sold companies. We've reviewed and restructured organisations from a local to global level. We've worked with start-ups and for companies that can trace their roots back to 1760.

We've been there for that first product launch, that first store opening, that first step into a new market, that platform build or app launch – that sense of excitement. We’ve enabled established businesses to gain greater traction, find new contacts and develop sustainable relationships. We’ve partnered long-standing businesses to challenge the norm and to creatively reimagine a direction. We’ve enabled established teams to have the freedom to think differently and manage change.
Every journey starts with a first step and we've been exactly where you are now.

OUR TEAM

Sara Carter

Sara has over 25 years’ Retail and Marketing experience. Before co-founding To Another Level, she created the unique concept brand Clerkenwell London, ranked as one of The Top 10 Coolest Concept Stores In The World. Prior to that she spent 15 years as Global Marketing Director of major international brands including Caffè Nero, The Body Shop, Tumi, Emporio Armani and Tie Rack. The inspirational Anita Roddick gave Sara her first job in Marketing and she would often introduce her by saying “meet Sara - she’s sh*t hot at Marketing”! A lovely turn of phrase, but one of those compliments that stays with you forever, coming from a mentor who believed in ‘profit with principles’ and that passion combined with an ability to think differently, could achieve amazing results. That desire to deliver is fundamental to the way we work. Sara regularly speaks at industry events on a range of topics including Marketing, Future of Retailing & Female Founders and judges various Marketing Awards. Sara is a mentor to, and passionate supporter of, women in business and is also a Trustee of the Charity Body and Soul. Outside of work, she runs, attempts yoga and enjoys cooking unusual and experiential food for family and friends. She has a special interest in vegan food and the trend towards 'flexitarian' eating. She is an avid fan of gut health and natural ingestible products.

Helen Barnish

Helen has over 25 years’ international retail development, franchise and retail operations experience. Delivering profitable growth through the development of key strategic markets and partnerships for listed companies such as The Body Shop International, Nokia and Merlin Entertainment to smaller privately owned businesses such as Hamleys. Helen brings a deep knowledge of retailing and experiences across a broad range of retail formats including fashion, household, sports, food, mobile telecommunications, toys and entertainment. Helen’s expertise includes multi-site international sales, new market modelling, franchise partner selection and management, concessions, channel management, strategic planning, international localisation, project management, store development, retail operations management and cross function consultation. Over the past 15 years Helen has travelled to over 120 countries from big retail growth markets including China, Russia & Mexico to new emerging markets such as Peru, Nigeria and Vietnam developing key relationships, creating market entry plans, contracted partners, delivered store openings and sales plans. Helen is strong relationship builder and influencer with an extensive network across retailers, franchise partners, property landlords, developers, agents and associated agencies.
Helen has run 10 international marathons and is now a dedicated cyclist including completing the 825 km ‘Ride to Mapic’, and has raised over £5,000 for children’s charities. She also serves as a school trustee.

Charlie Brunsden-Parsons

Charlie is a highly creative and innovative Business Development and Events Strategist with 20 years’ industry experience. She demonstrates a passion for all projects large or small and displays great attention to detail. She maintains a strong awareness of market trends, core values and those distinct USPs which generate segregation among the competition for her clients. Some of Charlie’s most notable recent projects include: creating an exclusive portfolio of event spaces throughout UK, Europe and US suitable for ‘C-suite’ corporate clients; press launches; conferences; seminars; gala dinners. She crafts numerous spectacular events throughout the UK, USA, APAC and Europe including exclusive C-suite drinks receptions, summits and corporate anniversaries. She also works exclusively for a portfolio of high profile clients, creating extraordinary experiences, parties and retreats, away from prying eyes. Charlie’s relationships with her clients and suppliers have always been highly respected and maintained, giving her a proven track record of impeccable business development, event creativity and client retention. She enjoys communicating and collaborating with her fellow consultants as part of a team but equally comfortable working individually on projects where necessary. She is focussed, passionate, goal-orientated and enjoys setting (and exceeding!) targets. Most importantly, she knows how to make a space ‘crackle and pop’ on the corporate radar and is general lots of fun!

Alistair Cane

Alistair has over 25 years' experience delivering strategic Business growth, in both B2B & B2C environments, in the UK, EMEA and the US. He started life working for Williams Lea when it was a simple London facilities management company. 14 years later the business had become one of the world's leading BPO companies with operations in every corner of the world, providing an integrated range of creative marketing solutions. He led the Business Development team, enjoyed a period of managing a joint venture in Asia Pacific and was part of the team that acquired and integrated a major US business. Following the acquisition by Deutsche Post he left to join Adare International and helped evolve the business from a UK company into one of the most respected providers across Europe. At Charterhouse (Konica Minolta Marketing Services) he was a member of the leadership team with responsibility for strategy, business development, marketing, M&A and partnerships. Most recently he has been working alongside dynamic entrepreneurs & SMEs, at each stage of their growth cycle; from start-up, through scale-up to diversification & exit.
Outside of work, he enjoys the odd game of cricket, endures some yoga and runs more miles than his knees can handle!