Community Strategy and Fractional Community Management for an SME Accelerator
Growth Studio x Amazon Innovation Accelerator
Growth Studio was contracted by Amazon to deliver the UK-wide Innovation Accelerator, an ambitious programme supporting over 500 SME leaders, public sector players and third sector actors. The initiative had strong in-person activations, but no digital home. That’s where I came in. They needed a fully built and expertly managed online community, hosted on Circle, that could bring the programme’s participants into meaningful connection and learning.
The Approach
I joined as Community Strategist and Fractional Community Manager, responsible for leading the project from concept to implementation.
The work began with a series of deep discovery calls to understand the mission, vision and values of the accelerator. From there, I designed and delivered a comprehensive community strategy document. This included a tailored mission statement, core audience mapping, architectural recommendations for the online space, and a phased engagement roadmap with suggested activities and events across three, six and twelve months.
Once the strategy was approved, I got building. I created the full Circle community, including onboarding flows, background automations, branded collateral, and a user-friendly layout that could support both structured learning and peer-to-peer exchange. I uploaded the full Innovation course, ensured brand consistency throughout, and designed the launch process with invitation messaging and live welcome events.
I then provided fractional community management support during the launch phase, treating early cohorts as beta groups and refining the space based on real-time feedback. I ran live networking sessions, facilitated co-working events and helped programme fireside chats with Amazon team members to keep energy high and engagement flowing.
The Skills
This project drew heavily on my ability to combine strategic clarity with fast-paced execution. I asked the right questions, adapted to shifting needs and designed a high-touch community experience that made people feel welcomed, engaged and supported. My strong platform knowledge of Circle allowed me to create seamless systems behind the scenes, while my people-first instincts ensured the community felt human and lively from day one.
I also produced a full handover guide for the incoming Community Manager to ensure the transition was smooth and nothing was lost in translation.
The Outcome
By the end of my six-month engagement, the community had transformed from an idea into a vibrant, high-performing ecosystem. Participation, programme engagement, and stakeholder confidence all grew as the space gained clarity, momentum and personality. What emerged was a dynamic online home that elevated the accelerator experience and showcased its potential to leadership.
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The online community had grown to 280 members, with 40% monthly active users
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Over 50 participants completed the Innovation Course
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Events were well attended and highly rated
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The community space was presented to Amazon leadership as a standout feature
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What started as a blank page became a dynamic and professional online home