About Me

Wondrous People

I started my first business in my girlfriend’s spare bedroom (it was originally called Martyn Dawes Associates) and over a 30 year journey it has evolved into one of the most successful people consulting firms in the UK.

Wondrous’s purpose is to change the world of work forever and by helping people flourish, business thrives.

Today Wondrous works with 6x FTSE100 companies, has delivered over 40000 hours of c-suite coaching and by building long term trusted partnerships, our top 50 clients have spent over £30m with us.

I have been proud to see the business evolve and flourish and I have transitioned from Founder to Chair and then NED over the years. 

Coffee Nation

My second business was born out of a powerful combination of the growth of the coffee bar culture in the UK, the emergence of supermarkets opening smaller convenience stores, consumer demand for high quality food-to-go solutions and a unique business model I identified (from a photocopier business!) that would make this all possible.

It took me four years to prove demand and pivot from selling Nescafe from vending machines to creating an unmanned coffee bar selling freshly made bean-to-cup coffee in high footfall locations up and down the UK.

The national press even rated our coffee as better than many high street coffee bars, customers told us ‘you make my life better’ and we became the highest selling product in most locations!

My vision was to put great coffee wherever people are 24/7 and by the time I exited the business we had delivered on that dream.

I grew a team of 50 amazing people who all lived and breathed our vision and it was my greatest privilege to lead the company I founded for over a decade as CEO. 

I raised money from business angels, banks and private equity eventually delivering a 4x return for our investors.

Today, Coffee Nation lives on as Costa Express in over 12000 locations worldwide.

I am a great believer in the power of being all of yourself in life and business, coming out as a bisexual man in the early days of building Coffee Nation.  Difference builds great businesses and daring to be different can change the world.