As we celebrate our 10th anniversary in May 2025 it seems fitting to reflect on the journey that has brought us here – beginning with the name that has represented us for the past decade.
The Story Behind Our Name
We often get asked about the meaning behind our company name. The story of why we chose ‘Agar’ speaks volumes about our values and vision for the work we do.
When we founded our consultancy, we wanted a name that would truly embody our core philosophy and mission. For those who might not be familiar with it, agar is a substance derived from algae that creates the perfect environment for growth in laboratories worldwide. It provides the essential medium where cultures can flourish and develop to their full potential.
And that’s precisely what we strive to do at Agar.
A Perfect Metaphor
Just as agar provides the optimal conditions for growth in a petri dish (hence our logo), our team works to create environments where individuals, teams and organisations can thrive. This metaphor perfectly captures our commitment to cultivating potential, nurturing development, and fostering excellence within the workplaces we support.
Company culture has always been at the heart of what we do. With our small but dedicated team of 9 staff and numerous self-employed associates, we value learning highly. Our passion lies in helping people flourish in the workplace, particularly during times of change and uncertainty.
Cultivating Growth for a Decade
For ten years, we’ve partnered with universities and other organisations across the UK, helping them create cultures where staff can flourish, even during challenging times. In today’s climate of change and uncertainty within higher education, our mission has never been more relevant.
Through our work in psychological safety, resilience-building, compassionate leadership, and team development, we’ve stayed true to our founding vision: to be the medium through which potential can grow.
Looking Forward
As Agar Management Consultancy continues to grow, we remain committed to that vision: to be the medium through which potential can flourish. Whether we’re delivering workshops on team development, offering executive coaching to leaders navigating complex changes, or using psychometric tools to deepen self-awareness, the Agar name continues to represent our promise—to provide the conditions where people and organisations can cultivate their best selves.
Just as the humble agar creates possibilities for scientific breakthrough, we believe that the right consultancy approach creates possibilities for professional and organisational transformation.
We’re proud of the work we do at Agar Management Consultancy (www.agarmanagementconsultancy.co.uk) and look forward to continuing our mission of cultivating growth and potential in workplaces across the UK.
Here’s to ten years of growth, and to many more years of helping people to flourish. As our strapline says: ‘culture matters’.
Thank you to our team and clients for being part of our journey so far.
Jack Orchard and Dee Cooper
Joint Chief Executives
Agar Management Consultancy