When Jess Garner relocated to Hampshire earlier this year, she brought with her a vision: to build a nurturing, inclusive space for Autistic young people. Her business, GROVE Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education, is more than just a venture – it’s a deeply personal mission rooted in lived experience and a desire to create meaningful change.
"I'm a former teacher," Jess explains, "but when my children’s needs weren’t met in school and we had to home educate for a period, I needed to find a new way of working. At the same time, I wanted to create something meaningful for autistic young people – something that would support self-understanding, connection, and a genuine sense of community."
Founded using inheritance money from her Jess’ late mother, GROVE offers mentoring and educational support tailored to neurodivergent children and teens. With no prior business experience, Jess knew she needed guidance to make her idea sustainable.
After securing education placements for her children, Jess and her family moved to Hampshire in early 2025. She was already familiar with the support offered by local Growth Hubs and quickly reached out to the Hampshire Growth Hub, connecting with Business Coordinator Kurt Moxham."
“From our first meeting, I felt I was in good hands,” Jess recalls. “Kurt took the time to understand GROVE’s values, aims and impact, and together we identified marketing as the key area for initial support.”
Marketing proved to be a major hurdle. While families who discovered GROVE were deeply appreciative, reaching new audiences remained a challenge. That’s when Jess began working with Senior Growth Champion Roya Croudace. With more than 25 years of experience in business development, Roya provides tailored advice and mentoring – particularly in areas such as sales strategy, marketing and business growth planning.
“When I met with Roya, we reviewed what I’d been doing, what was and wasn’t working, and built a plan for moving forward,” Jess says. “What really made the difference was that Roya didn’t just offer a quick fix – she helped me understand the why behind each step and gave me tools I could use independently in the long term.”
Thanks to the tailored support from the Hampshire Growth Hub, Jess now feels more confident in her ability to grow GROVE sustainably and reach the families who need it most.
"I'm so grateful for the support from Roya and the Hampshire Growth Hub – it’s made a real difference to me and to the future of GROVE."
Chris Burchell, who leads Hampshire Growth Hub said: “We’re proud to support purpose-driven entrepreneurs like Jess. GROVE is a powerful example of how lived experience, when combined with the right guidance, can lead to meaningful, community-focused innovation. Our team is here to help turn ideas into impact – and Jess’s journey is a testament to what’s possible with the right support.”
Find out more about GROVE Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education