Supporting micro-group growth
ADG in partnership with Agilio launches business mentoring.
The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is launching the ADG Micro-Groups Business Mentoring in partnership with Agilio initiative. This new mentoring programme will see six of the ADG’s senior dental group business leaders paired with UK micro-groups (defined as having more than one but fewer than six practices) who are keen to grow, with the purpose of giving them access to informal advice.
As the trade body for the UK’s ‘mixed economy’, covering NHS, Private and Community-based dentistry, the Association is keen to support the next generation of dental practice groups – since nurturing these smaller groups will help ensure the dental industry is on the right path to thrive.
To apply to be a mentee, a micro-group must be (or sign up at a reduced rate to become) an ADG member and put their name forward to be paired with an ADG mentor. They will be required to submit a form for the mentoring programme to explain why they want to be a mentee. The closing date for submissions is 31 January 2026.
The partnership will offer six micro-groups a 12-month mentoring programme, giving a founder / CEO within each group access to one ADG mentor. Each mentor will give the mentee an initial face-to-face meeting, with a planned number of follow-up virtual sessions scheduled.
At an event hosted in St James’s, London, the ADG revealed the 2026 line-up of six mentors:
- Anushika Brogan, ADG Board & CEO & Founder, Damira Dental Studios
- Ian Gordon, ADG Special Advisor, Director, Riverdale Healthcare
- Jimmey Palahey, ADG Board & Co-Founder & CEO, Treeline Dental Group
- Mark Allan, ADG Board & General Manager, Bupa Dental Care
- Pip Dhariwal, ADG Ambassador for International Affairs & CEO, Smile Dental Care
- Shalin Mehra, ADG Board & Founder, & Chairman, Rodericks Dental Partners
With the support of Agilio, a leading UK provider of software solutions for the healthcare sector, including dental, the ADG is inviting micro-groups to sign-up to participate. A panel consisting of the ADG Team, the ADG Board and the six ADG mentors will select the six micro-group mentees, and make mutually agreeable matches. The ‘Mentor X Mentee matches’ will be announced at an ADG event at the House of Commons on 4th March 2026.
Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair, Association of Dental Groups, said: “At the ADG we believe it is imperative that we look to support the future of dentistry, and part of that is ensuring that the smaller groups have the informal guidance that could really help them to grow. So, I am encouraging any founder or owner of a micro-group to ‘throw their name in the hat’ to be assigned to one of our fantastic mentors – the ‘Titans’ of the business of dentistry.
“The ADG Micro-Groups Business Mentoring in partnership with Agilio is for those whoare perhaps finding the journey from two dental practices to multiple more complex than they thought. Maybe this is their first experience of being a CEO, and they need guidance. Or maybe they need some guidance on transferring clinical skills into business and management skills. If this resonates with you, then come and join our ADG network and enjoy the support and insights we offer that have gone some way to helping many of our existing members to grow significantly during their time as members.”
Andy Sloan, Managing Director, Dental Agilio Software, said: “At Agilio, we care deeply about helping practices grow with confidence. Micro-groups represent some of the most passionate and purpose-driven leaders in UK dentistry, and they deserve support that reflects both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“Moving from clinician to CEO demands new skills and strategic guidance, and the ADG Micro-Groups Business Mentoring scheme gives emerging groups access to people who understand what it takes to scale well and realise their potential. As the exclusive headline sponsor for the 2026 scheme, we are proud to reinforce our longstanding commitment to improving operations, compliance and growth, and to supporting the next generation of group leaders.”