PA284/17
University helps to unlock the growth potential of local businesses
Delegates from 20 local businesses have completed a strategic growth programme with the University of Nottingham, to enable them to map out the future success of their businesses.
Unlocking Growth Potential is a business programme that offers training and coaching across three or four months. It is designed for ambitious owners of small or medium businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, who are committed to growing their business.
Across a series of workshop days, the group explored a range of topics that are vitally important for business growth, such as leadership, business strategy, and financial planning.
This learning was embedded and applied through one-to-one sessions with experienced business coaches, culminating in each delegate producing a business plan for growing their business.
Among the delegates was Anna Gray, alumna of the University and director of Model Students Limited, a modelling agency founded at the University.
Anna said, "For each session of Unlocking Growth Potential, I have taken away at least one very valuable lesson that I have felt I could implement and use back in my business. Until I started the course I did not realise quite how relevant it was to me as the owner of a small but growing business. The course is well organised, friendly and encouraging, I would certainly recommend this to other SMEs."
Another delegate was Daniel Hammond, Managing Director of webdna Ltd, a web design agency based in West Bridgford.
Daniel said, “Unlocking Growth Potential provided the training and facilitation required to empower me to make positive changes within my business. The professional yet relaxed delivery gave me the tools and counsel I needed to understand growth, and everything that comes with it. I'd recommend this course to all small business owners interested in taking things to the next level.”
The programme’s project manager, Dave Tuer, said: “It has been a huge pleasure to work with this group to help them to plan how to reach their business goals. We now look forward to welcoming the next cohort in January, on which there are still a few places remaining for ambitious SMEs. Strategic support and assistance for SMEs is an important strand of the University’s continuing contribution to the growth of the local economy.”
Unlocking Growth Potential is being delivered in collaboration with The Centre for Management and Business Development, a local business that is ensuring the latest thinking around business growth is made accessible and relevant to the SMEs on the programme.
CMBD Director, Mike Epton, said “We started combining skills training and coaching to help businesses during their growth journeys nearly 15 years ago. You cannot overstate how important programmes like this are in helping business owners face the challenges of growth. The University’s commitment to this programme and others aimed at developing business, have helped us develop real value for participants in a fantastic learning environment.”
Unlocking Growth Potential is part of Enabling Innovation, a three year collaborative programme involving Nottingham Trent University, the University of Derby and the University of Nottingham, which is providing support to over 2,000 local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over three years. Enabling Innovation is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The next cohort of Unlocking Growth Potential begins in January. If you are interested in applying for a place, or want more information about the programme, visit the Unlocking Growth Potential website.
— Ends —
Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Globelynx fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at University Park campus. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.
For up to the minute media alerts, follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors:
The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students - Nottingham was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…