Small Business Leadership Success – places increased due to demand from SMEs
Extra places are being made available for Small Business leaders in the East Midlands to build on their leadership skills and learn with others.
In response to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the programme has been created specifically to help SMEs build resilience, tackle challenges and drive future growth.
The Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP) is a free and fully funded, 8 to 10-week training programme for senior leaders in SMEs across England. It is designed to enhance small business resilience and recovery from the impact of COVID-19, and develop potential for future growth and productivity.
The programme is delivered online by small business experts from Nottingham Trent University, replicated by other business schools across England. It is appropriate for all sectors, including manufacturing, services and not-for-profit organisations. Additional places are now available for 2021.
SME participants will explore adding value for their customers; leading and engaging their teams; branding and marketing; productivity, operational efficiency and managing finances in these rapidly changing times.
The programme consists of eight, 90-minute webinars, each backed up by a set if resources that you can work through independently according to your time and specific business needs. The facilitators are on-hand to help with this and advise anyone who needs some additional guidance. The SBLP is designed to support and fit in with day-to-day business delivery.
A big aspect of the programme is the opportunity to learn from others in a supportive peer-group environment. Participants meet virtually each week to reflect on what they have learnt and discuss how this applies to their individual businesses. By working together participants develop a sense of community – even though working remotely – which helps everyone to learn from one another and share ideas and experiences. A Peer-group participant said: “This has been really helpful – it can be very isolating working from home”.
To date over 80 businesses have registered on the programme with Nottingham Business School, and nearly 2000 across England. One participant observed “The Small Business Leadership Programme led me to question my leadership and roles within the business which was a fabulous step – and positive”.
NBS Programme Director, Lynn Oxborrow, said ‘It has been amazing to see how easily the business leaders have adopted the virtual programme, and how much they have been able and prepared to share with one another. For some, it has been very clear to see decisive action being taken to prepare their SMEs for the future as a result of the programme. For others, the programme has reinforced their knowledge and experience and increased their confidence to lead effectively through the crisis.’
Participants must be in senior management roles, with at least one direct report, in businesses that have been operating for at least one year, and with 5-249 employees.
This scheme is part of a £20m package provided by the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to help small businesses in the long term. The Small Business Leadership Programme is being delivered across the country by a consortium of business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter. The State Aid value of the free support is estimated as £5,000.
Nottingham Business School will hold a virtual Information Session on 26 January 2021. Book here to join the session. Programme start dates are available in January and February 2021.
To find out more, or join the scheme, register here: Small Business Leadership Programme
To talk to one of our team at Nottingham Business School – email: grow@ntu.ac.uk
