Increase your business turnover with the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth

Posted on by Kate Christie

Have you applied yet to join the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth yet?

The programme supports small and medium-sized businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire, and Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP regions. It is designed to develop leadership skills and build a targeted growth strategy for SMEs.

As part of Aston Business School, the Centre for Growth helps businesses through a range of targeted specialist programmes. The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth is free of charge and offers:

  • workshops taught by experts in SME leadership and management
  • one-to-one support to help tackle business issues
  • networking with other early-stage business owners from the Midlands
  • SME case studies from business leaders talking about their growth journey
  • guidance through various external finance options available
  • opportunity to pitch your growth strategy to external experts
  • time to explore the strategic growth opportunities for your business.

The core of the programme is a series of nine one-day workshops taking place over six months, which cover topics relevant to leaders of growing SMEs including:

  • strategy and business models
  • opportunities and innovation
  • managing business finances and options for external finance
  • leadership, culture and people
  • marketing strategies.

One-to-one support is available from an experienced SME growth mentor, who will help businesses work on relevant issues and support them in developing a growth strategy.

Between 2016 and 2019, as a direct result of this programme, 173 new jobs were created, and an additional £1m was contributed to the UK economy.

To apply to be part of the programme you need to submit an application form, available at www.aston.ac.uk/smallbusinessgrowth or email centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk. It only takes around 20 minutes to apply.

The closing date for applications is Friday 25 October, and interviews take place on Wednesday 6 November. The first workshop takes place on Wednesday 13 November.

For further information, and workshop dates and details please visit www.aston.ac.uk/smallbusinessgrowth.