Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 11
Back row (from left): Mike Baum, Sim Hall and
Dave Chapman are already repaing the rewards of
Teesside University’s Leading Growth Programme.
Front row (from left): Cohort Rob Skene and
Teesside Uni’s Project Manager Michelle Atkins.
GOLDEN CHANCE FOR
AYCLIFFE SMEs TO
ACCESS FREE LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
Small firms on Aycliffe Business Park are being offered the chance to access a free leadership
development programme which has a proven track record of helping businesses to grow.
Teesside University Business School’s Leading
Growth programme was developed after
leveraging funding from the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF) to offer leadership
and management training Small to Mediumsized Enterprises (SMEs).
The first cohort of the Leading Growth
programme are already reaping the rewards,
and now firms on Aycliffe have a chance to enrol
on the next cohorts, due to start in September
and January 2015.
The programme, which lasts nine months, has
been specifically designed to help SME ownermanagers and senior directors improve their
leadership skills and step back from the day-today running of the business, allowing them to
focus on taking their company to the next level.
It consists of a two-day residential event,
a series of think tank sessions, as well
as one-to-one business coaching, action
learning, observational site visits and business
shadowing.
The programme has been carefully developed
by University experts to ensure there is a
rigorous approach to development and rich
content, which includes input from inspirational
industry leaders.
Michelle Atkins is the Leading Growth Project
Manager, and has come to Teesside after
successfully implementing a similar programme
at Lancaster University.
“The primary aim is to improve the leadership
skills of owner-managers which will have a
direct positive effect on the bottom line of their
business, said Michelle.
”
“Hopefully it will allow them to take a step back
from the day-to-day aspect of their company
and focus on the strategic direction of the
business.
“The programme links delegates with a
network of like-minded peers in a supportive
and non-competitive environment to promote
the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Similar
programmes have demonstrated significant
economic benefits.
”
Two local firms are on the current programme
and are already reaping the rewards.
Steve Foster, Director of AS Training on Aycliffe
Business Park, said: “The Leading Growth
programme to-date has made me realise that to
grow AS Training a more strategic approach to
management is required.
“This will allow for long-term planning to be
realised, which will in turn identify the direction
the company is going to take and have a target
to measure against.
“Although time-consuming for a small growing
company, the time allocated to Leading Growth
has already made an impact on the future
strategic plans of AS Training and therefore is
beneficial
“As specialists in Leadership and Development
training and consultancy we see being part of
the Leading Growth programme as very positive
to controlled growth.
”
Stuart Merrie, General Manager of Shildon
industrial recycling firm Plasrec, which employs
13 people, is on the course to help both him and
his business through a period of transition.
Stuart is taking gradual ownership of the
company over the next few years, and he said:
“I saw the programme as an ideal opportunity
for me to develop me personally while also
benefiting the business.
“The course is well run and the guest speakers
are always of a high-quality, so the benefits it
brings far outweighs the time put into it.
”
Meanwhile, other participants from around
the Tees Valley area have also said it is already
having an impact on their work.
Sim Hall, from Darlington-based recruitment
specialists Populus Select, said: “With the
business growing, I wanted to ensure I had
the necessary skills to keep it growing even
further. I’m very excited about how the course
is developing.
”
Councillor Neil Foster, Deputy Chair of the North
East ERDF Local Management Committee,
said: “Investing ERDF in this latest Teesside
University project is excellent news as it will
increase the growth and competitiveness of
existing SMEs who will be supported to develop
their skills and expertise to drive growth and
create jobs, benefiting the local economy.
”
The programme is completely free for
eligible SMEs. Anybody interested in
taking part in the next cohort of the
Leading Growth programme can contact
Michelle Atkins on 01642 738298 or email
leadinggrowth@tees.ac.uk.