Teesside University’ s Help to Grow Programme is fuelling firm’ s rapid expansion
FEATURE
Solutions – Rob Norbury, Julie Melling, Graham Robson and George Scanlon of Emissis with Lucie Burton of Teesside University.
Teesside University’ s Help to Grow Programme is fuelling firm’ s rapid expansion
WORDS: PAUL FRASER PICTURES: CHRIS BOOTH
From Stokesley to the world
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Stokesley-based company is making a major global impact on energy and carbon reduction, armed with patented technology and fuelled by a transformative experience on Teesside University International Business School’ s Help to Grow programme.
Emissis, which previously operated as a traditional electrical, mechanical and cooling business, has undergone a radical evolution into a patented clean-tech powerhouse.
With international offices in Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale, a major rollout to a Fortune 100 company and multi-millionpound year-on-year growth targets, the business is thriving.
A major catalyst for this success was Emissis CEO Shaun Nugent’ s participation in the Help to Grow programme.
As a progressive business leader, Shaun became fully engaged in the course and is eager to implement everything he learned.
During the programme, he connected with business strategist Graham Robson, who was facilitating modules.
Shaun requested Graham as his mentor – a free element of the programme – and that relationship quickly evolved into a full-time role as they set out to drive the company forward.
Graham said:“ One of the first things we did was to develop a strategy for the business, pulling together the elements of the Help to Grow programme before we set about implementation.
“ The result is that the business is growing at a tremendous rate. It has evolved from an engineering business into a patented clean tech company.”
The true value of the Help to Grow programme lies in bridging the gap between high-level theory and practical application.
The mentoring element is vital, providing an essential link between academic concepts and real-world execution.
It helps businesses develop the necessary tools to make classroom learning directly relevant to their day-today operations.
Graham said:“ That takes it from an academic exercise to something that will fundamentally change how they see the business. Help to Grow is about rolling your sleeves up and helping to bring it to life.”
And Lucie Burton, project manager at Teesside University, said:“ One of the main benefits of the programme is that participants will develop a growth action plan: a tangible, practical guide that transforms ambition into actionable steps.
“ This roadmap is developed in collaboration with the participant and their mentor, effectively translating strategic direction into implementation, leading to measurable success.”
This hands-on strategic approach led to the creation of the enPact Suite of patented technologies.
The programme gave Shaun the confidence and practical tools to lead Emissis through a major transformation, with the business now projected to grow by 50 % this year.
Today, its technology is widely used across the UK, USA and Southeast Asia within the hospitality, food and manufacturing sectors.
Top clients such as Sysco are saving between 25 % and 45 % of energy on commercial refrigeration, cooling and sitewide electrical consumption, significantly reducing associated carbon emissions.
What started as a local, Stocktonregistered company is now operating globally, making a massive impact on environmental sustainability.
This rapid expansion was driven by Shaun’ s strong appetite for learning, which the Help to Grow programme successfully deepened and translated into a worldwide enterprise.
Help to Grow is designed to equip senior managers of SMEs with the specific skills needed to drive this kind of sustainable growth.
The blended course combines online learning, face-to-face sessions and ten hours of one-to-one mentoring. Delivered over 12 weeks, it covers four key thematic areas: strategy and innovation, engaging with customers, building a sustainable and agile business and the fundamentals of business operations.
The initiative is 90 % governmentfunded, meaning the total investment for businesses is just £ 750. Participants also join a prestigious alumni network of 11,000 national SMEs.
To be eligible, the business must be a UK-based SME employing between five and 249 people, have been operational for at least one year and must not be registered as a charity.
The applicant must also be a senior decision-maker with at least one direct report.
To find out more about the programme and how it could benefit your workforce, visit tees. ac. uk / schools / tubs / help _ to _ grow. cfm
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