SWLEP
This Way Up
Webinars to support businesses through the pandemic and beyond
The SWLEP has announced that the Growth Hub ’ s This Way Up webinar programme will be continuing .
The initiative was launched in September 2020 to support businesses via a range of online events designed to encourage recovery and future resilience .
Over 1,500 business leaders have attended more than 50 webinars to date , with varied subject matters delivered by experts under the over-arching subject headings of Digital , Finance and Leadership .
Individual topics have included sales , marketing , video usage , lending , crowdfunding , mental health and wellbeing , strategy , automation , pivoting , recovery and more .
The Department of Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) provided funding for the programme which was initially designed to assist businesses during the pandemic , helping owners to turn their organisations ‘ the right way up ’ in response to Covid-19 .
Providing them with the tools and knowledge to focus on key drivers to allow them to survive through the pandemic , and thrive beyond it , the This Way Up programme will now continue to offer ongoing support to the region ’ s business community .
Paula Harsley , Webinar Co-ordinator for the SWLEP , will continue to build on the programme ’ s success as she takes it forward .
She said , “ Thanks to the wealth of expert speakers that have delivered the webinars , they have all been really impactful and the feedback from attendees is amazing . They are grateful for the information and clear actions which they have taken away and implemented within their businesses .
“ The webinars have also proved to be a great advert for the Growth Hub as a whole , attracting an ever-growing number of businesses to our online community as well as those seeking support from our Business Navigators ”
What have attendees been saying about This Way Up ?
“ Some great takeaways here that I can take to the board about ramping up our CSR capabilities .”
“ Great level of detail , with specific actionable recommendations . Many webinars just skim over topics with content that is already widely known .”
“ This is the best Webinar I ’ ve been on during the whole of lockdown .”
“ I find these webinars very useful in refreshing my own knowledge , focussing my thinking and in understanding a different perspective . It ’ s good to have new ideas and new ways of seeing things . There were some leadership tools here that were new to me .”
“ Some thought-provoking content . Wasn ’ t condescending and wasn ’ t salesy . Plenty of talk about doing things yourself .”
In addition to the webinars , over 110 businesses have benefitted from one-to-one sessions with the Growth Hub ’ s Digital Specialist , Jason Gray . Each business has been through a process to identify their digital needs and has been provided with a clear explanation of what digital options might be available , what areas need further investigation and a roadmap to outline how best to implement such technologies .
The Growth Hub is keen to ensure that it continues to deliver webinars on subjects which are important to the business community .
Paula Harsley would be delighted to receive suggestions for future webinar topics needed . If you are an expert who would consider delivering webinars as part of the programme , please also get in touch . Email : paula . harsley @ swlep . co . uk or call : 07780 040 602 .
To register for your free place on all or any of the webinars , or to watch previous webinars ‘ on demand ’, go to : growthhub . swlep . co . uk / events / webinars .
Register as a Growth Hub member for free . Sign-up by visiting : www . growthhub . swlep . co . uk
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