IN PROFILE |
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Andrea Kelly Programme Manager , SETsquared
Andrea Kelly is the Programme Manager for SETsquared , a unique enterprise partnership and a dynamic collaboration between the sixleading research-led UK universities of Bath , Bristol , Cardiff , Exeter , Southampton , and Surrey . Ranked as the Global No . 1 Business Incubator , SETsquared provide a wide range of highly acclaimed support programmes to help turn creative ideas into thriving businesses .
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Many of you may recognise Andrea as she is well-known on the local networking circuit . We met Andrea to find out more about her and SETsquared ’ s offering . |
How long have you worked at SETsquared ?
I ’ ve just had my four-year anniversary in early July . I started as a programme coordinator , so had my feet on the ground heading up and leading the workshops . I then moved up to Senior Programme Coordinator , and then last year , I became a Programme Manager – so instead of organising the programmes , I ’ m now looking after a portfolio of SETsquared projects .
What did you do before you joined SETsquared ?
I was studying for a business degree in South Africa before we moved to England . We moved over about thirteen years ago and when we first arrived , my husband and I ran pubs . It was great when our kids were little – we could be super flexible around things like parent ’ s evening , parties etc . But ultimately , I really understand the stresses of running a business and sympathise with those entrepreneurs and small business owners .
How do you support local businesses ?
SETsquared runs so many programmes , and we ' ve been working with businesses for nearly twenty years . We have some great programmes for businesses in Swindon and Wiltshire - some are face-to-face , and some are online , depending on your preference . We ’ ve got excellent trainers and mentors who run these workshops , so businesses can engage in lots of peer-to-peer learning and at the end of the sessions , we discuss each company that attended and try and find where else they may fit within some of our other programmes .
Are the workouts really free ? How are they funded ?
We have support from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ), and attending these funded workshops is a great way to enter the SETsquared ecosystem . It means we can offer this level of expert support for businesses in the Wiltshire and Swindon areas , at no cost to attendees . When people hear ‘ free support ’ they tend to think that ‘ free equals bad ’, but the support is very much paid for already , just not by those companies attending . Feedback from businesses involved shows us that these workouts are incredibly powerful tools for local enterprises .
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How long have the programmes been running ?
We ran our pilot programme in November 2019 with the view of rolling out soon after that – but of course , Covid hit and we went into lockdown . We needed to change our plans and reconsider how we were going to deliver these workshops , which was a steep learning curve for the team . We took them online , and I am proud of what we have achieved : interactive , fast-paced workshops that hold real value for lots of local businesses . So far , we ’ ve helped more than 70 businesses across our programmes , with a view to helping many more .
Now we ’ re really urging companies to sign up soon because the project will be coming to an end in February 2023 . This really is an opportunity that shouldn ’ t be missed by eligible businesses – we ’ ve only got three Innovation Workouts ahead of us , and one Entrepreneur Workout left .
What is the difference between the Entrepreneurs Workout and the Innovation Workout ?
The Entrepreneurs Workout is really aimed at businesses in those early stages of operation . We take a deep dive into several aspects of your business and work to help you build strong foundations for your business , looking at your value proposition , who are your customers , what is your cost structure , who are your key partners ? Then we have the Innovation Workout , which is for those businesses that are more established and looking to review their business strategy and process . They ’ re looking to consider how they can improve their efficiency , review cost structure , look at their pricing models , do they need R & D to grow ?, and our Innovation Workout can certainly help with that .
Innovation is a word that people sometimes only associate with high-tech businesses , but you can be innovative regardless of your business or service . An example from one of our previous events was Hazel and Blue – a start-up candle company that traditionally may not seem like an innovative business . But with our help , they overhauled their costing structure and billing process by simply engaging with SETsquared programmes . Businesses that are going to be successful need to have robust and effective business models , that is the key .
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How are these workshops relevant to businesses now ?
It really is such a difficult time for businesses right now . They ’ re having to adapt to work within the current climate , but one thing that these workouts will give you is time with our team of mentors who have spent years supporting companies like yours . They ’ ll help you elevate your current position within the market and allow you to explore and challenge different models and structures around every aspect of your business , whether that ’ s key resources , key activities , your channels , or revenue streams .
What is SETsquared ’ s biggest client success story in Swindon and Wiltshire ?
We had another business that attended one of our events and what was interesting for them , was the journey they went on throughout the process . As a result of participating in the Innovation Workout , the director decided that they needed to hire someone permanently within the business who oversaw their strategy and growth . They actually hired a strategist as a consequence of attending our workshop , and that completely transformed the way their business operated .
What do you love most about your job ?
Seeing companies succeed after they have engaged with SETsquared gives me the greatest level of job satisfaction . A company can come into the Innovation Workout with one business model , and by the end of the second day , leave with a completely different , improved one reworked through discussion with our mentors . It ’ s those successes that SETsquared can share with businesses that is the best thing about the job .
Tell us something we wouldn ’ t know about you .
I ’ m a massive cricket fan ! For me , a perfect day is spent watching a day of test cricket in the sun with good conversation . It is always extra special when South Africa beat Australia !
To get in touch with Andrea , email : andrea . kelly @ setsquared . co . uk
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The next Innovation Workout is planned for Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th Sept at the Old Fire Station in Salisbury . |
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To apply for a place visit : www . setsquared . co . uk / iw The next Entrepreneurs Workout will take place on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th Oct . |
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To apply for a place visit : www . setsquared . co . uk / ew |
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2022 19 |