A dedicated, bespoke and free programme delivered on the Isle of Wight and created for businesses to improve productivity and support their business resilience and growth.

This programme has been developed by the University of Portsmouth School of Business and the award winning Isle of Wight design studio, Brightbulb Design and is fully funded by the Isle of Wight Council, HM Government and the European Regional Development Fund.

A dedicated, bespoke and free programme specifically created for businesses to improve productivity and support their business resilience and growth .

The programme is designed to act as a 12 hours introduction and feeder to the national Help to Grow programme that offers key SMEs an opportunity to take a business-wide review of their operations and develop an action plan for growth.

Although a number of businesses have already enrolled with the national Help to Grow programme (including businesses like Brightbulb Design, Inspiration Fabrication and Seacat Services amongst others), we recognise that this 90% funded course requires significant (50 hours) time commitment (particularly for micro businesses) and some travel to Portsmouth University. These factors have proved an impediment to some businesses enrolling in Help to Grow, and so the not all businesses have been able to fully benefit from wide participation in this national flagship productivity programme.

General Business Advice

Marketing Capability

Managing People

Tourism and destination Management

Business Boost will help you for free and give you:

  • A high intensity lecture/workshop programme following a key topic/subject theme.

  • Peer workshops to discuss aspects of the content relevant to the peer group and see how your business peers are seeking to action insights from the course

  • Business mentoring to make the content precisely relevant to your individual business context and to work on specific business issues you have, leading to

  • A personal action plan to make immediate positive improvements to your business

The Business Boost will cover 5 subject strands, delivered via 12 cohorts:

Each participant will receive 12 hours of support

How a cohort runs

Workshop 1 (3 hours)

Content delivered by appointed industry practitioner, with support from an academic-lead where required. This online webinar session will take via Zoom.

This workshop will introduce the chosen subject strand. The content and learning materials will be created in advance by subject academic lead.

One-to-one mentoring session (1 hour)

Mentoring delivered by appointed industry practitioner. Mentoring sessions will be delivered online/virtually.

Discuss the topics, how they relate to the business. Cover off any gaps in knowledge/understanding. Identify the support and challenges relating to these concepts in the client’s business – report back on areas that need further attention.

Workshop 2 (3 hours)

Content delivered by appointed industry practitioner, with support from an academic-lead where required. This online webinar session will take via Zoom.

This workshop will continue the themes of the chosen subject strand. The content and learning materials will be created in advance by subject academic lead.

One-to-one mentoring session (1 hour)

Mentoring delivered by appointed industry practitioner. Mentoring sessions will be delivered online/virtually.

Discuss the topics, how they relate to the business. Cover off any gaps in knowledge/understanding. Identify the support and challenges relating to these concepts in the client’s business – report back on areas that need further attention.

Workshop 3 (3 hours)

Content delivered by appointed industry practitioner, with support from an academic-lead where required. This online webinar session will take via Zoom.

This workshop will continue the themes of the chosen subject strand. The content and learning materials will be created in advance by subject academic lead.

One-to-one mentoring session (1 hour)

Mentoring delivered by appointed industry practitioner. Mentoring sessions will be delivered online/virtually.

Discuss the topics, how they relate to the business. Cover off any gaps in knowledge/understanding. Identify the support and challenges relating to these concepts in the client’s business – report back on areas that need further attention.

Peer Finalisation Meeting - 10am - 1pm (3 hours)

Content delivered by appointed industry practitioner, with support from an academic-lead where required. This online webinar session will take via Zoom.

Participants present action plans to their group. Through Chatham House rules, peer and external feedback will be provided to the business on the changes they have made so far and the changes planned for the future.

Speakers and Mentors

Cohorts and details

General Business Advice - delivered online (Cohort 13)

  • Workshop 1 – Tuesday 13th June 2023, 10am-1pm (online webinar, via Zoom)
  • Workshop 2 – Tuesday 20th June 2023, 10am-1pm (online webinar, via Zoom)
  • Workshop 3 – Tuesday 27th June 2023, 10am-1pm (online webinar, via Zoom)
  • Action Plan Session – Tuesday 4th July 2023, 10am-1pm (online webinar, via Zoom)

 


 

Expert lead: Professor Sarah Turnbull

This programme is designed to provide all businesses with an initial diagnostic understanding of their strengths and gaps in relation to scaleup or business diversification.

Topics:

● Seeking and getting ready for finance (both traditional bank and also non-traditional venture capital, business angel and crowdfunded)

● Networking for resources

● Building capabilities: Identifying and then seizing opportunities through reorganising resources: Building dynamic capabilities and reviewing and revising capability regarding full exploitation of existing and new potential opportunities.

● Improving marketing capability: Improving brand trust, and enhancing capability around customer acquisition and retention, including via social media

● Building future resilience: Reviewing the Business Model to promote more resilient businesses

Register your interest in the business boost today!

Contact us:

023 9284 4488

businesssupport@port.ac.uk

Registration:





    How many people does your business employ?

    Is your business part of a larger group of companies?

    Please tell us about your company turnover:

    Please tell us about your company balance sheet:


    Subject: