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.
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 ‘in-person’ session will take place at Building 41 on the Rangefinder Campus at Northwood near Cowes.
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. This ‘in-person’ session will take place at Building 41 on the Rangefinder Campus at Northwood near Cowes.
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. This ‘in-person’ session will take place at Building 41 on the Rangefinder Campus at Northwood near Cowes.
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)
This ‘in-person’ session will take place at Building 41 on the Rangefinder Campus at Northwood near Cowes. Session delivered by one of our industry practitioners, supported by member of academic staff.
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.
You leave with an action plan
On successful completion of the course you take away an action plan specific to your business to help your business grow.
Speakers and Mentors
Professor David Pickernell
University of Portsmouth Professor
I am the Research Lead for the Strategy Enterprise and Innovation (SEI) subject group in the Faculty of Business and Law. I’m also Professor of Small Business and Enterprise Development and a member of the Regional Studies Association, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Dr Helen Thompson-Whiteside
University of Portsmouth
I joined the Faculty of Business and Law in September 2011, following a career of over 20 years in marketing communication and branding roles in technology, local government and tourism. I am a qualified coach and have combined my coaching and branding skills to help clients uncover and develop their personal brand. I am a senior lecturer teaching on a range of undergraduate units and have responsibility as Course Leader for the MSc Coaching and Development.
Dr Jason Sit
University of Portsmouth
A global marketing academic who has worked at various HE institutions located in Australia and United Kingdom. Before joining UoP, I was employed as a Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing by Bournemouth University (BU), delivering retail units (eg Retail Buying and Merchandising, and Retail Consumer Experience and Behaviour) to UG and PGT students.
Dr Liza Howe-Walsh
University of Portsmouth
Liza is recognised internationally for her research into International Human Resources and Women’s Leadership development. She is a passionate advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion for all. As a dyslexic academic she is keenly aware of how proactive strategies to support inclusivity can be life changing.
Dr Sarah Turnbull
University of Portsmouth
Sarah is a global marketing expert with over 30 years’ experience of working in industry and knowledge transfer. She has held senior management roles in global advertising agencies, both in Europe and the Middle East and her client experience includes; BP, Glaxo, Dubai Air, London City Airport, Emirates Holidays, Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Ports Authority. She spent eight years as the Director on the Emirates Airline Passenger account based in Dubai and was responsible for Emirates Sky Cargo, Emirates Holidays and Emirates Recruitment worldwide.
Peter Hutchison
University of Portsmouth: Speaker and Mentor
Peter has over two decades of experience working for and with small and medium sized organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sector. He has worked in teams and individually to stabilise and grow organisations as well as providing services to some of the world’s best known brands. He is a passionate advocate of innovating using ideas, processes, products and services to help an organisation to improve organisational performance.
Jo Hilder
University of Portsmouth: Speaker and Mentor
Building on her background in business development, Jo now works with small businesses to get the most return from their digital marketing, streamline their sales processes and help them grow their business. Expert in HubSpot, inbound marketing, social media and telemarketing, Jo develops strategies, marketing plans and content that attracts, informs, engages, and ultimately generates leads and new business.
As a University of Portsmouth facilitator, Jo supported the government’s Small Business Leadership Programme and most recently facilitated a cohort of business owners and senior leaders through the ‘Help to Grow: Management’ programme.
Cohorts and details
Register your interest in the business boost today!
Contact us:
023 9284 4488
businesssupport@port.ac.uk
Registration:
