Partner Article

Major coaching programme to help businesses

The Department for Business Skills and Innovation has announced a new coaching programme, to help 10,000 high growth potential businesses.

It will provide SMEs with coaches to work with senior management teams, in a push to realise their growth potential.

Access to business angel networks, UK Trade and Investment and the Manufacturing Advisory Service will also be promoted through the scheme.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “Providing intensive and quality coaching for high growth potential businesses is vital to their continued success and their ability to help the UK economy grow.

“This programme is the latest step the Government is taking to ensure small and mid-sized businesses are well equipped to thrive here and abroad.

“I know from talking to businesses that they face a range of challenges in growing, such as raising finance, securing new customers and strengthening their leadership capabilities.

“I want to make sure that we can give them the tools to overcome these obstacles and the success of this programme will be judged on the level of growth it delivers to the UK economy.”

The Coaching for Growth Consortium will deliver the programme, which is scheduled to be fully operational by March 2012.

Accountancy firm Grant Thornton lead the Consortium, which comprises Winning Pitch, Oxford Innovation, Pera and seven other local delivery partners.

Karl Eddy, Partner at Grant Thornton said: “We are delighted to be part of this ambitious new programme.

“Together with our consortium partners we offer a wealth of experience in assisting businesses with high growth potential to achieve their goals and make a real difference to the wider economy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .