This year businesses have faced some of the most challenging circumstances. It’s a testament to your leadership, resilience and creativity that you have made it through hopefully the worst. However, there is still a huge amount of uncertainty and lost revenue for many, so if your business is in need of a boost here are a few things you could consider:

• Join the Next Generation Business Strategy training course aimed at supporting small businesses to adapt to change, understand threats and review their business model and strategy. The course will include group workshops, independent work, 1:1 support with a business coach and a business strategy review. The course is up to 100% funded via the Accelerate programme.

• Access the Cheshire & Warrington Recovery Grant, supporting businesses affected by Covid-19. The 100% grant of a maximum of £5,000 is to help businesses develop new business models, develop new products and target new markets or customers. Delivered by Blue Orchid, the first round of applications will open at 12pm on Monday 28th September and will be in high demand so be ready!

• Attend our Cheshire & Warrington Business Growth Programme Leadership & Management in a Changing World workshop on Tuesday 6^th October to help tackle any challenges you’re currently facing as a business leader. To include managing your team remotely, effective management of under-performance and leadership of staff returning from furlough. 100% funded provided you have not already completed 12 hours support on the programme.

• Apply for the Cheshire & Warrington Business Growth Programme’s grant scheme. 50% funded to a maximum grant value of £15,000. You must have already completed 12 hours of support (or be working towards it) and be looking to purchase equipment or machinery leading to increased productivity, efficiency or manufacturing capacity and creation of jobs. Contact bgp_team@chester.ac.uk if you are interested.

If you require support beyond the above please do get in contact and let us know bgp_team@chester.ac.uk. We may be able to direct you towards an existing support programme, or be able to tailor our own support to meet demand.

Bryony Robertson

Business Development Manager

Workshop: Leadership & Management in a Changing World
Date: Tuesday 6th October, 09:30-11:30
Delivered by: Chris Sharkey
On this workshop you will learn how to build the resilience of your team, optimise productivity and improve employee satisfaction. The workshop is aimed at business owners, directors and senior leaders with a team of 2-50.

Workshop: Website & SEO
Date: Wednesday 7th October, 09:30-12:30
Delivered by: Displace Digital
This workshop is aimed at helping businesses develop an effective approach to search engine optimisation, (SEO), Google in particular. Providing an overview of the importance of SEO as a key element of online success and sharing tried and tested methodology to help lay the foundations of an effective SEO strategy.

Workshop: Food Photography for Beginners
Date: You MUST attend all three sessions, Friday 9th, Friday 16th and Friday 23rd October, 09:30 – 11:30
Delivered by: Love Your Lens
On this workshop, you will learn the practical skills to set up and style a table-top food (or product) shot, ideal for use on social media and websites. You will learn how to use the settings and options on a smartphone and a camera to take professional looking images.

Workshop: How to Build a Strong Brand and Add Value
Date: You MUST attend both sessions, Tuesday 13th and 20th October, 9:30-11:00
Delivered by: Clearly, Simply, Truly Marketing Management
The four most valuable brands in the world are worth some 6 billion dollars. Not many businesses will get close to those dizzy heights. We can however use the same brand principles to strengthen and increase the value of our own brands.

Workshop: Pricing for Profit
Date: Thursday 15th October, 09:30-11:00
Delivered by: Chris Sharkey
Many business owners know that their pricing structure requires a review or update, but are fearful about the impact of increasing their prices. The workshop aims to relieve that fear and help you justify price changes and communicate them effectively to customers. The workshop is aimed at businesses at all stages of development, whether starting-up or adapting and improving an existing offering.

Workshop: Understanding & Creating Financial Accounts
Date: Thursday 22nd October, 09:30-12:30
Delivered by: Chris Sharkey
The workshop initially examines attendees’ understanding of financial accounts and builds on these skills, giving business leaders the confidence to oversee or manage financial performance. Understanding your accounts is crucial to increasing your business’ resilience to change, which is important now more than ever with Covid-19 and Brexit heavily impacting our economy and society. The workshop is aimed at owners and directors of businesses within the early years of growth, without an in-house finance team. It will cover some of the basics and go more into depth where attendees need it.

Workshop: Sourcing and Preserving Funding in an Economic Downturn
Date: Thursday 29th October, 09:30-11:30
Delivered by: Chris Sharkey
You will be shown you how to get your business investment ready, including how to best present to investors or lenders, whether this is something you are considering now or in the future. The workshop is aimed at owners and directors of trading businesses at all stages of growth.

Accelerate is part funded by the European Social Fund, for businesses across Cheshire to reskill and upskill their current workforce.

If your business has less than 50 employees, training is 100% funded (40% funded if you have more)! Business owners, Directors and Sole Traders are also eligible.

Below are some of the upcoming training courses that you could get involved with:

• Certificate in Leadership & Management Level 3 ILM – October 1^st
• Certificate in Leadership & Management Level 5 ILM – November 2^nd
• Website Design & Search Engine Optimisation – November 4^th, January 13^th and March 10^th
• CIM Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing – date TBC
• IDM Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing – date TBC
• CIM Foundation Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing Level 3 – date TBC
• CIM Marketing Principles – date TBC
• CIM Digital Fundamentals – date TBC
• Customer Service and Relationship Management in a Virtual World – date TBC
• Creating a Resilient Sales Plan in a Digital World: Closing the Sale – date TBC

(other upcoming courses include a Mini MBA, Directors Development Programme, Advanced Management Programme, Level 7 Certificate Strategic Management and Leadership, Level 5 Certificate Leadership and Management)

For business leaders facing challenges at the moment due to Covid-19, or simply wanting to supercharge their business, Accelerate has launched a Next Generation Business Strategy course. This is aimed at supporting small businesses to adapt to change, understand threats, review their business model and develop strategy to scale and thrive. It will help in mapping out potential futures using scenario planning, risks and opportunities of these and consider how they fit within the business’ strategic direction. To include the following:

• Group workshops spread over 3 weeks
• Independent work
• 1:1 support with a business coach
• A business/rebound strategy review

If you’re interested in any of the above training or want to discuss your bespoke training needs contact the Accelerate team acceleratecandw@chester.ac.uk or visit the website https://candwgrowthhub.co.uk/accelerate/. Most unaccredited courses can be tailored to meet learner needs and time commitments.

Blue Orchid are about to launch a new grant scheme which pays 100% reimbursement grants to eligible Cheshire and Warrington based businesses to access consultancy support to help them recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Blue Orchid are also hosting an online session for suppliers/partners on how you can work with them to support your clients to access the funding and understand the important rules and processes involved.

Friday 25^th September 10.30am – 11.30am

BGP benefciary and University of Chester NoWFOOD client Protein Rebel have won a prestigious national food competition, The Nourish Awards 2020. They were up against some stiff competition and already well-established brands. The company won in the category of High Protein & Sports Nutrition for their Banana Reload product which includes plants and crickets!

Sunday 11 Oct 10.30am-12pm 

An independently organised TED event bringing people together from all across Nantwich and the surrounding areas to learn how climate change is impacting our local area and what we can do about it.

Featuring as guest speakers are BGP beneficiary Tim Boote of Protein Rebel discussing specifically how food choices impact climate change. Also in attendance is Simon Burgess, BGP project partner at Reaseheath College along with a vast panel of other distinguished guests.

Register here.

Could your company benefit from a highly inspired and skilled graduate at the start of their career?

Degree Apprenticeships have a minimal cost to employers, thanks to the Apprenticeship Levy funding. Does your company want to fill a skills gap, increase your diversity or create a talent pipeline across your organisation?  Why not consider a University qualified apprentice? Click here for further details and available programmes.

Cheshire and Warrington LEP, are working with partners including Job Centre Plus and Coursera to provide free, online learning resources for up to 10,000 users across Cheshire and Warrington.

THIS OFFER IS FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY - The Coursera courses are being provided free for unemployed residents to sign up to until the end of September 2020, and must be completed by the end of December 2020.

This offer compliments the training and support that is available from the Accelerate Cheshire and Warrington Training programme and our local training providers.

More details.

Have you studied with us? Are you a graduate? Do you have children studying at the University? If you have a connection to the University outside of the Business Growth Programme, please let us know, it could make a great story. Please email: businessgrowth@chester.ac.uk.