Putting business leaders first…

Business Link East Midlands Leaders First Service has achieved much success over the last financial year and has already helped to develop the skills of many local senior managers and company owners across the region.

Businesses from across the Eat Midlands continue to view Leaders First as  adding great value, equipping them with leadership and management skills to not only improve their own skills  but to drive their business operations forward, increasing business growth and profitability.

Availability of funding towards meeting the cost of the personal development of a senior manager has been key in helping local businesses understand that  leadership and management development is within their reach.

For companies employing between two  and 249 employees, the funding available for the development of a senior leader is up to £1,000.

The grant funding is made available from the Skills Funding Agency and can be used to access a wide variety of development activities including:
coaching such as accountancy or marketing expertise;
mentoring

Short courses
qualifications
non-qualifications based training

A financial contribution to supplement the funding may also be required from the employer. 

For example, for a manager to receive the maximum £1,000 grant, they need to  contribute £500 towards the total of a £1,500 training cost.

 
The grants can also be used to support HE provision, for example foundation degrees, MBAs, postgraduate certificates or diplomas and masters degrees.

These courses are match-funded on a pound for pound basis up to a maximum of £1,000.

Before accessing the funding, each senior manager will undertake a personal diagnostic assessment and create a personal development plan with a Leaders First adviser.

Janet Moody, Head of Skills Brokerage at EMB Ltd, the organisation responsible for local delivery of the regional Leadership and Management Service said: “The fact that so many East Midlands businesses have taken up the service is testament to its effectiveness. The feedback we continually receive from  senior managers is that they feel more able to lead their companies in a profitable and successful direction after undertaking leadership and management development  that have been identified and accessed through Leaders First.

“These have been tough times for many of our local businesses and we’re delighted that so many have realised the value that leadership and management development  can play in helping them to sharpen their skills and emerge from these difficult trading conditions to make the most of every opportunity available to them.”

To find out more about sharpening the skills of your staff, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/leadersfirst

FREE Business Training

Free business training will be open to businesses in September, delivered by Retail Revival, supported by Melton Borough Council

Semina: Is Your Business a Dinosaur or Chameleon?
Venue: The Samworth Centre

Date: September 2010 - date to be confirmed

Time: 6.00pm-8.00pm

This seminar assesses rapid changes to the way people use town centres. It predicts the future for our High Streets and draws upon successful case studies to illustrate how others are working together to stay ahead of the game. If your business fails to adapt to its changing environment then, like a dinosaur, it will shuffle off this mortal coil. If, like a chameleon, it has the ability to adapt then it may survive in the face of adversity.