University programme helps develop business leaders

Business leaders across the Tees Valley are being helped to improve their leadership and management skills, thanks to an innovative programme offered free of charge by Teesside University.

A dozen business executives are taking part in the current Leading Growth cohort, a proven six month programme developed in conjunction with industry, to help SME leaders grow their business.

Funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Leading Growth offers an innovative approach to learning, combining a range of experiences including an overnight residential, site visits, think tanks with expert facilitators and action learning sets.

There is a strong focus on group work, with a high level of interaction between participants.

This peer-to-peer learning, drawing on the combined knowledge and experience of the Leading Growth cohort, allows participants to enhance their leadership and management expertise, helping to improve confidence, adopt a more strategic approach to business and hone delegation and communication skills.

Leading Growth is one of a portfolio of professional development programmes to be offered from Teesside University’s Centre for Professional and Executive Development at its Darlington campus.

Businesses taking part in the latest cohort include:

• Go Limitless
• Resolution Media & Publishing
• Demeter Water Solutions
• Chronos Safety Ltd
• The High Tide Foundation
• MI Supplies
• Trade Interchange Ltd
• Better Brand Agency
• Pollywood Ltd
• Jalna Construction Ltd

Members of previous cohorts have spoken positively about the positive impact Leading Growth has made.

Marc Atkinson, Managing Director of National Safety Passport, said: 'The course really helped me to understand myself and what motivates me. It also helped me to understand what it is that motivates other people and recognising that everybody has different needs.'

Sarah Taylor, Office Manager at Techconsult UK, added: 'Working with other people from different companies on the course and learning from them has been extremely helpful.'

Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise at Teesside University, said: 'Leading Growth is now one of our premier programmes, with a measurable impact on business performance.

'As well as developing leadership and management capabilities, delegates benefit from a great opportunity to share best practice and to build networks, not just with each other, but with alumni from previous programmes.'

The Leading Growth project is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

For information about the next Leading Growth programme starting in October 2018, email business@tees.ac.uk.

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