Funding available to boost East Midlands business skills

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

13/04/2011

Stephen Smith, CEO of EMB Ltd, the leading enterprise and economic development company that delivers a range of business improvement services, welcomed the announcement of a business boosting initiative by Skills Minister John Hayes. "The Leadership and Management development grant scheme is a great opportunity for senior leaders of locally based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It will enable them to take advantage of funding that will support leadership and management training to help them grow their businesses."

Around 13,000 small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises that demonstrate a potential for growth will benefit from the Leadership and Management development grant. This will help stimulate innovation and employment, boosting the economy and helping develop a bigger and more cohesive society.

Stephen Smith continues, "We are responsible for delivering business improvement services right across the Central England area, and we hope that many organisations in the local area (which includes the East and West Midlands and East of England) will engage with us to make the most of this initiative to boost their business, and in turn, the local economy."

A match funded grant of up to £1,000 is available to be spent on leadership training and coaching that helps grow the business, improving productivity and competitiveness. The programme also includes a free consultation with an expert adviser before the training commences, as well as a free follow-up to discuss the impact of the training and any further skills needs.

Skills Minister, John Hayes said:
“This Government will back businesses that want to boost their skills. We’re spending more than ever on apprenticeships, freeing up training providers from red tape, and focusing public spending where it is most needed to drive growth. Effective leadership can make the difference between survival and growth, and this fund will give vital support to entrepreneurs who want to continue to develop their businesses.”

Geoff Russell, Chief Executive, Skills Funding Agency added:
"This fund will help many leaders of small and medium sized enterprises grow their business through harnessing the talents of their staff. Skills are critical to the future development of businesses. By offering a helping hand to thousands of organisations we expect to see more leaders develop the skills they need to help their businesses achieve their potential."

The fund will be promoted directly to businesses by the regional Leadership and Management Advisory Service and is available starting this month. SME leaders should contact the Leadership and Management Advisory Service on0845 894 8969or email

lmas@embltd.co.uk

to book their free personal leadership and management assessment.

To find out if your organisation can benefit from the initiative, contact the Leadership and Management Advisory Service Helpline 0845 894 8969 or emaillmas@embltd.co.uk

Ends

Notes to editors:

For further information about this story, please contact:
David Polkey, PR and Communications Manager Emb Ltd
email:david.polkey@embltd.co.uk 
Telephone: 01332 826 359

About EMB

• EMB Ltd is, a leading, vibrant, enterprise development company, specialising in the delivery of public sector contracts designed to improve the prospects of individuals and businesses, and maximise their contribution to the economy.

• EMB also administer significant grant funds on behalf of a variety of partners and are skilled at delivering national business improvement services together with European funded projects on behalf of Local Authorities and other key economic development organisations and agencies.

• The SME Leadership and Management development grant will complement other support available to small and medium sized enterprises to support growth through the Business Improvement Programme, including the Solutions for Business products portfolio.

The future of Business Link

The Government has announced proposed changes to the way in which business support will be provided in future. Business Link will still provide an online service to customers, backed up by a telephone helpline, although the regional Business Link network will be closing on 25th November 2011.

Under the management and funding ofemda,and through its delivery by EMB, the Business Link service in the East Midlands has been extremely successful. The number of businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in the East Midlands assisted each year by Business Link increased by 60% between 2007 and 2010 to over one hundred thousand. This increase has been achieved whilst maintaining a very high customer satisfaction rate of 90%. In addition, independent evaluation over the same period concludes that for each £1 ofemdaexpenditure through Business Link which was targeted at trading entities, £88 of economic output (or Gross Value Added - GVA) is expected to be put back into the economy.

emdawill work closely with Government and EMB, to ensure that there is a managed closure of the regional service as well as a smooth transition to any new services that emerge by November.

News Source : Funding available to boost East Midlands business skills