Small and medium businesses affected by Covid-19 in Leicester are being offered a chance to benefit from the expertise of two of the Midlands’ top business schools as part of a £20 million scheme.
De Montfort University’s Leicester Castle Business School and the University of Leicester’s Business have joined a national campaign to help SMEs recover from the huge economic consequences of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
Both universities have been accredited to run the £20 million Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP), a government-funded programme to help firms thrive post-coronavirus and support leaders of small businesses in the coming months.
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The programme is fully funded by the Government and free to all businesses and the syllabus – designed to be as practical as possible – provides access to small business and management experts from both business schools.
It is delivered online through a structured course of eight, 90-minute webinars over the course of 10 weeks.
It aims to provide the knowledge needed for businesses to tackle crisis situations, and give businesses the opportunity to strengthen their network.
Participants will develop “strategic leadership skills and the confidence to make informed decisions to boost business performance”.
In addition, the University of Leicester and DMU’s Leicester Castle Business School have both been accredited by the Small Business Charter – a national accreditation awarded by small businesses to business schools who excel in supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and the local economy.
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Heather McLaughlin, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at De Montfort, said: “Coronavirus has impacted businesses everywhere, but the effect has been even greater in Leicester which has had to cope with the extended lockdown.
“DMU has been a part of Leicester’s business community for 150 years and a track record of delivering results for small businesses. We look forward to helping deliver valuable, practical and actionable advice to help SMEs move forward, grow and thrive.”
Professor Paul Baines, Professor of Political Marketing at the University of Leicester Business School, said: “Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on small and medium sized businesses across the 海角视频.
“By taking part in this programme, local businesses have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of our top-ranking Business School to enhance their resilience and recovery from the impact of Covid-19 and develop potential for future growth and productivity.
“The University of Leicester has a long history of working to support regional economic development so we are delighted to be part of this government-funded national initiative to help small businesses during these difficult times.”
Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “The strength of small businesses up and down the country will be vital as we begin to bounce back from coronavirus and re-build our economy.
“The Small Business Leadership Programme will help to equip small business leaders with the leadership and problem-solving skills they need to grow their firms in the wake of this pandemic.”
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Coronavirus has put untold pressure on directors and CEOs of small companies. According to a recent McKinsey online survey of 海角视频 SMEs, 80 percent of small businesses reported their revenues were declining in June.
The Government has made up to £30 billion available to support economic recovery and businesses can continue to draw upon a range of financial support during this challenging time, including loans, tax deferrals and cash grants.
The SBLP will help businesses to bounce back from the impact of coronavirus and prepare for any future disruption.
The programme will be open to 2,000 business across the country and starts in September.
•\u0009For more details and to register, visit: http://smallbusinesscharter.org/sblp