Trio of support programmes launched to boost Notts business

NTU’s Head of Enterprise Megan Powell-Vreeswijk said, ‘While a university may not be the first port of call for entrepreneurs or business leaders to get help, we’re here to tell them our doors are open and there are tailored opportunities delivering the vital support they need.’

Enterprise success leading to more support

Recent successes within the Enterprise team have secured funding and allowed the number of Enterprise Advisors to grow, and with it grow the offer to businesses at various stages.

Megan continued; ‘We’ve successfully run our HeadStart programme for those looking to start a business for years. Now, thanks to funding from the Government’s Towns Fund, we have recruited Richard Ladipo to run a similar programme in Ashfield.’

Richard said, ‘HeadStart in Ashfield is an exciting opportunity for people in the Ashfield district to take control of their career. There are entrepreneurs out there with great ideas and they don’t even know they’re entrepreneurs! We’re here to unlock those ideas and empower people in Ashfield to create the career they’ve always dreamed of.’

Help for existing businesses at any stage

For existing organisations at different stages of growth the Enterprise Team have created the BreakThrough and UpScaler programmes.

Enterprise Advisor Jane Brown leads the BreakThrough programme and said, ‘This programme has been created with business owners or managers who want to kick on to the next phase of growth in mind. I’ve run businesses myself, and I know how difficult it can be working in the business rather than on the business – you can feel like you’re running just to stand still!

With BreakThrough you have the time and space to refocus your ideas and see what you’re missing. It’s a fantastic opportunity.’

Sam Petz, owner of Atelier Petz, testifies to this sentiment: ‘When you’re a small business, it’s hard to step away from the ‘doing’ and think about future growth. BreakThrough has allowed us the space to stop, think and plan for how we want to shape our business over the coming years.’

UpScaler is the third new programme in a trinity of support. Shaped by business consultant and coach, Amanda Stanford, UpScaler is tailored for organisations that have a successful track record but may struggle with a problem that stands in the way of their growth.

Amanda said, ‘I’ve spoken to organisations that need cultural transformation, or perhaps they’re working on the transition from family ownership to a management buyout, even an exit plan. These are big pieces of work, and we all know businesses who’ve spent thousands to unsuccessfully find solutions. Here we’re offering bespoke, fully funded support, with the expertise and clout NTU can offer.’

Where to find the right programme for you

NTU’s Enterprise Adviser Manager, Diana Pasek-Atkinson, said, ‘Along with Adrian Williams, our Enterprise Advisor team is now 5-strong, and we’ve got expansion plans on the horizon. Under Megan’s leadership we’re creating more tools and programmes to support the businesses that call Nottingham and our surrounding areas home. We’re passionate about making businesses successful, so they can feed the economy and give our community, NTU students, graduates and partners better opportunities.’

‘These new programmes are the first wave of exciting things we have on offer, my advice to anyone looking for the right programme would be to get in touch, the support is here for you, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve not had a relationship with the university before. Our door is open to you and the ideas you might have, you’ve just got to come in!’

To find out more visit NTU’s enterprise pages or get in touch.