Warwick Business School has re-launched its Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) programme to help boost the performance of local companies.

Free taster session
A free taster session is being held from 6-8pm on October 3 at Radcliffe House Conference Centre at the University of Warwick. Register now.

Increase your revenue
BIG  has already helped local firms increase their revenue by millions of pounds, but has now been updated with the latest research to add even more value to the Midlands economy.

With a host of new academics and after consulting the Warwick Business Growth Network, which comprises of firms who have used BIG, the new-look programme is being launched with a free taster session next month.

Businesses can see just how BIG can boost their productivity and profitability at the two-hour taster session on October 3 at Radcliffe House Conference Centre at the University of Warwick.

Develop your business confidence, an entrepreneurial mind-set, and innovation capabilities 
James Hayton, Professor of HRM and Entrepreneurship at Warwick Business School, will be leading BIG and said: “BIG looks to provide business owners and senior employees of small and medium-sized companies the ability to develop the business confidence, entrepreneurial mind-set and innovation capabilities needed to achieve the on-going success and growth of their business. Through a series of practical and applied workshops we will equip them with the essential tools, knowledge and insights to identify and harness the innovation potential of their organisation.”

I raised my revenue by 766%
Barry Cooper, director of Cooper Solutions, which provides IT software to the automotive industry, used BIG in 2007 and says it helped raise his revenue by 766 per cent in six years.

"The previous financial year, with six employees, we had revenue of £277,000 and profit before tax and dividends of £95,000,” said Mr Cooper.

“Six years later we employ 28 people, have turnover exceeding £2.4 million, and an improved profit margin. Our current plan takes us to £5 million revenue by 2016.

“We got here faster and in better shape because of the things we learnt and put into practice with WBS. I couldn’t recommend the programme more highly.”

Nine workshops over nine months
With nine one-day workshops over nine months BIG is designed to help business leaders step back from working in the business and think about working on the business.

Professor Hayton commented, “Each workshop will also feature a business owner who has undertaken BIG. They will complement the subject matter of each workshop by presenting a relevant case study, sharing their success story and emphasising how they would best use the lessons being learned. Also, the programme offers businesses the chance to build a support network as they will be working with others in development clusters.”

Route map to success
“By the end of the programme companies will have a business growth plan as a route map to future success,” said Professor Hayton.The workshops will cover the entrepreneurial mind-set, leadership, innovation, marketing, managing buyers and suppliers, looking into the various finance options and much more. 

Companies that are part of the Government’s GrowthAccelerator can use a £2,000 grant to help fund the course’s costs.

More information
For more information email businessinnovation@wbs.ac.uk.

Professor James Hayton teaches Strategic Human Resource Management on the Warwick Executive MBA.