Keele University’s Innovation Leadership is offering Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire-based business leaders and entrepreneurs the chance to take part on its six month development programme, designed to hone innovation and leadership skills. 

Over the course of six months, the prestigious programme will provide coaching, advice, guidance and support from guest speakers, experienced professionals and respected academics to help equip local businesses for future challenges.

The fully-funded programme is open to small to medium-sized business leaders, early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial social innovators based in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP area, who are looking to develop products and services, achieve scalable routes to market and achieve strategic business growth.

By taking part, businesses can benefit from:

• Six two-day sessions of facilitated group learning, led by academics and expert business leaders
• A dedicated Entrepreneur in Residence to provide coaching, advice and guidance, on a one-to-one basis
• A unique blend of action learning, including one-to-one sessions, peer review, activity-based learning, creative challenge-based activity and self-directed learning
• Development, implementation and review of a practical, innovation-focussed action plan for your business
• Access to the most up-to-date thinking around innovation and social value through the programme delivery, additional innovation master classes and a unique innovation eco-system.

Local business, Maloney Associates, took part in the programme in 2017. The energy and environmental management consultancy was established in 2007 and counts clients such as Manchester United, Liverpool Football Club and Royal Mail within their roster. They are proud to be one of the first companies to be accredited as Low Carbon ISO 50001 Consultants by CIBSE, and have fast become one the country’s leading consultants in their field with a reputation for delivering substantial energy, cost and carbon savings.

Since taking part on the programme, Maloney Associates are now moving towards their aspiration to become ‘the go-to energy and carbon management people.’

Lesley, of Maloney Associates, said: “Each session is jam packed with inspirational speakers and interactive workshops provided by academics and guest lecturers. I am 100% happy with MCIL; it’s something that’s going to take us forward, and has given me confidence and tools to grow our business.”

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses can benefit from a range of specialist support and funding from Keele University.  Interested companies should contact Keele University’s Business Gateway on 01782 733001 or email business.gateway@keele.ac.uk.

‌*The MCIL project (ref: 32R15P00229) is part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds England Growth Programme 2014-2020.