Follow us Aston Centre for Growth Newsletter
9th June 2022
A new report providing recommendations to promote greater success and inclusion of the UK's ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) has been launched by The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) in partnership with NatWest. The official Time to Change report launch event took place at Aston Business School today, featuring a keynote speech from Mayor Andy Street.
Company leaders can access the University's expertise and learn from experienced entrepreneurs on Aston Centre for Growth's Practical Insights series, which is returning later this month. The series is provided free of charge and begins with The Power of Data for Business Growth masterclass on the 29th at Aston Business School. Find out more below.
Applications close next Friday for the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth, ourfully-funded leadership programme for micro-enterprises at the early stage of growth. Find out more below.
Paula Whitehouse
Director, Centre for Growth
Aston Centre for Growth Practical Insights Series Returns
The Practical Insights series is designed to equip business leaders with proven strategies to overcome business growth challenges. Each masterclass will be delivered by experienced entrepreneurs or industry experts who know what it takes to build a successful enterprise.
All masterclasses are FREE to attend however spaces are limited. Book all sessions or choose the ones that suit your business needs. Masterclass topics focus on key topics associated with business growth such as managing data, finance, intellectual property and sustainability.
On Wednesday 8th June, colleagues from Centre for Growth attended the ceremonial signing and launch of Aston University’s Civic Agreement. This Agreement demonstrates the University’s commitment to working with our city and regional partners to bring about positive change for the people who live in, work in, or visit Birmingham. As a civic university, our mission is to work with local citizens and regional bodies to make a transformational difference on issues that matter to them.
As the University works to support our region’s recovery from Covid-19, support for businesses is at the centre of our Civic Agreement. During the launch event, the Centre for Growth was pleased to be able to showcase our various SME-support programmes to a range of regional stakeholders, including the Mayor Andy Street and Birmingham City Council Deputy Leader Brigid Jones.
Time to Change Report Seeks to Advance the Growth Potential of Ethnic Minority Businesses in the UK
The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) has partnered with NatWest for the Time to Change report which sets out ten evidence-based recommendations to promote greater success and inclusion of ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) in finance and business support in the UK.
Experts say the implementation of the recommendations could help tackle the multiple barriers faced by EMBs, particularly in accessing finance, markets and quality business support, and could increase their GVA contribution from the current £25 billion a year to £100 billion, highlighting the significant potential of EMBs to the UK economy.
In recognition of the report release, CREME recently hosted a 'Time to Change' Report Dissemination session with Natwest Group colleagues as pictured above.
ERC Director Stephen Roper is joined by by Jill Pay, Chair of The Gender Index; Yvonne Greeves, Director of Women in Business at the NatWest Group; and Julie Kapsalis, Chair of Coast to Capital LEP reflecting on the important theme of ‘women and enterprise’.
Help to Grow: Management Course Registrations Open
This 12-module course, introduced by the Government, is designed to help small and medium sized businesses across the UK learn new skills, reach new customers and boost profits. The course combines a practical curriculum, with one-to-one support from a business mentor, peer-learning sessions and an alumni network.The cost to attend is also 90% funded by the Government. Participants pay £750. Register now for a September start.
The Magic of a Mentor:
Free 1-2-1 Mentoring Support Available
The Aston Business Mentoring Programme is a new Centre for Growth initiative delivered in partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP Growth Hub and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). An integral part of the regional bounce-back effort, this fully funded programme is designed to support ambitious small business leaders to increase productivity and position their enterprise for growth through structured peer-led 1-2-1 mentoring.
Help to Shape the Way Business Support is Delivered
What challenges and opportunities do diverse groups in tech face when it comes to using technology, developing their careers, or starting and growing their business?
Aston University would like to speak to both employees and managers about the process of inclusion in a digital environment and industry/individual norms.
The views of leaders and employees would enable us to understand the different lived experiences of individuals and would be beneficial in incorporating it in a report to inform strategic action within the sector.
Interested in collaborating with some of the brightest highly skilled MBA talent around?
We are on the lookout for businesses looking to develop and implement new ideas.
Aston MBA students are required to complete a major Business Project in their final terms* This can be: a Consultancy Project working to solve a business challenge; or an Internshipperforming a role within the business.
Projects are 12 weeks in duration, and can be done online, at the office, or a hybrid of both.
Previous projects include: investment & business case; marketing strategy; market research; growth strategy; market scoping and strategy; scale up planning; digitisation; systems & processes
For more information, please email the MBA Employer Team: MBAProjects@aston.ac.uk
Feature Opportunity for Your Business
Does your organisation have a story of resilience, growth or unexpected opportunities you would like to share with us? We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your good news on social media or a future newsletter.
