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7th March 2023

Welcome to our March Newsletter

February was fantastic, we now MARCH on!

 
As March begins, so does International Women's week. This is a week where we celebrate the continuous efforts of women who strive to make a change and push the boundaries of success. We would like to show extra appreciation to all women connected to our centre, who are strong advocates of female empowerment and beacons of light that inspire other females. 

In this edition, you’ll find many exciting events and articles including, expert insights from Help to Grow facilitator, Olu Orugboh, who shares practical tips on how to champion digital adoption in your business. The announcement of this year’s Pitch Up winner, (a Centre for Growth alumni business leader) a new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report on Women’s Entrepreneurship and various event and workshops we think you will find valuable.
 
We hope you find this edition informative and inspiring. As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions. 

 

Alumni Spotlight - Kameese Davis

After whitling down 70 applications, the Centre jointly hosted Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up final at Venturefest West Midlands last week. Six finalists fought for the accolade of Best Pitch Champion and a cash prize in front of a live audience after taking tough questions from a panel of external investors. Kameese Davis, the Managing Director and Founder of Nylah UK was crowned Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up Champion 2023. Kameese's innovative approach to business and unwavering dedication to her hair loss products impressed the judges and secured her victory in a highly competitive field of talented entrepreneurs

Her visionary leadership has been a driving force behind Nylah UK's success, and this latest achievement is a testament to her hard work and unwavering commitment to excellence. As a pioneering figure in the industry, Kameese Davies continues to break barriers and blaze new trails in the hair & beauty world. We congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and can't wait to see what the future holds for her and Nylah UK.

Next year could be your year!

To be notified when applications open for the 2024 competition, click below.

Register here

Sharing Top Tips:

Digital Adoption Top Tips from Olu

In this video, Help to Grow: Management course facilitator, Olu Orugboh shares her expert tips on digital adoption. As a seasoned business leader and tech enthusiast, Olu knows first-hand the benefits that digital technologies can bring to businesses of all sizes.

When delivering to our Help to Grow cohorts, Olu draws on her own experience as a business owner and manager, sharing insights into the challenges of digital adoption and how to overcome them. From managing resistance to change to navigating the complexities of cybersecurity and data privacy, Olu offers valuable tips and strategies to help businesses of all kinds succeed in the digital age.

Are you a business leader? Click the link below to learn more about the
Help to Grow: Management course.

Help to Grow

International Women's Week Spotlight:
Damini Sharma

In light of International Women’s Week, it’s only right we shine our spotlight on a female business leader from our centre's alumni: Damini Sharma this month. As the CEO of the OM Group, she has not only taken her business from strength to strength but has also paved the way for other women in her industry.

Under Damini’s leadership, the OM Group has become a leading organisation in its field. She has expanded the company's operations into new territories and diversified its services, all while maintaining a focus on sustainability and ethical business practices.
Damini's influence extends beyond the boardroom. She is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment, and she has used her platform to champion the cause of gender equality in the workplace. She has spoken at numerous conferences and events, sharing her insights and experiences with others and encouraging women to pursue their own dreams and ambitions.

Through her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Damini Sharma has cemented her place as an influential businesswoman and a role model for generations to come.


Click below to learn more about her organisation’s journey to date.

Learn more

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/2023 Global Report Adapting to a “New Normal" published

The ranking is compiled by scoring each country on 13 different metrics, including ease of access to finance for entrepreneurs, physical infrastructure, supportive government policy and education. In the period 2021 to 2022, the UK scored worse than it had the year before on nine out of 13 of the metrics.

Professor Mark Hart, lead of the GEM UK team and professor of small business and entrepreneurship at Aston Business School in Birmingham, said he believed the decline was due to the “chaotic trading conditions and supply chain blockages, as the implications of Brexit continued to be multiplied by the aftermath of the pandemic and compounded by rising energy prices”.

Click below to read the full report and article published by The Times.

The Times Article
Full GEM report

GEM 2021/2022 Women's Entrepreneurship
Report Published

The GEM 2021/2022 Women's Entrepreneurship Report is a comprehensive study of the state of women's entrepreneurship around the world. The report provides insights into the challenges and opportunities facing women entrepreneurs, as well as the factors that contribute to their success. It also highlights the significant impact that women entrepreneurs have on their communities and economies.

Click below to read the full report.

Full report

Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP is Sponsoring a Year's Free Access to Zellar for 100 Businesses.

To help businesses reduce their emissions and energy costs, Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP is sponsoring a year's free access to Zellar (a sustainability measurement tool) for 100 businesses.

Click below to find out more.

Find out more
Centre for Growth Director Paula Whitehouse visits Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Programme in India
Centre for Growth Director Paula Whitehouse recently visited Bangalore in India as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Programme.

The programme, which is committed to providing women entrepreneurs around the world with access to education, mentorship, and capital, has been a tremendous success in empowering female-led businesses. Paula worked with the team at Indian Institute of Business Bangalore to develop the programme curriculum. During her visit, Paula had the opportunity to engage with previous participants of the programme and ran a week of meetings to share information about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme.

Paula's visit to Bangalore was a testament to Aston Centre for Growth's commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and promoting economic growth. We are proud to have been associated with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses programme in the UK for over 10 years.

ERC's Workplace Mental Health in Midlands firms 2022: Baseline Report published

A recent report published by the ERC on workplace mental health and wellbeing shows data collected from 1,904 firms in the Midlands region in 2022. The survey covered a range of topics, including levels of mental health absence, presenteeism and the adoption of practices to improve employee well-being.

Click below to read the full report.

"Doing Business In the UK"
Workshops for Ukrainian Refugees 

The "Doing Business in the UK" workshops delivered by Aston Centre for Growth at Aston University have begun, and you don't want to miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship in the UK.

Our workshops are designed to provide you with practical, hands-on guidance on everything from registering your business to understanding UK tax laws and regulations. You'll also have the chance to connect with other Ukrainian budding entrepreneurs, share your experiences, and build a network of support as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey.

The next workshop is taking place on Tuesday 14th March, and registration is now open. Don't miss this chance to gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in the UK business landscape.

Click below to register now!

Register Now

ATXponential - Exploring Overseas Markets

ATXponential explores how British companies can increase their sales growth by examining opportunities in the 50 states in the United States of America. The blog states that although the sterling has rebounded from its crisis levels in the summer of 2022, British goods and services are still priced competitively in the USA. 
 
Find out about export opportunities for your business in the USA below.
Learn more

Mastering Employment and HR: A Workshop for SMEs (online)

Burley Law Limited – Mastering Employment and HR: A Workshop for SMEs

Wednesday 8th March 2023 – 10:00-12:00


Are you an SME owner, sole trader or HR professional looking to improve your employment and HR practices?

Join Burley Law for an interactive and informative workshop on the essential topics every business needs to know, to ensure compliance with employment law, good practice and commercial protection.

Click below to Book now.

Register here

Learning and Networking Opportunities  

We are excited to announce our Practical Insights Masterclass series & Aston Centre for Growth: Network tickets are now live!

Whether you wish to attend a short Practical Insights Masterclass covering a range of topics or are keen to network with like-minded individuals, there are many FREE events to choose from. Events have been designed to cover current and trending topics.

Book your tickets now!

Practical Insights Masterclass Series
Aston Centre for Growth : Network

Greater Birmingham Business Expo

Join Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce at their biggest networking event of the year! Whether you are looking to build your network, promote your business, find new suppliers or increase your knowledge, the Greater Birmingham Business Expo offers you the best platform in the West Midlands to do all those things under one roof.

Book your tickets now!

Book now

Aston Centre for Growth Programmes

Help to Grow: Management Course
  • Take time away from your day to day workload and invest in your leadership skills.
  • Boost the performance and resilience of your business.
Register now to join the next cohort starting in April 2023.
Apply early to avoid disappointment.
Green Advantage
  • Grow your awareness and understanding of climate and environmental challenges.
  • Develop and create your sustainability roadmap.
  • Gain skills to build sustainability strategies relevant to your sector and role.
Register your interest for our next cohort in May.

Feature Opportunity for Your Business

Our newsletter is a platform to engage and share insights from Aston and beyond. We also want to celebrate and shine light on your organisation’s successes.

Does your organisation have a story of resilience, growth or unexpected opportunities you would like us to share on our platforms including our newsletter? Or if you have any feedback or questions for the Aston Centre for Growth team, please send us an email at:centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk

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Aston Centre for Growth · Aston University · Aston · Birmingham, West Midlands B4 7ET · United Kingdom