Workshops & Training
We are offering free training workshops as part of the Scale Up 4 Growth programme to support a range of challenges that SMEs face.
Please read our FAQs and check if you are eligible.
"Such a wide-ranging and interesting day with a great mix of speakers; it was the ideal blend of practical hands-on information and out-of-the-box thinking. I definitely felt that I left the workshop armed with the tools to take our business to the next level!"
Boost your Brand & grow your Business workshop
01 & 02 February 2023, 09:00 - 16:30
The Growth Hub, Gloucester
Do you want to know how to grow your business in a digital world?
Do you want to increase sales and grow your customer base?
Are you thinking about the funding you might need for your next steps?
Join us for this engaging two-day workshop and learn how you can build your brand and put customers at the heart of your business in an ever-growing digital world.
Ideal for B2B SMEs based in Gloucestershire with an existing customer base or ready to build a customer base – from start-ups to established companies.
You might be, for example, a consultancy, a technical product business, or a software business. What you have in common is an interest in:
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Utilising new digital technologies in your business
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Funding routes for your business
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Expanding your customer base
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Increasing sales
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Keeping your business and customer information safe
The workshop is designed to support your business growth plans and help you to develop a robust go to market strategy and sales strategy.
Delivered by leading experts from UWE Bristol, BeKindred, and the Growth Hub, you can be sure to gain valuable insights and practical tools and techniques to help grow your business.
We will cover these key sessions:
Brand Strategy
From the role and value of brand to defining target personas - this interactive session with explain the theory and share the tools needed to build your brand strategy.
Sales & Marketing Strategy
How do you define success? From setting targets and building models for KPIs to establishing a sales process – this session will introduce you to key tools and frameworks and show you how to nurture a lead from first contact through to sale.
Keeping your business and customer information safe
With an increasing amount of work taking place online, how can we avoid cyber threats? From securing your devices and network, to how you manage your business and customer data - learn about current trends, common pitfalls, and how to protect your business.
Funding your business
How can you fund your ideas? Explore the different types of funding options from crowdfunding and equity investment to loans and grant-funding - you will have a chance to ask your questions, learn from case studies, and speak to skilled advisors.
This in-person workshop is funded by the ERDF and is free to SMEs in Gloucestershire. Places are limited to 15 SMEs and so we politely request that you commit to the full 2-day programme.
"This was a re-energising couple of days away from running the business, with some interesting new contacts made and an opportunity to get up to date with some of the resources available."
Full speaker list will be confirmed soon. Some of our expert speakers and facilitators will include:
Natasha McKenzie - CEO of Be Kindred
Natasha is a marketing professional drawing on over 15 years’ experience working with global agencies and management consultancy firms. She is Managing Director of Talisman Hub, a brand strategy consultancy, helping high growth companies to scale. Natasha is also CEO of Be Kindred, a brand communication platform supporting start-ups at early stage and building the local ecosystem. She is a Fellow of the University of Bristol; runs the Marketing in Residency for QTEC and SetSquared, where she is also a mentor; and sits as trustee, advisor to various not for profit organisations.
Jack Thompson - Co-Founder of BeKindred
Jack believes that Karma applies to business as much as it does to life in general. This means he shares his knowledge and time to help others wherever he can. As a Business Development Consultant with 15 years experience of consulting at C level he helps his clients to strategically grow their businesses. As a mentor, he supports the next generation of business people to thrive. For many of his clients, large and small, sales feels like a bit of a dark art. He's here to show you that it isn’t. What it is, is part creativity and part science. It needs a strategy, it needs a plan and it needs to be implemented using effective processes. His job is to show you what needs to happen in your business in order for it to grow.
Aimeé Skinner – Senior Business Innovation & Growth Manager, UWE Bristol.
Aimeé has a background in technical project management, lean six sigma, and large-scale transformation programmes, and has been recognised in the Top 75 innovators in the South West in 2021. She also co-manages the Bristol Innovators’ Group – 600+ innovators, offering networking and learning prospects in the local area. Aimeé oversees several programmes, including Scale-up 4 Growth Gloucestershire, the Digital Innovation Fund, and UWE Bristol’s Launch Space Incubator programme, to further enhance opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses to succeed and grow in the region.
Aimee will be overseeing both days of the workshop and will be on hand to answer your questions and talk to you about engaging with the University and associated funding and business support opportunities.
Mark Corderoy, Entrepreneur in residence, Launch Space and Bristol Robotics Laboratory Hardware Incubator
With a background in engineering and technology in a variety of commercial settings, Mark is an experienced Technologist and Award-winning Mentor. He has been at UWE Bristol for last four years as Incubation Manager for the Bristol Robotics Laboratory the leading and largest academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK as well as Entrepreneur-in-residence for Launch Space, providing business support and mentoring to start-up businesses in UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone.
Phil Legg, Professor in Cyber Security, UWE Bristol.
Phil is Co-Director of the UWEcyber Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE), as recognised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). He is also Programme Leader for the NCSC-certified MSc Cyber Security at UWE. His primary research interests are on Cyber Security Data Analytics, specifically on the use of machine learning and visualisation techniques, both as a means of improving security response but being also aware of the limitations and security vulnerabilties that such approaches can introduce. He also has expertise in systems and network security, software vulnerability testing, and human-machine teaming for improved decision support and risk management. He leads research with various industry partners across security and defence sectors, and he works with regional schools and employers to upskill in cyber security education across the region.
Jack Stanbury – Business Innovation & Skills Manager, UWE Bristol
Jack is a business development manager working in the research, innovation & skills sector.
He has experience working within the HE Sector and with industry in the region.
Jack will be joining us on day two to talk about opportunities to engage with UWE Bristol through graduate recruitment, internships, and other support,
Tina Paton – Business Navigator, The Growth Hub
Tina spent her early career in marketing departments of large organisations, including The AA. After relocating to Gloucestershire, she established and ran her own successful business for 10 years. In 2014 she began her role as a Business Navigator at The Growth Hub where she uses her past experience and knowledge of local and national support to help other businesses.
Agata Seabright – Business Navigator, The Growth Hub
Having been born in Poland and then studied in the United States, Agata brings her international experience from a raft of forward-facing roles.
Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Agata is a well-rounded advisor to existing organisations and future entrepreneurs alike.
This workshop is being hosted by The Gloucestershire Growth Hub.
The Growth Hub is a fully funded business support programme, designed to help Gloucestershire businesses grow! From one-to-one business advice and support, to a range of expert-led events and online self-service resources, there is a Growth Hub service that’s right for you.
Established in 2014, the Gloucestershire Growth Hub Network has grown to become one of the most highly recognised and successful Growth Hubs in the country and has to date worked with more than 10,000 growing county businesses.
Ranging from early-stage business through to established SMEs, The Growth Hub help businesses become more productive and realise their ambitions to grow. Whether its finding funding sources, developing your team or breaking into new markets, The Growth Hub can help.
