The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub celebrates a stunning nineteen months of supporting businesses in the region through their popular Masterclasses.
However, there isn’t long left for businesses to benefit. This free support ends in March 2019, and a number of the Masterclasses are already fully subscribed.
Since March 2016 the SCR Growth Hub Enhancement Project has run 77 Masterclasses across the Sheffield City Region and has supported 366 business by developing the skill set of the business owners and their teams.
The Masterclasses range from improving digital marketing and sales skills, introduction to public sector tendering to supporting ISO accreditation and improving efficiency within businesses.
The Masterclasses are offered to Sheffield City Region businesses thanks to funding for the project from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Sheffield based business, PCPM, attended an introduction to public sector tendering and a finance for non-financial managers Masterclass to improve the business’s chances of winning a tender and develop the business’ confidence in financial reporting.
PCPM owner Peter Crown said, “The Masterclasses were very interesting, providing real-world business advice from expert practitioners who understand the needs of small business and how to achieve growth in a challenging economy.”
Derbyshire Dales based business, CEM Solutions, attended Masterclasses on developing a sales strategy and introducing LEAN thinking into their business.
Jo Lloyd, CEM director, said “We have taken away tools and techniques which has enabled us to plan to reduce inefficiencies and use tips and hints to improve our sales strategy.”
Rotherham based Arrow Technical attended Masterclasses to improve their skill set and develop their knowledge of both cyber security and employee engagement.
Dr Chris Worrall, founder and director of the business said “The Masterclasses were very informative and well worth the time away from the office”.
Chris took away practical tools from both Masterclasses to implement in his business. They also supported the development of his Management team, allowing Chris to delegate aspects of the day to day operational duties. He states, “Following the Masterclasses, I got the team eager, willing and able”.
The Masterclasses are free and available to businesses in the Sheffield City Region until March 2019.
Their full schedule can be viewed here, but check back regularly as the team are constantly updating.
The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project is receiving up to £2.7m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’ (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, business, create jobs and local community regeneration’s. For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.