profile 31
The vital ingredients for business success
There might not be a ‘best recipe’ for building a successful business, but there are certain ingredients that go a long way to making the difference between success and failure
Having a clear vision and strategy, the right funding, the right people and processes, identifying best routes to market – these are all essential elements for any ambitious business.
It’s not always easy though, which is where the expertise and track record of the team at VitalSix can make a difference. The name highlights the company's target market; it comes from research that states that just 6% of companies create 50% of new jobs and make a disproportionately high economic contribution to their local communities.
Having worked together for almost 10 years, co- founders Susan Elliott and Ed Cooper launched VitalSix to capitalise on their extensive track record. VitalSix team members have grown, raised finance for, and exited many businesses throughout their careers and are now keen to pass on that knowledge and expertise to help other business leaders.
In partnership with Henley Business School
Since its launch just over 12 months ago, VitalSix has gone from strength to strength and is now working in partnership with Henley Business School to deliver its high-profile Henley Accelerator, designed to support the leadership teams of ambitious high-growth businesses.
“Whether you are an established business owner looking to grow or an entrepreneur who is about to start a new business, the Henley Accelerator provides a great opportunity for personal development, to get away from the office and really focus on the key issues that will make a difference to your success,” said Cooper.
“It’s about business planning and strategy, the processes you need to put in place, the ability to identify what really makes you different – at VitalSix we have the knowledge and first-hand expertise needed to drive success and we provide the framework, the tools and techniques that give participants a really solid foundation to move their business forward.”
Professor Andrew Godley, director of Henley Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, said: “The Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship is well aware of the important contribution that small businesses from across this region make to the economy.
“Our Accelerator programme has been carefully designed together with VitalSix to ensure that entrepreneurial businesses can easily access
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – SEPTEMBER 2012
the additional skills and support that will enable them to succeed in the future.”
Improve potential for success The Henley Accelerator has two programmes:
* The Small Business Accelerator focuses on delivering core skills and is aimed at ambitious leaders of small, start-up and early stage companies who have the potential to exceed £500,000 turnover within three years.
* The High Growth Accelerator is aimed at owners and/or management teams of businesses who already have products and customers in the marketplace, high growth and typically a £1 million-plus turnover.
Each programme runs quarterly and is split into two bite-size residential chunks as VitalSix recognises small businesses can’t afford to have key personnel away from the office for too long.
Numbers are kept to 12-16 per course and workshop sessions and breakout groups enable ideas to be shared among peer groups, something which Elliott says is “very powerful” as it allows individuals to learn from each other’s experiences.
Sponsorship programme
Eager to strengthen its already close links with businesses and professional advisers in the local community, VitalSix has also just stepped up as a sponsor of the Thames Valley SME 100.
Elliott says many of the top ranked companies mirror those VitalSix is working with and she is keen to see how its expertise can help those businesses go one step further. She asks clients “what will you do differently to speed up profitable growth”. A challenge indeed, which VitalSix hopes will help inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Details: Susan Elliott 0118-9357318
susan.elliott@vitalsix.co.uk www.vitalsix.co.uk
Participants share ideas and challenge each other
Funding advice, now more precious than ever, is also available and the VitalSix team helps businesses evaluate key milestones and growth projections to help gain funding from a variety of sources. It has worked with businesses to raise over £200m, and has a wealth of know-how to help Thames Valley companies.
Working with Elliott and Cooper to deliver the programme is a team of fellow professionals, while guest speaker slots feature successful entrepreneurs who really understand what it is like to run a business.
“We are very aware that leaders of small businesses need the practical tools to improve their skills to more effectively manage growth to achieve their ambitions,” said Elliott. “Scalability, whether a business has global potential, how it can protect its intellectual property and financial drivers are important elements of the programme.”
www.businessmag.co.uk Diary dates
Small Business Accelerator – October 4/5 and November 8
High Growth Accelerator – November 5/6 and 20/21
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