28 business focus
A partnership approach to start-up success
At ConnectTVT, partnerships are a core ethos, writes Louize Clarke
We believe that collaboration has to be the key driver to achieving our vision of truly putting the Thames Valley back on the cluster map. This means creating a shift in the way we support start- ups, creating better conditions for them to thrive in a more sustainable culture.
That’s why we’re so thrilled to have teamed up with NatWest for a new programme of start-up competitions. The Take the Mic competitions will build on the success of the second Thames Valley Tech Week we ran earlier this month, bringing together start-ups, growing businesses, industry trailblazers and schools to enable the region’s growing tech and start-up economy to thrive.
Our Take the Mic programme brings together ambitious start-ups to pitch their ideas to a panel of regional stakeholders and a live audience, with winners gaining access to NatWest’s team of start-up experts and advisers. Alongside the live pitches, contestants benefit from business breakout sessions, mentoring and networking throughout the competition stages. Successful entrants will also win a month’s free desk space at GROW@ GreenPark, our fast-growing incubation hub, aimed at start- ups, small businesses, creative entrepreneurs and freelancers.
NatWest has been an early supporter of ours; this extended partnership strengthens its association with the ConnectTVT platform and as a key stakeholder within the Thames Valley start-up community. NatWest’s great track record working with early stage businesses is a real asset to us, and it’s great that our contestants will be able to benefit from the expertise and advice available through the NatWest team.
As my colleague David Askew,
www.businessmag.co.uk
The next real challenge
The recession may be over, but for many business owners, the next real challenge has only just begun…
The end of the recession has had a dramatic impact on what business owners need, and there’s been a fundamental shift in their approach to coaching and training.
senior relationship manager at NatWest specialising in technology, explains: “Our business is completely committed to helping start-ups take forward their entrepreneurial ideas and visions, and make these a reality. Competitions like Take the Mic can provide that vital launch-pad, helping businesses to get an idea off the ground or take it to that next level. We are huge advocates of the energy and vitality Louize and her team has brought to the region through ConnectTVT and we’re thrilled to be supporting this exciting new phase in our joint venture.”
Start-ups have the potential to form a vital part of our economy in this region and will be critical to ensuring our skills remain competitive. The Take the Mic partnership is another way we can help ambitious entrepreneurs become part of a growing community of great start-ups and small businesses.
For more information about ConnectTVT or to find out about GROW@GreenPark visit the websites, details below.
Details:
www.connecttvt.co.uk www.growgreenpark.co.uk
World class management development on your doorstep
The High Growth Accelerator Programme, at Henley Business School, has been designed specifically for ambitious leaders of SMEs and teams with high growth potential.
MAXX Design is a good example. It is a 20-year-old design business based in Newbury.
For several years, most SMEs have been desperate for sales and marketing support, because they’d been scrambling around for new business opportunities. The key activity was gaining new customers.
Since then, however, the landscape has evolved. SMEs now have more available capital, and so do their customers. There are more business opportunities, and the challenges have changed. Now it is more about keeping clients and ensuring you are involved in profitable activity with a future.
The new drivers for business growth: profit, competitive advantage and work-life balance
According to top marketing experts, the key drivers for this new reality are the desire to maximise profitability, maximise competitive advantage, and – especially for owners of smaller businesses – improve work-life balance.
MD, Dermot de Courcy Robinson, is clear about the benefits: “Our directors attended this programme to help us to think differently about how to grow the business. We spent three days focusing on strategy, succession planning and identifying key target customers. It was a real challenge to our thinking, but it inspired us to refocus on driving the business forward. And it has given us a significant competitive advantage.“
The programme also proved a lifeline for Ancoris, an award- winning cloud solutions provider.
“I set up Ancoris in 2003 and we grew to £2 million turnover by 2009,’ said CEO David McLeman, ‘but then we hit a brick wall and needed to rethink our plans. I felt we were missing opportunities.
“My directors and I attended the High Growth Accelerator Programme at Henley and they challenged us to look at our business with fresh eyes, helping us to formulate a new strategy. Over the past two years we’ve seen our turnover accelerate to £5m. The experience has proved invaluable for us.“
Details: Diana Richards 01491-418767
exec@henley.ac.uk www.henley.ac.uk/BusinessGrowth
Follow us on twitter: @HenleyExecEd
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 15/JANUARY 16
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