CHAMBER NEWS Breaking through barriers to growth


Have you experienced steady business growth which has plateaued or want to take your organisation to the next level? A new Ready to Grow


programme, facilitated by the Chamber and delivered in partnership with Qinesis and the D2N2 Growth Hub, including ScaleUp, has been launched. The cross-LEP programme will


also be available through the Business Gateway Growth Hub for the Leicester and Leicestershire area. The Ready to Grow programme


has been specifically designed for business leaders who want to reignite their business growth, hone their leadership skills and empower their teams to realise their long- term growth ambitions.


The programme consists of six


key modules which will equip delegates with the knowledge, skills and action plans to apply to specific situations: • Leading for success • Managing finance for growth • Sales myths unlocked • Maximising your teams’ potential • Innovation for SMEs • Your road map to success


Each module is delivered by a


team of specialist consultants, while the programme is based around Kaplan & Norton’s The Balanced Scorecard model. This recognised framework will help delegates translate their business vision into tangible actions to facilitate sustainable growth. Ready to Grow could be right for


you if: • You’re an SME based in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire or Leicestershire that employs five or more people


• Your business growth has slowed or stalled


• You have a desire to grow but need help getting there


For more information, contact the D2N2 Growth Hub on 0333 006 9178, email info@D2N2GrowthHub.co.uk or visit www.D2N2GrowthHub.co.uk. If based in Leicestershire, contact the Business Gateway Growth Hub on 0116 366 8487, email growthhub@bizgateway.org.uk or visit www.bizgateway.org.uk


Chamber responds to immigration changes


Responding to the Government’s proposals for a points-based immigration system, Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at the Chamber, said: “While a clearly defined immigration policy is required moving forward, it is essential that Government understands the potential implications on businesses which have had to contend with complexities and uncertainty for too long. “The speed and scale in which


businesses here in the East Midlands and beyond will be required to respond and adapt to this system should not be underestimated. “Time and again our members tell us –


both anecdotally and through our Quarterly Economic Surveys – that they are having difficulty recruiting at all skill levels and access to overseas workers remains critical to a number of sectors.


46 business network March 2020 “Once again, we call on Government to


work with the business community to establish a simple process that does not restrict the talent pool available or hinder growth aspirations.” Adam Marshall, Director General at the


British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), added: “The speed and scale of these changes will require significant adjustment by businesses from Cornwall to Inverness. “Companies are already investing


heavily in home-grown talent across the UK, but critical labour shortages mean firms will still need access to overseas workers at all skill levels. “The new points system must


be able to respond quickly to changing market needs, and the application process must be radically simplified.”


Scott Knowles


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