The SME Knowledge Network
What is SME Knowledge Network?
The SME Knowledge Network provides a really special service which allows businesses across Yorkshire and the north of England to benefit from access to practical and solution-focused learning, tailored to the needs of the SME.
Based at Bradford University School of management, one of the UK and Europe's leading business schools, we provide top quality academic input, the latest management research and cutting edge learning opportunities specifically designed to help small firms grow.
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Economic Challenge Investment Fund |
With unprecedented investment from the Higher Education Funding Council for England via their Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF), the SME Knowledge Network is able to offer more resources and a greater breadth of services to help SMEs manage through these difficult and challenging times but beyond to growth in the future. This ECIF funding has been used to create the Micro Business Network a key partnership between Bradford Council's Kickstart Programme and the University's SME Knowledge Network, but also to develop new courses for the network, provide new Learning and Development pathways for the SME Knowledge Network with, coaching and academic consultancy and student work. We have been able to provide outreach to new local forums and partnerships and offer learning and development opportunities to a new streams of businesses in fresh locations.
What is an SME?
An SME is a small to medium sized enterprise, defined as any business or organization employing less than 250 people. Typically, a small business employs up to 49 people, and a medium sized from 50-249.
What happens at the SME Knowledge Network?
Evening Master Classes & Networking Events
We hold regular evening events and Master Classes, where you will hear from one of our leading academics who will provide insights into business and management topics, usually chosen by members of the network. These insights will be complemented by presentations from practitioners about how it actually works in practice. We discuss the successes as well as the failures, the opportunities as well as the threats - all in a very practical manner.
The events usually take place around a Networking Forum where you might meet other experts, businesses and local industry figures. Good food is provided at a great venue and the company in which you will move geared towards the sharing of ideas and input. The Network is a real and functioning entity, where advice from peers and experts alike can make that important difference to your organization. It's an open door.
To complement our evening events we also have regular advice clinics and peer to peer action learning forums.
Growth Programme
"This opportunity to access valued training and development has been a source of inspiration for our staff - the learning easily transferred back into the workplace." Andrew Dodds HR Manager BTL Limited. |
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"Giving business leaders an opportunity to find the answers in their own context" Heather Jones, Ingham Jones. |
The SME Knowledge Network's Growth Programme is FREE to businesses in the Bradford area. The Programme has been sponsored by the Kickstart Programme from Bradford Council and by funds from the Higher Education Innovation Fund.
When you join the Growth Programme a learning and development pathway is created for you to help your business overcome its own particular barriers to growth. The Programme opens up a bank of resources from the School of Management, a tailored pathway to help your business grow.
A learning and development pathway might use consultancy from key academic staff, a variety of courses, clinics, student projects, networking, group learning and master-classes to create customised solutions to boost business growth. Whether you need questions answered, new ideas, strategic direction, a business rethink or key staff members developed to make that leap forward - come and talk to us! Contact Owen Whitehouse on smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk.
Director Support Network
This Network is FREE to Directors in the Growth Programme. It encompasses small group sessions which are focused on identifying an individual's business problems and formulating ways of tackling these from the experience of the group. Group sessions are professionally facilitated and supported by coaching in between sessions which allows you to embed solutions in the workplace and to keep a check on implementation.
Additional expert advice, should it be required, is drawn from the group. If the group decides it needs a specific knowledge input, whatever that might be e.g marketing, strategy or what on earth is the credit crunch - it will be provided in Group sessions.
Group meetings last for a morning or an afternoon and there are typically about 5 meetings in a six month period. If you would like to sign up to the Director Support Network please contact Owen Whitehouse on smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk.
Is this relevant to me?
Regardless of the size of organization or sector, we all have customers to satisfy and/or stakeholder needs to meet. Today's markets and customers are ever more volatile and demanding. Businesses need access to the latest in management thinking and we are able to provide just this at the School of Management.
Come along and join the network.
Our FREE evening Master Classes, regularly attract more than 100 visitors. To join in or reserve a place at a forthcoming event contact us on 01274 235676 or email us at smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk. To find more information on forthcoming events and to book on-line see future events.
execed@bradford.ac.uk