Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
Peer Networks is set to drive SME growth as small to medium-sized business owners work together to navigate challenges and adapt to the “new normal”.
From construction to cycling, early adopters of Peer Networks Chris Kane and Kirsti Grayson are already seeing the benefits of tackling common challenges and opportunities with other businesses.
Up and down the country SME business owners, such as Chris and Kirsti, are coming together in small groups to learn from each other on important challenges and opportunities such as EU transition, recovering from the impacts of Covid-19, HR, tech, finance and marketing.
>See also: Your guide to Peer Networks
Chris Kane, co-founder of Dorset-based Greendale Construction, is one of many small business owners who have already signed up for Peer Networks.
Chris said: “This year has been a challenging time for all businesses, especially SMEs as the ongoing pandemic continues to cause uncertainty.
“Peer Networks are interesting and engaging, with a great mix of business owners taking part. I came with an open mind and wanted to help myself and others address some of the business challenges we are facing.
“I want to learn from my peers, understand their challenges, speak about our own and
Tag Archive for Business Management
Hot Business News Today
The power of peer support and how Peer Networks can help SMEs thrive
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
As a small to medium sized business owner, engaging with a network of trusted peers to talk about and find solutions for opportunities and challenges can be an extremely valuable experience.
Gaining practical insights as a result of support others who are in a similar position can help guide the business in the right direction and position them to take advantage of future growth.
Whether an SME business is assessing new market opportunities or facing challenges around product development, HR, tech, finance or marketing, peer support can give business owners the opportunity to share those issues in a collaborative environment often leading to highly impactful solutions that reflect on valuable feedback from their peers.
Peer Networks has been developed to create a trusted and powerful virtual support network for SMEs to work together in small groups so they can strengthen their own knowledge and improve the overall performance of their business.
Backed by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Peer Networks is being delivered locally in England by Growth Hubs with the support of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) network.
Kirsti Grayson (below), director of Go Velo, a Bikeability provider offering cycle training and bike maintenance
Hot Business News Today
Peer Networks supports small business owners to grow their businesses
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
Peer Networks is set to drive SME growth as small to medium-sized business owners work together to navigate challenges and adapt to the “new normal”.
From construction to cycling, early adopters of Peer Networks Chris Kane and Kirsti Grayson are already seeing the benefits of tackling common challenges and opportunities with other businesses.
Up and down the country SME business owners, such as Chris and Kirsti, are coming together in small groups to learn from each other on important challenges and opportunities such as EU transition, recovering from the impacts of Covid-19, HR, tech, finance and marketing.
>See also: Your guide to Peer Networks
Chris Kane, co-founder of Dorset-based Greendale Construction, is one of many small business owners who have already signed up for Peer Networks.
Chris said: “This year has been a challenging time for all businesses, especially SMEs as the ongoing pandemic continues to cause uncertainty.
“Peer Networks are interesting and engaging, with a great mix of business owners taking part. I came with an open mind and wanted to help myself and others address some of the business challenges we are facing.
“I want to learn from my peers, understand their challenges, speak about our own and
Hot Business News Today
The seven key business growth drivers
by Lynn Rattigan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Lynn Rattigan on Small Business
Since the emergence of COVID-19, SMEs have undergone a rapid evolution with priorities shifting overnight and changes made to how they conduct business.
For some, this has been an opportunity to reassess business models and operational costs, diversify offerings and find new ways of delivering the same services. Despite the challenges of this year and uncertainty over the future UK-EU trading relationship, SMEs continue to demonstrate their ability to respond in agile ways. Many entrepreneurial businesses remain cautiously optimistic about how they’ve been able to pivot.
Amid disruption to the economy, there are key growth drivers that can help entrepreneurs and SMEs maintain their ambitions and protect growth plans. These drivers can help aspiring companies think differently about their businesses and successfully execute their growth strategy over the long-term. These drivers are: the customer, people, technology, operations, finance, transactions and risk.
Our research has found that focusing on each one can help business leaders assess where they are today and plan the right path to accelerate growth. The most successful companies tend to keep in mind their mid- to long-term priorities, and they continue to invest in areas such new talent, which they know will be
Hot Business News Today
Your guide to Peer Networks
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
The UK has led the way when it comes to SME businesses innovating and collaborating as they seek to scale and grow.
During uncertain economic conditions it is more important than ever for SMEs to work together through their challenges to learn, share and collectively find solutions that can have long-term impact both on their business and the economy.
At times of uncertainty, business owners should not feel they are on their own and by working with like-minded people who know business best, other business leaders, they can ensure they are getting the right support and solutions to prepare them for future growth.
To do this, the government backed Peer Networks has been developed to support businesses in England.
The programme has been created with SMEs in mind and will be delivered by local Growth Hubs, who understand the local business landscape.
How does Peer Networks work?
The programme will see the creation of a series of Peer Networks (cohorts) through the Growth Hub network, with each group consisting of between eight and 11 owners or managers from the SME business community participating in each network.
Led by a professional facilitator, there is no cost to join Peer Networks. Sessions
Hot Business News Today
The seven key business growth drivers
by Lynn Rattigan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Lynn Rattigan on Small Business
Since the emergence of COVID-19, SMEs have undergone a rapid evolution with priorities shifting overnight and changes made to how they conduct business.
For some, this has been an opportunity to reassess business models and operational costs, diversify offerings and find new ways of delivering the same services. Despite the challenges of this year and uncertainty over the future UK-EU trading relationship, SMEs continue to demonstrate their ability to respond in agile ways. Many entrepreneurial businesses remain cautiously optimistic about how they’ve been able to pivot.
Amid disruption to the economy, there are key growth drivers that can help entrepreneurs and SMEs maintain their ambitions and protect growth plans. These drivers can help aspiring companies think differently about their businesses and successfully execute their growth strategy over the long-term. These drivers are: the customer, people, technology, operations, finance, transactions and risk.
Our research has found that focusing on each one can help business leaders assess where they are today and plan the right path to accelerate growth. The most successful companies tend to keep in mind their mid- to long-term priorities, and they continue to invest in areas such new talent, which they know will be
Hot Business News Today
Your guide to Peer Networks
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
The UK has led the way when it comes to SME businesses innovating and collaborating as they seek to scale and grow.
During uncertain economic conditions it is more important than ever for SMEs to work together through their challenges to learn, share and collectively find solutions that can have long-term impact both on their business and the economy.
At times of uncertainty, business owners should not feel they are on their own and by working with like-minded people who know business best, other business leaders, they can ensure they are getting the right support and solutions to prepare them for future growth.
To do this, the government backed Peer Networks has been developed to support businesses in England.
The programme has been created with SMEs in mind and will be delivered by local Growth Hubs, who understand the local business landscape.
How does Peer Networks work?
The programme will see the creation of a series of Peer Networks (cohorts) through the Growth Hub network, with each group consisting of between eight and 11 owners or managers from the SME business community participating in each network.
Led by a professional facilitator, there is no cost to join Peer Networks. Sessions
Hot Business News Today
Five reasons why Peer Networks could benefit your business
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
The year 2020 has proved challenging for SMEs across all sectors but working with like-minded peers to address key issues and opportunities can help businesses to successfully navigate through Covid-19 and the ongoing EU transition.
At a time when SMEs need impactful support, working with other business leaders is an effective approach to share knowledge and find solutions in a trusted and collaborative space – and the Peer Networks Programme, backed by the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – aims to do just that.
What is the Peer Networks programme?
Peer Networks is an initiative that will bring together SME businesses to support them as they work together on important challenges, while also coming up with tangible solutions in a collaborative environment.
The programme is being delivered in England locally by the network of Growth Hubs and supported by their respective Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
Peer Networks will form an important part of the government’s drive to improve productivity and deliver part of the economic response to the effect of Covid-19 on businesses.
It will provide support to SMEs as they move into and through the recovery phase of Covid-19 response, improve SMEs’ capability to
Hot Business News Today
Five reasons why Peer Networks could benefit your business
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
The year 2020 has proved challenging for SMEs across all sectors but working with like-minded peers to address key issues and opportunities can help businesses to successfully navigate through Covid-19 and the ongoing EU transition.
At a time when SMEs need impactful support, working with other business leaders is an effective approach to share knowledge and find solutions in a trusted and collaborative space – and the Peer Networks Programme, backed by the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – aims to do just that.
What is the Peer Networks programme?
Peer Networks is an initiative that will bring together SME businesses to support them as they work together on important challenges, while also coming up with tangible solutions in a collaborative environment.
The programme is being delivered in England locally by the network of Growth Hubs and supported by their respective Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
Peer Networks will form an important part of the government’s drive to improve productivity and deliver part of the economic response to the effect of Covid-19 on businesses.
It will provide support to SMEs as they move into and through the recovery phase of Covid-19 response, improve SMEs’ capability to
Hot Business News Today
3 steps to improve productivity during the pandemic
by anthonyimpey • • 0 Comments
Originally written by anthonyimpey on Small Business
After the toughest year in living memory for business leaders across the country, it’s been great to hear the news of successful vaccine trials. However, it may be some time before British businesses return to something that feels like normality. The latest productivity figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that although there is a rise in how much each British worker produces since the start of the pandemic, it’s still below pre-crisis levels.
While it might have felt like a near impossible task over the last nine months, business leaders can improve the performance of their teams – and therefore overall productivity – during a pandemic. The prize is greater profits and a more resilient business.
The pandemic has been a huge trend accelerator – with perhaps the most seismic shift towards online, by both consumers and businesses. Business leaders have also been presented with new management challenges every day. The need for faster decision making and the extended period of remote working has forced many leaders to rapidly introduce new processes and new technology.
‘The first lockdown caused three years’ worth of innovation in the first three months of the pandemic’
The pace