Member Article

Meet NBSL’s Sylvia Grainger, Director of Programmes

Having worked in the business support arena for 20 years, Sylvia Grainger, recently appointed as Director of Programmes at NBSL and prior to that NBSL’s Enterprise Services Manager, has seen many changes to the programmes available to new start and existing businesses.

Her own approach and ethos has remained constant however. A firm believer in providing excellent customer service and promoting enterprise in the region, Sylvia’s new role links the provision of services to people wishing to start a business with a programme enabling existing businesses to access funding to help them grow their enterprises.

Sylvia who was previously a Business Adviser and a Senior Workforce Development Adviser, is extremely knowledgeable about the needs of companies that require support to help them develop their management capabilities and so grow, and she is also passionate about making a difference to people’s lives through the delivery of the NBSL enterprise start-up service.

As Sylvia pointed out,

“The team at NBSL is superb, with SFEDI accredited advisers and NVQ (IAG) qualified support staff they all work together to deliver a premium service to clients. Currently funding is available through NBSL’s North East Leadership and Management Advisory Service providing up to a maximum of £1,000 (matched by the business) for private sector organisations and social enterprises in the region that offer business to business products and services and have aspirations to grow. If senior leaders need support to help them achieve goals, growth and move their business forward, this programme fits the bill perfectly.

The benefits of such coaching and mentoring are considerable, as a result of the funding companies in the region have increased their levels of sales and profitability and have employed more staff and moved into new markets. The funding is easy and quick to access and the feedback from clients who have used the service has been extremely complimentary and positive.

On the new business start-up side, advice is offered to people who need support to make their ideas a reality, and clients who have used the start-up service through NBSL’s six local branches in Northumberland have said that they couldn’t have started their business without the support of their NBSL adviser, so many lives have been changed for the better as a result of this support.“

For more information about NBSL and its services go to www.nbsl.org.uk or telephone us on 01670 813322.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Phil Langton .