Member Article

Jobs boost from coaching programme

Businesses in Northumberland still have 12 months to benefit from a fully-funded support programme that has already delivered new jobs and economic growth in the county.

The Business Northumberland High Growth Programme is being delivered by the UK’s leading specialist coaching company, Oxford Innovation. It offers established and start-up businesses in the county free support in reaching their full growth potential.

At the halfway stage of the programme, 55 client companies have been supported by Oxford Innovation’s team of expert coaches, recording between them a £5.3m increase in turnover and more than 60 jobs created or protected.

The £1.35m programme is funded by the North East European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Oxford Innovation’s programme manager, Mike Jobson, is delighted with what has been achieved in the first 12 months: “We were always very ambitious about what could be achieved but the progress so far is really quite startling. To see a combined increase in turnover almost four times the original investment is a clear signal of the effectiveness of the programme.”

Clients to have participated to date include Active Composites and The All-In-One-Company from Ashington, Solar Capture Technologies from Blyth, Amble’s Quest UAV and Morpeth’s Anarchy Brew Co.

“For most clients, this has been their first experience of coaching,” said Mike. “Some have required very specific, practical support on business planning, sales forecasting or marketing while for others, we have provided mentoring for individuals or teams. I’ve been hugely impressed by the ingenuity and dedication of the businesses participating in the programme and by the receptive manner in which they have embraced the concept of coaching.”

Oxford Innovation’s methods have proved successful elsewhere in the UK, where the organisation has worked with over 2,500 high growth businesses. And despite the challenging economic circumstances of recent years, Oxford Innovation has helped its clients across the UK access over £100 million of funding, creating or safeguarding more than 2,000 jobs.

Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery is especially appreciative of the programme given the closure of the Rio Tinto Alcan plant in his constituency in March 2012: “There are some incredibly talented people in the Northumberland business community and this programme is all about helping them to realise their full growth potential. I have been very impressed by Mike and his team and I congratulate all of the fantastic businesses that have participated so far. My message to any Northumberland business with aspirations to grow would be to get involved with the programme before it’s too late.”

Oxford Innovation is delivering the programme on behalf of Arch, The Northumberland Development Company and Northumberland County Council.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme and how Oxford Innovation can potentially support their business should call 01670 528403, email northumberland@oxin.co.uk or visit www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Round Table Solutions Ltd .