Fully-funded business support for business owners and leaders
Get funded, practical, no-nonsense support from the people who know business best; other SME business leaders and owners.
Following on from the success of the outstanding Peer Networks programme, we are delighted to announce the launch of the new 2023 Boost Business Owners Network.
The programme is now taking applications and we are looking for SME leaders who want to grow and develop their organisation with the support of like-minded entrepreneurs from across the Lancashire Region’s business community.
With the increased challenges facing businesses, including talent acquisition and retention, supply chain restrictions, inflationary cost pressure and productivity, you can prepare your business for the future by joining likeminded SME businesses benefiting from the support provided by the Boost Business Owners Network by working together to find practical solutions to the challenges you’re facing.
The programme is delivered through a series of high impact group sessions and includes direct 1:1 mentoring and coaching with an expert business mentor.
The programme includes:
- Interactive action learning
- Expert facilitator with real-word, hands-on SME business leadership
- Small cohorts of non-competing businesses
- Focussed and flexible topic selection
- 1:1 mentoring and coaching support
- Secure Portal with all tools, guides, templates for participants
By completing the programme, you will:
- Overcome business challenges and recognise and act on new opportunities.
- Build a trusted network of connections to support you now and in the future.
- Improve your long-term personal and business performance.
- Receive support to help you tackle the short-term issues that are affecting your business now.
01 No Cost
The programme is fully-funded, so there is no cost for eligible Lancashire SMEs. All it takes is a few hours of your time each month.
Limited places available.
02 Trusted
The programme is non-competitive and brings together business leaders working collaboratively to find solutions to common problems, you can share your expertise and benefit from others.
03 Expert Help
Every session is supported by a trained expert facilitator and business mentor to ensure consistency, efficiency and effectiveness.
Don't just take our word for it
Helen Tonks, Co-Founder and Director of Hydraulics Online, joined the programme after feeling lonely at the family-run business and wanted to connect with like-minded business owners and leaders.
Helen said, I found it hugely rewarding to be part of the process of helping somebody to have a ‘lightbulb moment’ where they could finally see the proverbial wood for the trees and a way through a problem that had often, quite literally, been keeping them awake at night. Since finishing the programme, the cohort has continued to stay in touch and support one another.
Paul Griffiths is the Director of Business Development at Aspire Sports.
Paul felt that one of his biggest challenges was finding the time to focus on the strategic growth of the business. He said: The programme helped me take time out from the day-to-day running of our business and focus on my leadership skills and capabilities. My peer group had a good mix of knowledge and experience from a variety of sectors which became a trusted source of advice.
From finance and HR to sales and marketing, our expert facilitators will give you the flexibility to create a trusted support network, helping to build and strengthen your business and improve its overall performance.
Am I eligible?
Boost Business Owners Network is targeted at businesses that satisfy the following criteria:
- Operated for at least one year
- At least 2 full-time employees (FTE=36 hours)
- A turnover of at least £100,000
- Participants will be decision makers, either business owner, leader or member of senior leadership team
- Are growing or have ambition to grow
- An aspiration and willingness to build resilience and implement change to become a more sustainable business
Programme Benefits
Real-world business topics
The topics of discussion are decided by the participants, enabling you to focus on your own unique challenges while taking learnings from other group members.
Individual 1:1 Support
In addition to the group sessions, you will have access to dedicated one to one support matched to your specific needs, building on your learning experience.
Fully-funded
The programme is fully-funded, so there is no cost for eligible Lancashire SMEs. All it takes is a few hours of your time each month.
Limited places available.
Interactive action learning
We overcome real-life problems by enquiring and reflecting before developing tangible actions and solutions.
Expert Mentors
Every session is supported by a trained expert facilitator and business mentor to ensure consistency, efficiency and effectiveness.
Small cohorts
Small groups ensure that every member of the cohort can share their challenges, problems and opportunities. Mix of virtual and face-to-face sessions.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP
CONTACT
Prefer to have a chat with the programme team?
Book a call back at a time convenient for you via our online booking tool, call our team directly, or send a short message and we'll get back to you.
Send a message
Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub is the lead body for Boost Business Owners Network. Boost is led by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). It is supported by funding from Lancashire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.