Yes, We KAN Grow! A celebration of the Knowledge Action Network
Contents Introduction
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Welcome to KAN
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KAN Region Map
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Knowledge Action Groups
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Master Classes
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KAN Coaches
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Case Studies
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University of Cumbria
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University of Chester
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KAN Marketplace
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Awards and Good News
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Introduction Welcome to “Yes, We Can Grow!” – our celebration of the ERDF funded Knowledge Action Network project at MMU. As the project comes to an end in 2015, we are looking back at the last three years and the 200+ SME owners with whom we have worked, to grow your businesses and the North West economy as a whole. We developed the KAN project to support SMEs throughout the North West to grow through a variety of programme elements. We know that the people at the forefront of the SME experience are you and your peers, and so the Knowledge Action Groups enable you to share your challenges with others from across all sectors, in a dedicated, challenging and supportive environment. Specialist coaching is provided to enable you to work on solutions to these challenges, and masterclasses bring the group together for inspiring input from those who have led others to success. As you are all aware, we have a dedicated KAN team here at MMU, who all passionately care about our firms and their success. Thank you for working with us to make KAN such an inspiring project for all of us too!
Jennie Shorley Carling Project Manager, Knowledge Action Network
Our Partner The Knowledge Action Network project is part-funded by the North West European Regional Development Fund Programme. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to local people and businesses. The current North West ERDF programme, which is worth €755 million, is enhancing the competitiveness of local economies by supporting businesses and creating / safeguarding jobs. ERDF in the North West is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government – for further information visit www.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-and-resources .
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Welcome to the Knowledge Action Network Small businesses are leading the way in the UK. Here at the Centre for Enterprise at MMU, we know that you are creative, innovative and dynamic organisations, facing a huge variety of challenges, particularly during the economic downturn. Through our work with nearly 1000 small firms, we have found that small businesses work best with each other to share, support, and network. Through working with our experts and each other, we have seen amazing growth. The Knowledge Action Network (KAN) is born from this knowledge. We know that this approach works, and we are ready to take action, and to grow with you.
The Knowledge Action Network has 6 key elements Diagnostic
Knowledge Action Groups
In-depth diagnostic, to unlock your business challenges. This is taken at the beginning, mid way and at the end of the programme and maps your growth journey.
Groups of 6-8 companies with shared challenges.
Online Support
Master Classes
Throughout the programme you will have access to your profile, our support, and other members through our website.
Centre for Enterprise Master Classes, designed to meet delegates’ needs.
The Knowledge Action Network This network of small firms from across the North West will come together to support each other, network and trade. Over 200 firms will be part of the network; that’s 200 opportunities for your business.
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Along with industry and academic experts, you will decide the best way to meet your challenges over a series of group sessions.
Individual Coaching 6 hours of individual coaching to work intensively on your business.
Region Map Jobs created:
SMEs assisted:
67
214
Cumbria
Improved Performance:
88 Jobs safeguarded:
Lancashire
52 Greater Manchester
Cheshire
New collaborations (with universities):
190
*As of December 31st 2014
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Knowledge Action Groups “It has been an amazing experience to observe the KAN businesses develop over the course of the programme, and a privilege to help provide a platform to assist them in supporting each other as they tackle their individual challenges on the path to success. My thanks to them (for I have also learnt a lot!) and my best wishes for their continued success.” - Teresa Fitzpatrick
“The KAN programme allowed me to work with some of the most interesting, engaging and successful business owners within our region. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with you all during the KAGs - Playing a part in your journeys was a powerful and rewarding experience for me of which I am very proud of!” - Claire Giddens
“The most striking aspect of the participants on the KAN programme is their willingness to learn; to recognise they don’t have all the answers and the fact they have the desire to appreciate the ups and downs of the journeys that others have made. This ability bodes well for their future, enabling them to avoid pitfalls and select good opportunities. The Knowledge Action Group is a powerful vehicle for engaging in focused decision making and allowing people to develop their understanding of a particular issue or challenge they are facing. As for the participants? They are a dynamic, switched on group of entrepreneurs!” - Paul Deaville
Facilitating Knowledge Action Groups in each cohort of Knowledge Action Network Project has been both fascinating and rewarding. The variety of personalities, companies, sectors, sizes of companies and issues which we have tackled together has been amazing. We have covered everything from business structure, where to export next, too rapid growth, target markets, moving premises, hating cold calling, raising £3 million, losing a large customer, problems with business partners, recruitment, exit strategies, costing, patents for inventions, branding, funding, websites, work life balance, how to use social media and many, many more issues. It has been great to witness this growth in what has been an exciting period for Manchester business and I look forward to seeing these businesses thrive in the future. - Liz Gorb
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Master Classes Local businesses engaged in the KAN programme participated in over 30 master classes covering a wide range of business-orientated topics including:
Ÿ Tips for Tendering Ÿ Leading Negotiations Ÿ Marketing Master Class
Ÿ Know your Numbers –
Finance Ÿ Leadership, Assertiveness
and Emotional Intelligence
Ÿ Value Building Behaviour
Ÿ Value Building Behaviour
Ÿ Social Media
Ÿ Time Consciousness
Ÿ Family Business Event
Ÿ SEO Master Class
Ÿ Finance Workshop
Ÿ Mediation
Ÿ Bringing out Shareholders
Ÿ Business Review Leading
Workshop Ÿ High Performance through
Employee Engagement Ÿ Streetwise Sales Ÿ Leadership Big & Scary
Goal Ÿ 90 Day Planning Ÿ Leadership Mindset Ÿ IP Master Class
Change in Difficult Times Ÿ Project Management Ÿ Growing More Robust as
Your Business Grows Ÿ Design & Innovation Ÿ Innovation & Creativity Ÿ How to Collaborate Ÿ Winning Press Releases
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"I've been supported all the way by my coach� Jonathan Ashworth, Mighty Giant
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Introducing our expert coaches
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Martin Nolan Martin is a coach on the MMU KAN Programme and is also a tutor on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme. In addition, he is a registered and approved Growth Coach for GrowthAccelerator. He has worked with hundreds of business owners across the North West - and across all sectors - enabling them to write and implement strategic business plans; to understand their finances; to market and sell their products and services better and to develop their people and their processes. Ultimately, allowing them to improve profits, to create jobs, to be supported by a happy and efficient workforce and to get some time back for their personal lives. Martin is married with 3 school-aged children. When he is not working he loves sailing and water-skiing and is also a keen snow-skier and cyclist. Martin is the Vice-Chair of the board of PANDA (the Performing Arts Network & Development Agency) and is also on the Board of Just Psychology, a Community Interest Company.
“It has been a real pleasure to work with so many fantastic people on the KAN programme and also to have been able to play a part in the development and growth of "our" MMU businesses. Good luck for the future, stay in touch and keep us up to date with your progress!"
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Melanie Bryan OBE Honoured with an OBE in 2012 for her services to Social Enterprise and Women's Enterprise in the North West, Melanie is a multi-award winning entrepreneur. Despite experience of a huge range of companies and working environments gained in senior roles within financial institutions, the Cooperative Group and as a global management consultant where she led major transformation programmes around the world; Melanie describes founding WhyNotChange in 2009 as her steepest, scariest, but most rewarding learning curve! Since then Melanie has provided bespoke support, training and events to help over 1500 enterprising people - from businesses, social enterprises, charities and communities - to take their passion and purpose and turn them into greater profit and a positive difference. This includes helping them to win an astounding £156m in public sector contracts and grants. As part of her commitment to making her services accessible to all, Melanie provides her services wherever possible through funded programmes such as the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme; Knowledge Action Network; and the Big Assist programme. “The 3 words that sum up the KAN programme for me are passion, diversity and success. It's been an absolute privilege to support such diverse business owners make a even bigger positive difference – whether that be winning new work, attacking new markets, or taking the plunge to create new jobs. Sharing their highs and lows, and experiencing their passion, commitment, and drive to take forward new learning and subsequent success in growing their businesses has been exhilarating. I predict great things ahead for each and every one!”
“The 3 words that sum up the KAN programme for me are passion, diversity and success.”
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Dr. Martin Haigh Martin Haigh has been involved with the KAN programme since its inception, and has coached a number of KAN clients over the past 2.5 years. Martin has worked with organisations such as Sunde Technologies, Admin Tones, OSW Ltd, The Change Agency, Trafford Media & Communications Ltd, Raynes Architecture, Master Moves and Abacus IT Consulting Ltd. Martin is the owner of Multi award-winning Training and Development Company, Lattitude7. His company provides training solutions in personal development, team building, coaching & mentoring, solution finding, ethics & integrity and change management. Programmes are highly interactive and clients can try new approaches, but without any embarrassment. People are supported with communications, sales and leadership skills to help them to improve their interpersonal ability. Clients become more confident, are more positive and are more effective in the work place. As they do more with less, this improvement impacts on the bottom line and gives their businesses an edge. He firmly believes in organisational sustainability and ensures that clients continue to develop following the training intervention. Martin is a Marathon runner and Ironman Triathlete so he knows a thing or two about setting goals and achieving results.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to see committed business leaders develop themselves, their organisations and their client relationships in support of mutual growth!�
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Tim Iles Tim joined the MMU KAN team as a Coach at the start of Cohort 1 and is a Tutor on The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business programme. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and has a Masters Level Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring. When asked for reflections on KAN, he highlighted the fantastic personal growth he has seen in so many participants and the impact this has had on the businesses they lead. Tim came through a formal management career in manufacturing and international supply chain, working with major companies in the UK and overseas to gain wide experience in Operations, Sales and Marketing roles. Examples of companies Tim has worked with include Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Nike and Next. Tim founded TIML in 2004 to help Small Businesses achieve their Growth Goals by providing Coaching and Consultancy in wide range of topics including Strategy, Leadership, Marketing and Operations. Since its inception, TIML has provided Growth support to over 400 businesses throughout the UK and several overseas.
“It's great to see people who are passionate about their own business work with other owners of completely different enterprises and help each other work out solutions to common challenges. In pretty much every case I have seen people grow in confidence through their own personal 'KAN experience' and go back to their business with a clearer picture how to achieve growth�
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Peter Cruikshanks Peter has worked in B2B management and leadership roles for more than 20 years. He trained as a chartered accountant and moved to lead change programmes, coach b u si n e ss ma n a g e rs, d e ve l o p n e w businesses, introduce customer experience programmes and build continuous improvement wherever he operates. He has been providing business consultancy and coaching to SME business owners for the last 6 years.
“I have really enjoyed my role as a KAN coach. I have met loads of really interesting people who have all shared a passion to develop their business. I hope I have been able to guide, challenge and encourage them to bring more focus and clarity to their business. I have certainly learnt a great deal from them.�
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Introducing our businesses A selection of case studies of businesses who have participated in the KAN programme with MMU
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Printaims Stockport printing business grows with the help of KAN Paul Turner from Printaims has taken part in the Knowledge Action Network programme. Use a QR code reader on your phone or tablet to view this video on our Youtube. In the video, Paul explains how the programme helped him and his business to improve and grow. Vi s i t P r i n t a i m s w e b s i t e : www.printaims.co.uk
“Just being with like-minded people that are in the same position and are like agony aunts - It's a great way of learning�
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We're Moving Relocation Services Ltd Cheshire relocation business making all the right moves Richard Cundiff from We're Moving has taken part in the Knowledge Action Network programme. Use a QR code reader on your phone or tablet to view this video on our Youtube. In the video, he explains how the programme helped him and his business to improve and grow. Visit We're Moving Relocation Services Ltd website: www.weremoving.co.uk
“You learn a lot about yourself, it’s time well spent, you turn your phone off and forget about working in your business, you’re working on your business.” 17
Central Self Drive KAN participant driven to succeed at Central Self Drive David Lewis from Central Self Drive has taken part in the Knowledge Action Network programme. Use a QR code reader on your phone or tablet to view this video on our Youtube. In this video he explains how the programme helped him and his business to improve and grow. Visit Central Self Drive website: www.centralselfdrive.co.uk
“If you are looking to grow your business, get some fresh ideas or re-motivate yourself, that's what KAN can do for you.�
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FCE Projects Ltd New phase of growth opens up for successful Cheshire partnership Taking time out to join the MMU Knowledge Action Network (KAN) Programme gave Tim Whitehill the clarity of purpose he required to determine a new strategic direction, involving launching a second business. This has proved to be a wise move since the new company is growing fast and Tim and business partner Ian Cole are looking to recruit new staff. Tim and Ian, both Civil Engineers and best friends from university, founded Capenhurstbased FCE Projects 10 years ago. The power network construction company has since grown to become a £2.4 million turnover business, employing 23 people. They are a strong business partnership with complementary skills, Tim is strategically focussed and Ian is excellent with clients and the operational side of the business. When Tim joined the MMU programme, he was faced with a momentous decision as to whether to focus on growing the existing successful FCE business, or to consider starting up a brand new and additional business. He said:
“When I came to KAN I wasn't sure which business I wanted to really grow, which one to spend more time on. Taking time out to come to the groups made me rethink my priorities for the business.” The peer-to-peer learning which is at the heart of KAN, and which draws together the experiences of a wide range of trusted business peers to focus on such critical questions, helped Tim to make his decision. “We were able to use surplus funds from FCE to invest in the new company. It would have been possible to try and grow FCE further into a larger, more sector diverse company but we know and like our zone. From our knowledge of construction industry we felt our our business model would have to change and that the risk profile would increase. We therefore decided to diversify into another type of company rather than keep growing FCE into other areas of the construction sector.” In the process of embarking on the new business venture, the partnership which had created such success for FCE, now needed to evolve. Drawing on the learning from the KAN action learning sets and masterclasses, the team were able to successfully re-define their roles and
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structure to support the goals and ambitions of both partners and both businesses. “The new company is already growing quickly in income and is taking on new staff. We are looking for 3 new staff at present and have plans to grow over the next five years!” Tim sees the impact of the programme in both businesses. “With FCE, we have strong relationships with major clients in a segment we know well, which has seen us grow £500,000 per year even in recession. Now there is renewed growth in construction and increased spend in this part of the market, we see even further opportunity for organic growth over the next 2-3 years.” As Tim and Ian look to a continued growth journey with the group, the vital importance of the vision Tim honed as part of his work with Manchester Metropolitan University cannot be understated. “With any company you should develop a vision and stick to that vision. I knew from the outset what we wanted to achieve and it was therefore important that everyone shared that vision. Our real strength is understanding our business model and having the right business partner to complement each other's skills and abilities.” Visit FCE Projects Ltd. website: www.fceprojects.co.uk
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BLISS Creative agency builds growth through being BLISS-ful to work with The peer-to-peer learning opportunities embedded in Centre for Enterprise small business development programmes has propelled Manchester creative and digital agency BLISS to new levels of success. With the tagline “a friendly digital agency in Manchester that's a pleasure to work with,” BLISS has recently grown its turnover from £330,000 to £450,000 and increased staff from 4 to 14 employees. The business is built on a core partnership of three directors, but it was Jon Stutfield, the Creative Managing Director who first reached out to MMU for support in achieving BLISS's growth ambitions. Jon applied and was selected against stiff competition to be part of both the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme and the Knowledge Action Network (KAN), on the basis of the great growth potential that his company displayed. Commenting on his learning journey, Jon said:
“Of everything we experienced, the thing that really made a difference to me was the peer-topeer learning.” “This was so good for us that when I had finished the 10,000 Small Businesses Programme I signed up straight away for KAN in order to carry on getting the benefits from a whole new group of people. Then the only problem with KAN was that the action learning groups were over too quickly!” Jon also highlights the learning that he was able to implement from MMU academics and specialists, in particular: “Taking part in the programmes was a major time commitment at a time when I was very, very busy, but I just took so much away from it about funding and investment, about structure, about so many things. Martin Nolan was my Coach on both programmes and has been incredibly useful. I am having further sessions with him now and he is even going to carry on supporting the management partnership as we grow.” Successfully striving through the early years as a fledgling company, was difficult for BLISS, as with so many truly successful small businesses. When Jon proposed the initial business idea to his partners, the situation was very different to today's growth story. “I told them that if they came with me I could get them work, but might not be able to pay them! We
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started in the recession with three accounts but, fortunately for us, one was huge. Even so, I needed money up front to pay the wages and managed some creative negotiations with our landlord, to let us off the rent for a time while we got going. I am pleased to say, we are still with him now and in much larger premises! " The partnership prevailed over these early hurdles, but it was the access to wider networks and communities of other ambitious small business owners that the programmes provided, which helped to accelerate BLISS's current growth trajectory. “We have employed quite a few people as interns from MMU and other universities, and then we've taken them on as permanent staff.” Partners of the company have a complementary match of skills, which is a significant contributor to success. Jon established the vision and the ethos for the business; other directors are client facing, technical and creative. Newer staff have also bought into the company ethos of being approachable and friendly, but with systems and processes in place. With success already flowing into BLISS, Jon and his partners' vision for the future is clear. “The company name BLISS is based on the idea that an agency should be a pleasure to work with, being supportive to clients rather than just ruthlessly trying to grab money. We have no Sales Directors or Account Managers to get in the way so we don't really 'sell', but instead build relationships. At the moment we have lots of great sales enquiries coming in automatically, so the approach is working!” Visit the BLISS website: www.thisisbliss.com
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Manchester and Cheshire Construction Co Ltd. Construction industry SME beats recession in Manchester Participation in two MMU business growth programmes helped Manchester and Cheshire Construction Co. Ltd survive and thrive through the recession. In 2013, the company announced its record turnover for the 4th year in succession, with revenues rising 21% from the previous year to £8.5 million. Most of this growth has come from high quality projects and with repeat clients. This growth has enabled the company to take on seven more staff in the last year, including two apprentices. Manchester and Cheshire Construction Co. Ltd. is a 43 year old family business based in Salford, which undertakes building and civil engineering projects throughout the North West of England, and specialises in complex projects that vary between structural alterations and adaptations to full internal and external refurbishments. Some of its recent projects include the refurbishment of the Ancient World's Gallery at The Manchester Museum and the Red Lion, Pickmere for Frederic Robinson Brewery. In 2012, Finance Director, Chris Purcell, joined the Knowledge Action Network Programme (KAN), where he was encouraged to share ideas and experiences with other business owners who were facing similar day-to-day challenges:
“The time spent outside the business in an educational environment was priceless; it allowed me to work on the business rather than in the business.” “Our Managing Director, David Lowe, also learnt a great deal from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme and KAN has helped us to continue this business learning. The working groups provide a platform for sharing ideas and issues with like-minded entrepreneurs and the frequent seminars on a wide range of subjects are both useful and informative.” Chris applied the learning to understanding the factors, which had helped Manchester and Cheshire Construction to grow and flourish during a period where others in the industry were struggling. He explained: “During the recession we concentrated on refurbishment, due to the smaller size of our company we were able to nip and tuck and find specialist niches. We tended to undertake the tricky jobs that other firms found too difficult.”
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Participating in both KAN and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme helped the management team to combine the benefits from both forms of support, in order to make strategic decisions about the structure of the company for growth. Chris attributes the company's renewed growth and success to restructuring the company, involving Dave Lowe's transition from Operational Director to Managing Director. He said: "this enabled Dave to concentrate on a more strategic role, focused on following up leads and building relationships with clients. This is particularly important as 80% of the company's work is negotiated directly. Other factors, which have helped us grow, are our family ethos, stable staff and excellent customer service.” As Finance Director, Chris recognised that good money management remains a key factor in growing sustainably. “Don't take too much money out of your company. This will mean that you have to waste a lot of time dealing with suppliers and the bank. We have always reinvested profits. We never had the mentality of taking money out and this really helped us to maintain growth.” Read about how Manchester and Cheshire Construction became the first business to be awarded the Salford City Charter. Visit Manchester and Cheshire Construction Co Ltd. website: www.mcconstruction.co.uk
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Dynasurf (UK) Ltd. Dynasurf takes the lead on improving teamwork Seven years ago Paul Stubbs took over a traditional Engineering and Electroplating business in Sandbach, Cheshire. 'The management style had been very traditional and the staff just did as they were told and had no input to the business. With the help of programmes run by MMU Centre for Enterprise and Business Coach Ann Mulhaney we have developed a more modern business culture. We now work as a real team and the delivery turn around and quality of work is much improved. The team understand the customer needs to a much greater extent and have much more ownership of their work.' 'MMU has been very supportive in offering many courses – our Workshop Supervisor, Ian Dale, has taken Managers to Leaders programme and the Knowledge Action Network. This has given him increased confidence and has transformed his management style.' Impact: ‘Although I had great deal of previous experience in business and management, as owner of my own company I quickly realised that the pressures are very different. Previously I would have discussed issues with other directors and had support there; as a business owner I was on my own.’ ‘I found the peer to peer learning and coaching to be extremely useful. I was then accepted onto Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business scheme. There were quite a lot of lectures, however the mentoring, the links with other company directors and participation in the programme has given me some great contacts and opened up new finance and funding streams for the company.’ ‘Due to our participation in the Goldman Sachs we also now receive a much more positive attitude from the bank.’ Growth: My son has recently become Director of another engineering company and he is now keen to join the next cohort of the Knowledge Action Network. Visit Dynasurf (UK) Ltd. website: www.dynasurf.co.uk
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Energy Ace (Formerly Power Efficient Systems) Energy efficiency business powers up growth with MMU Energy efficiency and manufacturing business Energy Ace has powered up its performance with support from MMU Centre for Enterprise, which has also helped the business secure a £9,000 tax allowance. Since embarking on MMU's enterprise development programmes 18 months ago, the Skelmersdale firm has grown its sales by 36% and is projecting a £3 million turnover in 2016. Gary Vizard and wife Eileen set up Energy Ace from home in 2002 with one engineer. Today the company employs 12 staff and is currently recruiting 5 more people. A recent move into new 12,000 sq. ft. premises will support continued expansion. Growth for Energy Ace was steady for the first 10 years, but during recent years, energy costs have risen dramatically, providing strong demand for PES' energy efficient solutions. Eighteen months ago, Energy Ace launched several new energy saving products, for both commercial and domestic use. At the same time, Gary was accepted onto the Knowledge Action Network (KAN) and then the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme, both programmes run by MMU's Centre for Enterprise. Gary says that these programmes have assisted greatly with ramping up business growth. Commenting on the MMU programmes, he said:
“It has been really useful to have other company directors to bounce ideas off.” “It gives you an opportunity to look at the business from outside, instead of just struggling with the day-to-day. We have had advice on setting up proper contracts, on business planning and now on funding.” Energy Ace have secured pilots with a leading retailer, a well-known Fitness and Leisure chain and a large Housing Association. These are proving extremely successful, with the clients saving 12.5% on energy bills. Energy Ace have now rebranded and rolled out their products to 100 sites for just one customer. Further growth is imminent. Gary added: “We received brilliant advice from Peter Wild at MMU regarding tax allowances for Research and Development, which immediately saved Energy Ace £9K and allowed us to press ahead with further product development. My advice to anyone would be that if you think you may be eligible ring the Tax Office – they have a special department just dealing with Research and Development for SMEs.” Visit Energy Ace (Formerly Power Efficient Systems) website: www.energyace.co.uk
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White Circle / White Crate Coaching success leads to ongoing relationship Collete Brown and Jon Flowerdew The award winning White Crate team specialise in the design and production of highly creative shipping container conversions, building semi-permanent and rapid deployment structures for UK & European clients worldwide Jon is Managing Partner of White Circle and White Crate based in Salford Media City. Colette has already been promoted from Intern to Business Development Manager. "We were told about KAN by the Salford Business Advisor. We have enjoyed the programme and benfitted from different aspects of it, attending most of the master classes and taking away something useful from each one.”
“The peer to peer group sessions and the coaching have been great and we are continuing to work with our coach” Jon and Colette have shared their experience of Marketing with other SME delegates by presenting at a KAN Marketing Seminar and they are considering applying for the Goldman Sachs 10.000 Small Business Programme aslo run by Centre for Enterprise MMU in 2014.
Visit White Circle and White Crate websites at: www.whitecrate.co and www.whitecircleltd.com
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Lumophore Bio-tech Solutions Biotech business recommends Knowledge Action Network Business Development Director Nisa Ahmad joined the first cohort of KAN in 2012 and found that the programme helped her to identify ways to develop the company further. Nisa and her husband Dr Farid Khan also run the successful business Protein Technologies, another KAN business, and were recently awarded the Fazlur Rahman Khan Award for Excellence in Engineering, Science and Technology. The award was presented at the Twelfth Muslim News Awards for Excellence, with the Prime Minister David Cameron in attendance. Talking about her experience on KAN, Nisa Said: "I found the Knowledge Action Network very interesting; starting off with the diagnostic which gave me an insight of where we were, what we were doing and where we wanted to go.�
“The sessions with other like-minded companies were very useful to discuss similar challenges and gave us the opportunity to network and get to know more about each other. I would definitely recommend the KAN programme to any business".
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Energy Gain UK Company Director masterminds rapid turnover growth Energy Gain UK was formed in 2008 and specialise in natural energy technologies, including: Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Air Source Heat Pumps, Insulation, Glazing, Boilers and whole life maintenance solutions. Their Solar PV Finance package can offer renewable technologies to 95% of domestic properties Technical Director, Craig Jones is the youngest of the four company directors and joined the first cohort of Knowledge Action Network Group in 2012. He describes his experience on the programme saying:
"It has been like having your own Mastermind group – it can help you to identify and define a problem, then discussing around the issue helps you to gain a greater understanding...It gives you the opportunity to look at the problem from the outside." "When you are in a period of rapid growth you're so involved with the business you can't see the wood for the trees. The best thing about KAN is that you take time out to think about the business objectively." Following his participation in the Knowledge Action Network, Craig was accepted on to the 10,000 small businesses programme. Energy Gain UK has recently won some very large contracts and are on track to exceed their growth targets. Visit Energy Gain UK website: www.energygain.co.uk
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Deaville & Co KAN gives access to a network of experienced business professionals Deaville & Co are specialists in sourcing the perfect venues for their clients; from spaces for training, meetings and conferences to weddings, awards and dinners they find it all. They offer a bespoke service across Cheshire, the UK and Europe providing access to over 115,000 venues around the world. Key Knowledge Action Benefits: “I'm really enjoying the group work on KAN. We have a very interesting group of Business Directors with a wide variety of experience in different sectors. It is great having so many professionals working on my business." Growth: Verity joined he Knowledge Action Network in March 2013 after hearing about the programme from a business contact who is also a KAN delegate.
"The coaching and group work has helped us define our strategy and be much more focused in our approach." Visit Deaville & Co website: www.verityvenue.com
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Art Graphics UK Ltd Business takes pro-active approach following KAN involvement Art Graphics UK Ltd are a framing company based in Adelphi Mill, Bollington. They design & manufacture high quality bespoke frames, committed to finding the best solutions to any challenge set, offering a creative and dedicated approach. With framing, it is the art that is important to Art Graphics UK Ltd – constantly challenged, stretched & rewarded by striving to present work in its best possible light. Key Knowledge Action Network Benefits:
"Participating in the Knowledge Action Network has given me increased confidence in my decision making and has led to us addressing and overhauling many different aspects of the business.� We are now becoming a much more 'aware' and pro-active business, celebrating our quirkiness and creativity, streamlining this with newfound business skills, and realising that we still have much to learn. I would recommend this collaborative KAN process to anyone in business." Collaboration: "Meetings with our wonderfully supportive group and facilitator gradually made me realise that although we are different businesses, we are all in similar boats – each problem issue presented has had resounding echoes in individual companies and the combined objective problem solving skills of the group has diminished seemingly insurmountable problems." Following her participation in the Knowledge Action Network, Frances McDonnell was accepted on to the 10,000 small businesses programme and has taken on two more staff.
graphics
Visit Art Graphics UK Ltd website: www.artgraphics.co.uk
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Starlight Performing Arts Academy (CIC) Helen Darwent Starlight Performing Arts Academy is a Community Interest Company which essentially is a not for profit business. The studio provides a safe haven to learn how to play a musical instrument, play together in a band, learn to act, sing, dance, get fit, make new friends and learn new skills. Business Description: "Our Mission is to encourage local pupils irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, religion and ability to develop their full creative potential through music, dance and drama". We are a Community Interest Company which essentially is a not for profit business. We charge a nominal fee for all classes to cover a qualified experienced tutor and the overheads of our own studio. The Starlight studio provides a safe haven to learn how to play a musical instrument, play together in a band, learn to act, sing, dance, get fit, make new friends and learn new skills. Director Helen Darwent joined KAN and really enjoyed the Knowledge Action Groups
“…I’ve got some really interesting and useful ideas and contacts from other members of the group.” “My Business Coach has made me analyse my whole business concept and overall strategy of being a Social Enterprise, the involvement of volunteers and other issues.” Following her participation in KAN Helen was accepted onto Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business programme. She found it very useful and is now implementing all the ideas. She has a new Board of Directors and has expanded into diverse community activities and has established two new centres. In November 2014 Starlight won a ‘Reaching Communities’ lottery grant to provide training for people who are unemployed and more vulnerable groups. Visit Starlight Performing Arts Academy (CIC) website: www.starlightperformingarts.t83.net
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Mighty Giant UK Manchester company hails 'invaluable' coaching Mighty Giant is an award winning design & motion company based in the Sharpe Project, Manchester, creating all forms of moving graphics - broadcast design, 3D, animation, titles & idents. They work with most of the main broadcasters in the UK, especially the BBC and are also developing new relationships in the corporate sector. Manchester-based motion design company, Mighty Giant, participants on the Centre of Enterprises' Knowledge Action Network (KAN), were winners last year at the Big Chip Awards. Here we look at their journey and how KAN has supported them along the way. After first registering the company back in May 2010, the first big stride for owner Jonathan Ashworth and his team came three years ago, when they won the contract for a rebranding and new title sequence for CBBC's flagship programme, Blue Peter. This was soon followed by their biggest project to date, providing the in-programme graphics and titles for Fierce Earth, a children's programme, which highlights the power of Mother Nature. Looking back, Jonathan admits it was not all plain sailing. After studying a degree in graphic design, Jonathan joined the BBC, to hone his trade. During six years there, Jonathan seized the opportunity to use his design skills to create motion graphics for the broadcaster. When moving on from the BBC Jonathan worked for smaller companies and freelanced, and it was out of this work that Mighty Giant emerged. “At first it was hard, as I was only doing freelance here and there. Each month, I'd wonder if there was enough money for the next. I was just waiting to get two or three big jobs through that would give me the breathing space and confidence to push on.” As their reputation grew, so did their diverse portfolio of clients, from TV channels, to airlines and charities. Encouraged by the progress he was making and by this time with the support of the Centre of Enterprises' Knowledge Action Network (KAN), Jonathan decided to take on his first employee. “I just felt that if I was going to be taken seriously and develop, I had to look to expand. I'd experienced a surge in the amount of contracts I was getting and this gave me the buffer to take on Andy.” Jonathan is confident that a new showcase film and marketing campaign, developed with the support of his KAN coach, will help develop new leads and bring in the work required to enable
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further growth. “The reason we did our film was to push ourselves into different areas. I've got lots of meetings coming up so it's definitely connecting with people. It's going to be an interesting couple of months coming up.” Spending more time on the business and less time designing has been a sacrifice for Jonathan, but vital to keep the momentum and continue growing. “It's a catch-22 situation really – We want to grow, but to do that I need to be out there securing new business. But it is the new business and staff that will allow me to rebalance my time, towards the creativity I enjoy so much.” So, what would Jonathan's advice be to any potential start-ups out there? “Definitely know your figures and get to know your market. In hindsight, I'd start marketing earlier. I know it's difficult but you've always got to think a year or two ahead even from the beginning.” Benefits of the Knowledge Action Network programme: Director Jonathan Ashworth joined the first cohort of KAN in September 2012 and has found KAN especially beneficial in terms of taking on new staff and managing finances.
"KAN has been really useful for us. The group has been great and I've enjoyed coming to the university every month – I miss it now.” “The coaching has been invaluable. I've taken on another designer in the company having worked with freelance staff for the first 2 years of my business. I've been supported all the way by my coach who helped me with some crucial decisions, even giving phone advice outside of our sessions. We are in a very exciting place at the moment." Visit Mighty Giant Ltd website: www.mightygiant.co.uk
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Homestyle Kitchens and Bedrooms Ltd Continued MMU CfE support helps push business forward Business Description: Homestyle is a 14-year old family business, Mark Coleman, his parents and brother are all involved in the company. They manufacture and distribute kitchen and bedroom furniture and associated products. In fact they are now one of the largest distributors of kitchen doors in the UK. Mark hadn't been to college or university but, having taken on a Personal Trainer to help him successfully lose weight and get fit, he realised that he is the kind of person who can learn and benefit enormously from professional support, training and coaching. He first participated in LEAD, he was then accepted onto Cohort 3 of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business at MMU CfE. After completing the programme he chose to join Knowledge Action Network as he wanted to stay part of the MMU Centre for Enterprise. Growth: During this period Mark has replaced staff who were not so productive with more innovative, positive colleagues with a 'Can Do' attitude. With the aid of the business coach has revolutionised the sales system, he has more confidence and reassurance to grow the business and sustain the growth. The company has recently taken on 3 new staff members. Benefits of the programmes:
"The programme has been useful in setting up systems and keeping focus when so much is happening.” “I am working through my Business Plan and have learnt an enormous amount about finance, I recently spotted an error in my accounts which could have cost me £16K.” Visit Homestyle Kitchens and Bedrooms Ltd website: www.homestylekitchens.co.uk
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Fusion Signs & Graphics KAN peer group provides sounding board for thoughts and ideas "KAN has provided a good opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and to share thoughts." Business Description: Martin Denton is the Managing Director of MWM Signs which specialises in supplying a complete range of signs and graphics. From design to manufacture and installation MWM work with shop and restaurant signage as well as a full range of colour graphics and banners and CNC routing. Based in Stockport, they cover Manchester, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Merseyside and Lancashire as well as servicing nationwide corporate clients for large rebranding rollouts. Benefits of the Knowledge Action Network: Martin joined the first cohort of the Knowledge Action Network in October 2012, Particularly benefitting from the group sessions: "When you are running your own business you don't get the opportunity to interface with your peers which you do get in a larger company. Working for yourself can be a bit lonely.�
“KAN has provided a good opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and to share thoughts and plan for our companies. This has been especially valuable in times of change".
Visit Fusion Signs & Graphics website: www.fusionsignsandgraphics.co.uk
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The Composerworks Copy from article dated 22nd January 2015 displayed on www.thecomposerworks.com Some local and national resources for 2015 for SME's looking to grow. Last year was my second full year running The Composerworks. I tapped into some of the brilliant local funding and education resources in and around MediaCityUK which helped me move the business forward. Here are some ideas which may work for you for 2015. 1. Manchester Metropolitan University: MMU offers an amazing course called the Knowledge Action Network. It was very informative. Groups of like-minded business folk met every month for 6 months to discuss business issues and find an effective way through them. You also get 4 sessions with a business mentor afterwards. And they have free workshops for months afterwards – from “know your numbers” to how you can work Linkedin to your advantage. MMU is well connected and the course invited megasuccessful people who came along to talk about business.
Definitely to be recommended to SME's looking to grow… www.knowledge-action.co.uk 2. The Business Growth Hub: They offer 50% matched funding for up to £3,000 for certain projects. Spend £1,200, get £600 from The Growth Hub; which is what I did, twice. There are no catches. There is EU money to be given away. (UKIP? No thanks.) www.businessgrowthhub.com 3. Business Planning Day: Step out, step back, move forward. There is a local business coach called Mark Dyble who runs a quarterly planning day. It's incredibly useful. I felt at first it was an achievement to take a day out of the business during working hours. He gets you to think about the main milestones you need to meet over the next 3 months. You come away with a tangible business plan for the next 89 days and (3 months later) he even posts you a letter you write to yourself on the day telling yourself how marvellous you are for meeting the goals in your plan. Freaky when you open it though. £150 for the day. www.sme-businesssolutions.co.uk 4. Social Media Stream: I was stuck for a social media plan. This MCUK-based social media company will give you a social media health check and devise a VERY comprehensive strategy doc to encompass all strands of social media. And I got matched funding for it (see above) so well worth the investment. www.socialmediastream.co.uk
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5. UK Trade And Investment: If you're serious about trading abroad then I'd recommend a UKTI half day course which I attended called Website Optimisation for International Trade events. It enabled me to understand better how an international audience will find (or not find) your website easily and how to design and optimise it all accordingly (which was impeccably done by MCUKbased SME Gather Digital). A really useful course. https://events.ukti.gov.uk/portal/event/ukti-masterclass-web-optimisation-for-internationaltrade-2/ Read the full blog article at: www.thecomposerworks.com/news/2014-taught-running-businessmediacityuk/#sthash.4mXP4tIy.dpuf Visit The Composerworks website: www.thecomposerworks.com
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KAN in Cumbria One of the great benefits of the Knowledge Action Network is the ability for the partners to take a slightly different approach to delivery. Here at the University of Cumbria we initially applied some themes to the cohorts and recruited delegates with interests in creative and digital, hydro-power supply chain, sustainability and lowcarbon building design. We then progressed to more cross-sector groups which worked just as well but for different reasons. This diverse group of businesses all had one thing in common – they wanted to help one another to learn and grow. We focussed on small cohorts and ran 8 different groups with nearly 50 small businesses. Cumbria has the largest land mass but the smallest population in the northwest and rural businesses flocked into west Cumbria from Alston high up in the Pennines, Kirkby Lonsdale in the south and Carlisle in the north – meaning that many new relationships were formed with people that might never have met otherwise. We were very lucky to have such a great group of businesses who were so supportive of one another – and to quote one of our delegates “there was a lot of love in the room” I look forward to seeing them all grow and develop their businesses to achieve further success – they deserve it. For more details of the KAN delegates along with videos and case studies please visit our own page at www.cumbria.ac.uk/KAN John Berry Project Manager - University of Cumbria
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Johnston and Wright Architects Georgie Cray is a newly qualified architect working for Johnston and Wright Architects. The firm was established in Carlisle in 1885 and has won over fifty national design awards and employs 11 people. The practice combines a depth of knowledge of traditional building techniques with a flair for the appropriate use of modern building materials and processes including utilising green technology and conservation practice. To help the company diversify, they wanted to investigate ways to both develop their marketing strategy and to modify some of their systems. Georgie joined the Knowledge Action Network to learn from other business owners about new thinking in green technologies and to better understand the commercial approach to the business. Georgie has benefited both from a business perspective and from a career development perspective. The Knowledge Action Network has presented Georgie with a greater insight into the administration of small businesses. The group sessions allowed exchange of ideas including day- to-day running of projects ,managing priorities and creating a clearer business vision— all of which are skills which can be transferred to any setting .It has also been a great introduction to networking, boosting Georgie's confidence when attending events and meetings . The programme provided Georgie and her colleagues with both evidence and reassurance that businesses face similar challenges and that many of Johnston and Wrights activities are already very successful. The combination of group sessions and one-to-one coaching has created the perfect opportunity to discuss problems and investigate potential solutions with business owners, facilitators and coaches which has allowed Georgia to develop a broader understanding of the business decision making process and how best to influence it. By using these creative thinking solutions she has become a much more valuable member of the team. In terms of personal development, here's what Georgie had to say: “As someone who is newly qualified I was aware that entering the programme I might have known my field but not necessarily how to run a business and I have acquired business knowledge through the group discussions exchange that I think I might otherwise have taken years to find out myself. Discussing the day to day running of projects, managing workloads and prioritising tasks has had a big impact on how I programme work and is hopefully something I will keep doing for the whole of my working life. “The coaching has been a fantastic resource and is something I would like to continue, it provides a real opportunity for self-evaluation- where you are, where you want to be and where you want to
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be in the future. It's also been great to establish goals and realise that without them we really would just coast. “The last few months are only a very short period of time in the context of the business and many of the things I've learnt I won't have chance to put into action for some time, however, there is no question that they have been and will come to be invaluable.” Since joining the programme the company has recruited 3 more technical employees in response to an upturn in enquiries. Georgie is now much more confident and the challenges discussed at the start of the programme have now been fully resolved. Johnston & Wright Architects now have lots of marketing ideas that they are going to create the time and space to implement.
“I have learned in 6 sessions what could have taken up to 10 years in business practice” Visit Johnston and Wright Architects’ website: http://jwarchitects.co.uk/
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2030 Chartered Architects Based in Penrith, 2030 Chartered Architects specialise in sustainable new-build and ecorefurbishment in the region. Company director Rod Hughes recognises that they play to their strengths - designing great buildings for people to live and work in. However balancing the demands of handson practice and the day-to-day operations meant that they were missing an opportunity to focus on business development. They were facing competition from start up architectural services that could operate with minimal costs, as well as from larger practices expanding into the region. Rod saw the Knowledge Action Network as an opportunity to investigate working collaboratively with a wide range of businesses within his sector. He sought more contact with like-minded business owners interested in innovative sustainable practices to share knowledge and experience; this would be mutually beneficial when bidding for contracts. Rod was also hoping that the Knowledge Action Network would help him to prioritise the need to run an efficient business against his desire to design. To help achieve this, Rod was aiming to utilise the coaching provided to improve the leadership of the business. Since starting the programme, business levels for 2030 Architects have improved significantly with a steady stream of enquiries, many of which the business is converting into commissioned work. The structure of the Knowledge Action Network has allowed Rod to spend time reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of the practice and discovering the real benefit of the opinion of fellow business owners. This has helped him to create a more structured approach to the business development element of the practice including leading the team more effectively to deal with the increased workloads. This fresh approach has had a definite business impact, as Rod says: The group sessions helped me to recognise we are running a business not just an architectural practice. The realisation is that we are now commissioning a new job everyday. In order to gain new ideas and raise the profile of the business he is now attending more networking events and exhibitions than ever before . The intervention from the University of Cumbria has helped him to design and build a secure, sustainable business for the future and has resulted in the creation of two and safeguarding three others. Visit 2030 architects website: www.2030architects.co.uk
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Solway Renewable Energy Established in 2010 Solway Renewable Energy is a small family firm committed to reducing carbon dioxide emis-sions through the installation of photovoltaic panels. At the time of joining the programme the sector was shrinking due to changing government legalisation but the emerging Green Deal initiative appeared to be offering an opportunity for SMEs to develop new markets. Director, Suzanne Burgess recognised she needed to investigate the future direction of the business driven in part by the changing market place. The action group Suzanne joined was focused on investi-gating how SMEs could work together to take advantage of opportunities potentially offered by the Green Deal. After running the business for the last 3 years it was recognised that it would be beneficial to take a more impartial look at how the business was performing. Suzanne was looking to create a more structured vision for the company and develop the corresponding steps to achieving this – the coaching element of the programme was attractive for this purpose. The group discussions and research into Green Deal helped Suzanne to realise that it was not the right fit for her business. This meant the company had to quickly identify a new market opportunity. With support from her coach she was able to think more creatively and soon spotted an opening to install electric vehicle charging points. This was in keeping with their sustainable values of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in throughout the local area. The company went on to successfully install over 70 points across the region – including connecting both sides of the World Heritage Site, Hadrian's Wall - thereby supporting growth in local sustainable tourism. Suzanne is an ideas person. The programme has allowed her to explore ideas in a safe environment and develop the ones which were deemed to be more financially viable. In turn this has encouraged her to plan what the business would look like in the future which has resulted in the company safeguarding two full time jobs. Suzanne explains: “The Knowledge Action Network is opening doors to other businesses that I was aware of but hadn't worked with before. Coming together and leading the way with renewable technology thinking in Cumbria can only help to make our business stronger making us more competitive and I'm thrilled to be involved. The coaching has helped me to think about and plan for the future in a much more structured way.” Exploring options on strategy and prioritisation of different strands of the business allowed Solway Renewable Energy to develop into a much stronger position and look forward to a bright, sustainable future. Visit Solway Renewable Energy’s website: www.solwayrenewables.com
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King Kong Climbing Walls With over 20 years' experience of building climbing walls King Kong specialize in the design, manufacture and installation of state of the art, innovative climbing walls, combining years of climbing experience, e n t h u s i a s m a n d manufacturing expertise. However in late 2012 the climbing wall market was becoming saturated and their competitors were starting to become innovative in their approach. Managing Director Paul Cornforth recognised changes needed to happen. They were being pushed to develop a more creative approach, offer new designs and Paul was considering diversifying into wider manufacturing to keep the company buoyant. There was a very real threat that the company may have to lose some staff if business did not improve. Paul joined the Knowledge Action Network to use the various activities offered by the programme to find solutions to his current business objective - which was to utilise new machinery to diversify his product range. He was hoping that by networking with other companies he could investigate new manufacturing partnerships and compare their business models with his own to see if he could identify any possible innovative ways of working. Since starting on the programme, the business has grown considerably. Part of this growth has been through new business accounts and diversifying into 'clip n climb'. King Kong are establishing an innovative climbing centre in Spring of 2014 in the centre of Keswick which will provide employment for up to 9 local people. Although they will continue to offer some wider manufacturing services King Kong will build on their specialist knowledge and experience rather than forging completely new markets. Paul recognises that he has a unique company with only four similar manufacturers in the UK and as a result of the programme he is now developing the capacity to export and is working with UKTI on their Passport for Export scheme As part of the creative process King Kong now encourages employees to challenge and question the way they work and empowers them to take actions leading to continuous improvement. For Paul, the coaching provided by the programme has helped him think differently – and this has been a sea change in terms of the culture of the organisation. Paul said “All elements of the programme have been really beneficial to both me personally and the company. The group sessions were really useful in being able to look at the business models used by other more diverse companies and learn how their practices could work in my own business. The idea of allowing other business owners to look inside my company and challenge me about the way we operate was initially daunting but proved to be a really powerful experience. I would recommend the Knowledge Action Network to any business owner looking for an honest,
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fresh perspective to their organisation.� Without the intervention of the programme King Kong would not be in the strong position it is today. They have safeguarded two positions which were originally at risk and created three new roles providing full time employment—including one for Paul's son who had joined as an apprentice welder. The business overall has improved considerably and with the opening of the new climbing centre the future for the company is looking rosy not rocky! Visit King Kong’s www.climbingwall.co.uk
website:
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Groundwater and Geothermal Services An important shift in thinking has had a dramatic effect on the business owner and led to an increase in turnover of 40%. Groundwater & Geothermal Services Ltd (GGS) is a renewable energy company which was formed in 2001.The owner, Jonathan Steven is a hydro-geologist with many years of experience operating in the sector. The company has one other full-time employee and uses the services of a freelance associate who acts as Technical Manager for them. GGS felt that the Knowledge Action Network had delivered considerable unforeseen benefits. Upon completion Jonathan admitted that 'before I started the programme I was unsure of the potential benefits but all is clear now! GGS Ltd can now reap the dividend from my management skills which have been significantly upgraded through the specialist training and coaching provided'. The organisation uses natural resources in innovative ways: firstly, they identify the location of underground water sources that can be used to supply commercial premises; secondly, they harvest natural heat from the ground or water and convert this for business use. Clients include food manufacturers, farmers, water well drillers, caravan parks and private householders. They are spread mainly across the North of England . GGS were looking to expand with more emphasis on providing technical services and a move into contracting. Their USP was the ability to combine knowledge and installation of both boreholes (for water supply) and heat pumps (for renewable heat supply). Although the business had great technical understanding it needed to improve its sales & marketing expertise and strengthen its installation capability. Jonathan joined the Knowledge Action Network to capitalise on the experience and knowledge of other business owners working within the renewable sector. He hoped hat this would allow all participants in the network the opportunity to progress their ideas into tangible actions. Jonathan also hoped that elements of the Knowledge Action Network would help with his personal development and that the external support it offered would sustain the growth of the business. The coach allocated to Jonathan by the programme encouraged him to question all the actions he took within the business and to challenge himself to continually improve all aspects of the business. Jonathan said "I found this element of the programme particularly helpful. My coach has been of great assistance in encouraging me to have a more positive and enthusiastic approach to running a business. The coach has also successfully facilitated team building within GGS Ltd. " The Knowledge Action Network allowed Jonathan to change his perspective and take control with a positive attitude, which led to him enjoying running the business rather than feeling restricted by it. Visit GGS’s website: www.ggs-geothermal.co.uk
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Graduation Event in Cumbria On 13 March 2014 delegates from Cumbria gathered to celebrate their success on the programme to date. The afternoon started with an inspiring workshop from Chris Hughes and was followed by a gala dinner. Certificates and awards were presented by the University Vice Chancellor Peter Strike. Delegates had stands at the event to showcase their business to local partners and stakeholders. Over 70 attended, including colleagues from MMU and University of Cumbria.
20 stands showcasing companies involved in KAN
6 awards presented for Innovation, Relationship builder, Personal growth, Business growth, Job Creation, and Sustainability
“Please pass on my thanks to everyone that was in-volved with the graduation event. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet people and to celebrate all that has been achieved on KAN.
me and has really made a difference in my business. The effect of the programme has been profound.”
Everything, from the administration to the food, the speaker, the table settings, the service and the facilitation of introductions, was impeccable and made for a really enjoyable and cele-bratory event. I was astounded and honoured to have received an award and want you to know that it means a great deal to me. The KAN Project has been an incredible opportunity for
Irene Lawrence, ZapActive “Thank you very much John, for the graduation event last week. I was absolutely delighted to win an award and will be making sure that it gets publicised widely. I really liked the format, it was structured but informal and had a great mix of businesses who were willing to share experiences.” Brian Lightowler, QG Management Standards 47
KAN coaches in Cumbria The University of Cumbria contracted with Fiona Reed Associates in collaboration with Quantum S t r a t e g y & Te c h n o l o g y, t o d e l i v e r s o m e e l e m e n t s o f t h e p r o g r a m m e . www.fionareedassociates.com . The team of people involved in coaching, advice and group facilitation on KAN included:
Chris Billinge Chris Billinge has been coaching since 1991 and draws on over 25 years senior leadership experience with FTSE 100 financial services companies. He led and trained the team that delivered the award winning Woolwich Openplan banking service. Since 2005 Chris has run his own coaching practice and worked with managers and directors within the NHS, pharmaceuticals, financial services, as well as the marketing and media sectors. He specialises in working with leaders looking to make their work fulfilling and generate exceptional results from their teams. Chris delivered coaching to KAN delegates and was very supportive of the programme generally.
Mike Pezet Mike Pezet is a trained Solutions Focus coach, mediator and facilitator with over 15 years international experience. He has successfully worked across industries and organisational sizes, from corporate to SME’s. His work on performance related feedback developed from his research into systems thinking and cognitive research was published in 2010. His work on KAN included facilitating the Knowledge Action Groups and coaching individual business owners. Mike says: “KAN was a highlight for me. I was fortunate enough to be involved with some incredibly powerful and cohesive groups. Groups where members acted with integrity to both challenge or support one another widen their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities around”
Tim Sims Tim’s work over the last 20 years has included people leading change in quite tough environments ranging from democratic change in Albania to Birmingham Race Action Partnership and UN projects reforming the judiciary in Serbia. He also works with Boards, senior teams and national organisations in the Further and Higher Education sector. Tim has undertaken post-crisis leadership development for the UN, advised The Council of Europe, the World Bank (Albania) and the EU Commission in Brussels. He has been a member of the International Collaborative Action Research Network since 1979. Tim delivered workshops, coached and facilitated the knowledge action groups on KAN in Cumbria.
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Gill Fenna Gill has over 20 years experience in the sustainability field, particularly supporting small businesses. She has provided practical energy efficiency and micro-generation advice to over 60 SMEs in recent years, and coached and supported them through system design, planning applications and financing of projects. For the KAN Programme she managed a team of advisers to provide specialist technical support to the businesses on a wide range of topics.
Louise Marix Evans Louise has a strong track record of research, engagement, project management and communications in the sustainability field and has worked in the public, private and voluntary sectors, in the UK and internationally. For the KAN project she provided tailored market opportunity research for the small businesses, key market contacts and marketing advice to promote business development, including specialist media.
“Having the benefit of your perspective has been enormously helpful so thank you.” Director, Visitor Attraction Services Provider
“I thought you picked things up really quickly. The exercise was really good for me as I sometimes wonder if we are pulling in different directions.” Director of a family-run firm
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. This morning’s session was much more for me than just an hour of business support.” Woman-led enterprise
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KAN in Chester Since its launch in November 2012, the KAN project in Chester has worked with 41 local businesses, organised in 3 cohorts. These businesses are very diverse including businesses offering natural health products, football coaching, giant puppets, IT systems, organisational efficiency consulting, health and fitness, support for survivors of domestic abuse, small business coaching and a partnership of architects. What they have in common is that although they are mostly small, often a single owner or a partnership, they all have big ambitions and a willingness to learn and be challenged to achieve those ambitions and more. The University of Chester put coaching at the heart of the project, carefully matching an excellent team of coaches to individual participants so that they could work on the specific challenges blocking innovation and growth in their businesses. At the same time, participants could learn from one another and from the expertise of university staff in a core series of four workshops and an additional series of master-classes which provided insights into a number of areas including decision making, innovative thinking techniques and resilience for innovation and growth. Vicky Evans Coach Co-ordinator - University of Chester
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Striker Academy Soccer Schools – Imtiaz Jamil “football for football-mad kids” Imtiaz Jamil's company – Striker Academy Soccer Schools - offers “football for football-mad kids” up to 13 years of age in Warrington. He runs programmes from beginners to elite level. There is even a popular programme for “Tiny Strikers” for children aged 18 months plus, working with the parents to offer lots of fun for this age group. For the older children, Imtiaz is clear what his academy can do: “we help kids become more than football players, we train them to be game changers”. This often makes them the best players in their teams and has opened up opportunities for some children with professional football clubs. What makes his academy stand out? Imtiaz knows it's about three things: professional football coaching staff, a strong focus on striker training for attacking play and a distinctive coaching style which improves confidence and self-esteem through consistent encouragement so that the children can experiment without worrying about making mistakes.
“I had a good job but I didn't have a business” When asked about the situation before he joined the KAN programme in Chester, Imtiaz observes: “I had a good job but I didn't have a business. I was working in the business all the time. It couldn't run if I wasn't there.” He knew his business had potential but he didn't know how to develop it. “There was no real strategy or end goal”. He also recognises that he was quite fearful about the changes he might have to make to take the business further. Imtiaz admits he was apprehensive about taking time out to do the KAN programme but in the end he decided to “go for it and see what happened”.
“a tremendous impact” What difference has the KAN programme made to Imtiaz and his business? Imtiaz is in no doubt: “KAN has had a tremendous impact”. The performance of his business has improved significantly. He has expanded to add new classes and programmes and is looking to expand into other towns and cities in the North West. He employed one and a half new members of staff as a direct result of a conversation with a member of the KAN team in Chester. This conversation had a dramatic impact:
“It helped me to come to terms with the fears I had about taking my business to that next level.” Taking on new staff has freed up his time to spot and develop further opportunities for the business. The KAN coach had “excellent knowledge” on franchising and other options for expansion which helped him to understand and choose the options that make sense for his business which he is planning to implement over the next few years.
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The KAN programme also opened up the opportunity to employ a 3rd year placement student from Chester University to work on his social media plan. The impact of this was “phenomenal”: the student brought enthusiasm and knowledge to create and implement a social media plan which has lifted the profile of the business and led to a lot more new enquiries and bookings as well as increasing engagement from existing customers. “The KAN project was a massive help to jump some hurdles in my head to go from a job to a business”. But it doesn't stop there. “Now I've jumped over the hurdles in my head to achieve this, I'm thinking we can easily do other things. It's given me the confidence that I can step away and work on new parts of the business while I know my existing customers are getting an excellent service.” As a direct result of KAN, Imtiaz is “thinking bigger” and looking at opportunities for expansion more seriously. “KAN has really worked and it has continued to work.” Visit Striker Academy Soccer Schools’ website: http://strikeracademy.co.uk
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Twizzlebird – Amy Fox and Dave Wright “Digital design that tells their story” Amy and Dave started Twizzlebird in 2010 to offer digital design services - typically website design, branding, promotional videos and email marketing - to the owners of independent, ambitious businesses. From their base in Chester they work with clients in Chester, Cheshire, North Wales, the North West and across the UK. Twizzlebird's clients might be start-ups or more established businesses but they all have something in common: a passion for what they do. These businesses typically know their customers very well but may be struggling to express the idea of their business visually, in their branding and on their website. Amy and Dave create digital design that “tells their story”. What makes Twizzlebird particularly attractive is that they are good at getting to understand each client and what their business offers to their customers. They take their clients through a strategic process to understand the business which often helps the owner to clarify in their own mind what they want to communicate. The hallmarks of the approach at Twizzlebird are listening, partnership, and creativity. The end result is highly bespoke – creating a unique customer and brand experience for each client's business. Twizzlebird had grown steadily since 2010, but before joining the KAN programme in Chester they were hitting some challenges. They were finding they didn't have the time they needed to work on the business as well as in it, and they were having difficulties with roles within the business, working out who was best doing what. At the same time, they saw the KAN programme as an opportunity to build relationships with other businesses locally, develop their relationship with Chester University and tap into the university's resources.
“a big epiphany” Amy is clear that the KAN programme has made a real difference to their business. It has given them methods for dealing with challenges, ways of looking at themselves and their roles in the business. One method in particular really explained their different mindsets and helped them to figure out who is best to take on different roles. “It was a big epiphany”. As they worked through the programme, they realised that “time wasn't the problem”. The KAN programme challenged them to dig deeper and provided tools and strategies to make time working on the business much more effective. Twizzlebird has continued to grow since the KAN programme. Two projects were generated directly from the contacts made during the programme. They have also broadened their network, increasing their awareness of local businesses and making new connections. Amy expects the impact of the KAN programme to continue into the future as they use the tools and strategies they have learned. “It has had an impact beyond the time we were on it”. For more information about Twizzlebird, go to www.twizzlebird.co.uk .
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The KAN Marketplace Bringing businesses together to network, support and learn from each other is a key benefit of the KAN programme
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The final KAN Marketplace - 5th February 2015 The Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University Delegates from all six cohorts of the Knowledge Action Network brought their businesses to the university on 5th February 2015, to celebrate the success of the programme, and to network. KAN companies held stands at the event, and with a large variety of businesses on show, and many more coming along to meet, greet and network, this was the perfect opportunity for business owners to explain their businesses to their peers and make those all-important contacts. The 5-minute pitch session of the day was very popular, with many business owners taking the opportunity (for some, their first) to pitch to a large audience. Those pitching ranged from social networks to photographers and architects, all united by their attendance and growth on the KAN programme. Phil Jones, Managing Director of Brother UK Ltd, inspired the delegates with our keynote speech, tackling the issue of quality thinking.
"What a fabulous day; diverse, well organised and full of energy! The day captures the values at the core of KAN, like-minded businesses who want to share ideas, grow their businesses and have fun at the same time. The highlight of the day was Phil Jones's presentation, so many "golden nuggets" of advice and if he'd offered a meditation class there & then, it would have been oversubscribed.� Johannah Ashton-Sykes, Director, Dusty Road Wines Our huge thanks goes out to all those who attended, and who contributed to making it such a success, proving that YES, WE CAN GROW!
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11 stands showcasing companies involved in KAN
13 pitches from diverse KAN buisnesses
Over 80 attendees involved with KAN
Use a QR code reader on your phone or tablet to view this video of the final KAN Marketplace event on YouTube.
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KAN Marketplace event on 11th June 2014 The Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University Business owners gathered from across the North West for a matchmaking event held at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). As part of the ERDF-funded Knowledge Action Network programme, business owners were given the space to elevator-pitch their products and services to the wider programme network. A lecture theatre normally occupied with students, became a ‘dragons-den’ for local business owners. Business owners also set-up stands on the day, showcasing their businesses in a 'marketplace' style forum. Caroline Clegg from Performance Associates said: “This is the first event that we’ve done like this, most of my business comes from word-of-mouth or recommendation, so this has been the perfect opportunity.” The event featured:
15 stands hosted by businesses involved in KAN
20 pitches from businesses engaged in KAN
Over 150 attendees from North West businesses
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Use a QR code reader on your phone or tablet to view this video of the previous KAN Marketplace event on YouTube.
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We are proud of the achievements of our businesses. Here are a few KAN success stories.
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Awards Ÿ
Lisa Raynes, Raynes Architecture: Women in Business Property Industry Woman of the Year
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Apadmi app developers: Double Award Winners at The Big Chip Awards, shortlisted in 3 categories at the Northern Technology Awards 2013. Apadmi has continued to win many prestigous awards throughout 2014 including the coveted #Appsters App developer of the year 2014. their financial director Andrea Bailey, won a prestigious accolade at this year’s Made in the North West Awards. Sabine Douglas, Partner Manager and Hannah Pym, Marketing Manager, listed in the Top 30 Women in Mobile by PCR. The Manchester-based company, collected the ‘Technology Award’ for their innovative work on mobile app development. Also shortlisted for 'App of the Year' at the 2013 @ProlificNorth Awards!
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Mighty Giant motion design studio: Winner of Fastest Growing North West Technology Company and Winner of Best Application of Technology at The Big Chip Awards 2013 and Best Micro Enterprise at The Big Chip Awards 2014. Using a QR reader app on your tablet or mobile, you can view the online case study for IMPACT at:
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Mighty Giant Director Jonathan Ashworth from KAN Cohort 1 shortlisted for Prolific North Awards 2013 for best Animation / Graphics Company
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White Circle experiential marketing: Finalist for Innovation Award at Salford Business Awards 2013
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Salford Media City based The Composerworks created music for a BAFTA winning and 2 which received nominations. Use a QR reader to take a look at his blog here:
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R-Com Consulting won E3 High Growth Business of the Year Award, ranked 34th in Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 for 2014 (only 9 NW firms listed) It has been listed for 2 years on the run in the Sunday Times Technology track awards, ranked 19th (2013) and 34 (2014) in the top 100 growing technology companies in the UK. Recently moved to a new location from Ashton to Stockport to a 5,500sq foot premises. Ayaz Rathore from R-Com Consulting nominated for EN (North West Entrepreneur of the Year Awards)Technology Entrepreneur of Year.
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Manchester & Cheshire Construction awarded Salford’s first Charter Mark award
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Shaping Cloud and BLISS both shortlisted for Big Chip Awards 2014
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Carbon Digital won MPA award for TV, Film, Video Animation Production of the Year
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Video of Laura Novak from successful start-up ID Incentives made by Centre for Enterprise and, using a QR reader, can be found here:
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Armitage Construction celebrated 140 years as family firm – Centre for Enterprise made a film to celebrate the success and growth. Use a QR reader to view it here:
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Dr Farid Khan, MD of Protein Technologies and Lumophore - both companies from KAN cohort 1 - has been awarded the British Muslim Heritage Centre Fazlur Rahman Khan Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, presented by David Cameron to Faris and his wife NIsa, KAN delegate, in April 2014.
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Fluid Digital won Made in Bury award in November 2014 , followed by Northern Digital award for Best e-commerce website in January 2014.
Funding
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Manchester Veg People food co-operative: successfully crowd-funded to grow their business
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Just Psychology Community Interest Company: Big Lottery Fund Awards for All Winner
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Iyabo Fatimilehin, Director of Just Psychology, has been awarded a grant from the National Lottery to develop a project in the local community, this is proving very useful in helping to establish the social enterprise
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Protein Technologies Ltd was awarded a grant from the Welcome Trust in autumn 2013 through its Pathfinder Award scheme which is designed to address minority disorders, PTL will embark on a preclinical feasibility study using recombinant homogentisic acid dehydrogenase as an enzyme replacement therapy for the rare genetic condition alkaptonuria (AKU)
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Feelgood Theatre Caroline Clegg – successfully tendered for Arts Council grant to finance production of First World War play ‘Not About Heroes’ tour including productions at The Lowry, London’s West End and France, which received great reviews.
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Helen Darwent, Director of Starlight Performing Arts successfully bid for ESF funding to set up a programme to train unemployed adults in teaching music.
Profile Ÿ
Ayaz Rathore of R-Com Consulting, Gary Vizard of Energy Gain Ltd (formerley Power Efficient Systems), David Lewis of Central Self Drive, Helen Darwent of Starlight Performing Arts and Frances McDonnell of Art Graphics, all successful applicants to the competitve Goldman Sachs Foundation 10,000 Small Business Programme.
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Bash Ali, Director of Sunde Technologies, was invited to accompany David Cameron on the UKTI trade mission to India
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Protein Technologies Ltd has started a new partnership with The Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Malaysia (SaBC) and Protein Technologies Ltd, United Kingdom, (PTL) to undertake bioprospecting for novel fluorescent proteins. SaBC and PTL will search for novel fluorescent proteins in the coral triangle, a roughlytriangular area of tropical waters which contains over 500 species of reef-building corals and is recognised as the global centre of marine biodiversity.
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Hartshorn Hook Productions produced a sell-out run of Away From Home at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester, transferring to London, a play which tackling Homophobia in Premiership Football. Also, a well received production of the Christmas Carol on tour and at New Playhouse Theatre in Manchester.
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KAN delegates invited to meet Ed Miliband at Labour Party and Small Business Event at CfE at MMU, and ERDF and KAN mentioned in press release – use a QR reader to view here:
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BLISS – continues to grow and is opening new office in Amsterdam
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Trafford Media and Communications starting new magazine ‘Lift Off!’ to promote businesses in Wythenshawe
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The Centre for Enterprise’s work with SMEs, including the KAN, has been included as an example of best practice on the National Council for Universities and Business website
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The KAN is being included in a guidebook to ERDF University Best Practice
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As a result of being on the KAN programme, Smart Green have really focused on our core offering and just last week we launched www.tinderboxenergy.co.uk, which allow firms to outsource energy management and making big savings
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Cumbria In Cumbria, 47 businesses are on the way to completing the programme. The programme has created 15 new jobs for the county – and still counting. Additionally another 36 jobs have been safeguarded.
Financial Ÿ
Paul Cornforth has won new contracts for climbing walls with Walkers Crisps and is exporting products further afield.
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Mark Vollers accessed government funding via BEC to extend his premises.
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Safety Critical accessed funding support under the Innovus programme.
Profile Ÿ
Bonds Precision castings visited by Prince Charles after they had won an award for export.
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Smith Engineering visited by Japanese ambassador looking for technical support for Fukushima clean up.
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Nicepond won a Marketing Design Award 2014. They were the only company outside of London to be shortlisted in this category.
Innovation Ÿ
Brian Lightowler developed a number of new products lines.
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Suzanne Burgess developed new product line around sustainable tourism and accessed government funding.
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Rachel Kilpin-Moore rebranded the business into three specific brands.
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Geoff Chambers moved premises and set up a new show room for his customers.
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Phil Goodfellow established a new business in Australia.
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Beckside Construction were used for a site visit with University of Cumbria’s sustainable engineering students.
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Jonathan Steven won a bid with the University of Cumbria’s Sustainable Engineering Department to use mine water as an energy source.
Employment
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King Kong Climbing Walls have created 3 new positions
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2030 Architects have recruited 2 new employees
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Nicepond have safeguarded 8 positions
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A number of businesses have formed new collaborations and recruited associates as a result of the programme
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The Knowledge Action Network project was established to support SMEs throughout the North West to grow through a variety of programme elements. The Knowledge Action Network is a collaboration between three North West universities: