The BIG Journey

The BIG Journey Business Improvement and Growth for Ambitious Owner Managers

Executive development – open programme

Realising potential for ambitious owner-managers Recent work with firms in the South East of England reveals that most business owners aspire for long term efficiency and growth, but more often than not fail to achieve their aspirations. The reasons as to why this is the case are wide ranging.

What is certain, however, is the need for business owners and managers to possess a clear purpose for their business and effective strategic leadership in order to articulate their vision to shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers.

The BIG Journey equips you with a comprehensive understanding of the key drivers for success. Where other programmes raise awareness and increase knowledge, this programme results in real behaviour change. The programme provides an enabling environment allowing you to make the changes necessary for real performance improvement. We will dare you to become bigger, better and stronger. If this sounds your sort of challenge, then look no further.

The programme works with the constraints of everyday business priorities through a set of six highly practical two-day modules bound together by in-company support and challenges. You and your business will become the focus of the programme, and you will be driven to balance quick wins with the need for clarity in purpose and vision for future growth. This participative programme is an investment in your future potential and a start of a new journey: it is not a prescriptive training package. Why not begin your journey with us today.

Dr Mark Gilman Programme Director

Think BIG...

Think Business Improvement and Growth...

“I am not the same person I was when I started…The programme should come with a health warning – this will change your life!”

Mark Andrews, Senior Manager, Milford Haven Port Authority

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“I had reached a point at which I needed greater clarity as to where the business was heading.”

Susan Van Praagh, Managing Director, Chocolate Apothecary Ltd

Programme overview

Programme focus

Who is it for?

• • • •

Owner-managers, directors or those with a significant decision making or leadership role in private or not-for-profit firms with growth potential

Structure

6 x two-day modules + action learning + in-company activities + coaching

Duration of programme

9 months

Location

Canterbury, Chatham or Tonbridge

Questions?

Contact Simon Raby T: 01227 824740 E: S.O.Raby@kent.ac.uk

The drivers of growth and success Identify the potential to improve Defining future goals Building practical and achievable plans • Leading others for lasting change • Achieving high performance

Benefits for the organisation

Benefits for participants

• Work on your business, not just in it!

• Evaluate your business against key factors of success • Foster a performance-focussed culture • Develop a reliable team that you can have confidence in • Spend time resolving specific business issues • Develop a robust plan of action • Develop your vision and plan in response to the internal and external forces that shape your performance

• Realise your potential and discover the factors that will enhance your performance • Discover how to engage, lead and motivate others to achieve success • Understand the process of growth • Understand the scenarios that lie ahead and how they should be integrated to your future • Gain clarity in purpose for you and your business • Explore the latest management thinking • Draw upon and learn from the programmes in-company coaching and challenges • Gain insights from and form networks with other successful business leaders

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“The programme has enabled me to get to grips with delegation and planning… The organisation is moving from managers telling people to do something towards an environment where people know what their role is…Now I don’t have to worry when I go on leave.”

Martin Daniell, Managing Director, Siegrist Orel Ltd

Programme Structure

The programme works within the constraints of everyday business priorities and is broken down into six highly practical two-day modules. The modules encourage you to work on your business rather than in it, and will challenge you to balance quick wins with longer term business improvement.

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Module 1: Realising your potential

Module 2: Developing a leading mindset

Module 3: Creating your future

How can you make your business more successful? We will explore the process of growth and transition phases through which you will pass and will assess your business against key factors of success

By identifying and exploring those factors that are hindering your success we will help you to break the shackles and allow your business to realise its true potential

How did you get to where you are today, and where do you want to go next? Time to look to the future and gain clarity in purpose for you and your business

“This is probably the best course ever. Its beauty lies in three areas; as it runs over time, you get time to reflect; it gives you tools – it’s not just teaching but helping you to learn; and, great peer group. The whole group just gelled.”

Suzannah Bourne, Owner, Guardian Global Technology Ltd

designing your strategy

realising your potential creating your future successful implementation

developing a leading mindset

reenergise and renew

Module 4: Designing your strategy

Module 5: Successful implementation

Module 6: Reenergise and renew

Here we will begin to build your robust action plan and will examine the scenarios to which this strategy must respond

How do you lead and motivate others to achieve success? Here we will explore your role as a leader and how you engage and develop individuals on which you can learn to rely

Here we will assess your developmental progression and how you drive enduring change and high performance

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“Coaching made us reflect on the best way to approach clients and how to get clients to take ownership of a problem and its solution.”

Victor McPherson, Director, Woodlands Media Communications Ltd

“I have generated enough energy from the coaching sessions to really make things happen.”

Heidi Baker, Owner, The Old School

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“Working with ambitious peers really spurs you on. You all challenge each other and take time to look at situations in a different way.”

Sarah Sheen, Managing Director, Sheen Catering Ltd

Programme Support

To help you accomplish your goals the programme provides an enabling environment through a range of action-learning sets, in-company challenges and coaching support.

Action Learning Sets: what are they?

They are a small group of people who arrange to meet on a regular basis to help each other learn from their experiences, and work together to find a suitable solution to real problems. A professional facilitator helps the group to reflect on their learning and knowledge through insightful questions; therein providing: • Exposure to people from different businesses and business cultures • An environment which is challenging, open and supportive • Feedback about and encouragement to work on issues of personal style, values and beliefs • Confrontations with unfamiliar and unexpected situations • Opportunities to discover different ways of doing things • Learning from and with other participants

In-company activities and support The success of your BIG journey relies on a set of Make A Difference (MAD) challenges that will require you to take what you have heard in a peer group learning environment and apply them within your own business context – this is what makes change happen. But don’t worry, we won’t leave you on your own, our group of experienced programme coaches will spend time with you in your company during this time.

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“Accessing the Business School’s resources was the beginning of my journey. I haven’t looked back since.”

Martin Daniell, Managing Director, Siegrist Orel Ltd

Knowledge access

The latest in management thinking This programme is unique as it is informed by the latest research on business growth and performance which is translated into practical advice by leading academics from the University of Kent and leadership and change specialists from Telos Partners Ltd. The research methodology works with businesses across the South East through a set of surveys, ownermanager interviews, detailed case studies and master classes to investigate drivers of growth and performance and how they change over time. You can therefore rest assured that this programme can respond to latest challenges within the business world and the latest developments in management tools and techniques.

“Much of the work of the centre focuses on translating the latest research on the forces that drive firm growth and success into practical advice and support for business: of which this programme is an excellent example.”

Dr Mark Gilman, Director, ECG

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Connecting to a world of possibilities This programme is designed and run through a University of Kent applied research centre – the Centre for Employment, Competitiveness and Growth (ECG). The Centre aims to develop worldclass research that provides impact for research, business and policy communities, and in doing so bridges the gap between academia and industry. The Centre and wider Business School can offer you with further opportunities for learning and development through: World-class research: the Business School is ranked in the top third of schools across the UK and has a number of centres from which you can draw further knowledge: Competitiveness and Growth, Value Chain, Logistics, Tourism, and Anglo-Sino relationships.

Publications: access to a continuously evolving portfolio of publications from the leaders in management across a range of disciplines and also University library resources.

Networking events: building relationships with a network of international alumni that work for local and global organisations through a range of school events.

Thought leaders: access to leading academics and consultants at the forefront of research within key business fields including strategy, HR, finance, operations, international business, marketing, and supply chain to name but a few!

Career services: facilities and resources to help you develop your career and future prospects. The Business School at the University of Kent is ranked: • 1st in South East England for Management Studies (2011 Sunday Time University Rankings) • 2nd amongst the UK HE institutions for the quality of Business Studies course (NSS results 2010) • 3rd in UK for Student Satisfaction for Business Studies (2011 Sunday Times University Rankings) • 5th in UK for Student Satisfaction in Management Studies (2011 Sunday Times University Rankings)

Participant Spotlight Name Martin Daniell

Company Siegrist-Orel Ltd

Background An established high specification manufacturing company that had entered a period of decline. Martin became aware of the resources of the University through taking part in the research programme that informed the development of the BIG Journey.

Experience “I often use to question whether I was doing the right things compared to other business leaders. The knowledge that I have now gained means that I can confidently approach any issue that rears its ugly head and deal with it appropriately.

Whether you need to respond to a crisis, protect your business’ current profitability, or exploit new opportunities that have opened up - this programme is for you.”

Impact “The programme has given me the foresight to make the changes that I was avoiding. I now have a fully engaged workforce ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. This has meant that the development of the company has gone a lot further than it would have in the same time. That’s definitely down to the programme”.

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“The return on investment is incredible. The knowledge I have been able to develop as a result of the programme has enabled me to lead the company towards a period of sustained profitable growth, increasing our turnover by over £600k and our profits by over £100k with huge future growth potential.”

Martin Daniell, Managing Director, Siegrist Orel Ltd

A BIG investment at a small price

What do you get? You pay £10k in exchange for a set of integrated modules with action learning sets, coaching and mentoring sessions, accommodation for the 1st module orientation event, all lunches and breakfasts, a course dinner, and all refreshments during the day. A course portfolio folder containing all study materials.

This is not a fully residential course so accommodation is not included for modules 2-6. However, should you wish to stay over (for instance due to travel distance) accommodation can be organised through the University at preferential rates.

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How can you pay? Arrangements can be made for you to pay in instalments.

Payment plan options can be discussed during the sign-up process with the programme directors or consultant.

Is any support available? Funding may be available upon which you can draw to part fund the programme. Funding options can be discussed during the sign-up process with the programme directors or consultant.

Programme management Dr Mark Gilman Programme Director

Adam Campbell Programme Director

Simon Raby Programme Manager

Kasia Senyszyn Programme Administrator

Admissions contact details E: S.O.Raby@kent.ac.uk T: +44 (0)1227 824740 www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/ecg

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Begin your journey today

This programme is aimed at ambitious owner-managers, directors or those with a significant decision making or leadership role who have an inner desire to improve and grow their business. You may be aware of the challenges you face but uncertain how to begin to tackle them. You may be fed up with the current status quo, or believe that better times lie ahead. If this is you, and you wish to enhance your own abilities and that of your organisation then look no further.

Three easy ways to find out more There are a number of ways you can learn more about the programme: 1 Come and find out more about the programme through attendance at a programme taster session.

The taster events are a free ½ day workshop introducing you to the principles of the programme. The programme directors and consultants will be in attendance to whom you can address any questions or queries you may have.

2 Meet with one of our programme directors for a one-to-one consultation.

The one-to-one consultations involve a personal discussion between you and a programme director and will last for 1-2 hours. The session will assess your personal and business needs and will confirm your suitability for the programme.

3 Reserve a provisional place. Places are limited to 25.

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To discuss your BIG Journey, find out when and where the next briefing is to be held, or to organise a one-to-one consultation please contact the programme manager Simon Raby by email S.O.Raby@kent.ac.uk, or by telephone +44 (0)1227 824740.

What if this programme isn’t suited to you? There are other ways we can help...

The School has a team of programme consultants that can undertake a diagnostic process on your needs as an individual or business. This process will help you analyse your weaknesses and assess your gaps in order to create a tailored action plan. If this sounds like a useful process please contact our programme team on businessengagement@kent.ac.uk

Participants do not require any formal qualifications to embark on their BIG Journey, just 100% commitment!

www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/ecg

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