Our most popular grant scheme (the Leadership and Management Advisory Service) ended in April and the new batch of grants focus on businesses that want help to grow fast – whether they are established businesses or start-ups. Three of our coaches are specially authorised to deliver coaching under the new schemes.

This grant programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) supports coaching for leaders in businesses seeking high growth. Key extra criteria are that turnover is more than £1 million and there are not more than 250 staff. (A similar grant is available for new businesses with no turnover!)

These funds can be used to support individuals or management teams to help them in a targeted way to realize the ambitions of the business, for example through support in formulating strategies, identifying options, and developing leadership and delegation skills of key staff.

Stage 1 – first three months 
A grant of £1100 including VAT is available to help fund twelve hours coaching (£76.39+VAT per hour). The grant is paid to the coach, reducing the amount that the coach invoices you. This must be completed within three months (e.g. four hours per month). To apply, request and complete an application form. This may be followed by an informal telephone interview. The process takes about one week.

Stage 2 – further six months
A grant of up to £2000 is available for up to 48 hours (8 days) of coaching (£41.67 per hour), up to half the cost of the coaching. Being a grant, this does not attract VAT, so if the amount invoiced by the coach is £4000+VAT, you can reclaim £2000. The amount of coaching is flexible, however the first (up to) 24 hours of coaching have to be completed within three months (e.g. eight hours per month). All the coaching has to be completed within six months. Stage 2 requires the completion of a further short application form, and payment is made to you after you have paid your coach.

Contact me for more information or for an application form.

Next Monday 2nd July between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. David and I will be chatting with Gerry and Peter on Swindon Radio. We’ll be answering questions to help people with business growth, career development, and handling stress. The conversation is fluid, affected by any phone calls you make!

This is Swindon Radio’s show “Mind your own business” – the show that looks at issues of concern to local businesses. You can listen – anywhere – on the internet at Swindon Radio 105.5 (click on Listen Live) or on a real radio in the Swindon area at 105.5 FM.

We look forward to talking to you!

Isla and I visited Swindon Connections last night to meet with existing and potential clients. The speaker was Nikki Owen who talked about developing charisma in corporate life. One of the things that fascinated me most was her “Rotten Apple” experiment to show the difference it makes if you have love in your heart when communicating at work or at home.

Swindon Connections:
Diane Morgan was our rep at last week’s Swindon Connections meeting at Swindon’s Jury’s Inn. “I made several new contacts and bumped into an old friend who I hadn’t seen for nearly four years. I was also introduced to Dave Plunkett who’s recently taken over the running of Swindon Connections – he’s got some interesting and innovative ideas for future meetings.”  The guest speaker was Ben Kench whose unlimited enthusiasm for seeing small businesses develop caused quite a stir. Amongst his 7 tips for business growth is the importance of getting a really good business coach. In fact he recommends it as His Most Important Tip.

The next Connections meeting will be on Thursday 24th May at the Menzies Hotel in Swindon from 6pm until 8.30 and will include the new facilitated connections event which has proved successful in the past.
More details and to see Dave’s plans visit Swindon Connections

Define your Destiny:
Isla and Ann-Marie are hosting their popular Define your Destiny workshop on Saturday 19th May especially for women who’d like to feel more positive about themselves and their future. Further details from the Health and Wellbeing Clinic in Marlborough on 01672 513583 or have a look at our Future Events page.

Slow, steady growth?
By the way, did you catch Sir Mervyn King on the radio the other day? The Governor of the Bank of England  was giving the annual BBC lecture during which he predicts “slow, steady growth for the UK economy in 2012”. However, he admitted that the Bank of England must take “a share of the responsibility” for the financial crisis.
Let’s hope he’s got it right this time.
More information Telegraph Financial news

NRG Networks offer free training days.

Everyone wants more business through Word of Mouth: generate results not just activity by
Turning Networking into Business and

Move your business forward, clarify your objectives, and achieve your short term goals by
Developing effective 90-day action plans

NRG run networking lunches to help people to grow their business: at selected venues over the next few months they have extended this to a whole day event to provide training on these topics. This will take place in the morning and afternoon, around the usual networking lunch. You just pay for the lunch.

There’s lots more information if you click on the links above, and you can book online too.

See you there!