Many people were caught out at the end of last year, when the UK government scheme to support leaders of small businesses was so successful that it ran out of money before its intended deadline this April, despite urgings not to leave applications to the last minute. Changes to government funding meant that we were not expecting the scheme to continue, despite the large number of our clients that had benefitted from the £1000 grant.

The good news is that the scheme has just been relaunched, to run until March 2012 – but don’t leave it until the last moment to get in touch with us! It doesn’t matter whether you have received a grant from a similar scheme in the past.

This time around, the Leadership and Management Advisory Service grant will give up to £1000 (matched funding) to the key leaders of growing firms with between 2 and 249 staff – to help with the development of people and processes in the organisation through interventions such as coaching and workshops.

Businesses need to be able to show planned growth of 20% in staff or turnover for each of the following three years (10% for Social Enterprise). Firms less than 12 months old need to show plans for turnover of £500,000 after three years.

Full details of the scheme in the South of England are here:
http://www.skillssoutheast.co.uk/leadership-and-management.html

To explore how best to benefit from this scheme, to talk through the growth potential of your business, or to start an application, call us now!

Swindon Coaching Team.

Swindon Connections is the new – well newish – kid on the block in the Swindon business scene. As one of the event partners, SCT will be at the De Vere village on Thursday 12th May, with a warm welcome and all sorts of ideas to help you and your business.
Come along and hear Dragon Slayer Sharon Wright talk about her success on the programme ‘Dragon’s Den’ with her award winning cable threading invention, and subsequent book documenting the unexpected setbacks she has since encountered.

Where: De Vere Village, Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehall Way, Swindon SN5 7DW
When: 1800 – 2030 Thursday 12th May 2011
Further details: www.business-scene.com

There was a definite spring in the step of people dropping by our regular monthly event at the National Trust cafe. It must have been the sight of our blue and white banner, not to mention the wonderful spring sunshine that lifted their spirits. The spring season brings a feeling of renewal and the urge to shake off the accumulated dullness of winter, so if you feel now’s a good time to expand your wings, do get in touch.