Lancaster University Management School development programme delegates

Good Growth - Preston

This five-month programme is designed for ambitious Preston business leaders, looking to grow their businesses in a way that enhances both people and planet. 

Good Growth Preston partner logos which include: Funded by UK Government, Levelling Up and Preston City Council
Business delegates during a Lancashire programme workshop.

About the Programme

Businesses do not operate in isolation to their surroundings, their growth strategy will determine the impact they have on their employees, their communities, and the environment. It is widely accepted that when organisations consider their purpose and responsibility, they generate both social and business value that enables them to thrive. Understanding the dynamics involved and being able to baseline and measure them, are critical when creating and implementing any growth plans.

This programme, underpinned by world-leading research produced by Lancaster University Management School, will develop business leaders so they can implement 'Good Growth' strategies within their organisations, paving the way for long-term success through sustainable growth.

Designed for senior decision makers from Preston-based business from all sectors. This programme would suit businesses with 5+ employees.

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Good Growth programme is designed and delivered by Lancaster University in partnership with Preston Council.

Supported by Boost; Lancashire's Business Growth Hub.

Starts: 5th March 2024

Benefits to Business

The design of the programme utilises our extensive expertise and success over the last 20 years, of facilitating change and transformation of businesses. You will be introduced to the ‘Good Dividends’ framework and digital tools, underpinned by Management School research, that will enable you to create and implement a ‘Good Growth’ plan in your business.

Purpose

Assess how each dimension of your business is contributing towards your purpose. Create a baseline you can build on and measure growth against

Explore

Explore and consider how your business practices can contribute to solving local and global challenges

Build

Build a 'Good Growth' action plan with clear objectives to generate positive outcomes for both people and place, inside and outside your organisation

Reflect

Reflect on your leadership practices and how this will influence the impact of your action plan amongst your team members

Enhance

Enhance long-term business value, by developing a clear, purpose driven strategy

Establish

Establish a non-executive board of directors from the cohort, to share fresh and impartial perspectives as you move forward

SME delegates during a Lancashire programme workshop.

Professor Steve Kempster, Lancaster University Management School

"Good growth is critical to business. It is about increasing turnover and profit, but doing this in a sustainable way that enhances relationships with partners, suppliers, customers, employees and indeed the place of business – our communities. It is not about growth at any cost that could damage others. This is not just an ethical approach but research confirms that those businesses that have a sustainable growth strategy over a number of years outperform their competitors."

What's Involved?

This 5-month programme starts with a two-day residential, followed by a series of one day workshops. Throughout the programme you will work collaboratively with a trusted group of SME leaders to share challenges and find solutions. The programme culminates with a 'Good Growth Alliance' summit.

Establishing Growth Objectives

Clarify your business purpose and assess how well each area of your business is contributing to it, so you can establish your growth objectives. 

Framing Action

Now you have a baseline to measure growth against, our academic expertise will facilitate a session to help you identify how you can realise your growth objectives.

Designing Growth Measures

Get specific on how you can benchmark progress in your business so you can maintain momentum and achieve results.

 

Reviewing Action

Reflect on your experiences implementing your growth plans in your business with your peers and explore solutions to challenges faced. 

Good Growth Alliance Summit

Participants, academics and guests of the businesses involved, will be invited to attend a final summit, to review & present action plans, explore opportunities and share your next steps both individually and collectively through the established non-exec boards.

Mick Gornall, Managing Director at Towers + Gornall

"Participating in the programme has been a game changer. It has re-invigorated our business mindset and has completely changed how we approach growth as a strategy. Profit is no longer the only focus."

Read full case study

Mick Gornall, Managing Director standing in Lancaster University Management School
Person typing on laptop

Costs & Eligibility

This programme is fully funded and available to businesses who are eligible under the Shared Prosperity Funding criteria, as follows:

  • Business based in Preston city council local authority district
  • Received less than £315,000 of subsidies in the last 3 years

Find out more about how and why Lancaster University and our funding bodies holds your information.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

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