Aston Programme for Small Business Growth

Supporting your business to reach new heights

The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth is part-funded by the European Regional Developmregional development fundent Fund (ERDF).

Position your business for the future by joining the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth. Develop your leadership skills and build a targeted action plan for your business in the company of other ambitious business leaders.

The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth aims to support SMEs to grow by increasing their turnover and creating jobs within Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull. It is free of charge and offers:

  • Workshops taught by experts in SME leaderships and management.
  • One-to-one support to help you tackle your business challenges.
  • Networking with other early-stage business owners from the Midlands.
  • SME case studies from business leaders talking about their growth journey.
  • Guidance through the various external finance options available to you.
  • The opportunity to pitch your growth strategy to external finance experts.
  • Time to explore the strategic growth opportunities for your business.

For further information about the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth, call: 0121 204 3225 or email Centre for Growth

Programme Participation
  • The programme is suitable for businesses that are in their early-stage with identifiable growth potential
  • The applicant (you) should be the founder or the CEO of the business, and be the person who is responsible for driving the growth of the business
  • Your business must have an operations address in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull or Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area
  • Your business needs to have been trading for at least 12 months and employ one FTE (this can be yourself)
  • Your business needs to be an SME as defined by HMRC and meet the De Minimis state aid criteria – received no more than 200,000 euro state aid in the last 36 months
  • Participants need to make a significant commitment of time and effort to engage with the opportunities provided and are required to attend all workshops.
Application Form

To apply for the next Aston Programme for Small Business Growth cohort, please complete our application form.

Applications have closed for this programme.

Please email Centre for Growth for further information regarding future support opportunities.

Schedule

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth - Positioning for the Future

Applications are now open for Aston Programme for Small Business Growth Cohort 10

Applications close: Friday 17th June 2022

Interviews: Wednesday 6th July 2022
 

Planned Schedule - Cohort 10
WorkshopsDatesTimes
IntroductionWednesday 14th September 202214:00 - 17:00
Growth and GoalsWednesday 21st September 202213:00 - 18:30
Opportunities and InnovationWednesday 28th September 202213:00 - 18:30
LeadershipWednesday 12th October 202213:00 - 18:30
Pre-Finance (3 hours)Wednesday 19th October 202213:30 - 16:30 or 17:00 - 20:00
Finance for the Business LeaderWednesday 2nd November 202213:00 - 18:00
MarketingWednesday 16th November 202213:00 - 18:30
Culture and PeopleWednesday 30th November 202213:00 - 18:30
Cashflow (3 hours)Wednesday 14th December 202213:30 - 16:30 or 17:00 - 20:00
Digital & Tech Adoption and OperationsWednesday 11th January 202313:00 - 18:30
Options for External FinanceWednesday 1st February 202313:00 - 18:30
Presenting Your Growth StrategyWednesday 15th February 202309:30 - 18:30
ImplementationWednesday 8th March 202313:00 - 18:30

Please note: All dates and times are subject to change.
Testimonials

Kay Miller
The Den Kit Company

The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth participant, 2018/2019

“The Aston Programme for Small Business Growth was based around our actual business - not just an academic exercise. For someone like me, that was accessible; I could directly relate everything I was learning to the business.”

 

Kay Miller

 

Manny Athwal
School of Coding

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth participant, 2018/2019

“Implementing learnings from the programme has resulted in our business turnover increasing by 380% in less than a year.”

 

 

Manny Athwal

 

 

Sandra Berns
Centric HR


Aston Programme for Small Business Growth participant, 2019

“Just talking to Tim my Aston Programme for Small Business Growth mentor, has enabled me to grow my confidence, provide assurance that I’m on the right lines and take action – especially during a pandemic!”

 

Sandra Berns

 

 

Hollie Whittles
FraggleWorks Ltd


Aston Programme for Small Business Growth participant, 2017/2018

"On the Aston Programme for Small Business Growth, I met some inspirational business owners who I felt I could have open and honest debates with. I really valued having a mentor and ended up working alongside them on another project after the programme completed."

 

Hollie Whittles

 

 

La’Toyah Lewis
Rising Stars Property Solutions CIC


Aston Programme for Small Business Growth participant, 2018

“Our business had passed the start–up stage and we wanted to learn how to grow effectively; we just did not know how to do it or were to go. Aston Programme for Small Business Growth gave us the platform to learn and the right tools to help us grow the company.”

 

La'Toyah Lewis