BEST
Periodically group training initiatives will be available to registered client companies. Currently the Business Enhancement Strategic Training [BEST] program offers practical and relevant solutions to many common business development needs. Key topics considered include:
STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH
Product Development / Process improvement
This course provides hands on approach to understanding how to generate new product ideas and create new processes, and how to assess and evaluate current product and service performance and market relevance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the program, delegates will be able to:
- Describe techniques used to identify product and process improvement
- Embrace innovation and creativity and enhance business performance
- Develop new breakthrough products
- Identify key factors associated with successful product innovation
- Identify emerging trends
- Identify product opportunity gaps
- Identify sources of finance for innovation
CONTENTS
- The four stages of innovation
- Creativity and mind mapping rules
- Focus of attention
- Critical success factors for companies
- Ideas generation and evaluation
- The importance of new product development and innovation
- Recognising potential
- Positioning new products
- Value opportunities
- New product development process stages
- Addressing legal issues
- Risk assessment techniques
- Protecting your innovation
- Patent and Trademark application
- Design registration
Program duration: 4 HALF DAYS
STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH
Marketing & Sales
This course provides a practical approach to understanding how strategic marketing impacts on a businesses’ ability to maximise opportunities and to ensure marketing activities are commensurate with the required market penetration of product or service. How to generate new marketing ideas and assess and evaluate current product and service performance and market relevance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the programme, delegates will be able to:
- Describe market research techniques used to identify product and service improvement
- Understand the breadth and scope of marketing
- Understanding the marketing mix
- Develop a marketing plan
- Develop new marketing strategies
- Understand web based marketing
- Develop realistic marketing objectives
- Maximise resources through market segmentation
- Identify emerging marketing trends
- Identify marketing opportunity gaps
CONTENTS
- Market research ideas generation
- The marketing mix
- Market segmentation
- Conducting internal marketing audit
- The structure of a marketing plan
- Marketing plan preparation
- The importance of competitor information
- Identifying opportunities
- Identifying key issues and critical success factors
- Web based strategies
FINANCING FOR GROWTH
This course provides hands on approach to understanding and interpreting the financial position of a business through appropriate use of management accounts and various financial control documents and ratios, and on its ability to assess the funding for a planned growth programme.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the programme, delegates will be able to:
- Prepare and understand management accounts
- Understand and use key financial ratios
- Forecast future financial requirements
- Assess financial fitness for planned business growth
- Assess current financial position
CONTENTS
- The importance of management accounts
- Cash-flow & liquidity assessment and the resultant impact on funding decisions
- Understanding the balance sheet and financial ratios
- Simple Cost/ Benefit analysis
- Investment appraisal
- The need for expert help
- The types of funding
- Retaining or relinquishing control
- Alternative sources of funding
- The sources in detail
- Building a funding package
- The need for a business plan
- Lease or buy?
- Reviewing funding for other projects
- Freeing up cash internally
- Tax planning and avoidance
MANAGING GROWTH
This section of the course is designed to get those responsible for the various elements of growth to consider the implications of strategic sourcing, partnering, technology and people. It will give managers the tools to examine the skills and abilities that today’s modern manager require to be an effective leader.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the programme, delegates will be able to:
- That strategic sourcing is itself a benchmark
- Understand the pro’s and con’s of partnering
- Utilising technology efficiently
- Get the best out of your people
- Develop your strategic model
CONTENTS
- Internal/external analysis
- Benchmarking/quality systems
- Visions and missions
- Alternative strategies
- Establish realistic growth goals and objectives
- Focus resources on key priorities
- Creating a people culture
- Increase staff productivity
- Build strong teams
- Stages of team development
- Coaching and mentoring
- Reward and recognition
- Measure and monitor progress
Program duration: 2 HALF DAYS
- Introduction to networking opportunities
- Conference and catering facilities
- Make contact with local businesses, inward locators and major retail developments
- Provide guidance to businesses on recruitment techniques – including legal requirements, drafting job and people specifications
- Liaise with GERA's Recruitment team to service local companies recruitment requirements
- Helping with job specifications and vacancy adverts
- Assisting with Equal Opportunities policies
- Facilitate referrals from local companies to service providers such as Business Gateway
- Raising awareness of quality accreditation models such as Investors in People
- Assisting with specific labour market information