The CBI’s recent report “Future champions – unlocking growth in the UK’s medium-sized businesses” described the sector as treading water after becoming more risk averse.
Anglia Ruskin’s Centre for Enterprise Development and Research (CEDAR) held a roundtable discussion with business people running companies with a turnover of £5m or greater – including Mark Hammond (CEO of Melbourn Scientific), Alan Ball (CEO UK and Ireland of Spicers Ltd) and Angela Rushforth (Managing Director of Ridgeons Group) – to discuss the issues facing their businesses and examine the problems identified by the CBI report.
The business leaders highlighted three key areas they believe are vital; creating the right company culture, adopting the correct business strategy, and being able to identify and understand the ingredients necessary for growth, including access to finance and the ambition of the company’s leadership.
The outcomes from the roundtable were then fed back to the course developers at CEDAR, led by Roger Mumby-Croft, Professor of International Management Practice at Anglia Ruskin.
Professor Mumby-Croft said: “Creating Future Champions is a pragmatic business course aimed at business owners and managers who are determined to stimulate growth in their companies, which can be either aspirational companies or large companies that need refreshing.
“The course will offer the opportunity to step outside the day-to-day management of the company and gain strategic advice to take the business to the next level. Business leaders will develop an understanding and control of key business disciplines; from strategy to operations, marketing and finance.
“Creating Future Champions will help business people create a growth plan with the support of specialists who can offer insights into best practice gained from real world experience. Participants will be able to share experiences and gain ideas and feedback from peers from different market sectors facing similar issues.”
The course, which is aimed at owners, CEOs or key senior managers, begins this September and monthly sessions will be held on Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus until July 2013. For more information about Creating Future Champions, please contact Professor Mumby-Croft on 07795 427982 or e-mail roger.mumby-croft@anglia.ac.uk
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Andrea Hilliard on t: 0845 196 4727, e: andrea.hilliard@anglia.ac.uk
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Creating Future Champions in the East
9 July 2012
Creating Future Champions, a course designed by East of England business leaders for East of England business leaders, has been launched by Anglia Ruskin University.