With six weeks to go until WMG's Innovation Business Leadership (IBL) course starts again, the department is calling for senior managers from SMEs wanting to develop their strategic leadership skills to join the cohort.
Over the last two years, a number of leading business men and women from the region's manufacturing firms have participated in the programme, and the alumni continues to grow.
IBL consists of five three day modules taken over the course of a year covering:
-Strategic Innovation
-Leading, Managing and Building Skills for your People
-Operational Effectiveness and Supply Chain Strategy
-Financial and Commercial Awareness and Funding
-Sales, Marketing and Reputation Leadership
Alongside the taught modules, the programme also provides networking and mentoring opportunities and enables the participants to link with WMG research and innovation support teams.
John Rowley from contract electronics firm and Made in the Midlands member SMT Developments Ltd was appointed as Managing Director, a month after finishing the programme in 2015. He attributes his success to the leadership skills he developed.
The Innovation Business Leadership programme opened my eyes to a range of new technologies and innovative tools that we can use to create new products and services at SMT. It has helped me realise the great potential the business has. I also met some fantastic people from other sectors that have been extremely inspirational.
Dr Barry Winter, course leader says:
" Our IBL programme makes management research accessible and engaging, so that participants can apply powerful insights to their own businesses and see the results. It is designed precisely with SME managers and owners in mind, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead in complex, challenging times."
For more information contact Eleanor Precious via [email protected]