A flagship leadership and management programme backed by European funding and the Welsh Government has taken businesses to “a different level”.
Collin Singer, Managing Director of international dog training specialists Wagtail UK, was among those to laud the popular 20Twenty Business Growth Programme.
Targeting companies, small enterprises and entrepreneurs in Flintshire, Wrexham and Powys, the initiative is up to 70% funded via the European Social Fund through Welsh Government.
Wales’ Assistant Manager Osian Roberts threw his weight behind the project at a recent conference held at St Asaph’s OpTIC Centre, and was joined by a host of north east Wales companies including Coya Marketing, Platts Animal Bedding, The Boardroom Climbing Centre and Allington Hughes Law.
More than 500 companies in Wales have already benefited, and Collin believes his attendance helped take his award-winning Holywell firm to new heights.
“I found the 20Twenty Business Growth programme challenging and very rewarding,” he said.
“As well as improving my leadership and management skills it enables excellent networking opportunities with the leaders of other businesses on the scheme and has definitely taken us to a different level.”
Caroline Thedens from Platts in Llay said the project “opens the mind and makes you think strategically”, while Wrexham-based Coya’s Shelly Barratt felt it gave her company a new lease of life from a finance perspective.
“I have a degree in Strategic Growth but this course gave me a further insight into strategy and really helped me to take a step back and look at planning the future of the business,” said Shelly.
“It certainly inspired confidence and a fresh perspective which has proven helpful and added value; the fact it is funded and was so accessible was also important and will be attractive to many small businesses like mine.”
The 20Twenty Business Growth Programme was the brainchild of Professor Brian Morgan and is delivered by Bangor University in collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University.
20Twenty offers a range of recognised leadership qualifications from Level 3 through to Level 7, all of which are accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
It is the only programme in Wales that offers a progression route from CMI Level 3 to Level 7, leading towards a Postgraduate Certificate, Executive MBA and Chartered Manager.
Project leader Gwenllian Owen is delighted with progress and the response from managers, leaders and owners across the region.
“To hear such positive feedback is heartening and shows the difference 20Twenty has made to businesses in Flintshire, Wrexham and Powys,” she said.
“The funding aspect has also proven to be very important, offering real support to companies of all sizes, particularly start-ups and smaller enterprises which are already reaping the rewards.”
Free two-hour taster sessions are currently being held across Wales in advance of the next cohort, which is due to start soon. They are designed to help explain the aim of the programme and provide an insight into some of the topics which will be covered.
For more information, visit the website: www.20twentybusinessgrowth.com
