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Manchester Met says experts are vital to growth

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) have said enterprise experts at its Business School are making “vital” contributions to growth and jobs.

The University ran a progress report in the North West on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme, which looked at the rise of the first 250 enterprises to have completed the scheme.

It found that 77% of businesses surveyed were employing more people than 12 months ago, while 66% has increased their turnover year-on-year.

A further 53% of the businesses had increased their profitability and 92% were more confident in their ability to grow their company.

One such business is Stockport-based Windmill Tapes and Labels, which is run by second-generation owner, Andy Southern.

The company was one of the first participants in the small business programme with MMU, and Mr Southern said it helped him build a robust business plan, a strategy for growth and expand his workforce from 34 to 50 employees.

MMU’s report says the Goldman Sachs programme is creating both regional and national networks of company owners who support each other to build confidence and morale as well as creating new business opportunities.

Lynn Martin, co-author of the report and Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Business School, commented: “Small businesses are fundamental to economic growth and innovation, creating new jobs and generating wealth.

“In these tough trading times, alumni from the 10,000 Small Businesses are a beacon, showing how business can really be done.

“This is a programme that has brought them deep learning, from the course and from each other, new ideas, new ways to do things, new contacts and a strong set of relationships with regional and national entrepreneurs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .