Originally published 22 August 2003

'BIG' - a highly acclaimed business growth programme pioneered by Warwick Business School, is being opened up to Coventry and Warwickshire SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) who want to generate fast growth, in a new programme starting on 24th October 2003.

Past runs of the programme have already provided significant benefits to local companies:

Mark Naylor, Managing Director of Coventry based manufacturer PMD (UK) Ltd., says: “The programme enabled a reality check on our business, showing us how to generate sustainable growth in a business environment where margins are eroding and business is moving overseas.”

Delivered in collaboration with The University of Warwick’s Mercia Institute of Enterprise (MiE) the BIG (Business Innovation and Growth) Programme offers practical support to owner managers to achieve business growth and enables SMEs to:

• Select and implement winning strategies
• Achieve fast growth whilst managing its challenges
• Gain access to a network of ‘fast growth’ owner managers who are willing to share their experiences.

By tracking the UK’s most successful firms over eight years, Warwick Business School has discovered that owner- managers of fast growth companies approach market opportunities differently, and this knowledge underpins the BIG Programme.

To give interested owner managers a feel for BIG, two free ‘Taster’ sessions are planned where attendees can meet with other owner managers who have been through the Programme and find out more about course content and approach.

The tasters will outline the benefits and costs of the programme and are being held at Business Link Coventry and Warwickshire on 24 September 2003 at 8.00 am and at the International Manufacturing Centre (Room 352), University of Warwick on 6 October 2003 at 6.15 pm.

For more information contact: Sandy Sparks, Development Manager, MIE on 02476 574002 or email mie@warwick.ac.uk.

Notes for Editors:

1. The Mercia Institute of Enterprise (MIE) is a partnership of all West Midlands Universities, which is led by the University of Warwick. MIE is one of 13 Science Enterprise Centres set up to promote and develop enterprise and entrepreneurship in Higher Education.

2. BIG is sponsored by Business Link Coventry and Warwickshire and the Chamber of Commerce