What is Peer Networks and is it for me?

The Peer Networks Programme is an exciting new and free national peer-to-peer networking programme for SME leaders who want to grow, adapt and develop their organisation for future success.

Delivered across Essex by the BEST Growth Hub, the programme aims to encourage multiple, diverse groups of business leaders to come together and collaboratively work through common business issues, navigate through these uncertain economic times and lead change across our entire business community.

Each bespoke peer cohort programme will take a group of businesses through a unique, interactive ‘action-learning’ journey creating opportunities to discuss and tackle individual and shared barriers to growth, gain and reflect on valuable specialist advice and feedback and will provide practical solutions that can be implemented in real-time so that you can start to see the benefits immediately.

Topics, time frames and outcomes will be led by the participants with specialist advice parachuted in on demand.

Our expert facilitators will give you the flexibility to create a trusted support network that works for you, helping you to build and strengthen your business and improve its overall performance as well as work with like-minded business professionals.

The Programme

Under the programme, BEST Growth Hub will provide each participant with 18 hours of specialist support through a series of high impact group sessions, and at least 3.5 hours of one-to-one support to discuss their business needs.

You will also receive a full business diagnostic helping us find you funding and business support opportunities, and be given access to our tailormade adaptation and pivot tool.

All for free.

Who is the programme for?

Peer Networks is designed for business leaders who want to grow and develop their organisation for future success.

The programme is available to any SME business that has:

• Operated for at least one year
• At least five employees (includes part-time permanent staff, creative sectors working with freelancers and associates)
• A turnover of at least £100,000*

Who has:

• An aspiration to improve
• The potential and ambition to scale up
• The need to pivot or adapt
• The ambition or the potential to export or work cross border
• An eagerness to work collaboratively and influence change

* Businesses impacted by COVID 19 who achieved a turnover of £100k last financial year but have seen a drop in 2020 can still apply.

Benefits

By completing Peer Networks your business will benefit from:

• Have an individual assessment and report to help you identify areas of strength and how to turn them into opportunities
• Overcome business challenges and recognise and act on them and the new opportunities identified
• Build a trusted network of connections to support you now and in the future
• Improve your long-term personal and business performance
• Access to the Growth Hub services and over 30+ business support providers and funding opportunities

Jon Birkett BEST Growth Hub Manager and Business Owner said: “There is no question that in Essex we are currently facing an extremely uncertain and challenging economic landscape, however we are an enterprising community and have entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration at the heart of our culture.

We need to harness that Essex spirit and at BEST we believe that our Peer Programme is the best way to help our Essex businesses, not only grow and adapt, but also lead the evolution of our future local economy.

With skills and enterprise at the heart of our Economic Recovery Plan for Essex, the business support ecosystem, centred around the BEST Growth Hub, is more important now, than ever. This programme will ensure that our SMEs have the voice, support and confidence they need to adapt, to strive for growth during what is an incredibly testing time for many businesses.”

Please note that places are limited and the deadline to register your interest is 20th December 2020 with the programme beginning in earnest in January 2021.

To find out more about the programme please contact:

Info@BESTGrowthhub.org.uk or register your details on www.southeastbusiness.org.uk

Join us at one of our launch events on Tuesday 8th December or Tuesday 15th December 10am-11am . Register here

You can register your interest at www.peernetworks.co.uk