A PEER networking group has been launched to support small and medium-sized businesses.
Wokingham Borough Council and Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub are working to bring business leaders together to discuss their challenges and opportunities.
Delivered through a series of six virtual group sessions with a trained facilitator, business owners will share first-hand experiences, discuss common issues and identify practical solutions to overcome them.
The programme aims to help SMEs create a trusted local support network, adapt and improve productivity.
The pilot programme, which ran between October 2020 and March 2021 saw more than 65 business leaders across Berkshire take part.
Matt Durant, managing director of BAM Construction Training in Wokingham, was one of the business owners to benefit from the first programme.
“I’d definitely recommend the Peer Networks programme,” he said. “It can be quite lonely at the top when you’ve got nobody else to bounce ideas off – especially if you are the sole director of the business – so to be part of a network of other directors is completely invaluable.”
Julian Mobbs, from the Berkshire Growth Hub, said he is delighted to collaborate with the council on the project this year.
“This collaboration will provide more local business owners with the chance to benefit from Peer Networks to build lasting connections, develop their leadership skills and accelerate their growth,” he said.
Cllr Stuart Munro, Wokingham Borough Council’d executive member for business, said: “The new Peer Networks programme is an excellent resource to help businesses with ambitions of growth to develop.
“We have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to support our business community at this difficult time and welcome this collaboration with the Thames Valley Berkshire Growth Hub.”
The content of virtual peer sessions is determined by the participants based on their own challenges and opportunities.
This could include finance, change management, sales and marketing, management processes, and implementation of technology.
Each participant will also be able to access one-to-one support from the Berkshire Growth Hub’s team of experienced business advisers, all of whom have run their own businesses.
The programme is open to small and medium sized businesses that have been operating for at least one year, have a minimum of five employees and an annual turnover of a least £100,000.
The Peer Network programme is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
For more information, or to register, email: info@berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk, call 0118 209 0000 or visit: www.berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk/peer-networks-programme
