Community & Business Partners to deliver peer networks initiative

Community & Business Partners has been appointed by Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, to help Lancashire’s businesses overcome coronavirus, improve resilience and achieve future success through a funded programme of targeted knowledge sharing.

Peer Networks, which was launched in Lancashire on 21st October, is a national peer-to-peer networking programme for SME leaders that want to improve their business performance by working with likeminded business leaders to address key challenges and reach their goals.

Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and led locally by Boost, it will create a range of diverse peer-to-peer networking cohorts of 8-11 businesses in a range of sectors across Lancashire.

Boost has selected Community & Business Partners to deliver a number of Peer Networks, both weekly and bi-weekly which will help a range of businesses across our county to address key issues such as; sales, marketing, growth strategy, resilience, leadership Covid19, Brexit, to name just a few.

Andrew Leeming, programme manager, Boost, said: “Lancashire is fighting to overcome the deep economic challenges brought about by coronavirus and with further uncertainties such as EU Exit on the horizon, companies will need to work together and be resilient in order to grow.

“We’re proud to be working with Government to give the county’s business leaders the chance to share knowledge and overcome common issues in a structured way.

“We have a wide array of brilliant networks and expert business support organisations in Lancashire and we have chosen 17 who we know will each facilitate a targeted, meaningful Peer Networks cohort to support our county’s recovery.”

It is delivered through a series of high impact group sessions, with each cohort led by an expert facilitator.

CBP’s facilitator is Peter Dickinson, an experienced business coach, mentor and founder of several companies, Peter has worked with over 400 companies across a wide range of sectors.  He draws on his wealth of experience when facilitating group sessions, to ensure every participant gains the maximum benefit.

The programme includes interactive action learning, small groups, flexible topic selection and one to one coaching.

It is available to any small or medium sized business that has:• Operated for at least one year• At least five employees• A turnover of at least £100,000• An aspiration to improve

Ideally, participants should also have:• The potential to scale up• The ability or potential to export

Companies who are interested in taking part in Peer Networks: please contact us to reserve your interest for our November cohorts. 01254 291281 or email jaydee@cbpartners.org

Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. It is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Peer Networks is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in response to a commitment made in the 2019 Business Productivity Review.