Lancashire women's Peer Networks

We are pleased to once again be a collaborator in the government initiative, Peer Networks, which brings together a diverse group of women business owners and senior leaders as a group in a safe space, to discuss business challenges and how they can be overcome.

The initiative will be delivered through group sessions that are action-led and reflective, using peer feedback to create practical solutions for business blocks.

Build Back Better

Our expert facilitators, Jane Binnion and Caroline Charnley will create the safe and supportive network needed to help build and strengthen your business. From finance and HR, crisis management, to sales and marketing challenges, the peer network will be a supportive arm to help you improve the overall performance of your business.

Why a Women’s Cohort? 

Even in the best of times, we know that women leaders of SMEs and not-for-profit organisations carry a large workload and worry on their own. It is clearly stated that women entrepreneurs have been heavily economically disadvantaged by the COVID19 pandemic. Female-led businesses, often in sectors vulnerable to economic shocks, have experienced a higher rate of closure during the lockdown, and many more are struggling with the unprecedented situation. 

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has allocated funding for a Peer Networks Programme to support organisations through this difficult time. Knowing the specific challenges faced by women in business, The Growing Club, via Boost Lancashire, has secured a portion of this funding to run a cohort specifically for women in Lancashire. 

So what are Peer Networks? 

It’s well-known fact that accountability to our peers is a powerful motivator. 

The aim of this funded programme is to provide a safe learning environment with trained facilitators, where local women entrepreneurs and senior managers can share the difficult issues their businesses are facing in the current pandemic. 

Using action learning methodology, any issues can be discussed within a supportive group framework, with the intention to create change.

Subject-specific trainers will also be available to offer assistance with any areas needed, such as finance, marketing, HR, and recruitment. 

What do I get?

All course participants will receive: 

A total of 18-hours of action-learning group work with a small group of peers, through 2.5-hour Zoom sessions each fortnight (with a break for Christmas).  3.5 hours of one-to-one coaching. 

There are 11 places available (only one place can be allocated per organisation).

The cohort starts on Wednesday 13th of October.

Dates and Times

Sessions will run on a Wednesday morning 9.30am to 12.00pm

October 13th and 27th

November 10th and 24th

December 8th

January 5th and 19th

Is this programme for you? 

Eligibility

– Women applying for the course will be the owner of a business or a senior decision-maker within an organisation. – The business (including not-for-profit organisations) must be Lancashire-based.– The organisation must have been operating for at least one year. – The business must be small to medium-sized business (SME) with between five and 249 employers (associates count as employees for creative industries ).– Business turnover must be £100,000+, pre-COVID19. – Participants will be women who value peer support, collaboration and are open to learning.

How to apply

Fill in your details via this Eventbrite link here and we will send you an application form.

Once the completed application form has been submitted, the applicant will receive a telephone call to confirm eligibility and take some details. 

Participants will complete a feedback form at the end of each session, to enable quality monitoring and to capture the impact the programme has on the participating businesses.

All information given will remain confidential, in accordance with GDPR.

Women who accept a place on the course are expected to commit to the full length of the programme.

The Facilitators

Jane Binnion is a qualified and experienced adult trainer and group work facilitator. She is the owner of Ethical Business Training, author of The Heart of Sales, and founder and MD of The Growing Club CIC, an employment and enterprise training organisation for women.

Caroline Charnley is a customer service expert with experience in large, medium and small companies. In recent years she has been using her experience to found and develop her bricks and clicks store, Kitty Brown Boutique based in North Lancashire.

Not the right time?  We will be running a further cohort starting on January 7th, 2022.

To find out more about the initiative, visit the Peer Networks website here.

Any questions? Please email [email protected]