A leading light of Britain’s Energy Coast has been given sparks of new inspiration through a management programme.
Sam Beattie, senior quantity surveyor with Workington-based TSP Engineering, was one of the first cohort of regional businesspeople to complete Help to Grow with Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).
Sam found new knowledge and developed valuable skills alongside managers and senior figures from companies based throughout the North West and across sectors ranging from care homes to marketing to medical device manufacturers.
The 12-week Help to Grow programme, delivered by LUMS in association with the Chartered Association of Business Schools and the UK Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), focuses on increasing skills and knowledge to boost growth potential in businesses in a constantly-changing operating environment.
Sam said: “The most useful part was the support network. The course provides access to amazing subject matter experts and like-minded business professionals, who are all exceptionally enthusiastic about business development, promoting critical thinking and reflective discussion.
“The mentor and peer discussions were exceptionally beneficial. Through discussions with a concentrated group of like-minded business professionals, we were able to support one another and offer independent guidance from our own experiences within varying sectors of business.
“The weekly thought-provoking one-on-one sessions have really helped me to critically explore my ideas, develop my thoughts and form a structured growth action plan.
“I also enjoyed the case studies where we were able to review and reflect upon real-world growth examples. We were able to identify similarities and links to our own businesses and recognise opportunities for change and growth, which I found especially beneficial.”
TSP Engineering’s business involves delivering technical solutions to complex problems across the nuclear, steelmaking, defence and oil and gas industries.
Sam signed up for Help to Grow to develop his business and strategic skills, allowing him to investigate growth opportunities and implement change where needed within the business.
He would encourage other business owners considering taking part in the Help to Grow programme with LUMS to grasp the opportunity, and said: “Go for it. This course has given me the tools and the push I required to really drive continuous improvement and change within the business. I’m hoping to implement a lot of changes which can hopefully provide a solid platform for steady, manageable growth.”
LUMS will run further Help to Grow programmes starting in February and March 2022, with other dates to follow. For more information, visit https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/business/grow-your-business/help-to-grow/
