Knowledge Transfer Network and Evening Events
For large and small business alike the doorway to the Knowledge Transfer Networks is often our evening events calendar. Here you can tap into the stimulating atmosphere of a world class business school, meet peers and friends alike, hear the latest thinking on and get under the skin of key business issues. All in the beautiful setting of Heaton Mount, steeped in history not just in learning!
Any business can get a free ticket for two to join us at Heaton Mount on one of our evening events - book a place. If you are part of the Bradford Alumni you can get two free tickets! You cash in your business' ticket whenever you choose. This is often the first step into the Knowledge Transfer Network community.
'The Network gives business leaders a chance to find the answers for themselves, in their own context.' Heather Jones - MD, Lamont Jones.
The evening events themselves are a focal point for all the branches of our Networks. At evening events you are likely to meet Business Leaders from the Innovation Network, the 20/20 Club, SME Knowledge Network and the Director Support Network. Networks come together in our evening events.
At the evening events you will hear from top flight academics and practitioners, offering a chance to develop your knowledge and practice in a range of important business and even personal subjects. Speakers are followed by a facilitated networking buffet. In short our evening events are:
- a chance to meet like minded senior business figures and interpret new knowledge and the current business environment with them.
- an opportunity to reach out and discuss issues with other people who share your perspective, hopes, fears and goals!
- learn something that can be applied in your business, that might trigger an epiphany which might just make that difference that you are looking for - come on.
SME Knowledge Network@ Calderdale
News
- A new SME support programme is being launched in Calderdale. The new fully funded programme will deliver networking events, workshops and coaching and mentoring supported by the ERDF and Calderdale Council - The programme is called 'Business Growth for Calderdale: profit from knowledge.'
- See below - Recruitment for Director Support Network Cohort (peer to peer problem solving) - enquire directorsupport@bradford.ac.uk
- See below - Performance Management and Strategic Marketing workshops supported by mentoring: to book on apply to smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk
- Further opportunities are being lined up to support small business in Calderdale, to check on what's coming up, to ask for specific help or to check on your business' eligibility or to arrange for someone to nip out and talk things through with you drop us an email on smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk
(SME KN@Calderdale) A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MARKETING
29th November and 6th December 2011, (staggered 2 fully funded day workshop) Venue TBC
Aims
The aim of this workshop is to introduce business owners and managers to the key strategic principles of marketing and how these principles can be converted into a series of actions which competitively add value to their companies. The workshop will develop a series of themes from which basic marketing plans can be developed. Basic because we will not be looking to build all encompassing plans, but rather focus on specific marketing issues which are of interest to delegates.
We will explore:
- Probing analysis - where is our marketing now?
- What can we learn from the past?
- How can we anticipate the future?
- How is customer demand changing?
- What is happening to the competitive environment?
- How can business be done differently?
- Where should our marketing go?
So, for example, one company might wish to enter a new market, or further penetrate a new market segment. Another might want to understand how to gain competitive advantage through intangibles. Another might wish to look at a new product or service launch.
Content and Outcomes
- Understand what is meant by the terms Marketing, Customer Focus and Customer Satisfaction.
- Understand the importance of competitive analysis and competitive advantage.
- To understand the organisations genuine core competence
- To define the various relationships that influence an organisation
- To understand the importance of clearly defining the market
- To develop this into the principles of segmentation, targeting and positioning
- To define relationship marketing
- To understand the importance of retaining customers
- To explore the issue of customer loyalty.
- Undertake a simple Marketing Audit - just how good are you? - including focused SWOT analysis and understanding of Value Proposition - opportunity assessment and recognition
- Evaluate specific strategic marketing options.
- Produce an appropriate plan.
To book a place please e-mail: smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk
(SME KN@Calderdale) PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION
1st and 7th December 2011 (staggered 2 day fully funded workshop) Venue TBC
Aims
You will be introduced to the principles and processes required to develop an effective performance management system in your organisation. Drawing on relevant theory, the approach will be practical and participative. Over days, you will learn about key elements of performance management systems. You will have the opportunity between sessions to reflect upon performance management in your organisation and build upon this in subsequent the session. You will be working in groups with others and so will be able to draw on a range of experiences as the programme progresses.
Outcomes
By the end of this programme, you will be able to:
- Understand the value of performance management systems in enhancing individual and organisational performance
- Understand the principles and processes of performance management
- Design processes and practices that meet the needs of your own organisation
- Develop skills necessary to implement and run an effective performance management system
- Evaluate your performance management system to establish its benefits and any necessary revisions
To book a place please e-mail: smenetwork@bradford.ac.uk
(DSN@Calderdale) Director Support Network (fully funded places)
First session 9.00am -12.00pm, 23 November 2011
This is how it works: a small group of Directors work together to identify and unpack business problems and formulate ways of tackling these from the experience of the group. This has been shown to be one of the most effective ways that SME Directors can learn and impact upon their business.
This kind of learning and problem solving is based on the fact that we learn most when we reflect on our actions and the experience associated with them, especially if we are working with people who understand our experiences and who can help to provide structured solutions to our own problems and issues.
The emphasis is to help individuals unpick the issue in question to arrive at 'action points' through insightful questioning, encouraging reflection, challenging their assumptions and offering feedback in a supportive environment. This has often been described variously as group coaching or a virtual company board. This is a powerful technique and can be quite high impact on the participant as well as high impact on the business - so be prepared to be challenged.
- Learn and solve problems with people who understand you
- Think outside the box
- Get yourself some action points that you can believe in, can agree with, can really accomplish
- Make changes that will create the future for your business.
'Because members come from different backgrounds, they ask questions from
outside the box.'
'It was great to apply business concepts from other industries'
There are 7 meetings roughly 1 every month and each one lasts for about 3 hours. The first session explains the process and theory, before moving onto practical application.
'The Director Support Network - a great experience'To discuss call 01274 235676 or E-mail: directorsupport@bradford.ac.uk.
Bradford University really genuinely 'Making Knowledge Work!'"Bradford University truly is a best practice organisation and could
be used as a benchmark for other
universities in how to deliver great customer focussed services." -
Customer First
Call 01274 235676 or E-mail: KTnetwork@bradford.ac.uk