The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Hub has announced applications are open for the October intake of its SME Leaders Programme; 10 successful applicants will receive grant funding of up to £10,000 to support training needs.
Delivered by the Academy’s Enterprise Hub, the programme aims to develop the leadership and business skills of the UK’s most promising high-growth SME engineering leaders.
The SME Leaders programme will grant 10 successful applicants funding of up to £10,000 towards the cost of their training course.
They will also gain membership of the Academy’s Enterprise Hub where they can benefit from personal mentoring, one to one coaching and monthly masterclasses.
Leadership skills are a crucial component in helping to drive SME growth, and particularly important in the engineering profession as 27% of enterprises in the UK are engineering-related.
Recent research from the Scale Up Institute found that a major skills gap in leadership capacity is holding back UK startup companies. Leaders equipped with essential business skills are better at navigating new markets and more likely to capitalise on growth opportunities.
Ana Avaliani, head of Enterprise at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “The SME Leaders Programme has been running for 18 months and we have been pleased with the progress our current intake has made – whether launching their first products, raising funds to grow, or entering new markets.
“The Enterprise Hub exists to provide the skills and support we know are essential in inspiring belief in engineering enterprise. We look forward to receiving some more high-quality applications for this year.”
Since 2013, the Enterprise Hub has supported over 100 entrepreneurs and SMEs, helping to develop ideas into investable, high-growth companies.
To date the SME Leaders programme has supported 32 leaders in engineering across sectors such as space technology, artificial intelligence and manufacturing to unlock investment, prepare for rapid growth and establish compelling company cultures to excel in talent acquisition.
Applications to the programme are sought from leaders of engineering startups and SMEs across the UK. Entries for the October intake must be submitted by 4pm on 13 August 2018 via the Academy’s online grant system.
