We are pleased to welcome you on to the Boost Business Owners Network Programme.
We will use this site as the main communication platform within our Cohort and will provide regular updates and share information here.
The programme is delivered through a series of high impact group sessions and includes direct 1:1 mentoring and coaching with an expert business mentor.
With the increased challenges facing businesses, including talent acquisition and retention, supply chain restrictions, inflationary cost pressure and productivity, you can prepare your business for the future by joining likeminded SME businesses benefiting from the support provided by the Boost Business Owners Network by working together to find practical solutions to the challenges you’re facing.
Group Session Preparation
Each session will be in two parts. The first part will be an interactive masterclass based on the session theme. Following a short break, the second half will be a facilitated action-learning session. During the action learning sessions, you will be asked to bring a challenge to the group to work through.
Content will be available 48 hours before each session and all associated tools, guides and templates will be uploaded after the session.
1:1 Individual Mentoring
You will have 3.5 hours of individual 1:1 time with a business mentor. This time may be used to support you in putting lessons learned into practice, discussing key business issues that you would prefer not to share with the wider cohort or for individual coaching. You may book these sessions at a time most convenient for you.
Important Information
Please make a note of all the dates for our group sessions and block the time in your calendars. You will also receive a ZOOM invite for each session, with an additional link provided in the dates section.
Please note our participant charter which is a requirement for all cohort members.
The material for each session will be provided 48 hours before the session. A recording of the session will be uploaded after each session. Any templates and guides demonstrated will also be provided for you to download and use.
Finally, key contacts for the administration and facilitation team are included for your information.
Programme Dates (Group Sessions and 1:1s)
| Session Number | Focus Topic | Day | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Leadership Mindset for change | Thursday | 13th April | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Session 2 | Business model innovation | Tuesday | 25th April | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Session 3 | Ownership culture / high-performing teams | Wednesday | 10th May | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Session 4 | Building resilience / Managing stress | Wednesday | 24th May | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Session 5 | Accountability and goal setting | Tuesday | 6th June | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Session 6 | Creating a shared vision and values | Tuesday | 20th June | 09:00 - 12:00 |
| Individual Sessions | 1:1 with mentor / coach | To be booked online | April, May, June | Total of 3.5 hours |
The above are the dates and times for each of our peer group sessions, which will be hosted via ZOOM. You will have a calendar invite for each session already, including a direct link to join the ZOOM meeting. A link is also provided below for you to join the meeting.
The final group session 6 will be face-to-face.Further details and location will follow shortly.
You may now start booking your individual 1:1 sessions. As part of the programme, you each get 3.5 hours of 1:1 time. Our suggestion is for one session per month in April, May and June. All must be completed by end of June 2023.
Please use the booking tool below to select a convenient slot for each session. Under 'Service', choose from a 60 or 90 minute 1:1 Mentor session.
Meet your facilitator
The programme is developed and facilitated by an expert business mentor, with a proven business background. Mark Bayley-Smyth is founder and CEO of CIRCLE Leadership, a leadership development and business innovation consultancy.
Mark has decades of international leadership experience, latterly as Managing Director at Siemens UK.
He is a business mentor for the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme, mentor for the UK Government's Help to Grow: Business programme and developed the SME innovation programme for Manchester Metropolitan University.
Mark in Chairman of Brio Leisure, a leading health and wellbeing provider and sits as non-executive director on the boards of SME businesses in the professional services and manufacturing sectors.
Mark is passionate about helping leaders, teams and their businesses succeed and grow. Having spent many years running diverse businesses, he is only too familiar with the difficulties, challenges, frustrations and at times the sheer loneliness and isolation it can bring as a leader.
Connect with Mark:
Content for the Programme
Step-by-step Session Guide
Each session is supported in 3 stages, from presentation content, to templates to download and use:
01 Presentation Content
Review or download the session material. Available 48 hours before each session.
02 Zoom session recording
Each Zoom session is recorded and may be watched again at your leisure.
02 Templates and guides
Any guides and templates will be available to download and use in your business.
Session 1
Programme Introduction.
Leadership mindset for change
Presentation
The role of a leader
Available NOW
Zoom Recording
Recording of session 1
Available NOW
Guides / Templates
Participant Charter
Download NOW
Session 2
Business Model Innovation / Pivot
Presentation
Business Model Innovation
Available NOW
Zoom Recording
Recording of session 2
Available NOW
Session 3
Engaged, high-performing teams.
Presentation
Engaged, high-performing teams
Available NOW
Zoom Recording
Recording of session 3
Available NOW
Our Cohort Participant Charter
The programme brings together diverse cohorts of business leaders so you can discuss your business challenges with your peers.
The strength of the programme derives from the breadth and depth of experience of its participants and their collective commitment to support each other.
To maximise the value of the experience for yourself and others the
programme requires that each participant commit to:
- Attend every session, completing the full 18 hours of action learning
- Respect the ground rules adopted by the group, and take note of the requirement for confidentiality
- Be respectful to the facilitator and other participants
- Focus exclusively on the sessions whilst they are in progress and refrain from undertaking work or checking emails in the background
- Speak openly, honestly and be prepared to be challenged
- Contribute within the action learning framework outlined by the facilitator
- Engage with the reflective nature of the action learning methodology completing the review notes after each session
- Take the action agreed during the session and share the learning with the group at the following session
- Complete all participant surveys as directed by your group facilitator or other programme representative
- Should they arise, flag conflicts of interest to the facilitator
Meet your fellow Cohort Participants
Full details about your fellow cohort participants will be updated shortly.
The Programme Management and Facilitation Team
Steve Hoyle
Boost Programme Manager
Lancashire Business Growth Hub
Jake Addison
Programme
Administration Support
Mark Bayley-Smyth
Programme Leader
Facilitator / Coach
Fully-funded by and delivered on behalf of:
Designed and delivered by:
The Business Owners Network Programme is designed and delivered by CIRCLE Leadership on behalf of BOOST.
For information on further leadership and business support, please visit our main site or get in touch using the links below.