SMALL and medium-sized businesses are being invited to find out how they can take advantage of a scheme put together by Newcastle University to help them to weather the economic storm.
The university launched a scheme at the start of the year which gave SMEs the chance to apply for a voucher worth up to £5,000 to use for training or advice from the university.
An event on June 15 will explain more about the idea and how businesses can get the most out of it. Training available includes Newcastle University Business School’s two-year part time executive MBA course as well as consultancy and bespoke advice on issues such as managing people through redundancy and coping with stress in the downturn.
University business development manager Kate Morris said: “They need to be an SME based within the North East, falling within One North East’s region. They have to have less than 250 employees and they can’t be more than a quarter owned by a larger company. They can be any kind of company. In using the university voucher, they have to demonstrate in the application how it will help their business processes. There have been quite a number of applications already.”
The event, at the Business School, will look at the economic climate in the North East and examine survival strategies. Aid from support agencies will also come under the spotlight.
