AMBITIOUS Tameside business owners are being encouraged to apply for a fully funded programme designed to help established companies scale up and reach their next stage of growth.
ASCEND, delivered by GM Business Growth Hub in partnership with KPMG and RBC Brewin Dolphin, is returning for its fourth cohort and will provide 25 Greater Manchester founders with 12 months of personalised support.
The programme is aimed at established businesses with an annual turnover of at least £1 million and a minimum of six employees, offering founders the opportunity to step back from the day-to-day running of their companies and focus on their long-term ambitions.
Independent analysis by the ScaleUp Institute found businesses taking part in ASCEND achieved average turnover growth of at least 36.1 per cent, alongside employment growth of 13.9 per cent.
The programme has so far supported 73 ambitious businesses across Greater Manchester, with one in five participants going on to enter new markets.
For successful businesses, reaching the next level can bring a different set of challenges. Founders who have spent years concentrating on customers, sales and operations may need new strategies, connections and expertise to scale sustainably.
ASCEND is designed to provide that support through monthly one-to-one mentoring from experienced business leaders, practical workshops and access to influential networks and contacts.
Workshops will cover areas including strategy, leadership, innovation, governance, people and culture, finance and long-term growth planning.
Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, receive specialist support to become investor-ready and explore funding opportunities.
The programme includes residential strategy retreats, providing founders with dedicated time away from their businesses to think about their future direction.
One of the standout opportunities is international exposure at SLUSH in Helsinki, one of the world’s leading events for start-ups, investors and the wider business community.
The organisers say this will give participants the chance to broaden their horizons, make new connections and showcase the potential of Greater Manchester businesses on an international stage.
Previous participants have highlighted the relationships and connections created through the programme as one of its biggest benefits.
Candice Bannister, co-founder of Candys Cupcakes, said the relationships made through ASCEND, alongside introductions, conversations and advice from mentors and speakers, had provided valuable knowledge which could be put into practice.
For GAME FM founder Gabriel Erinle, the programme also provided a valuable opportunity to challenge his assumptions and build connections.
“I went in thinking I had a fair idea of what I was doing. I came out knowing where I was right, where I was wrong, and who to call when I couldn’t tell the difference,” he said.
Yvonne Sampson, Director of Enterprise at GM Business Growth Hub, said ASCEND would help put Greater Manchester businesses “on the world stage”.
“We’ve designed ASCEND to elevate ambitious businesses emerging from Greater Manchester by supporting them to lead, succeed and be recognised at the highest levels,” she said.
The next cohort is now open to applications, giving Tameside founders the opportunity to access the programme and its network of support.
For businesses that have already proven their model and are now looking to grow, ASCEND offers a chance to step away from the daily demands of running a company and focus on what comes next.
More information and details on how to register interest are available at: www.businessgrowthhub.com/programmes/ascend-scale-up/.