Peer Networks programme relaunches following high demand for business support.


Peer Networks is a national peer-to-peer networking programme for SME leaders that want to grow and develop their organisation for future success. Delivered locally at no cost to businesses by the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub, we create diverse groups of individuals to collaboratively work through common business issues.

 

The programme will see the creation of a series of  Peer Support Networks (cohorts) from across our region. Each group consists of 11 owners or managers from the SME business community participating in each network. Led by an experienced facilitator, these Peer Networks will typically meet weekly as part of delivering 20 hours of action learning through 2-hour sessions. Individual 3.5-hours of one-to-one support with a qualified business mentor will also be provided by the programme, to help implement and manage change.

 

Each session will provide members of the cohort with the opportunity to pose questions and raise any issues, challenges, or opportunities that they are facing. Members of the group will offer support by providing the knowledge and insight they need to implement practical solutions or recognise and act on new business opportunities.


How you and your business can benefit from Peer Networks support:

  • Learn from your peers: Find solutions to your business's real issues by working with other local business leaders facing similar challenges.

     

  • All it takes is your time: Peer Networks is a completely free programme; all it takes is a few hours of your time each week. You can join virtual sessions from the comfort of your home or office.

     

  • Varied delivery, real results: Activities take place in structured, small-group sessions, led by a skilled professional facilitator to make sure you see real results in return for the investment of your time. You will also benefit from access to 1:1 mentoring, coaching or advice depending on the support you need.

     

  • Non-competitive: Peer Networks brings together business leaders working collaboratively to find solutions to common problems. You will not be placed in a group with any competitors, so you can share your expertise and benefit from others.

“I'm excited to be Project Managing and running Peer Networks 2.0 after a successful first year. We were able to support over 50 businesses from across our region and it is great to be given another opportunity to reach as many businesses as we can and provide them with much-needed advice, support, and guidance.

We want businesses to start focussing on their growth, aspirations and needs, and now more than ever is the time for business leaders to come together and get peer support, especially as we slowly emerge from the latest lockdown. Our region is a hub of innovative, goal-driven, and entrepreneurial-minded businesses, that can add depth to any cohort.

The relaunch of this programme, will allow us to tailor the programme for the business leader to give them an environment that is engaging, stronger and rich with insights to help participants focus on emerging growth opportunities.”

 

Here is what some of our participants from Peer Networks 1.0 have said:

  • “Discussing issues with my cohort has been supportive and encouraged me to think about the real possibility of employing an apprentice within the business. By speaking aloud and debating the various issues has enabled me to have a much clearer business plan for the rest of 2021 and going forward”.

     

  • “The support and guidance from our business mentor has been second to none, their experience and ability to draw knowledge of the group has accumulated in high-quality insights and solutions”.

     

  • “I look forward to my two-hour cohort sessions every week. Via the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub and the group that gather, I feel supported, engaged, and stronger”.

     

  • “The Action Learning sessions have enabled me to restructure my business. Across my cohort, the business solutions that we reached have helped me successfully look at my business from a totally different perspective. I also admin a Facebook support group and we are now starting to use the Action Learning model to debate on collective obstacles and challenges”.

 

The programme is open to SME businesses that have:

  • Operated for at least one year
  • At least five employees
  • A turnover of at least £100,000
  • An aspiration to improve 

 

Find out more by watching our latest webinar or sign up here.