Context and Challenge
Between 2002 and 2006 the University of Warwick led a collaboration of 6 West Midlands Higher Education Institutions to support the development of 90 technology-based high growth start-up companies. University of Warwick employs 5,000 staff across three campuses to deliver further and higher education programmes to 16,000 students. Turnover in 2006 exceeded £310 million.
Objectives
University of Warwick commissioned Blueberry Training to design and deliver a selection of marketing and business strategy training workshops to ensure that the new staff and student ventures got off to the best possible start.
Programme
Blueberry Training ran a selection of half-day and full-day workshops over the period April 2005 until the project ended in June 2006 which attracted over 150 delegates in total. Individual workshops were themed:
Results
Delegate satisfaction over the programme averaged 94.4%. Satisfaction was measured against such criteria as whether their performance would be improved as a result of the workshop, the learning methods used, quality of the content, and the facilitator’s enthusiasm and ability to answer questions. Here is a testimonial from Isabell Majewsky, EFS Director:
“Andrew has worked with the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme for two years and during that time has delivered innovative and highly interactive training to technology entrepreneurs in the field of Market Research and Marketing Planning. Andrew has consistently delivered learning programmes of exceptional high quality. Andrew is also a talented coach nurturing Enterprise Fellows throughout the development and launch phase of their business ventures.”
Effect and Impact
As a result of Blueberry's training on market research and marketing planning, the Enterprise Fellowsdeveloped robust marketing plans and prepared comprehensive go-to-market strategies for their start-up businesses. This enabled the companies to be better equipped at raising investment funding.
What Next?
Blueberry Training has subsequently worked with other projects at the University of Warwick including Mercia Institute of Enterprise, and the Premium Automotive Research and Development Programme.
What do you do first? Developing a business idea, testing your idea, protecting intellectual property and insurance....
How to keep business records? What exactly is cash flow and how do you go about fundraising for business?
How to carry our market research, promotional campaigns and get your product sold!
