In the first of a series of interviews with our Boost Business Lancashire delivery partners, we speak to Amanda Meachin, chief executive of Community & Business Partners.
Explain Boost in one sentence
Boost provides potential and nurtures ability in business leaders to maximise business growth.
Why is Boost unique?
Growth mentoring enables eligible high-growth business-to-business firms over three years old, and with 10 or more staff, to access business mentoring and skills workshops free of charge. There is no other business support being offered to this size of business in this way.
What can companies expect from Boost?
A holistic, seamless and comprehensive business support service. It provides a group of service providers working closely to ensure each complements the work of the others.
What is Community & Business Partners’ mission for Boost?
We’ll be providing high-growth mentoring support through successful business leaders who have worked through similar challenges. Our mission is to embed mentoring skills into the business psyche as a way to maximise ability and potential for the whole workforce.
Which entrepreneur do you admire and why?
Mike Murray. He started his business at his kitchen table and worked hard at building it up to the point where, at one stage, he had a factory employing 400 sewing machinists. He’s gone from family start-up to PLC; floating his business on the stock market.
He’s traded all over the world, but throughout it all, he has remained true to his local Lancashire roots and kept his feet firmly on the ground. He continues to share all his knowledge and experience with many other companies and individuals, through The Guardian Angel Entrepreneurs Network, that he founded in 1988 through The Blackburn Partnership. Finally and probably most importantly, he cares about people – and it is that which has brought him success.
What makes a great growing business leader?
A great growing business leader is one who actively seeks support from those who have ‘been there and done it’. They are able to communicate a very clear vision of where they want their business to go, and remain committed to this. They are not afraid of taking risks, nor to changing their thinking if a better way of working becomes apparent.
This is underpinned by having a determination and resilience to overcome obstacles, a positive can-do attitude, and taking informed decisions to maximise all opportunities. In parallel, they learn how to motivate and train their teams to capitalise on their strengths and use resources effectively. They strive to ensure achievement of the longer-term objectives, as well as the short term gains.
Why is Lancashire a great place to do business?
If you look at Lancashire’s past, present and future, the local economy has, and always will, be built on enterprising people, encouraging business start-ups and championing SMEs to be the great industries of the future.
Find out more
Boost Business Lancashire offers a growth mentoring programme matching business owners with experienced entrepreneurs. To apply for a place on the programme, complete our online form or call 0800 488 0057.
Author
Amanda Meachin, Chief Executive, Community & Business Partners.
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