About Coaching for High Growth

Coaching for High Growth is an intensive package of support to help ambitious and forward thinking businesses to unlock and sustain their high growth potential. It is a bespoke programme aimed at East Midlands businesses with the potential to achieve annual sales growth of 20% per annum over three years following their participation in the programme.

The design and delivery of Coaching for High Growth builds on emda’s previous successful high growth support programmes which have operated across the region since 2005 helping over 240 companies to achieve and sustain growth. The support available through Coaching for High Growth is based on the proven mix used in these earlier programmes, with some new additions which have been introduced to enhance the programme as a result of feedback from previous participants.

Useful downloads:

Coaching for High Growth (Helping ambitious businesses to grow)

What does Coaching for High Growth provide?

All participating companies will receive the following support from Coaching for High Growth over a 6 month period:

An initial detailed diagnostic of high growth potential, and benchmarking to compare the business against a number of financial and organisational parameters, which will pin-point barriers to growth and areas where growth can be achieved
An independent high calibre coach who will be selected specifically to meet the individual company’s requirements. The coach will provide 12 days of support over a 6 month period working alongside the management team to address barriers to growth so that a company achieves its growth potential. The coaching will lead to the development of a strategic growth plan for each participating business.
5 Masterclasses on addressing barriers to growth to support the input of the coaches.
Account management throughout the period of participation to ensure that the programme is delivering satisfaction for each participating business.

Coach matching

The vital process of matching coaches to companies has two key elements, both of which are well proven through use on previous emda high growth support programmes. The diagnostic performed on all participating companies will identify the key barriers to growth which the individual company faces. This will indicate the particular expertise that their coach will need (e.g. a sales and marketing background).

The second key factor in the choice will be matching the personalities of the coach and the principal contact in the company using psychometric testing designed to get the right “chemistry” between the Growth Coach and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer being coached. Using psychometric testing to help in the matching process has been a major factor in the high level of satisfaction with the coaching provided.

The Masterclass programme

All participating companies will derive considerable benefit from gaining a greater understanding of:

How to develop a tailored vision and growth strategy, and,
Financial management of business growth

All participating businesses are expected to attend two Masterclasses, each lasting one day, during the early stages of the 6 month programme which and these are:

Vision for Growth - an interactive seminar which develops/reviews company vision and strategy
Finance for Growth - advice on the basics that every business leader should know to manage a growing business effectively including raising finance.

Each participating business will also have a further 3 days which the company can utilise by selecting 3 days of participation from the “menu” of the optional Masterclasses:

Market intelligence (1 day) - how to increase or better organise company awareness of current and potential markets by developing a marketing intelligence strategy
eMarketing and eCommerce (1 day) - to facilitate widest possible use of the tools and techniques made available by the e-revolution to open up new sales and marketing opportunities
Out-thinking the competition (1 day) - advanced creative techniques to give companies the edge through enhanced decision-making and improved leadership capabilities
Building the innovative organisation (1 day) - to demonstrate how fundamental improvements in organisational behaviour can embed innovation in all aspects of a successful business activities and how to protect the results
Improving selling skills (1 day) - to help improve understanding of the sales process and the development of personal selling skills across senior management
Leading and managing high growth (2 days residential) - training for senior managers who have had little previous formal training and lack the leadership and management expertise to sustain growth
Change management (2 days residential) - implementing change at middle management level is a major concern in growing companies. This proven change management training helps middle managers deal effectively with change
Management information healthcheck (1 day) - an audit of a company’s current management information, followed by a written report on the potential management information needs of the business as it grows.

If any of the Masterclasses attracts fewer than 5 participants then alternatives may be offered.

The total direct financial value of this package of support is over £13,000 plus Vat however thanks to funding from both emda and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the actual cost to each participant is only £1,500 plus Vat.

For guidance on eligibility and how to apply see the 'Eligibility and how to apply' page