The ten month Leading Enterprise and Development (LEAD) programme was developed in the North West for SME owner-mangers and equips them with additional skills and ability to run and grow a successful business.

The Lead programme was originally piloted by Lancaster University School (LUMS) and since inception in 2004 over 150 businesses have benefited from this programme. The university has business-focused programmes that are geared to SME’s needs and goals and offer practical solutions to overcoming barriers to growth.

The LEAD programme participants have a proven track record of delivering improved business performance, with 90% of pilot delegates saying they had witnessed an average £200,000 increase in turnover, with a similarly impressive rise in profit growth. Some have expanded into new markets, whilst others have used the lessons and experiences to become more profitable.

David comments, “The programme takes a very integrated approach and focuses on dual needs – those of my business as well as my personal development by giving practical hands on help and advice, one-to-one coaching, active learning, sharing with and learning from peers, as well as from other successful businesses through a range of ‘topic specific’ master classes.

Although quite demanding at times, three months into the programme I can already see the benefit and impact of what I have experienced and learnt.”

With a turnover of £36.1m last year, Chester based FirstLine Digital, is the UK’s largest independent installer of digital, terrestrial and satellite equipment and one of only 2 suppliers to Sky for domestic installations in the UK. The Savvy Partnership was appointed to work with the company following a competitive 3-way pitch last month.

FirstLine Digital Managing Director Mike Davies, commenting on the appointment of The Savvy Partnership said – “The challenge for FirstLine Digital is that as a business we have experienced year on year rapid growth since we started. This growth presents us with many challenges one of which is to improve the level and quality of brand awareness nationally as well as improve our own internal communications”.

“We were really impressed by the Savvy team and their ideas and we’re looking forward to working closely with them over the coming months”.

Established in 2004, The Savvy Partnership provides public and private sector organisations with high quality outsourced marketing support and project management. Their services are designed to complement an organisation’s existing in-house marketing function, filling the gaps in skills and resources and providing fresh ideas and marketing impetus.

Partner David Adams commenting on the FirstLine Digital account win said “The digital sector is rapidly growing and the industry opportunities are huge. The brief we have been presented with for FirstLine Digital is really interesting and a big challenge but one that we’re looking forward to delivering over the coming year”.

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PushON Partners The Savvy Partnership For FirstLine Digital Project

Throughout the year, business partners Helen Freeborough and David Adams who each elected a charity which was close to their heart, are going to undertake a series of fundraising events to help raise money for their chose charity.

One of the first activities the pair will be undertaking is the famous Morecambe Cross Bay Walk. David and Helen, who both grew up on the shores of Morecambe Bay, have decided that during the summer months they will undertake the walk a 9 mile walk across the treacherous quick sands and three Rivers of the Bay.  

Both completed the walk as children and are looking forward to repeating the experience. “Standing in the middle of Morecambe Bay looking at the hills of the Lake District is quite simply awesome.” commented Helen. “We’re hoping to get friends and family to join us on what should be a memorable day out and raise as much money as possible”.

In addition to this, Helen, now a qualified Manchester Green Badge Tour Guide is planning on donating the fees from one of her Manchester Guided Walks to her chosen charity The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

David who in his early years spent 14 years serving with the 4^th Battalion The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, has chosen to support ‘Help for Heroes’, an organisation formed to help those who have been wounded in Britain’s current conflicts. David says “historically successive British Governments have not been particularly good at supporting those men and women injured following an armed conflict. Although things are improving, given both the age and numbers of personnel returning to the UK with in many instances horrendous mental and physical injuries, I believe they need and deserve all the help they can get.”

Helen has chosen to support the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, a charity she has been associated with for over 15 years. THE PRTC provide information and support for Carers of all ages through a network of Carers Centres in the UK.

“Throughout all the years I have been involved with the PRTC the one fact that comes back to me time and again is that Caring knows no bounds. There is no discrimination because anyone can find themselves taking on a caring role. It doesn’t matter where you come from, whether you are male or female, young or old. I’ve met children looking after parents and struggling with schoolwork through to a 70 year old looking after a partner with Alzheimer’s. Carers rarely complain, they simply get on with it but therefore need help before they reach crisis point”.

There are 6 million carers in the UK today and with an ageing population and people with learning disabilities and illnesses living longer, it’s expected that within 10 years there will be 13 million carers throughout the UK.

For more information on both these charities please visit:

www.carers.org

www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Related Reading:
FirstLine Digital Raises Funds for Help for Heroes

As part of the group’s expansion plans, Savvy will manage the re-branding and re-positioning of the company following its recent merger with Southport based Creative Windows & Concervatories and Tareleton Windows & Concervatories. Savvy will be working closely with CCN’s management team throughout the development and implementation of a phased integrated marketing strategy which is due to be rolled out from April 2010 onwards.

Following a three way competitive pitch in September, Savvy won the account and has now started work on an integrated marketing campaign focused around increasing consumer engagement, product awareness and enquiry generation for the Manchester cluster of Regus business centres. Regus have seven office sites in Manchester which include Peters House, King Street and Manchester Business Park.

Regus offers a wide range of products and services that provide both individuals and companies flexible ways of working, tailored to individual need and delivered in a cost effective manner.

Regus have embarked on a series of regional marketing campaigns for the office product throughout the UK, starting in Manchester. They were looking to work with a local agency to deliver this, one that understood the Manchester market place as local knowledge is an integral part of this campaign.

The Savvy Partnership provides companies and agencies with high quality marketing support and project management, services specifically designed to complement existing in-house marketing teams, filling in the gaps in skills and resources and providing fresh ideas and marketing impetus.

David Adams, Director of Savvy commented that – “We’re really excited to be working with Regus, a well known global brand and this is a great opportunity for Savvy. The integrated campaign we are delivering represents a departure for Regus from some of the more traditional advertising campaigns of the past both in terms of delivery and creative execution.

The way people work today has changed dramatically over the last few years and in the current economic climate many people are looking for flexible ways of working. We know that Regus provide a wide range of flexible working solutions and through this campaign we want to appeal to those who are looking for such a solution”.

The initial campaign which will run until Christmas starts in October.

The firm’s expansion plans sees the agency move this month from the Box Works into a 2500sqft contemporary loft space in Salford, to meet its current business demands.

Helen Freeborough, Director explains: “We have seen a major upturn in our business as a result of the current economic crisis.

“We are finding that clients who have downscaled their marketing departments during the last few months are now realising that despite this, they still have products and services to sell and promote and therefore do need some marketing activity. And in turn, we are getting an increased number of enquiries about providing short term and ongoing marketing support.”

The Savvy Partnership provides companies and agencies with high quality marketing support and project management – services specifically designed to complement existing in-house marketing teams, filling in the gaps in skills and resources and providing fresh ideas and marketing impetus.