We’re delighted to announce a major new initiative for 2010, the launch of the Bristol Media Business, Leadership and Growth programme. We’ve confirmed Karren Brady to launch the scheme and to give a key note presentation on Leadership and Management following our approval by Business Link to become a Leadership and Management Solution Provider.

*What does that mean? It means there is Leadership & Management funding available for you and your business, through our Train to Gain programme, of up to £1,000 to help you develop your Leadership and Management skills with top notch advice from the woman once called ’the first woman of football". Karren was Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club and has recently taken over from Margaret Mountford as Sir Alan’s new advisor on the new BBC series of The Apprentice which is due to air in the Spring.

In addition to this inspirational event, you can sign up to our Business Growth Service – a series of three half day modules. You will be presented with a range of leadership styles and models which you can examine with a peer group of other creative business ownders. You will know what good leadership looks like and how you will benefit from implementing the techniques. The modules are as follows:

Module 1 – Leading Change, introducing critical activities and tools that can be used to lead change and increase leadership capabilities.

Module 2 – Leading as an Individual looking at good leadership of teams including team-working and team-development

Module 3 – Employee Engagement – the safest and quickest way to transform your business delivering step changes in efficiency, quality, employee morale and profitability.

The Karren Brady event and the subsequent three modules are free* to businesses who have not already accessed the Train to Gain Leadership and Management Funding

So get in touch now, reserve your place and see if you are eligible for up to £1000 worth of funding to develop your talent as a business leader.

Karren is an inspirational speaker covering areas such as Change Management, Leadership, Sport & Business, Entrepreneurship, Management and Women in Business. As she says: “Persistence and determination should be the aim of any business that wants to succeed. It is important never to look back, as it is always time wasted. Concentrate on the future. Do what you do best and don’t be side-tracked”.

The first event with Karren Brady will take place on Tuesday 2nd March at the Rosalind Franklin Suite at @t Bristol from 1400-1800.

If you would like to attend and you have not accessed Train to Gain Leadership and Management funding before, please either call the Skills Enquiry team on 01275 370733 quoting Bristol Media or email skills@businesslinksw.co.uk also quoting Bristol Media. This will secure your place and confirm your eligibility for funding.

Please note, to be eligible you will need to employ between 5 and 249 people (although some smaller businesses may be eligible on a first come first served basis) and be happy to undertake a skills review to highlight any skills gaps within your business. In the first instance, funding should be used to benefit the business owner or managers with a strategic role in the business, but other managers can become involved through further employer investment. Priority will be given to Bristol Media members.

• Bristol Media will invoice your business £500 for this series of events/modules and Business Link will refund this £500 to you.

Further information on Karren Brady http://www.karrenbrady.com