A new Route to Market for businesses

Spaces are still available on emda's new Route to Market programme for businesses and senior managers looking for specialist help in the current economic climate.

The Route to Market programme, which was first announced at emda's Survive and Thrive events in December, is free and centres on a series of masterclass workshops designed to hone skills in five core business areas. It is part of emda's response to helping the region's businesses in the current economic climate.

The senior managers participating in Route to Market will receive help, advice and training in areas including business strategy, customer retention, recruitment and staff development, sales and marketing, and financial planning - key elements to help any business survive and thrive in the current climate.

The five, day-long sessions will all be delivered by specialist advisors from the University of Northampton Business School, which has been instrumental in developing Route to Market's content. The workshops, which are taking place at venues across the East Midlands, commence with a one-day session on Business Strategy in February. The remaining sessions will take place during March and April to allow businesses time to implement the new practical skills they have learnt within their own business.

Each business is allowed to register up to two managers on Route to Market, which follows an intensive two month syllabus and sees workshops being delivered in each of the East Midlands' five counties.

Route to Market is open to East Midlands' businesses that have been operating for more than a year, which employ five of more people, and have a turnover in excess of £100,000.

John O'Reilly, Director of Business Support at emda, believes Route to Market is not only designed to help companies weather the current economic climate, but also to prepare them for the future. "Since its inception, the East Midlands Development Agency has been committed to providing businesses with the products and support services they need to develop and grow," said Mr O'Reilly.

"In the current economic climate, businesses need practical support to help them to get through the downturn. We have responded by running the Survive and Thrive events and now by launching Route to Market.

"Route to Market is designed not only to help businesses address their present concerns but also prepare for the future and ensure they are in the best possible shape when the economy starts to grow again. It also complements the wide range of other business support services that we provide which can be accessed through Business Link."

With just 80 places available on the first Route to Market programme across the East Midlands, businesses are encouraged to register their interest as quickly as possible. A small, fully refundable deposit will also be required as a sign of commitment to participating in the full schedule of workshops.

Full details of the Route to Market programme, its qualification criteria and full workshop dates are available from Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or at www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands/routetomarket.