Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership

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Innovation Leadership Programme

The fully-funded Innovation Leadership programme at Keele University supports aspirational business leaders and early-stage entrepreneurs to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes to take their business to the next level.

Applications now open for April 2022 cohort

For specific dates see below

Apply today

Recalibrate for a new normal

Delivered by a dedicated team of expert business leaders, academics and Entrepreneurs in Residence, the programme is fully-funded and exclusively open to small-to-medium sized businesses in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Zero cost to your business - Fully-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the only cost to your business is your time.
Six two-day sessions – Working around you, the programme consists of 12 sessions across a six-month period.

Programme features

Gain access to:

Coaching, advice and guidance
A unique blend of action learning - including one-to-one sessions, peer review, activity-based learning, creative challenge-based activity and self-directed learning
Innovation-focussed action plan development for your business
Access to the latest thinking around innovation and social value, dedicated masterclasses and a unique innovation eco-system

Apply today

Benefits to your business

Dedicated time to focus on innovation and R&D as a strategic driver for your business growth
Topics include; innovation and creativity, diversification, marketing, business development, funding and team dynamics.
Apply world-leading research and knowledge on innovation leadership in order to produce a positive impact on your business’s bottom line
Access to the wide scientific and technological infrastructure of Keele University
Be part of a unique innovation network
Learn from fellow hand-picked entrepreneurs and social innovators

Apply today

Spotlight speakers:

Grant Leboff
CEO at Sticky Marketing Club

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Hazel Carter-showell
Business Psychologist, C-Suite coach, adviser & international speaker

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Professor Carolyn Roberts
Water and Environment Consultant

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Les Jones
Designer, photographer, writer, speaker and magazine publisher

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1. Creating the Conditions for Innovation to Flourish - 7 & 8 April 2022

2. Innovation and Creativity - 5 & 6 May 2022

3. Marketing and Sale for Success - 9 & 10 June 2022

4. Getting Comfortable with Leadership - 7 & 8 July 2022

5. Funding Your Ambition - 11 & 12 August 2022

6. Creating an A-Team - 8 & 9 September 2022

Enquire here

1. Creating the Conditions for Innovation to Flourish - 6 & 7 October 2022

2. Innovation and Creativity - 10 & 11 November 2022

3. Funding Your Ambition - 8 & 9 December 2022

4. Getting Comfortable with Leadership - 12 & 13 January 2023

5. Marketing and Sale for Success- 9 & 10 February 2023

6. Creating an A-Team - 9 & 10 March 2023

Enquire here

Further information

Eligibilty

The programme is open to small- to medium-sized businesses, early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial social innovators. These individuals must be looking to develop products and services, achieve scalable routes to market and achieve strategic business growth. Applicants must be an owner, director or employee of a registered business in the Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire area.

Funding

The only cost to participate is your time and the programme is fully-funded until 2023.

Take the first step

Please fill in this form and one of our team will be in touch soon

ERDF landscape logo

‌The Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership programme is delivered through the Keele University Science & Innovation Park Smart Innovation Hub (Ref: 32R17P01691). This programme is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England Structural and Investments Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme.