Over the past two years, Audley-based Peak Activity Services has grown ten-fold and is going from strength-to-strength. With sites in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Manchester and Yorkshire, the company provides alternative education and adventure experiences to hundreds of people every year.

To support the organisation’s impressive growth, Managing Director Paul Ball signed up to Keele University’s six-month Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (MCIL)* programme. Speaking about his participation in the programme, Paul said:

“I’ve been involved in the running of businesses for more than 20 years, but decided that it was time to formalise this experience and firm up my skill set. As innovation is the lifeblood of small businesses, it made perfect sense to apply for this programme in particular.

“The sessions across the programme have been varied and I’ve already been able to embed some of this learning into the business, and plan to implement more in the near future to support our further growth.”

The MCIL programme is fully-funded and has no cost attached to the business other than time to attend the sessions. The programme is part of a range of specialist support and funding opportunities available to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses by Keele University. Interested companies can find out more by contacting the University’s Business Gateway on 01782 733001 or by emailing business.gateway@keele.ac.uk.

*The Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (ref: 32R15P00229) is part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds England Growth Programme 2014-2020.