Keele University’s Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (MCIL)* programme began its first cohort of 2019 in May, with 18 business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire participating in the six-month programme.

The fully-funded programme has been designed to address the distinctive organisational and leadership challenges facing innovation-led and knowledge-intensive businesses across the local area.

The programme is delivered over 12 sessions, each led by Keele academics and external business experts, with additional one-to-one support from a dedicated Entrepreneur in Residence who can provide coaching, advice and guidance.

The first two sessions took place in Keele Hall, but the programme will soon be delivered in the University’s new Smart innovation Hub* once it opens in September.

Speaking about the new cohort, Will Pritchard, one of the University’s Entrepreneurs in Residence, commented: “It is great to see MCIL continuing to provide this innovative leadership development at a high level to local business leaders, after the success of the initial three cohorts in 2017 and 2018.

“The programme is a great opportunity to refine a company’s thinking and to find solutions to the challenges they are facing both now and in the future.”

Rob McKay, Project Manager, added: “The programme is a great way to reshape how business leaders look at their company and view innovation, thus preparing them for their future growth.

“Once opened in September, delivering the programme through the Smart Innovation Hub will provide a unique learning environment for businesses and enable us to build on the successes from previous cohorts.”

To find out more information and to enquire about how you and your business could benefit from the programme, please visit www.keele.ac.uk/mcil or contact Keele University’s Business Gateway (01782 733001 / business.gateway@keele.ac.uk).

*The Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (MCIL) is delivered through the Keele University Science and Innovation Park Smart Innovation Hub (Ref No: 32R17P01691) / Innovation Centre 6, located within the Denise Coates Foundation Building, has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the England Growth Programme 2014-2020, the Midlands Engine and Staffordshire County Council with support from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.