Burgis & Bullock to deliver new government backed Peer Networks programme

A leading accountancy firm will be facilitating the development of support networks for SME leaders in Warwickshire after being named as a delivery partner for a national initiative.

Burgis & Bullock, which has offices in Leamington, Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford-On-Avon, will be delivering four cohorts of the The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Peer Networks programme.

The programme is funded through BEIS and delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub.

Burgis & Bullock will be supporting up to 44 SMEs in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, and Digital Industries and New Technologies sectors.

The firm will be delivering the sessions through its Business Mastermind Group, which launched in 2017 to bring business owners and leaders together from a wide range of sectors for presentations, discussions and action planning to improve their businesses.

The Peer Networks groups aim to create a diverse collection of individuals to work together to combat common business issues by building a strong support network.

Peer Networks sessions, which will be delivered virtually, will run for two hours once a fortnight for nine weeks, and the programme also includes three-and-a-half hours of individual one-to-one support from Burgis & Bullock’s experts.

The sessions are open to any SME which has at least five employees, has operated for at least one year, a turnover of at least £100,000 and has an aspiration to improve.

Courses will need to be completed by Saturday, March 31 and Burgis & Bullock is aiming to start its first cohort in October.

Sean Farnell, Partner at Burgis & Bullock, said: “We’re excited to have been selected to deliver this programme on behalf of BEIS and the CWLEP Growth Hub, using our established expertise in building strong business networks to support SMEs in the region.

“Our Business Mastermind Group has seen huge success over the past few years and we will be utilising the knowledge and experience gained from those groups to create the new Peer Networks.

“We’re encouraging any SME leaders in Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, the Digital Industries or New Technologies sectors to get in touch and benefit from this free national initiative.

“Now, more than ever, it’s vital for leaders to have a network to help work through common business issues and these groups will provide that.

“Business leaders need to grow, develop and adapt their organisations to support future success in which will, without doubt, be a difficult economic landscape to operate in.”

To register interest in joining one of the Peer Networks visit www.bb-bmg.uk/peer-networks