OxLEP Business are inviting ambitious and passionate business leaders from a minority ethnic background to join this peer learning network. Participating will help you gain new perspectives, inspire new ideas and change your way of thinking to help you grow your business. It can also help you form new contacts, build networks and gain valuable professional and personal support.

The workshop will be delivered by two of our experienced business experts, providing practical content to help you learn and make progress, alongside a group of supportive peers.

You must be an Oxfordshire Business to apply

What do the sessions cover?

Run over 6 weeks, the sessions cover:

• Understanding strong foundations for growth;
  Collaborative problem solving, knowledge sharing and developing softer skills with peers;
  Exploring the next steps for growth.
  The group will meet on zoom on Fridays between 3pm and 5pm for 3 sessions, fortnightly 11th and 25th November, and 9th December. The group will then continue with 3 futher sessions on 13th and 27th January, and 10th February 2023.

What will I gain?

• Access to a new support network
  New tools for collaboration
  Improved leadership and management skills
  Understanding of the foundations for growth
  Inspiration and motivation to grow
  Eligibility

You must be an Oxfordshire business leader from a minority ethnic background, in a business established and trading for 12 months+
You must have an ambition for growth / innovation
You must be able to commit to all the sessions
Presenters

Shalini Sequeira is a leadership facilitator and executive coach, who uses her lived experience and her working experience to accelerate the leadership journeys of diverse people. She has over 30 years’ experience of working as a leader in the City of London, the corporate world and the third sector, and has collaborated with organisations of all sizes to support them to think differently about leadership and diversity. She has worked across Oxfordshire and Worcestershire to support sustainable business growth, providing coaching and mentoring to the leaders of a number of start-ups and small businesses.

Shalini believes wholeheartedly that having diverse teams of leaders, across all sectors and all levels is good for everybody, and she really enjoys working with those who hold this belief too, to enable greater numbers of diverse people to become leaders and to thrive when they are leaders. She enjoys using coaching, facilitation and peer learning to support this aim.

Paul Holmes is a degree qualified Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineer with 25+ years working in FTSE100, technology and engineering companies and at a senior level in Local Government. Paul specialises in transforming businesses focussing on growth, from set up, to implementing change. He helps them to overcoming challenges, implementing business systems and management processes, and supports manufacturing, engineering, and technology commercialisation. He can provide advice on governance, challenge and strategy support for owners and senior business leaders.