Cass Business School, in partnership with the University of Oxford and Bocconi University, have  launched Strategy Insight Lab, a three-month business support programme for UK based microbusinesses and start-ups.

The programme, which is provided free-of-charge to successful applicants, draws on the experience of renowned experts in the fields of entrepreneurship, business coaching and management consulting.

It has been made possible with partnership support from the London Growth Hub and Cavendish Enterprise, and with the assistance of a £387K Business Basics Fund grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Principal investigator and project Manager, Cass’s Professor Elena Novelli said the launch of Strategy Insight Lab heralded an exciting time for all involved.

“This training programme will give us the opportunity to work together with UK startups and SMEs, offering them world-class business support and helping them achieve the growth and productivity they aim for,” Professor Novelli said.

“The project follows tried and tested methodologies developed by academic experts and business mentors and will use interactive and hands on materials to enable businesses to implement change.”

Strategy Insight Lab will present a mid-week and weekend cycle of the training programme, with businesses able to indicate their preference on application.

Each cycle will deliver cutting-edge knowledge to participants and team them up with business mentors to provide constant feedback throughout the remainder of the programme.

Professor Novelli said the BEIS funding would allow the Stategy Insight Lab team to translate years of research into real impact for hundreds of UK firms.

“Thanks to this funding we will have the opportunity to work with businesses for 10 months, offering them a full support programme, including 3 months of training,” she said

The funding will also allow us study the mechanisms underlying the performance and productivity of small firms, and create knowledge that will help millions of micro-businesses in the UK and beyond.”

In awarding the funding, Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said:

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and as part of our modern Industrial Strategy, we are supporting them with new investments to boost their productivity and ensure they can continue to thrive in the future.

This investment will support innovative projects that test how government and private sector companies can help small businesses adopt a range of technologies and management practices that save them time and make them more efficient.”