Your Small Business Board : Spark York

A fully funded opportunity for businesses to engage in peer networking and 1:1 coaching, facilitated by Andrea Morrison & Philip Bolson from Your Small Business Board Ltd.

Please note this programme is only open to businesses who are a part of Spark: York

What does the programme deliver?

Does running a business feel isolating and hard at times? Do you struggle to make decisions or overcome challenges? Does it sometimes keep you awake at night? Wouldn’t it be great to have a supportive sounding board, a group who know you and your business, have your back and want you to succeed? Somewhere where you can gain clarity on your next steps and have the support you need to take action.

The Small Business Board is designed with ambitious owners in mind and who are ready to take the next step, whatever that may be. It’s suitable for all types of business, whether you are business to business, business to consumer, from arts to hospitality, business or personal services to media and technology!

As long as you are small it is for you!

What will it give you?

• It provides a place for you to think about your business rather than be in your business, to give you the space for fresh thinking, solutions, ideas, beyond what you could achieve on your own.
• Providing you with the space to reflect calmly, on where you and your business is right now, and where you might want it to be.
• Have the support of a small number of other businesses, who are responsive to where you are in the moment who will enable you to take the steps you need, be curious about when you don’t and identify your blind spots.
• Be part of a supportive community, who is there for all of you, not just your business, somewhere where you can be human and leave your business game face at the door.
• Creating long lasting connection that you keep outside of the programme, with the opportunity for collaborations and support.
• Build your confidence and resilience. When you are in the right place so is your business. When you get out of your own way your business will flourish.

What happens when you join Your Small Business Board?

Your Small Business Board will meet for an initial Welcome meeting and then once a month for three months. In addition to this you will also have three one to one coaching sessions with either Philip Bolson or Andrea Morrison, which is an opportunity to explore in depth and how you can continue to build on what you have learned.

What happens during a Your Small Business Board Session?

The YSBB follows a proven methodology designed with small businesses in mind to ensure that you get the most out of each session and leave with clear actions.

• Starts with a group ‘checking in’ on how you and your business are and explore how the group can support you
• Feedback stage, what have you done since the last meeting, sharing our wins and challenges, any impact it has had on you.
• Creating growth and resolving issues stage – one business is chosen as the ‘hot seat’ members seek to explore and understand, challenge beliefs & ideas to encourage and support the learning of the ‘hot seat’. The ‘hot seat’ summarises the action that they are going to take
• Support Network Stage: who do we know, what do we need, how can help each other? An opportunity for
  peers to connect and support each other further.
• Wrap up: Confirmation of actions, what do we need to take forward.

All of this happens in a relaxed way, over tea and coffee and sometimes cake, and whilst there is a framework, importantly the discussion is allowed to go where it needs to go to maximise the value to the group.

Feedback from previous groups

“The programme was excellent, I’m really grateful to have had a place. Andrea was excellent running the group and on the 1-1 sessions. She really helped me think about aspects of my business moving forwards I hadn’t previously considered. I feel like the course has been brilliant with the support of other small business owners who face similar issues in growing their business.”

“The programme exceeded my expectations. The structure and the support were well thought through and executed. The atmosphere during the group peer sessions was nurturing, constructive and inspiring, with actionable steps to be kept accountable on by the group. The one-to-one sessions were invaluable for mindset shifts and growth.“

“I absolutely loved the entire programme and have found it so helpful working with other people who are also sole traders and in the early stages of their businesses too. I found it very motivating and supportive. Andrea was fabulous and I especially enjoyed the coaching sessions.“

About the facilitators

Andrea Morrison has over 6 years’
experience of coaching SME’s at all
levels helping hundreds of businesses
to grow and sustainably scale,
she has a special interest in
supporting female business
owners.

Philip Bolson is a specialist SME mentor,
coach and consultant with over 30 years’
experience in hospitality and retail
working at all levels from ‘on the
floor’ through to site management,
Area, Divisional, Country and
Board level.

Further Details

If you are interested in participating, please fill in the form on this page and we will be in contact with you. If you would like to know more, please contact joseph.midgley@ynygrowthhub.com

This programme is delivered in partnership between the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub & Your Small Business Board.