15.11.2006
Thousands of miniature Christmas trees were posted out to company bosses by the university to encourage them to join its hugely successful peer-led business support programme - ProfitNet. The programme was initially launched by the university in 2003 in Hastings by sending out money trees, but given the time of year the miniature firs seemed more appropriate!
Now the university has been awarded £2 million from the Higher
Education Funding Council to take the scheme to Brighton, Crawley, Worthing
and Chichester.
At ProfitNet meetings, managing directors and CEOs discuss their business problems with peers who have to come up with possible solutions. Progress reports are made at each meeting until a lasting solution is found.
Anjuu Trevedi (pictured right) who runs the initiative said: "The great thing about ProfitNet is that anyone can join. It's not aimed at high-tech companies or start-up companies or high-growth companies but to anyone who wants to grow their business."
Current members of ProfitNet have seen substantial benefits to their business thanks to the programme and the approach has proved so popular that nearly every company involved asked for it to be continued.
Managing Director of Telham Training, Sarah White, commented: "Between us the members of my group had over 300 years experience in construction and technical services. I was able to build relationships, share expertise and do business with other members of the group."
Anjuu Trevedi said: "It is really exciting and satisfying seeing like minded business leaders benefiting through the programme by using their combined expertise, skills and vast experiences to problem-solve and innovate. I am really pleased that we are able to extend the programme in the rest of Sussex."
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
