Profitnet

Profitnet is an innovative University of Brighton learning network designed to enable organisations to learn from each through expertly facilitated confidential group sessions.

To date, over 1,000 businesses have taken part in Profitnet which helps businesses achieve a significant impact on their profit, turnover and employment.

Profitnet's strength comes from the group's ability to tap into the business expertise within it. Member led and expertly facilitated - every meeting focuses on real business challenges.

The programme consists of 12 monthly meetings which include:

  • Development of your company strategy
  • Peer to peer action learning, dealing with real day to day challenges
  • Problem solving your challenges through Action Learning
  • Opportunity to reflect, plan and commit to an action plan
  • Support to enable business growth and development
  • Access to university resources, including internships, student placements, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and training and development.

Highlights from Profitnet evaluation showed that

  • 91 per cent of members said that the programme helped improve their planning and strategic skills

  • 72 per cent of members developed new innovation strategies
  • 100 per cent of businesses saw an increase in new products and services developed during the Profitnet programme

Profitnet in action: case studies

Beaming 

Motivated by the opportunity to exchange business experience and expertise with other directors and managers in a confidential environment, Managing Director, Sonia Blizzard, joined Profitnet in 2008.

Through Profitnet, Beaming was able to identify its market differentiation and embed innovative practices across the business. Over five years the company doubled in size.

Sonia said:

The support I received through Profitnet resulted in real growth for my business

Read more about Sonia's journey.

soniaProfitnet member Sonia Blizzard, Managing Director of Beaming.

Bon Appetit

Keith Pordum, CEO of Bon Appetit, first joined Profitnet in 2008. He rejoined the programme in 2014 as part of the Manor Royal Group, where he has been encouraged to expand into the healthcare sector through a new digital marketing strategy. Profitnet members helped by suggesting more than 30 ideas to increase sales.

Through the support he received, Keith now works with both workplace and retail outlets, and has new clients as a result of the marketing strategy.

Keith said:

Profitnet is just like having your own board of non-executive directors.

You can discuss whatever you want and I’ve found over the years the input I’ve had has been absolutely vital as a sounding board for plans, ideas and challenges

Read more about Keith's journey.

BonAppetitProfitnet member Keith Pordum, CEO of Bon Appetit.

Clearstone

Debbie Orme, Managing Director of Clearstone, has been a Profitnet member since 2011.

One of the greatest insights that Debbie gained from Profitnet was that innovations can be made in systems and processes, which are aspects of the business she is keen to develop.

Debbie said:

Some companies are really closed-minded. And some MDs think they don’t have time to learn anything new, or worse, simply think they know it all already.

I have learned to work more effectively with my co-directors and play to all of our strengths and weaknesses. 

Read more about Debbie's journey.

Cleastone_UoB_14JHProfitnet member Debbie Orme, Managing Director of Clearstone.

The Profitnet programme was created by the Centre for Research and Innovation Management (CENTRIM) at the University of Brighton.

Read more about the development of Profitnet by CENTRIM.

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