University of Wolverhampton Business School Business Engagement Brochure

University of Wolverhampton Business School

Working hand-in-hand with regional businesses

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Working hand-in-hand with regional businesses

The University of Wolverhampton Business School has a distinguished history of supporting business in the West Midlands and Black Country. Established for over 80 years, we have trained thousands of local and regional managers. We were one of the first business schools in the country to offer MBA programmes and provide a variety of solutions to business challenges.

The recent economic downturn has demonstrated that businesses can’t stand still. The shifting economic and political climate dictates that to survive and prosper, organisations must adapt, develop their people, review processes and improve service. The competition is tough, constantly seeking to innovate, gain a foothold and ultimately market share. To face this challenge, help is at hand.

The reason the University of Wolverhampton Business School exists is to support business improvement – whether through training employees and managers, providing consultancy and research, or through on-going continuous professional development. We are in business for business.

Dr Anthea Gregory, Dean

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We support businesses in: • developing their people • reviewing systems and processes • improving efficiency • reducing costs • finding solutions

We assist people with:

Developing people The needs of businesses are diverse and we are able to offer flexible, work-based solutions that cater for organisational needs, as well as the aspirations of individuals, teams and the organisation, thus ensuring mutuality and sustainability.

We offer: • bespoke developmental programmes

• managing their business

• programmes aligned to professional bodies

• improving customer service

• accreditation of existing in-house provision

• raising their game

• programmes focused on continuous professional and personal development.

• increasing innovation • solving problems

You experience: • improved results • robust thinking • flexible solutions • quality service • tailored expertise

Our aim is to offer practical, robust and workable solutions to real business problems; equipping individuals and organisations with the skills essential to stay ahead of the game.

Many of our programmes offer flexible delivery and work-based learning - ensuring people can study whilst at work, home, University or any of these in combination. We have excellent facilities including advanced learning resource centres. We deliver programmes at several locations, including individual company premises by prior arrangement. In addition, all programmes are supported by Wolverhampton Online Learning Framework (WOLF), our award-winning remote access online learning facility.

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The University worked in partnership with Assa Abloy to develop a programme that was clearly linked to the skills required by our organisation and the emerging leadership team. It has been a great success and I have already witnessed the maturity of the candidates and without exception all have moved their careers and the organisation forward over the past year, despite a very challenging economic environment.

Allan Cooper FCIPD Human Resources Director, Assa Abloy

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Flexible, professional courses Certificate, Diploma and Masters courses available include: • Coaching and Mentoring • Healthcare Leadership • Human Resource Development and Organisational Change • Human Resource Management • Innovation and Entrepreneurship • Leadership • Management • Diploma in Management Studies • Marketing • Master of Business Administration (MBA) • Postgraduate Certificate in Sales

We offer over 50 short courses and programmes that cover a variety of business topics including; strategic planning, financial management, innovation and enterprise, entrepreneurship, operations management, global marketing, creativity and innovation in business.

In addition, there is a wide range of psychometric tools and reports available for assessment and development Businesses can support their employees through sponsoring them on one of our part-time courses, or we can deliver accredited programmes in-house at a time and place to suit.

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Fruit of the Loom worked closely in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton on our Management CPD programme. The skilled lecturers of the University were instrumental in delivering a concise programme including: change management; negotiation and consultation skills; business ethics; performance management and culture within multi-national organisations.

They offered a very flexible and tailor-made range of options for us as an employer, ranging from practical sessions including role play and group interactions, to smaller group sessions addressing academic and theoretical models.

The fee structure was competitive and offered good value for money.

They delivered a consistent, first class, professional service to us and I have no reason to doubt their service delivery would be any different to you.

Milissa Chesters Vice-President, Human Resources, Fruit of the Loom, Europe

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We work closely with a range of professional bodies and offer professional accredited qualifications for many of them, including: • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) • Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) • Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) • Chartered Management Institute (CMI) • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

Goodyear Dunlop has a long established history with the University of Wolverhampton to deliver its First Line Manager course. We use tutors from the University as well as internal business managers who attend to give an insight into the life of a manager. The benefits of this process is that the course is externally benchmarked and accredited by the CMI, which gives added kudos for our students but is internally designed to meet our specific needs.

The course is an integral step in our leadership development programme and gives the depth of knowledge that our new managers need to establish their careers.

Erica Stocks Training and OD Manager, Goodyear Dunlop

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Developing organisations Consultancy solutions and expert research

As experts in identifying and responding to the needs of businesses, we continue to be in the top 10 UK universities for delivering economic development and regeneration programmes with companies.

Our Management Research Centre delivers applied research internationally in all areas related to the private, public and voluntary sectors. Recent consultancy and research have covered diverse areas of expertise for both small and large businesses including: • boardroom efficacy and business ethics • CRM system development • e-marketing • entrepreneurship and innovation • industrial relations • management and marketing

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

These programmes last between one and three years and are designed to help businesses to achieve greater profitability and strategic growth by working in partnership with their local university. A graduate project manager is based full-time within the business to deliver a defined project but is supported by university facilities, skills, and academic expertise.

The University of Wolverhampton Business School is currently leading the way nationally in KTP delivery.

Across the UK, companies taking part in the KTP scheme have experienced an increase of over £220,000 in annual profits before tax.

Eurofilms Extrusion Ltd

was looking to grow its market share by increasing sales in a highly competitive marketplace and to develop better relationships with customers.

The solution

• Graduate Associate David Williams, developed a strategic marketing plan.

• A customer relationship management (CRM) system was created.

• A brand identity for the company was developed.

The results

• Proactive marketing strategy.

• PR and communications support

• A CRM system was established.

• search engine optimisation

• Over 5,000 leads and over £90,000 orders in the first nine months of 2009.

• Web hosting, research and marketing.

• Over 120 new appointments and 85 new customers during same period.

• Marketing department established.

• Brand identity developed.

• Two new products launched.

• Associate employed permanently at end of KTP.

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The company’s competitive position in the marketplace has been strengthened by our focus on new business, supported by the work on branding. Our new brand image is based on environmental benefits, product differentiation and service excellence and I believe this has allowed us to improve our margins.

Nick Smith Managing Director, Eurofilms Extrusion Ltd

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Utilising our students

Many of our students complete a year-long placement or internship during their studies.

This could provide your business with an enthusiastic individual who can offer fresh insights, an extra resource for projects with a finite life, and an opportunity to identify potential future graduate employees.

Shorter internships are also available over the summer period, and our undergraduate and postgraduate students are also available to undertake research projects.

It has been a real pleasure working with the students from the Business School. With the support and guidance of their lecturers they have shown real initiative and enthusiasm, have produced work of a very high standard and have delivered tangible results. The funds they raised have made a real difference to our work and we appreciate the very real effort they put into their entrepreneurial challenge.

Lucy Proctor Community Fundraising Manager, Severn Hospice, Telford

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Working with us

Whilst we have a range of services to offer, we also recognise and value the importance of simply talking to businesses to share views, ideas and the latest thinking. We believe these activities offer many benefits and opportunities for all and we are keen to develop and nurture informal relationships and networks.

Implement and evaluate

We operate a cyclical partnership approach to organisational support and development. Our process ensures that the partnership is effective and efficient. This results in long term sustainable benefits that provide a true return on investment.

Discussion Identify the problem

Evaluate

Discovery

Identify the causes

Implement solution

The problemsolving process Evaluate the pilot

Agreement and action

Investigate solutions

Implement a pilot Select the best solution

Propose solutions

Analysis and feedback

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University of Wolverhampton Business School MN building Nursery Street Wolverhampton WV1 1AD

Tel: 01902 321175 Email: businessbureau@wlv.ac.uk Visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/uwbs