Smart & Scale: SME Leaders Masterclass

• Crowne Plaza, Newcastle City Centre – 13th September & 14th September 2024. Includes networking dinner on the evening of 13th September & lunch on 14th September.

• 3 interactive workshops delivered by leading Durham University Business School academic on following themes – Strategic Thinking, Leadership Styles & Organisational Change

• Keynote speakers

• Free of charge

If you work in a leadership role within a small to medium enterprise, based in the North East of England, you may be interested in Durham University Business School's SME Leaders Masterclass. The Masterclass will be delivered from the Crowne Plaza in Newcastle City Centre. It will include sessions led by the Business School's leading faculty on Leadership, Strategy and Organisational Change. The sessions will provide you, as a leader, with a fundamental understanding of the theory that underpins the topics, as well as some practical takeaways that you can implement in the workplace. The Masterclass will also provide great networking opportunities and include lunch and an evening meal. The SME Leaders Masterclass is part of Durham University Business School's wider "Smart and Scale up" programme, which aims to support regional SMEs to grow and innovate. This event will be free of charge for this year.

Please note, SME is defined as firms employing fewer than 250 people and should be a registered business, sole trader, charity or Community Interest Company. Broadly, “SMEs encompasses micro (less than 10 employees and an annual turnover under €2 million), small (less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under €10 million) and medium-sized (less than 250 employees and an annual turnover under €50 million) businesses.”

LEADERSHIP STYLES

Leading people and teams: how to lead with authenticity

This masterclass will focus on the fundamentals of leadership and help participants embark on a process of personal development as leaders. We will discuss key leader characteristics, styles and behaviours and highlight the role of context and environmental contingencies. We will address personal leadership preferences and perceptions and further discuss leader identities and motives towards leadership. The session will enhance participants' skills to lead people and teams in their businesses and help them navigate complex organisational environments more authentically. During the module we will present evidence-based theoretical models, engage in interactive exercises and offer practical approaches and recommendations. By the end of the module, participants will:

• Have specialist knowledge and a critical understanding of leadership models and perspectives.
• Be more effective in leading people and teams within their business.
• Be able to navigate effectively personal managerial transitions and lead with authenticity.

STRATEGIC THINKING

Seeing Around Corners: how to generate value in uncertain times

Aim of session: This masterclass will focus on the importance of keeping your business 'future fit'. It explores smaller and successful businesses can 'think and act' strategically, and equip themselves with greater resilience and fresh opportunities, It will do this be drawing on research and practice into strategy for growing businesses and leadership decision making. By the end of the masterclass participants will be able to.

• Appreciate the importance 'behaving strategically' and being 'future fit'
• Apply tools and ideas to help 'see around corners' and recognise future opportunities
• Draw on the range of decision making ideas to help 'make the right call'
• Apply an effective method to help remain organisationally resilient and 'fit' over the months and years ahead.

ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE

Leading change: effectively engaging people with change

Aim of session: This masterclass will focus on the importance of understanding the effects of change on individuals and teams and of engaging them throughout a change. It will enhance participants skills to manage and lead people through transformational planned change. It will do this by setting out frameworks, perspectives and practical approaches and recommendations for participants. By the end of the masterclass participants will be able to:

• Appreciate the importance of a managing and leading the human dynamics of change;
• Be more effective in engaging people with change;
• Create a supportive environment for organizational change.
• Apply tools and techniques for increasing the inclusion and participation of stakeholders in business transformations.

Format of sessions:

All sessions will run as a practical workshop with activities and discussions and will include:

• Scene setting
• Input
• Activities - the opportunity to apply techniques to your business
• Question and Answer session
• Roundup and key takeaways

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Crowne Plaza Newcastle - Stephenson Quarter, an IHG Hotel, Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom