One of the leading accountancy firms in the region is calling on Gloucestershire businesses with high growth potential to join a new subsidised coaching programme, designed to help them accelerate their success

Randall & Payne have two coaches taking part in the GAINS programme (Gloucestershire Accelerated Impact Network Support), a newly launched package of support run by the University of Gloucestershire and supported by the European Regional Development Fund. It has been specifically created for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the potential and ambition to grow their business sustainably and achieve their goals.

To be accepted onto the GAINS scheme, businesses must meet certain criteria, which include being based within the area covered by GFirst LEP, meet the definition of ‘high growth’, and be able to complete the coaching programme within six months.

Once on the programme, management teams will receive access to four days of high-quality coaching, an in-depth business plan, a series of masterclasses that tackle local high-growth SME needs, and inclusion within a Gloucestershire-specific, high-growth networking group.

Richard Gray, business advisory manager at Randall & Payne, will lead the firm’s involvement with the GAINS programme, and is joined by partner Will Abbott. With over 21 years’ experience in various business development roles, Richard is a qualified mBIT coach and well known across the Gloucestershire business scene due to his past role as county lead on the successful Growth Accelerator scheme.

“We’re delighted to be part of GAINS. Having worked in the region for over two decades, I know Gloucestershire is full of businesses that have the capability to grow but perhaps don’t have the experience or guidance internally to help them realise their full potential.

“So, having access to a programme like this, the support it offers, and the approved coaches involved, could literally transform a company’s fortunes in a matter of months,” said Richard.

Businesses that sign up to the GAINS programme will receive a maximum subsidy of 40% towards the overall cost. The funding will run until December 2019, but is limited to just 220 Gloucestershire businesses, so enterprises are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure that they benefit from the programme.

Geraldine McCullagh, the GAINS programme project manager, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for us to offer a Gloucestershire-specific programme of support to SMEs to take them to the next level in terms of their turnover, job creation, and new products and services.”

Companies can find out if they qualify for the GAINS programme by contacting gains@glos.ac.uk.