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Small/Medium/Large

Small/Medium/Large update 06/07

S/M/L All wrapped up?

Unwrapping a priceless parcel of potential was how one of the eight design consultancies involved in the Small/Medium/Large programme viewed their experiences of the NESTA funded scheme run by the DBA when it came to its conclusion in November.

For many the scheme gave them the longed-for opportunity to step back from the day-to-day running of their business and take the time to realise and maximise their potential for greater growth and profitability.

The outsiders...

Mark Stephenson, Director of the Glasgow-based design consultancy Stand, described how the SML mentors, with an outsider’s view and encouragement, gave them “a faster pace, a greater focus and clearer vision” to build on Stand’s core strengths and “finally start to really differentiate ourselves within a highly competitive market”.

They are now well on the way to realising the growth plans they initially had in mind when applying to the SML programme.

Important decisions
Ann Rimmer at Clock Creative experienced this kind of encouragement and impetus first hand, describing how the mentoring process “steered and pushed us hard into making some important decisions” such as restructuring the business.

This included Ann’s own role changing from MD to Director of Creative Strategy, which she says, has given her the chance “to make the most of my strengths and allows me to spend more time with clients”.

May the force be with you!
The renewed force and energy that the programme gave to the SML participants highlights the fact that without external guidance and support many of the businesses involved would not have developed their growth strategies.

Charlotte Corke from Liverpool design consultancy JAB Design commented that had it not been for SML they “would have taken longer to make the decisions needed on our own...now we go into negotiations with our partners with more confidence than we would have done before Small/Medium/Large”.

Future S/M/L funding

“The value of external expert advice and consultancy through mentoring schemes like SML is priceless. It allows businesses like those who have taken part to implement long thought about objectives giving consultancy owners a new lease of life and the business some purpose and direction,” says Deborah Dawton, DBA CEO.

“While we are very pleased to have worked with NESTA in managing the SML scheme once again this year, with no guarantee of further funding, we’re looking at a number of ways of extending the life of this scheme. Our aim would be to make it available to many more design consultancies.

In the mean time, the imminent launch of the DBA Experts Register will enable members to contract in some of the industry’s best advisors to help them through the challenges they face.”

Background

Small/Medium/Large was a joint initiative run by the DBA and NESTA, National Endowment of Science Technology and the Arts.

It aimed to help 8 entrepreneurial micro to small design companies grow in size and performance by offering them a share in a subsidised programme of business strategy and mentoring worth £50,000, provided by business accelerators, Pembridge Partners.

Selected companies - 2006

The following 8 companies were selected to take part in last year's scheme: