Please note: applications for this programme are now closed.
Going Global is an eight month mentoring programme designed for businesses with international growth potential in the technology sector and supports strategy development for expanding into global markets.
Who is the programme for?
The programme focuses on supporting businesses in the technology sector that are ambitious for growth and looking to expand into global markets. It includes businesses in:
- Cloud Computing or web-based technologies/support
- Independent living or telehealthcare solutions
- eBusiness
- Call centre services
- Telecoms and networks
- Manufacturing, product or software development
- Data management, security, informatics
- Social / digital media
- Technology-led design
What will the programme look like?
This mentoring programme will be tailored to the needs of the cohort of 10-15 participating Highlands and Islands technology businesses and aims to support the businesses in capitalizing on their strengths and current technology sector specific opportunities to move successfully into international markets.
The programme aims to rapidly improve the confidence, ambition and sales of businesses operating globally and effectively embed new concepts and strategic plans into their organisations. The end result will be businesses with the right strategy, organisational mindset and business model to Go Global with market tested and sustainable new strategies that focus on niche areas of expertise or opportunity which will provide the highest level of return. The programme will provide both international expert and peer support in tackling specific constraint issues that participants on the programme have.
Coached and mentored by faculty members of MIT's Entrepreneurship Center, the Going Global participants will:
- look inside their business to identify specific strengths and constraints
- ensure their business plan and products are fit for moving into international markets
- define their market position
- perfect their sales and value propositions
- set more ambitious goals for their business to grow internationally
- develop the skills, confidence, capability and ambition of entrepreneurs.
What format will the programme take:
The programme will be run both onsite in the Highlands and Islands through face to face group workshops and remotely through consultancy phone calls, webcasts and remote group meetings. The face to face workshops will take the form of two two-day residential workshops at the start and end of the eight month programme and a one day interim workshop mid-way through. Participants will also have access to regular remote mentoring on a one-to-one basis over telephone/Skype/etc and where relevant their mentor will participate in senior management meetings, team meetings as appropriate to help progress ideas and issues raised through the mentoring with a credible, independent viewpoint.
What will the course cover?
Specifically the Going Global programme will allow businesses to develop skills in:
- embedding core concepts and a culture of entrepreneurship into their organisations to address skills exchange, entrepreneurial mindset and significantly raise ambition within the business
- identifying and appraising current customers and markets
- creating and capturing value: Assessing niche product offering and opportunities for best return
- developing a targeted global strategy
- accessing routes to new markets and Assessment of impact on sales and market value
appraise current markets, and identify where opportunities exist for expansion.
Who will the mentors be?
The course will be taught by faculty members of MIT's Entrepreneurship Center, Reed Sturtevant and Katie Rae, lecturers in Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management whom also has relevant experience in the Technology industry in both in small and large organisations ranging from Microsoft, Microsoft Start-Up Labs, Eon, IdeaLab and Lotus. Reed and Katie are also co-Managing Directors of a seed stage investment company specialising in technology ventures, called Project 11.
What is the cost of the programme?
The course fee will be approx £1650 per person. This fee includes consultancy from an international expert over the 8 month period, the two residential two day workshops, the interim workshop and all venue and catering costs involved along with the cost of any learning materials and ongoing mentoring provided by the coaches.
What is the programme timeline?
- Applications open - 13 May 2011
- Application Deadline - 30 June 2011
- Cohort selected by - 8 July 2011
- Initial workshop (Inverness) - 21-22 July 2011
- Interim workshop (Inverness) - 8-9 November 2011
- Final workshop (Inverness) - 6-7 March 2012
How do I Apply?
Applications for the programme are now closed.
If you would like to discuss the Going Global programme, please contact stephanie.anderson@hient.co.uk
