![Evolve Digital](/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/lums/business-engagement/EvolveDigitalheaderFINAL.jpg)
Evolve Digital NW
Exploring the potential of digital adoption for family business leaders
About the Programme
This is a historic programme that was funded by Innovate UK and Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy between 2020 and 2021. For further information about other business development opportunities please get in touch with us.
Evolve Digital is designed for leaders of small Family Businesses seeking to explore how digital technology can enhance their business to improve productivity and create a sustainable future. This online programme provides business leaders with the leadership capabilities required to explore the potential that new technologies may bring to their business, to remain competitive and meet the needs of the next generation.
The programme will be delivered online (approx 10-12 hours per month for 3 months) and will provide you with the tools to:
- Create a strategy to future proof your business
- Prioritise areas where digital technology can transform your business
- Undertake a project in your own business, to test out new digital ideas and accelerate digital adoption
- Gain leadership skills and confidence to drive change and create competitive advantage
This programme forms part of a national research study which will inform evolving UK government policy on the needs of small family businesses. Designed and delivered by Lancaster University Management School and fully-funded by Innovate UK and Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
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What's Involved?
Successful applicants will be randomly allocated to one of two offerings. Business leaders will either take part in an online interactive cohort, where they will benefit from being part of a peer learning group with sessions led by business experts or they will have access to an online platform which hosts a series of practical materials, including toolkits, relevant articles and other information, which take them through a self-directed learning journey to evolve their business.
Setting the strategic context
Explore technological / digital futures and identify your current business direction towards digital technology. Develop strategic objectives to drive digitalisation for your business
Identifying digitalisation opportunities
Establish where value is lost in the business and identify where digitalisation can enhance and add value
Digitalisation in action
Develop a sprint project to test ideas and break down barriers to adopt digital technology in the business
Leading towards technological change
Develop a change management framework to engage staff in implementing digitalisation
![Business Man](/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/lums/business-engagement/IntelligentPayroll300x300.jpg)
Benefits to Business
- Practical content delivered online (approx 10-12 hours per month for 3 months), designed by leading academics and business experts
- Develop your leadership capability to ensure your family business evolves and is future proofed for the next generation
- Identify where digital technology will evolve your business to be more productive
- Increase your confidence to make better business decisions and improve your competitiveness
- Help inform evolving government policy on the needs of small family businesses
''We are pleased to have been selected by BEIS and Innovate UK to design and deliver this innovative programme which will give hundreds of family businesses a much-needed boost to better understand digital technology, cut through its complexity and get to grips with the benefits that technology can offer. This will help ensure family businesses grow and thrive for generations to come.” Helen Wilkinson, Knowledge Exchange Development Manager
![Business people](/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/images/lums/background-panel-1600x600/JKP-230314-728627-09-23.jpg)
Costs & Eligibility
This programme is fully-funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and available to eligible businesses;
- Small family business based in North West of England
- From any business sector, employing between 2 and 50 people
- Business has been operational for at least one year
- Participant must be family member/owner of business
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