Friday Footnote #21

Each week we share loads of content amongst Team ION and with our network. Content which inspires us, which we find helpful or that just makes us smile. We thought we would start sharing these insights every Friday. Welcome to Friday footnote!

A whole new ION world

As most people know, we traditionally deliver face-to-face. We always have done. However, as with lots of businesses, our 'normal' has been turned upside down in 2020 and we have had to do things differently.

In the last week or so we have started to deliver our first programmes virtually. Our Bangor team ran their first session last week and the feedback was fantastic, as Bangor Programme Manager Gwenllian explains:

"Wow! What a week that was. During the last week, in what is now our new world, we saw the launch of Cohort DB9 – Leading Growth Programme at Bangor University. Of course, it wasn’t held in the physical sense at Bangor but was delivered through Zoom. The delegates, all 18 of them (pictured right), met virtually on Wednesday 9^th September 2020 and very, very soon we could see that connections were being developed and the conversation was flowing. The activities that we used to break the ice worked extremely well, with great outcomes. All the members of the team are looking forward to working closely with our delegates, watching them thriving and reviving their organisations over the next few months!"

And in our Swansea team, Kim and Jill led 2 sessions this week, with support from other members of Team ION. Kim and Jill both blogged about the sessions and shared their thoughts on a week well spent. 

As Suzanne Parry Jones, Swansea Programme Manager sums up. "This is a culmination of a whole team effort in designing the application process and operations, marketing the programme and recruiting delegates, and getting materials together to keep the programme experiential, so well done to all of you for making this happen".

Well done Team ION (if we do say so ourselves!).

Dream Team

We were delighted to announce this week that we have teamed up with Swansea City as members of their City Business Network. The partnership means that as well as becoming members of the business network we will also have pitchside advertising at the Liberty Stadium, programme advertising and will be sponsoring a first-team player.

“This is all part of our on-going brand strategy. We have so far supported over 1400 leaders across Wales, to develop high-quality skills through targeted leadership programmes that aim to develop sustainable, profitable enterprises.  We see this partnership as a perfect opportunity to increase our brand presence and develop even more extraordinary leaders”. Suzanne Parry Jones, Programme Manager

You can find out more here. Good luck for the 2020-21 season!

Inspiration

Heres whats caught our eye this week:

• After Covid: Working from home is a long time ambition (BBC News Wales)
• Want to save your mental energy for the stuff that really matters? Set a decision budget (TED Ideas)
• Don't just lead your people through trauma. Help them grow. (Harvard Business Review)
• Make time to do your best work (Do Lectures)
• Open Innovation generates great ideas, so why aren't companies adopting them (Harvard Business Review)
• Why do so many people want us back in the office? (Paul Taylor)
• To become a more effective leader, say these 3 phrases every day (Inc)

Support & Advice

• The Institute of Leadership & Management has been running a series of free 30-minute webinars. Check out next weeks offerings.
• ASTUTE 2020 joined us at this week's ION Open Doors networking session to discuss how they are supporting the Welsh manufacturing sector. Find out more on their website.
• Could a virtual internship enhance your business? If so, Swansea University could help.
• The Federation of Small Businesses is running a national webinar on Friday 25 September discussing How to start an eCommerce business: The opportunities and the pitfalls.
• The Swansea University School of Management joined us at this week's ION Open Doors networking session to discuss how they can work with businesses to help support their growth. Find out more on their website.
• 21-27 September is Adult Learners Week and there are plenty of events you can take part in online.
• ION leadership alumni Bhupinder Sidhu is the CEO of Business Butler, an organisation designed to help small and medium-sized businesses find trusted, relevant and impartial advice and support for their business, easily and quickly. Their launch event takes place next week, and you can book to attend. 
• If you are looking at how you can fill missing capability to boost performance and productivity in your organisation, there is increased funding available to support a Smart Partnership or a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Swansea University that could provide you with access to the knowledge and expertise you need. Find out more.

Become an extraordinary leader

Spaces are booking up quickly on our upcoming leadership programmes, with programmes scheduled in for Swansea, Bangor and Bridgend. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, our programmes will start online, until we are able to deliver face-to-face.

Don't forget, we can now offer our leadership programmes fully-funded until the end of August 2021. A number of our programmes are currently fully booked but check out our courses page to find out more about upcoming courses and get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Stay Safe

Team ION

PS - Missed previous #FridayFootnotes?