Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK

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Helping small businesses and entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity through education and business support

Start date: September 2024

Duration:

  • 13-15 weeks

Time commitment:

  • Part time

Locations:

  • Live virtual
  • Oxford
  • Online

Cost:

  • Fully funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation
Goldman Sachs logo and alumni photos

About the programme

Designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises in the UK.

Working alongside the most senior decision makers of 70 other established businesses. Each cohort provides:

  • education and insights from the UK’s leading academics
  • dedicated, highly experienced mentor
  • peer-to-peer support 
  • robust, supportive and engaging alumni network which provides continuous learning.

In 2010 Goldman Sachs initiated the programme aiming to create jobs and economic opportunities. Since launch, over 2,000 small business leaders from all regions of the UK have participated.

The alumni point of view

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'The programme was littered with life altering moments.'

Benefits

To you

  • Innovative entrepreneurial education
  • Tailored personal coaching 
  • Intensive peer-to-peer learning 
  • Access to the global 10,000 Small Businesses community of small business leaders and entrepreneurs 
  • Access to ongoing support and training as a member of the alumni network

To your organisation

  • Clear, innovative vision
  • Insights into emerging market challenges:
      • Changing technologies
      • Sustainability
    • Business acumen in:
      • Productivity
      • Developing talent
      • Diversity, equity and inclusion
      • Resilience
    • Plans for international growth

    Programme structure

    The programme brings together leaders of small businesses from across industry sectors and creates unique networking and peer learning opportunities.

    Approx. 100 hours curriculum of in-person and virtual teaching has been designed specifically by global leading academics and industry experts in entrepreneurship. The 13-week programme runs twice a year and is funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, delivered in partnership with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and includes select guest faculty from Aston University.

    During the programme, each small business owner works to develop a customised Business Growth Plan to direct their organisation’s business strategy and expansion.

    Residential sessions will alternate with online learning, which has been designed to provide a hybrid learning experience for small business owners.

    After graduating, participants join a global alumni community, where they receive ongoing support through specialist workshops, national alumni events, and ongoing peer-to-peer mentoring.

    The curriculum is regularly updated to respond to changes in the small business landscape.

    Programme outline

    Stage 1 - examine the business proposition

    • Getting started
    • Building the foundations
    • Tools for growth

    Stage 2 - build a strategy to measure and improve processes

    • Developing your market
    • Financial metrics
    • Leadership and culture
    • Cash and funding
    • Strategic operations

    Stage 3 - complete a business growth plan

    • Growth strategy review
    • Business growth plan

    Impact

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    Behavioural changes of participants:

    • 94% are more confident managing growth
    • 84% use financial data more to make decisions
    • 97% feel more effective as a business leader
    • 90% introduced new business processes

    A selection of case studies from alumni is available in the 2021 impact report 'Engines of Growth'. The report also provides further details of the programme's ambition, the UK's small business landscape, and the supportive community of participants who have already taken advantage of this unique programme. 

    Participant blog

    'I escaped the shadow of "imposter syndrome" and transformed into a woman with confidence and certainty.'

    Upon moving to the UK to pursue a master’s degree in the creative industries, Fan Yang started her own entrepreneurial journey. The blog explains how the programme empowered her business, enabling its expansion to over 800 UK stores and exports to over ten countries.

    Fan is so sure the programme's blend of business practices and academia helped in her success, she has challenged others to enrol and prove her wrong.

    Who should apply

    Designed for small business and enterprise leaders who wish to grow their business, create local employment and have scalable business models. It is not intended for start-up businesses, sole traders or businesses not seeking to grow.

    3+ years

    Business operating for at least three years

    5-50 employees

    Size of organisation

    >£250,000

    Business turnover previous financial year

    Applicant

    Decision-maker or primary owner

    Experience

    No recent management education

    Meet the faculty

    Over 100 hours of in-person and virtual teaching has been designed specifically by global leading academics and industry experts in entrepreneurship.

    Contact

    Vivienne Garnett

    Recruitment and EDI Manager

    10ksb.recruitment@sbs.ox.ac.uk+44 (0)7562 434107