In late 2020, Audley Genus secured funding from Research England to set up a 'living lab' to research and help SMEs to reduce energy use. The living lab will run for three years (to the end of 2024) and will deepen understanding of practices around energy use investigated previously on the Horizon 2020 ENERGISE project which Audley Genus led for Kingston. The living lab will identify how to improve university-business-civic engagement, connected with sustainable consumption, innovation and entrepreneurship.
This project was funded by the BEIS and delivered by a consortium of Business Schools accredited by the Small Business Charter. Dr Bahare Afrahi led the project for Kingston University.
The Small Business Leadership Programme helped senior leaders to enhance their business's resilience and recovery from the impact of COVID-19, while developing the SME's potential for future growth and productivity.
Participants developed strategic leadership skills and the confidence to make informed decisions to boost business performance. Participants undertook a practical curriculum covering leadership, innovation, employee engagement, operational efficiency, marketing, sustainable practices, and finance.
The 10-week, fully-funded programme was free to participants and delivered online by small business and enterprise experts from Kingston Business School.
