S Knights Associates gained clarity on strategy vs operations, profitability focus, better staff engagement, and a shift in attitudes to risk and growth.
S Knights Associates is a recruitment agency specialising in Welfare to work and Work Based Learning sector with a key focus on Employability and Skills. Their customers are predominantly Private Training Providers, FE Colleges, 3rd sector and Charitable organisations. The business, which was established in 2013, is based in Olton, Solihull, and currently employs 6 members of staff.
The business had been focussed on establishing itself, and as a result had not previously accessed business support prior to engaging with The TRANSFORMATION Project.
They became aware of the support as a result of an Aston University employee forwarding them information about the project. This provoked interest, partly because the business recruits into government-funded training programmes and wanted to know more about this area, and partly to develop the tools needed to grow. The good reputation of Aston was also a positive draw to the business.
As this was a relatively recent start-up much of the discussions with the Business Engagement Manager focussed around various aspects of developing a business – profit and loss, learning the right terminology, the life cycle of the business, assessing risks etc. Those discussions have been 'the most valuable part'.
Through the project the business has used business modelling tools, and is more aware of issues to think about relating to business growth, and of the potential risks facing the business.
The owner completed Receptivity for Change, which they found interesting although they had already reviewed many of the areas the questionnaire highlighted.
World-leading ideas and innovation, founded on engaged scholarship, from research to application.
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