Helping Businesses Bounce Back – A Case Study from Ulster University Business School

A challenging business and economic landscape has brought a great deal of uncertainty to businesses across Northern Ireland. The past six months have been all about adjustment, re-thinking priorities and re-imagining the future with the pandemic adding new dimensions to how we work, learn and communicate.

Working intimately with industry affords Ulster University Business School (UUBS) a unique insight into the real and immediate pressures business leaders are facing. With business continuity and survival a key priority, UUBS has been supporting organisational response efforts through a new Business Support Initiative.

Designed to specifically address the present circumstances, the new portfolio of business services harnesses the expertise and knowledge of leading academics and networks to offer realistic and practical support solutions to organisations. Businesses needing expert support are encouraged to consult the UUBS dedicated COVID-19 website — an easy to access platform outlining the comprehensive range of services currently available, whilst continuously providing updated advice and signposting to other sources of information.

As business sectors begin to implement recovery and growth plans, UUBS’s free one-to-one business support sessions have been particularly popular. UUBS staff can help guide businesses in a range of key business areas such as Marketing, Digital Strategy, Competitiveness, International Business, Leadership and Management. The support package extends to a free webinar series where regular detailed economic analysis on the impact of COVID-19 is provided by UUBS Economic Policy Centre.

With the digital skills gap expanding, UUBS has partnered with global marketing agency Marvel Marketers to offer a series of digital marketing bootcamps. Running throughout the summer and continuing into the autumn, the bootcamps cover Digital Transformation, Automation, Digital Strategies and Insights and are available to all organisations.

A new UUBS podcast series The Business of Possibility has also launched over the summer, whereby veteran broadcaster Wendy Austin explores the world of business in Northern Ireland examining how businesses are staying afloat in the current climate.

Now more than ever, businesses require entrepreneurial leadership, business and management skills to help them emerge from the crisis and navigate a ‘new normal’. There has never been a better time to upskill and in July, workers who were affected by the pandemic were able to take advantage of fully funded places on a range of Postgraduate business courses from UUBS as a result of funding from Department for the Economy.

Through an extensive and flexible portfolio of management development and executive education, UUBS is shaping future growth and leading the way in educating business executives, senior leaders and managers. Those wishing to upskill and take their business and career to the next level should refer to the School’s full suite of executive education, accredited programmes and short course options.

Strengthening business competitiveness across Northern Ireland is at the cornerstone of UUBS’s activity and collaboration with UUBS can help bring a clarity of thought and action to help turn complex obstacles into meaningful change.

To access the UUBS COVID-19 resources, services and economic analysis please contact engage@ulster.ac.uk or find out more here.