Background:

Through extensive research on his MBA (1992, Open University) and PhD (2022, Sheffield Hallam) into the dynamics behind training and development programmes for small and midsize enterprises (SMEs), Dr Glyn Cartwright increasingly recognised a frustrating lack of relevant evidence offered to SME professionals and leaders attending these courses. A core problem lies in the offer of a significant amount of business information that resulted in a low level of understanding, rarely stimulating students to take action in their own practice areas.

Comparing this to the two Erasmus programmes and UKCES programmes Glyn had written and delivered in the UK and Europe, which all resulted in the delegates taking interventions into their businesses to improve the chances of success. The objective of the research was to identify what needed to change for these training programmes offered to SME leaders to help them understand their current situation and potential future options.

The outcomes were both interesting and a little surprising: The most common feedback Glyn received throughout the whole process was “why has nobody ever told me this?”.

Speaker:

Dr Glyn Cartwright first trained as a teacher and later entered the corporate world via sales. During a successful 25 years he progressed as Sales Director, Marketing Director, Managing Director and CEO of various brand leading companies, primarily in the construction products area. For the last 15 years Glyn has owned his own companies and is now operationally involved in 5 organisations operating in over 30 countries around the world.

After completing his Marketing degree, Glyn gained an MBA in 1992 from the Open University and completed a Doctorate in Business Growth with Sheffield Hallam University in January 2022. He has tutored MBA and MSc Business students for the Open University and the University of Sheffield for the last 20 years. He co-wrote an online business assessment programme that was featured on BBC2’s "Working Lunch". In 2002 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Charted Institute of Marketers in recognition of his contribution to the field. In 2014 Glyn became a Liveryman with the Worshipful Company of Marketors and a Freeman of the City of London in 2015. He became Master of the Worshipful Company of Marketors in 2023.

In his spare time Glyn has co-authored and delivered the Erasmus funded European Business Growth Catalyst Programme, in partnership with The University of Sheffield, ESADE Business School in Spain and Alba University in Greece, which has been cited as a "success story" by Erasmus because of the impact it has had on SMEs. More recently Glyn has co-authored and delivered another Erasmus programme targeting disadvantaged SMEs. He also wrote and delivered a UKCES ‘leadership and entrepreneurship’ programme in partnership with Doncaster Council and Doncaster Chamber of Commerce.