'The entrepreneurial spirit in the West Midlands is flourishing' - Goldman Sachs hosts reception for small business owners

Participants of the 22^nd national cohort of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) UK gathered in Birmingham to mark the end of their time on the 10KSB programme which aims to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing business and management training to high-growth small business owners.

The 10KSB programme is Goldman Sachs’ flagship entrepreneurial programme delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford and Aston University and this year marks the 15^th anniversary of the programme in the UK since it was launched in 2010.

10,000 Small Businesses supports participants to develop a business growth plan detailing their strategy to achieve growth in their business and during two days in Birmingham participants presented their plans to their peers, a panel of small business experts and Goldman Sachs executives. 

On completion of the programme - a celebratory event was held at the Goldman Sachs Birmingham office on Tuesday May 20 which included a speech by Gurjit Jagpal - head of investment banking engineering at Goldman Sachs and head of the Goldman Sachs Birmingham office.  

He said afterwards: "The entrepreneurial spirit in the West Midlands is flourishing. At Goldman Sachs, we are proud to support this thriving ecosystem through our 10,000 Small Businesses programme which we have committed to for the last 15 years. By investing in the growth of entrepreneurs across the UK, we are helping to building a stronger, resilient, and inclusive economy for the future. It was a pleasure to host the 22^nd national cohort of 10KSB UK in our Goldman Sachs Birmingham office for the first time and I wish the participants continued success.”

The latest participants will now join the existing 2,370 alumni of the 10KSB UK programme. 

Daryl Chambers, founder of InPower Academy, a West Midlands-based social enterprise dedicated to empowering young people in areas impacted by crime, who participated in the latest programme, described the experience as "eye-opening" and said it would help to transform his business.

He said:: “Taking part in the 10,000 Small Businesses programme has pushed me well outside my comfort zone – balancing the demands of running a business while engaging in an intensive leadership programme was a real challenge. But greatness never comes from comfort zones. 

"From the very first residential, I was able to implement the lessons I learned directly into our business, and it’s already shaping our strategy for the next three years. 

"As a business owner based in the West Midlands, knowing that Goldman Sachs now has a base in Birmingham is significant. It’s an institution we have historically viewed as out of reach, yet this programme has shown us that they are not only approachable, but genuinely committed to helping small businesses grow. 

"The experience has been eye-opening, and I believe the 10KSB programme will not only transform our business but also help us positively impact and shape the local communities we serve.”

Aimed at ambitious small-business leaders, the 10KSB UK programme offers a comprehensive package of business development and leadership support, designed to help businesses reach their potential. It helps build small-business leaders’ knowledge and confidence in core areas and enables them to apply knowledge directly and immediately back into their businesses. It is open to the owner or senior decision-maker of an established small business, with five to 50 employees and a turnover of at least £250,000.