Aston means business

Tomorrow’s boardroom superstars are emerging from executive leadership apprenticeships at Aston Business School. Discover more about the Masters-level programme from Terry Hodgetts, director of Corporate Client Solutions, and Dr Lloyd Parsons, director of the MBA and Chartered Management Institute programmes.

Nathan Tromans, the founder of NLT Electrical, explains how a new marketing strategy has helped him revive his company's fortunes after its revenues were halved by COVID-19. Dr Rob Thomas, a teaching fellow in marketing and strategy at Aston Business School, praises Mr Tromans for his “exemplary” approach in developing a stronger market orientation, improving customer relationships and realigning NLT’s brand values.

Steve Barbour, managing director of Composite Braiding, describes how angel investors helped his component company’s plans to double in size in the next couple of years, despite COVID-19. Angel investor Liz McKenzie said she funded the firm because Steve was “switched on, knew his numbers, was realistic, and had a determined glint in his eye”.

Geeta Salhan, co-founder of Green Sisters, which makes homemade Indian snacks for people with dietary restrictions, explains how they're now providing full seven-day meal parcels for customers in isolation. We also talk to Paula Whitehouse, the director of Aston Centre for Growth, about how micro start-ups need more assistance from government.

Simple energy savings by SMEs could close half the UK's power stations, according to Dr Mark Smith, business engagement manager on the Low Carbon SMEs project at Aston University. The latest episode of the 'Aston means business' podcast also interviewed Cassie Kirk-Gould, the owner of Sweetmeats Inc, about how her expanding fudge-making firm is completely plastic-free.