Learning Tourism- Helping To Build Business

Learning Tourism is one of Lancaster University's very successful Business Support Projects, providing specialised business advice for tourism and leisure businesses in the North West.

A North Lancashire farm was the first to benefit from the skills of a Learning Tourism business consultant. The Conder Green Farm, at Sellerley, were eager to get help to prepare a marketing plan to add to their bid to the DEFRA Redundant Buildings grant, which would enable them to convert their old barns into self contained self-catering units.

Claire Smith, a recently qualified Lancaster University MSc Management graduate helped the farm business collate market trend information, performed a robust competitor analysis and signposted the farm family to other areas of assistance such as the North West Tourist Board, Lancaster City Council's Access Officer, Business Link And Lancashire Rural Futures. Farm manager Eddie Newsham said, 'I would never have thought that the university, who I look out onto everyday could ever help me and my business grow!'

Learning Tourism Director Dr. Gordon Clark said, 'This is a wonderful example of how the public and private sectors and higher education can work together to benefit SMEs in the North West.'

Business Executive Clubs or Action Learning Sets are also being established across the region as part of Learning Tourism activity and are being very well received. One member said, 'the meetings are very positive and I have received some constructive and complimentary feedback and useful suggestions.' The project team are recruiting for member for the North Lancashire group so if you are a manager of a tourism or leisure business call Tara Sewell on 01524 594948 to find out how you can get involved.

As an addition five leaflets have been published as part a collection aimed at helping tourism businesses develop. Each short paper is free and gives an insight into how to improve your business with hints and tips from well-respected tourism professionals and the University staff. Topics include: Profiting from your Local Heritage, Networked Learning for Tourism Professionals, Employing Graduates, Managing Change and Time Management. Call Tara on 01524 594948 to order your free copies or visit www.learningtourism.lancs.ac.uk

For information about any of the Lancaster University Business Support Projects, please call Amanda Ross on 01524 593230 or email a.ross@lancaster.ac.uk