Academy produces its first graduates

BRITAIN’S economy is moving back to growth, the co-chief executive of Goldman Sachs said as he met the first group of small businesses to graduate from the Yorkshire enterprise academy backed by the bank.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Mar 2011, 07:53 BST

Richard Gnodde also told the Yorkshire Post he now wants to run more courses. The initial programme concluded yesterday with a ceremony at Leeds Civic Hall for the 25 entrepreneurs involved. They will stay in touch with their mentors and the second round, for 27 businesses and social enterprises, begins this week.

Mr Gnodde said: “As long as we keep having successful classes we will open the next one. We will come back many times. These things will start to take on a life of their own.”

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The bank got involved because of the need to support small businesses as Britain strives to return to prosperity, he added.

“The economy is moving back into a growth phase after a number of difficult years. The country will have to work its way through the cuts. The slack is going to need to be picked up by the private sector and the need for growth in the small business community is very important.”

A similar scheme has begun in Manchester and Dina Powell, president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, said the spirit shown by Yorkshire SMEs showed the course was working.

“It is because of Leeds that the firm has decided to make this a national programme.”

Related topics:BritainYorkshireYorkshire PostManchester