Design Council and British Chambers of Commerce launch Business Growth Clubs

In the first phase of the programme, 12 Design Council workshops will offer help to up to 300 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Business Growth Clubs have been developed by the BCC and are designed to get SMEs growing despite the difficult economic environment.

The aim is to bring together like-minded business people and give them direct access to real and practical support from industry professionals.

The Design Council workshop aims to help SMEs design their way out of the downturn by introducing strategic design thinking to help solve every day business problems, to use design to be more innovative and competitive and to teach participants that design is an investment, not a cost.

The message is that when times are tough it is change, dynamism and vitality - not battening down the hatches - which are the keys to success.

The series of informal hands-on workshops will roll out from the end of October.

"This is all about designing out of a downturn," said David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council.

"Companies that invested in design and R&D during the last recession re-invented themselves and came out stronger.

Our Business Growth Clubs with the Chambers stand to help the thousands of UK firms that represent our economic future, with the opportunity to harness the practical power of UK design."