Chadwicks partners with Norwich Business School (UEA)

As seen in the Eastern Daily Press

A two-day executive programme for owners, directors, and senior managers launches this month.  It is a new partnership between Chadwicks and Norwich Business School at the University of East Anglia.

There are so many brilliant businesses across our region that could be more resilient, more valuable, and easier to run. The Three‑Year Value Acceleration Programme gives you the space, tools and a practical framework to change that. Whether you’re planning to sell one day, handing over to the next generation, or simply want the business to run better.

Value acceleration, not growth acceleration

Value acceleration and growth acceleration are two different things, and the distinction matters. Growth acceleration is a short-term play for a bigger number next quarter. Value acceleration is a long-term discipline for a fundamentally stronger business, one that’s worth more for years to come, not just bigger for one.

Who is this for?

• Business owners who feel they’ve hit a ceiling
• Directors and senior managers who want greater influence and strategic capability
• Leaders who want to reduce dependence on themselves or others
• Businesses preparing for succession, future investment, or simply a stronger operational footing

Why now?

East Anglia is home to an estimated 560,000 SMEs, with Norfolk and Suffolk having a notably higher-than-average population of business owners aged 55 to 65. These are businesses that are often too large for simple accounting support, but without the internal resources for sophisticated corporate finance planning.

The region is entering a period of unprecedented leadership turnover, with an unusually high concentration of owner-managers aged over 55,  and recent changes to Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief mean the tax treatment of that transition has shifted too. For many firms, substantial value is tied up in the business itself, which makes structured planning less of a nice-to-have and more of a genuine priority, starting now, not later.

Rather than reacting to that pressure with more activity, the aim is to turn this moment into something more: a business that’s genuinely more valuable, more resilient, and better prepared for whatever the next three years bring.

What’s the focus?

Five things determine how valuable, resilient and easy to run a business really is. Each will be covered in depth and applied directly to your own business:

• Quality of Earnings
• Owner Dependence
• Strength of the Management Team
• Innovation Culture
• Governance & Decision-Making

Your first step: the Value Acceleration Breakfast

Before the full programme, join us for the Value Acceleration Breakfast on 10th September at Norwich Business School.

This 90-minute diagnostic session benchmarks your business across the five pillars that drive long-term value and resilience. You’ll leave with immediate insight into where your business is strongest, where value is leaking, and what you can do next.

Your next step: the two-day programme

Dates: 18th & 19th November 2026 Venue: Norwich Business School (UEA), Norwich, NR4 7TJ

The programme includes a private supper at the world-class Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, with opportunities to network and talk with faculty, practitioners and fellow business owners.

Fees:

• £1,950 + VAT per delegate
• £1,450 + VAT for additional delegates from the same company

(Includes programme materials, lunches, and evening supper. Accommodation is available on campus, subject to availability, and is not included in the course fee.)

Who’s leading it?

The programme is led by Richard Ross MBA FCSI, a specialist in strategy, succession and value creation for owner-managed businesses, alongside guest contributors: experts in leadership, corporate finance and law, as well as founders who have successfully scaled and transitioned their own businesses.

Register your interest

We want to make sure this programme is the right fit for you. Register your interest with Angela Brett, who will get in touch to learn a little about your business and talk through the course in more detail, so you can make an informed decision.

Call 01603 672777 or email [email protected].

Proud to be collaborating with Norwich Business School.