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Programme

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK [2023]

Leadership Capacity

Impact for scaleups

2,200+

Scaling high-growth business leader participants

£5.9bn

Participants combined revenue

53,000+

employees by scaling businesses

94%

are more confident managing growth

84%

Use financial data more to make decisions

90%

Introduced new business processes

Key sectors

Impact ventures / Social Impact Life Sciences & Biotech Building & Construction Manufacturing / Advanced Manufacturing Creative, digital, film, games & media Professional services Defence & security Technology & Communications Engineering / Advanced Engineering Transport & Logistics Environmental Science & Technology Farming, fisheries & forestry Finance Food & drink Healthcare

Since its launch in 2010, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK (10KSB UK) programme offers 100 hours of practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country. 

Fully funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the programme is designed to accelerate growth and includes a blend of business education, networking and mentoring and is delivered in partnership with Oxford University Saïd Business School and Aston University Centre for Growth. More than 2,200 entrepreneurs have completed the 10KSB UK 4-month programme since 2010. 

Three residential sessions offer students access to high quality applied business learning with further support available online. Students also have access to professional experts and one-to-one business coaching and advice along with networking and peer learning opportunities. 

Programme participants take away a customised Growth Plan to direct their business strategy and expansion. Alumni can access a range of support and resources including ongoing business coaching opportunities and a publicly available, digital resource hub for small business support. 

The 10,000 Small Businesses – Engines of Growth report released in 2022, demonstrated the impact of 10KSB UK over the past decade. The report highlighted that 10KSB UK graduates are significantly more likely to have grown over the last 12 months than comparable high-growth small businesses, both in terms of revenue and job creation.  26 per cent of alumni businesses noted annual turnover growth by more than 20%; and 47 per cent of alumni increased the number of people they employ since the start of the pandemic, compared with only 26 per cent of their high-growth peers. 94 per cent of participants feel more confident managing growth, 84 per cent now use financial data more to make informed decisions, 90 per cent Introduced new business processes and 97 per cent feel more effective as a business leader.

The 10,000 Women programme, focusing on female entrepreneurs in emerging markets provides business and management education, mentoring and networking opportunities to help scale businesses. The programme is informed by research showing that investing in education for women could close a range of gender gaps. A free to all, accessible online version of the course is available to women worldwide. To date, the programme has supported over 200,000 women entrepreneurs across more than 150 countries. Past participants can join a global alumni network with ongoing access to support and resources, including the opportunity to attend a week-long Fellowship programme offering business coaching and training to further support business growth.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK [2023] website