Ten bosses in the tourism business are being offered a chance to reach for the stars in a series of winter workshops designed to boost leadership skills and increase profits.

Lancaster University’s Tourism Centre has been funded by the Northern Leadership Academy to offer ten people in the North West Visitor Economy the opportunity to take part in a series of practical, informative workshops which make up The Alive Programme (Aspiring Leaders in the Visitor Economy).

The course will include: personal assessment, one-to-one development sessions with mentors, networking sessions and finally a chance to put new skills to the test in an activity day led by a professional management coach.

Inspirational guest speakers – including Cumbrian culinary queen Lucy Nicholson of Ambleside-based Lucy Cooks and award-winning Blackpool Hotelier Claire Smith owner of B&B of the year – will provide real life examples of people who have scaled great heights using their own successful management style.

Tourism Centre Manager Alan Heywood said: “Successful leadership is crucial to any business – especially if you are trying to grow and move forward. The Alive programme will give people a safe environment to discover their leadership strengths and weaknesses and provide them with the tools that will really make a difference.

“They will leave the programme with a new support network made up of other leaders in the region and, hopefully, a new found confidence in their ability to lead and expand their business.”

The course – which is targeted primarily at businesses in Objective 2 areas – is available to owners or managers of small to medium sized businesses in the visitor economy and will run at Lancaster University between November 8 and January 23.

Course places cost £300 plus VAT. For an application form and further information please contact: The Tourism Centre on 01524 510900 or email thetourismcentre@lancaster.ac.uk

Alternatively go to www.thetourismcentre.lancs.ac.uk